Before Believing Vs. After Believing (John 20:1-31)

John 20:1-31; Key Verse: Jn 20:31

"...that you may believe...and...have life in his name."

Questions: What is the difference between before and after one believes? Are you truly a believer?

Last week, from Jn 19:1-42, we examined Pilate's words of mockery and ridicule when he said of Jesus, "Behold, the man" (Jn 19:5). After being flogged, spit at, struck in the face, and humiliated, Jesus appeared like a beaten man, yet he was a real man, in contrast to counterfeit men like Pilate and the religious leaders. Jesus the man, had supreme power but abnegated it (he had nothing to prove), while counterfeit men, who were conferred with power, embellished it and abused it to cause the death of Jesus, which is the greatest injustice ever perpetrated by man. When we behold the man Jesus Christ who died brutally in our place, strangely our hearts are warmed and inclined toward the God who loves us at great cost to himself. Today's text, Jn 20:1-31 records what happened after Jesus rose from the dead.

Jesus promises the believer a life that is abundant and full (Jn 10:10b). In Jn 20:1-29, we meet those who are transitioning from before believing into true believers: Mary Magdalene, the disciples, and Thomas. Let us consider the process of believing in two parts:

I. Before Believing (Jn 20:1-15; 19; 24-25): The dawning light is approaching.

1. Clueless from not understanding Scripture (Peter and John): Before believing, Scripture will not be understood (Jn 20:9).
   
2. Sorrow (Mary): Before believing, our "attachments" blind us from seeing Jesus (Jn 20:14).
   
3. Fear (the disciples): Before believing, our undying desire to be the "greatest" binds us in fear (Jn 20:19).
   
4. Doubt (Thomas): Before believing, our skepticism and unreasonable demands keep us in doubt (Jn 20:25).
   
(Transition) The process of believing (Jn 20:16; 19-20; 26-27): Meeting Jesus who rose from the dead.


II. After Believing (Jn 20:17-18; 21-23; 28-31): Your grief will turn to joy (Jn 16:20).

1. Purpose: After believing, sorrow and despondency is transformed to excitement and purpose (Jn 20:17-18).
   
2. Peace: After believing, fear vanishes and is replaced by a peace that passes understanding (Phil 4:7).
   
3. Commissioning/Calling: After believing, we have the conviction of receiving a commissioning from Jesus (Jn 20:21).
4. Confession: After believing we confess from our hearts that Jesus is our Lord and God (Jn 20:28).
5. Blessedness: After believing, we experience the blessedness of being accepted by God in spite of ourselves (Jn 20:29).
6. Life: After believing, we live the life that is truly life (Jn 20:31; 10:10b).
I. Before Believing (Jn 20:1-15; 19; 24-25)

Grave clothes present but no body. Mary, along with other women (Mt 28:1; Mk 16:1-2; Lk 24:1), went to the tomb early Sun morning with the intention of anointing Jesus' dead body (Mk 16:1; Lk 24:1). When she saw the stone removed from the entrance she assumed that it was stolen by grave robbers (cf. Mt 28:11-15), a common crime. She ran to tell Peter and John (Jn 20:1-2), who themselves ran to the tomb with John outrunning Peter probably because he was younger (Jn 20:3-4). John looked in and saw the strips of linen lying there but hesitated to go in, while Peter went in and saw the strips of linen as well as the burial cloth that had been around Jesus' head, with the cloth folded up by itself, separate from the linen (Jn 20:5-7). Jesus' resurrection body apparently passed through his grave-clothes, in much the same way that he later appeared in a locked room (Jn 20:19, 26). The neat appearance of what was observed was not the scene of a body being stolen. The fact that two men saw it (Jn 20:8) makes their evidence admissible in a Jewish court (Dt 19:15).

