John 20, the Resurrection of Jesus Christ! We talked about discovering the empty tomb, What is the temple? (a building or our bodies?), The Hebrew Feast of First Fruits and who are the 144,000? (Hint: Matt 27:51-53, Who came out of those graves?) and Doubting Thomas and the importance of believing without seeing.
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1 The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.
2 Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him.
3 Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre.
4 So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre.
5 And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in. John 20: 1-5
v1 Jesus resurrects exactly 3 days and 3 nights after his crucifixion (around Wed 3pm), on Sat (around 3pm). Remember “He is the Sabbath”.
Note: In Hebrew, a new “Calendar Day/24-hr period”, starts at 6pm rather than midnight. It starts with 12 hrs of “nighttime” followed by 12 hrs of “daytime”. Many cultures don’t use pagan names for the Days of the week, but rather 1st day, 2nd day, 3rd day, 4th day, 5th day, 6th day, Shabbat.
Even though Jesus resurrects late in the “daytime” of Shabbat (before 6pm), His empty tomb is actually not discovered until about 12 hrs later, on the “nighttime” of Sunday/1st Day (just before 6am)
v2 Sometimes you might hear atheists try to argue the resurrection did not happen. This is an extremely weak and desperate argument. During Jesus’ time, women were not considered credible witnesses, and to make up a story with women being the first to discover the empty tomb would not make sense, unless it were true. For strong arguments for the Resurrection, I’d recommend the following…
v3-5 John was younger than Peter, yet more contemplative. He had to process what the linen clothes lying there could mean
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6 Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie,
7 And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself.
8 Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed.
9 For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead. John 20:6-9
v6-7 Hebrew custom was to wrap the body up to the shoulders and have a separate covering for the head. Note how the napkin for the head is neatly wrapped and off to the side, not a likely situation for people coming to take the body in haste (thanks Jason).
v8 John eventually goes into the sepulchre, and immediately comes to believe
v9 Scripture means writings, and this can simply be a reference to John 2: 18-22…
18 Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things?
19 Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.
20 Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days?
21 But he spake of the temple of his body.
22 When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said. John 2: 18-22
But there are also some Old Testament scriptures as well, like
Psalm 16,
Hosea 6:1-3, and Jonah 1:17
“Now the LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.”
One quick note about the temple in John 2: 18-22. Jesus is not referring to the physical temple (as the Jews think), but is referring to the temple of his body. As per 1 Cor 6:19, our body is also a temple, meant for the Holy Spirit…
Beware the doctrine of needing to restore a physical temple in Jerusalem and to restore the ritual sacrifices. Our body is the temple, and all the old rituals just served as a type and shadow for Jesus, the ultimate sacrifice, one time, for all time, “It is finished!”. Jesus is enough and it’s deception to think any more needs to be done, other than have the Holy Spirit inhabit our own temples (to Walk by the Spirit and not by the Flesh).
By having people focus on a physical temple, the people that rule this world distract you from what’s going on in the temple of your body. There is a great effort to destroy or corrupt the Soul (our Mind, Will and Emotions), preventing the Holy Spirit from occupying our temple.
We talked briefly about the many ways, the Soul (Mind, Will and Emotions) is being corrupted, which also includes Pharmakeia, Fluoride (pineal gland), Teaching Evolution, Promoting Materialism, Ignoring the Supernatural, “Believing in yourself”, “Do what thou wilt! (Satan’s motto, not God’s will be done, but your own will), Yoga (means to yoke yourself to, to attach yourself to another spirit), etc.
Being Born Again is easy, it’s simply accepting Jesus as Lord and Saviour (Thief on the Cross: “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.”), and God is gracious enough to do it, but walking by the Spirit, is the continual process of surrendering our wills, to God’s will. As we do so, His love and power flows through us.
10 Then the disciples went away again unto their own home.
11 But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre,
12 And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.
13 And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him. John 20: 10-13
v12 Note the position of the angels, one at the head and one at the feet, over the place where Jesus’ body had lain:
It’s a picture of the Ark of the Covenant, and how the New Covenant was confirmed by the blood of Jesus, our sacrificial lamb.
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14And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.
15Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.
16Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.
17Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God. John 20: 14-17
v14-16 Mary did not turn twice, the first turn was a half turn, looking towards the door (she may have heard a sound or sensed Jesus there), followed by a full turn to face Him when she recognized Him as Jesus. This is a beautiful picture of Repentance, which means to turn around. God/Jesus is constantly calling to us, in many more ways than people generally recognize, and we are meant to turn around and see Him.
v17 Jesus does not want Mary to touch him yet, as He is preparing to be presented to God, as part of the Hebrew Festival of First Fruits. Referencing the calendar above, Mary is seeing Him early in the “daytime” of Sunday/1st day (just after 6am). He will be presented at 9am, and then will be ready to visit the disciples before the “daytime” ends, (ie. before 6pm on Sunday, see v19). Feast of First Fruits in Leviticus 23: 10-14…
10 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come into the land which I give unto you, and shall reap the harvest thereof, then ye shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest unto the priest:
11 And he shall wave the sheaf before the LORD, to be accepted for you: on the morrow after the sabbath the priest shall wave it.
12 And ye shall offer that day when ye wave the sheaf an he lamb without blemish of the first year for a burnt offering unto the LORD.
13 And the meat offering thereof shall be two tenth deals of fine flour mingled with oil, an offering made by fire unto the LORD for a sweet savour: and the drink offering thereof shall be of wine, the fourth part of an hin.
14 And ye shall eat neither bread, nor parched grain, nor fresh grain, until the selfsame day that ye have brought an offering unto your God: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings. Lev 23: 10-14
In the period of the Temple, as the Sabbath during the 1st day of Unleavened Bread ended, the priests went to a field on the outskirts of Jerusalem and scythed a measure of the first-ripe choicest barley grain – the ‘firstfruits’ of the crop – which had earlier been marked out by members of the Sanhedrin. It was to be offered in the Temple “on the day after the Sabbath” (Leviticus 23:11). It was prepared the evening before and the sheaf made of fine flour and oil was “lifted up” (waved) before Yahweh in a ceremony at 9 am on that morning together with the sacrifice of a lamb, as a sweet-smelling offering to Yahweh.
Each family also, as Yahweh commanded brought a single bundle of their firstfruit of the barley crop to the Temple on the day after the Sabbath of the first day of unleavened bread and the priest would then wave it before Yahweh. This was considered the “early firstfruit” – the “latter firstfruit” being at the end of the 50th day from this time, which from the Greek word has been called Pentecost (meaning fifty), or Shavuot in Hebrew.
Note a few things from these 2 passages, the he lamb without blemish of the first year (“remember Year of the Lord”) represents Jesus, the barley comes before the grain. The barley represents the ‘first fruits’ (plural) of the crop, but would be a blessing for the entire crop.
Wheat is a picture of humble believers who are ripe or mature bowing before the Lord. Barley symbolizes the Jewish Harvest. Wheat is also a picture of the Gentile Harvest. Although barley and wheat were both planted in the autumn, barley matured faster and would be harvested sooner. The firstfruits of grain offered during the Festival of Unleavened Bread or First Fruits would have been barley.
Now pay attention, to this often glossed over passage from Matthew 27: 50-53…
50 Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.
51 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;
52 And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,
53 And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many. Matt 27: 50-53
This is the Barley Harvest. The Hebrews waiting for the promised Messiah. These are the first fruits, among which Jesus is included as the very first fruit.
21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. 22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. 23 But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him.
Verse 23 is very interesting. In the
KJV, the wording is “every man in his own order” as if to render a list, but usually a list should be 3 or more items (not just 2). Also, “Christ the firstfruits” appears without a comma and doesn’t make sense as firstfruits is plural. The version above is from the NET Bible, and describes the proper list, Christ first, then the firstfruits (Barley Harvest), and then all future believers (Wheat Harvest).
So how many of these saints came out of the grave? 144,000! Read Revelation 7 and 14. One tip for understanding Revelation, the author John shows the end times from multiple viewpoints (like a hockey game having multiple camera angles of the same play). Ch. 7 shows the viewpoint from earth, while Ch. 14 shows the viewpoint from heaven.
