J. Vernon McGee Notes and Outlines
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Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 Luke Acts
John 20
Jesus came back from the dead on Sunday (verse 1), and from then on believers have met together on the first day of the week. Apparently Mary Magdalene came out ahead of the other women. When she saw the sepulchre open, she turned and left. When the other women arrived, she was probably halfway to the home of John. Notice that Peter is staying with John. After Peter's base denial, John had taken him in. What was remarkable about seeing "the linen clothes lying" (verse 5)? Remember that Joseph and Nicodemus had prepared the body for burial (John 19:40). They sealed in the body with 100 pounds of ointment, wrapped it with strips of linen cloth, and prepared it like a mummy. Each finger was wrapped separately, then the hand, then the arms were strapped to the body and the body was wound. John and Peter knew that He could not have gotten out of that encasement. It would have been physically impossible to get that body out of graveclothes without unwinding them. "He saw" is a prolonged inspection (verse 8) which convinced John—he "believed." Resurrection was the only answer. Mary did not recognize Him (verse 14), not because He was so changed, but she wasn't expecting to see Him at all. She had great love and concern, but no faith.
"Touch me not" (verse 17) is "do not cling to me," and He gives the reason—"I am not yet ascended." Like the high priest on the Day of Atonement, He was on His way to present His sacrifice in heaven. I believe His blood will be in heaven throughout eternity to remind us of the price that was paid.
The disciples knew Him (verse 20) even before He showed His wounds. It is amazing that His wounds are still there in His glorified body. He will bear the scars of sin for eternity so that you and I can be presented blameless and without blemish (Ephesians 5:27).
During the interval between His ascension and the coming of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost, these disciples needed help. So our Lord "breathed" into them eternal life by giving them the Spirit of God (verse 22).
What will remit sin (verse 23)? The gospel. The gospel must be preached before sin can be remitted.
Thomas needlessly spent a miserable week of doubt and darkness (verses 24-25), but then he gives the highest testimony to the Lord Jesus (verse 28).
There are 11 recorded appearances of Jesus before His ascension, but these are recorded that we might believe (verse 31). John gives a very clear reason for his purpose in writing his Gospel.
A special thanks to Thru the Bible Radio Network for permission to create and post this version of Dr. J. Vernon McGee's Notes and Outlines. Visit Thru the Bible on the Web at www.ttb.org.
Chapter 20: | Darby | Geneva | Gill | Jamieson Faussett Brown | Johnson | Lightfoot | Matthew Henry | Matthew Henry Concise | McGarvey Pendleton | McGee | Wesley | Index | Read John 20 |
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