Clueless: The disciples saw the empty tomb and could not understand Scripture. When John finally went into the tomb to look, he saw (the neat linen grave clothes with no body) and believed (Jn 20:8). What he and Peter believed was not that Jesus had risen from the dead (Jn 20:9), but that the linen grave clothes were there without the corpse, and that the tomb was empty. That they did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead (Jn 20:9) proves that the disciples did not fabricate a story to fit their preconceived notions of what was predicted. Rather, they were confronted with certain facts, which they were initially unable to relate to Scripture. Only later, aided by the Spirit (Jn 14:26; 16:13), were they able to do so. Before meeting Jesus and without the Spirit's illumination, even the privileged disciples who spent three years with Jesus were unable to understand what the Scripture plainly said. Before believing, Scripture will not be understood.

Sorrow: Crying over her loss. The disciples went back to where they were staying (Jn 20:10), but "Mary stood outside the tomb crying" (Jn 20:11). While weeping, she bent over and looked into the tomb and "saw two angels in white seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot" (Jn 20:12). When asked why she was crying, she said, “They have taken my Lord away, and I don’t know where they have put him” (Jn 20:13). "At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus" (Jn 20:14). Jesus asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?” Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him” (Jn 20:15). Jesus' two rhetorical questions suggests that it was a mild rebuke for she had no reason to cry, and that she should reflect on the kind of Messiah she was expecting. Is she looking for a dead or living Messiah? Mary's sorrow and tears over losing good Jesus blinded her from recognizing Jesus. Jesus also said, “Do not hold on to me..." (Jn 20:17a). Before believing, our "attachments" blind us from seeing Jesus. What might you not want to let go of? Past sin? Past practices, traditions, experiences?

Fear. On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” (Jn 20:19) Why were the disciples filled with fear? It was because their human hopes were unfulfilled. Their nationalistic hope was that Jesus would have redeemed Israel (Lk 24:21; Ac 1:5). Their personal hope was to be the greatest (Mt 18:1; Mk 9:34; Lk 22:24). Before believing, our undying desire to be the greatest, binds us in fear--the fear that others will have a bigger piece of the pie.

Doubt. Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe” (Jn 20:24-25). In his previous appearances (Jn 11:16; 14:5) Thomas has been less a doubter than a loyal but pessimistic and perhaps somewhat obtuse disciple (which may be why I like him!). Despite the excited testimony of all the other 10 disciples, Thomas remains unconvinced. He demands not only a palpable sign but the most personal and concrete evidence that the person whom he knew had been killed in a specific fashion had indeed been raised from the dead. Before believing, our skepticism and unreasonable demands keeps us in doubt and limbo.

(Transition) The Process of Believing (Jn 20:16; 19-20; 26-28)

Hearing our shepherd's voice. Jesus said to her, “Mary.” Whatever the cause of her blindness, the single word "Mary," spoken as Jesus had always uttered it, was enough to remove it, and Mary recognizes the voice of Jesus (Jn 10:3-4). Anguish and despair are instantly swallowed up by astonishment and delight. She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”).

Knowing that Jesus has indeed risen from the dead. On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord (Jn 20:19-20).

Being loved and embraced in spite of our unreasonable demands. A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!” (Jn 20:26-28)

II. After Believing (Jn 20:17-18; 21-23; 28-31)

What happens after one believes? What are the results of being a believer? Jesus said, "your grief will turn to joy" (Jn 16:20).

Purpose. Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’ Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that he had said these things to her” (Jn 20:17-18). When blinded by her sorrow, Mary was crying and weeping over losing good Jesus, and desperate to cling to her past recollection of Jesus. But after believing that Jesus has indeed risen from the dead, life and excitement replaced her sorrow. Jesus became a man of sorrows and carried her sorrows (Isa 53:3-4), so that she can be a woman of joy and purpose. By believing, she was transformed from a woman of sorrow to a woman of purpose with a clear excited testimony, "I have seen the Lord!" After believing, sorrow is transformed to joy and purpose.

