Two Year Gospel Study Week 104

The Gospel of John Week 26
Scripture: John 20:19 - 21:25.

Today’s study will conclude our two year study of the Gospels with a dramatic and amazing ending.

We begin with John 20:19, it is the first day of the week (Sunday) and the disciples were together with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders. Suddenly Jesus was standing among them saying “Peace be with you.” This is a phrase in English that sounds so common, like “have a good day.” But in Hebrew it carries much more meaning.

Shalom (peace) more than just an absence of conflict or warfare, it refers to all creation - it means everything is right between us and God. Real peace, lasting peace, God’s peace, life-changing peace the way things were intended to be before sin broke into a perfect creation.

Jesus shows them His hands and side and the disciples are overjoyed. Everything the Jewish people have been longing for has come to a dramatic crescendo. Then He breathed on them saying, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” 

In verse 23 Jesus says, “If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” Pastor spends time digging into what this verse is really saying.  When we accept Jesus as our Savior our sins are forgiven through faith in Christ. But to those who say they don’t need a Savior, that think they are just fine on their own, we can say to them, “That won’t cut it. Without Christ there is no hope.”  Acts 4:12 "And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." This commission from Jesus is given so that they can speak truth, so that they can use it to draw people into a relationship with the Living God.

We read next of “Doubting Thomas.” The disciples are again gathered together and Jesus appears, “Peace be with you. Put your finger here and put your hand into my side and stop doubting and believe!” And Thomas replies, “My Lord and my God!” That’s not just an expression, this is a clear biblical title for the Living God. And Thomas suddenly realized that Jesus is not only alive, but He is the very One that was promised. Jesus is more than a miracle worker, He’s more than a great teacher, He is God come to earth.

John concludes chapter 20 with these words, “Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. 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.”

We move into chapter 21, the epilogue. Pastor starts this chapter by sharing the story of a friend, a Russian Jew, who moved to Israel and became a Messianic believer and follower of Jesus. Pastor goes on to share the growth of Jewish believers in Jesus worldwide.

Our story continues with the disciples fishing all night and not catching anything. Then a voice calls out to them to put their nets on the right side of the boat. When they do they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish. John knows who the man is, “It is the Lord!” And Peter swims ashore.

Pastor talks about the importance of the fire Jesus had started on shore to emphasize God’s intentions. Jesus invites them to breakfast with Him but Jesus has a personal conversation with Peter. Purposefully, Jesus asks Peter 3 times (remember Peter denied knowing Jesus 3 times), “Do you love Me?” Peter responds yes each time and Jesus replies with, “Feed my sheep.” Peter is forgiven, restored.

This gospel ends with these dramatic words, “Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.”

Jesus is in the business of redeeming and restoring and renewing, changing lives, transforming families, rebuilding communities, changing entire nations and continents.

John is saying you’ve only caught a glimpse! Can you imagine the stories we’re going to hear after Jesus returns!

This is an incredible, amazing, uplifting, joyful, thought provoking, life-changing book!

Thank you for joining us on this great two year tour of the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John!

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    ⁃    The Gospel of John study is part five of five of our Two Year Study of the Gospels. 
    ⁃    The Gospel of John may be one of the most powerful books ever written. Many people have come to faith after reading only this book of the Bible.  Scholarly and archeological discoveries in recent decades give us new insight on details in the Gospel of John. We can now understand it as the most Jewish rather than the most “Gentile/Greek” of the Gospels, and and we see many things that we missed before.