Peace. Twice, Jesus said, "Peace be with you" (Jn 20:19,21). The Hebrew is "shalom aleichem." This was surely a welcomed greeting from Jesus, since the disciples may have expected a rebuke for having abandoned him at the time of his arrest, trial and crucifixion. "Shalom" has the comprehensive meaning of completeness, wholeness, security, peace, both with God and people. Before the cross, Jesus had promised to give to his disciples his peace (Jn 14:27; 16:33). Now after his resurrection from the dead, Jesus fulfills his promise. When they saw that Jesus has indeed risen from the dead, they rejoiced (Jn 20:20). After believing, fear is replaced with a peace that passes understanding (Phil 4:7). In contrast, living with anxiety is like living as an unbeliever.

Commissioning/Calling. Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” ²² And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. ²³ If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven” (Jn 20:21-23). Each of the Four Gospels includes a commission from the risen Jesus (Mt 28:18-20; Mk 16:15-18; Lk 24:44-53). These verses serve as the Johannine "Great Commission."


• Jesus, the Sent One (Jn 3:16-17) has now become the Sender, commissioning his followers to serve as his messengers and representatives (Jn 17:18). All three persons of the Godhead are involved in this commissioning: as the Father sent Jesus, so Jesus sends his disciples (Jn 20:21b), equipping them with the Holy Spirit (Jn 20:22). Our key verse, Jn 20:31 explains that Christians are commissioned not just to help people to believe, but to understand that by believing they may have and live the life that God intended for them, a life that is abundant and full.
  
• When Jesus breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit,” it is best understood as a foretaste of what would happen when the Holy Spirit was given at Pentecost (Ac 2:1-4). This does not mean that the Holy Spirit had no presence in the disciples’ lives prior to this point. The gift of the Holy Spirit suggests that He is essential for the performance of the task given to the disciples.
  
• Forgiving sins (Jn 20:23) is not that individual Christians or churches have authority on their own to forgive or not forgive people, but rather that as the church proclaims the gospel message of forgiveness of sins in the power of the Holy Spirit, it proclaims that those who believe in Jesus have their sins forgiven, and that those who do not believe in him do not have their sins forgiven.
How do you know that you are truly a believer? After believing, one has the conviction of receiving a commissioning from Jesus. Are you living randomly without much thought or reflection, or are you living your life in an intentional way because you have received a royal commissioning?

Confession. When Thomas felt Jesus' love and embrace of his unreasonable demand and skepticism (Jn 20:27), he was so overcome with awe and reverence that he immediately uttered his confession: “My Lord and my God!” (Jn 20:28) The speed with which Thomas' pessimistic unbelief was transformed into joyful faith is consistent with the experience of the other witnesses (Jn 20:16, 20). This is probably the clearest and simplest confession of the deity of Christ to be found in the NT. The two highest words, "Lord" (Gk. Kyrios; and used in the Greek translation of the OT for the divine name "Yahweh"), and "God" (Gk. Theos) are used together and addressed to Jesus in recognition of His glory. Thomas’s statement is a clear confession of his newly found faith in Jesus as his Lord and God. John’s entire purpose in writing this book is that all readers come to confess Jesus as their Lord and God in the same way that Thomas did. Jesus accepts this worship without hesitation. After believing we confess from our hearts that Jesus is our Lord and God.

Blessedness. Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” (Jn 20:29; also 1 Pet 1:8-9). The first part is a confirmation and commendation of Thomas' faith; it is not depreciated, but rather his step of faith that led to his unrestrained confession. The second part is a beatitude, where Jesus pronounces a blessing on the coming-to-faith of those who cannot see but who will believe through the word of believers (Jn 17:20).. John's Gospel reports only one other beatitude (Jn 13:17), and like most beatitudes (Mt 5:3-12), both strike a note of admonition. The word "blessed" (makarios) does not simply declare "happy" to those who meet the conditions, but pronounces them accepted by God. After believing, we experience the blessedness of being accepted/approved by God in spite of ourselves.

Life. "Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. ³¹ But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name" (Jn 20:30-31). Here John states plainly that he composed his book with one explicit purpose--that you may believe. In these verses, John’s purpose statement and conclusion of the Gospel rehearse the major themes of the Gospel:

• the Christ (Jn 1:41).
• Son of God (Jn 1:34).
• believe (Jn 1:1:12-13).
• life (Jn 1:4; 3:15-16; 6:35; 11:25; 14:6; 17:3).

John's primary purpose is evangelism. This not only expresses the purpose of the book, but is the shortest summary of Johannine theology. The stated goal "that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God" is interpreted by some commentators to mean that John the Evangelist intends by his book to establish the faith of Christians, rather than to bring non-Christians to faith. But other commentators argue that John's primary purpose is evangelism. Surely, both views are "right." Throughout the history of the church this Gospel has served not only as a means for reaching unbelievers but as a means for instructing, edifying and comforting believers.

The greatest sign. It is possible that (miraculous) signs refers only to the miracles reported in John 2-12. But John placed his conclusion here eight chapters later, and after the farewell Upper Room Discourse (John 13-17) and after Jesus' arrest, trial, death and resurrection (John 18-20). This suggests that the greatest sign of them all is the death, resurrection and exaltation of the incarnate Word, the significance of which has been carefully set forth in the farewell discourse.

Believing is not an end in itself. John writes his Gospel so that we may believe certain propositional truths, especially the truth about who Jesus is (Jn 20:31). But such faith is not an end in itself. It is directed toward the goal of personal, eschatological salvation: "that by believing you may have life in his name" As has been so throughout church history, this is still the purpose of this book today, and at the heart of the Christian mission (Jn 20:21).

After believing (in who Jesus is and what Jesus did on the Cross), we live and experience the life that is truly life.

Conclusion: Before believing, Peter and John were clueless, Mary was sorrowful, the disciples were fearful and Thomas was a doubter. But after meeting Jesus personally and believing, their lives were transformed forever. Their grief was turned to joy. As a result of meeting the risen Jesus, they began to live the life that is truly life. As a result of meeting Jesus, they became believers whose lives can never ever be the same again. Are you a believer?

Questions:

1. On Sun morning, why did Mary go to the tomb (Mk 16:1; Lk 24:1)? What did she notice (Jn 20:1; Mt 28:2)? Do (Jn 20:2a)? Conclude (Jn 20:2b; Mt 28:11-15)? What did Peter and John do? See (Jn 20:3-7)? Believe? Not understand (Jn 20:8-9; Lk 24:26-27, 44-47)? What do you learn about the disciples (Jn 20:19)?
   
2. Why did Mary stay at the tomb (Jn 20:10-13, 15b)? Not recognize Jesus (Jn 20:14)? What is implied by Jesus' question (Jn 20:15a)? How did Mary recognize Jesus (Jn 20:16)? What does Jesus' message mean (Jn 20:17; 1:14; 17:5)? How was Mary changed (Jn 20:18)?
   
3. What does Jesus' appearance to his disciples behind locked doors tell about him (Jn 20:19, 26; 21:9; Lk 24:39; 41-43; 1 Cor 15:42-44)? Why did he show them his hands and side (Jn 20:20a)? How did they respond (Jn 20:20b)?
4. How was his greeting more than a greeting (Jn 20:19b, 21a; 14:26; 16:33; Rom 5:1; Eph 2:14-17)? What did Jesus commission them to do (Jn 20:21b-23; 17:18; Mt 28:19-20; Lk 24:47)? How might this Johannine "Great Commission" be the mission of the church?
   
5. What was Thomas' "unreasonable" demand (Jn 20:24-25)? How did Jesus comply and instruct him (Jn 20:26-27; 2 Tim 2:13)? What is the meaning of Thomas' confession (Jn 20:28; 1:1, 18)? Who are the blessed (Jn 20:29; 1 Pet 1:8; 2 Cor 5:7)?
6. From John's purpose statement (Jn 20:30-31), what are the signs? The major themes in John's Gospel (Jn 1:12-13, 41, 49; 3:16; 17:3)? What might be the greatest sign of all?

Reference:

Carson, D.A. The Gospel According to John. Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company. 1991. IV. Jesus' Self-Disclosure in His Cross and Exaltation (Jn 13:1-20:31), F. The Resurrection of Jesus (Jn 20:1-31). 631-663.