https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Revelation-14-1_14-5/ (Note that this is in Heaven, the 144,000 are redeemed from the earth, ‘virgins’ is not literal but speaks of being defiled by false religion (eg. Babylon the Harlot), quite clearly v4 reads: “
These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb”)
One last item of evidence that the 144,000 were these resurrected Hebrews from Matt 27, comes from the Gospel of Nicodemus, aka The Acts of Pontius Pilate:
As always, with these non-canon writings, there are some questions to authenticity, or things being added in, but I think you’ll find it a fairly consistent testimony of further details of Jesus’ trial, what happened to Joseph of Arimethea after Jesus’ burial, and what’s with these saints coming out of their graves? I’d read the whole thing, but the most relevant passage comes from Part II, Chapter 11:
These are the divine and holy mysteries which we saw and heard, even I, Karinus, and Leucius: but we were not suffered to relate further the rest of the mysteries of God, according as Michael the archangel strictly charged us, saying: Ye shall go with your brethren unto Jerusalem and remain in prayer, crying out and glorifying the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, who hath raised you from the dead together with him: and ye shall not be speaking with any man, but sit as dumb men, until the hour come when the Lord himself suffereth you to declare the mysteries of his god head. But unto us Michael the archangel gave commandment that we should go over Jordan unto a place rich and fertile, where are many which rose again together with us for a testimony of the resurrection of Christ the Lord. For three days only were allowed unto us who rose from the dead, to keep the passover of the Lord in Jerusalem with our kindred (parents) that are living for a testimony of the resurrection of Christ the Lord: and we were baptized in the holy river of Jordan and received white robes, every one of us. And after the three days, when we had kept the passover of the Lord, all they were caught up in the clouds which had risen again with us, and were taken over Jordan and were no more seen of any man. But unto us it was said that we should remain in the city of Arimathaea and continue in prayer.
These be all things which the Lord bade us declare unto you: give praise and thanksgiving (confession) unto him, and repent that he may have mercy upon you. Peace be unto you from the same Lord Jesus Christ which is the Saviour of us all. Amen.
And when they had finished writing all things in the several volumes of paper they arose; and Karinus gave that which he had written into the hands of Annas and Caiaphas and Gamaliel; likewise Leucius gave that which he had written into the hands of Nicodemus and Joseph. And suddenly they were transfigured and became white exceedingly and were no more seen. But their writings were found to be the same (lit. equal), neither more nor less by one letter.
Interpretation is to open as to whether these 144,000 will return to preach to the nations in the end times (I suspect they will as they are sealed and protected in the Book of Revelation)
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18 Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her.
19 Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.
20 And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord. John 20:18-20
v19 Shortly before Sunday 6pm after Jesus has already been presented before His Father as part of the First Fruits. The disciples were scared and shut the doors. Jesus in His Resurrected body passes through the doors. He tells them not to fear “Peace be unto you”
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21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.
22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:
23 Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained. John 20:21-23
v21-23 One of my favourite passages… Jesus is the model. “Don’t be like the disciples, Be like Jesus”. Just as the Father had the Holy Spirit work through Jesus (John 1), Jesus has the Holy Spirit work through us. A better rendering of this passage is the NASB version, which pays close attention to proper tense, which is more particular in Greek than in English. Through Holy Spirit discernment, God will put upon your heart to do His will, such as forgiving sins / preaching the Good News, and as you do this, know that God has already forgiven the sin for that person. He will show this, through signs and wonders (Read the Healing of the Paralytic Man in Luke 5: 17-26). This is the manifestation of the Sons of God, being obedient to God’s will, and manifesting His Love and Power on the earth.
https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Acts-3-1_3-16/ (Another example from Acts 3, where Peter and John heal the lame man. God has arranged this divine appt (there were many others who could have been healed, but this one stood out), and by simply following the lead of the Holy Spirit, the lame man was healed. It was not by John or Peter’s power, but by faith in Jesus’ name.)
https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Mark-16-15_16-20/ (The Great Commission, basically an overlap of John 20:23,
“Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature, He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned, And these signs shall follow them that believe…” Be obedient to the Holy Spirit, and signs and wonders will follow). Thanks to all who shared their testimonies of the Holy Spirit putting something on their heart, and the fruit that followed from their obedience.
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24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.
25 The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.
26 And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.
27 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.
28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. John 20: 24-28
v25 Thomas needs to see to believe
v27 Remember
pisteuo = trust in Greek, the words in the last phrase are variations of pisteuo, “Be not untrusting, but trusting”
v28 Note: Thomas doesn’t touch Jesus, He sees Him, but it’s Jesus’ words that put the conviction in his heart to recognize Jesus as both his Master, and the one he should worship
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29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.
30 And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book:
31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.
v29 There are many who will not see, but will believe
v31 John takes us back to the point of his gospel, that you may believe Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and to believe you may have everlasting life (the zoe life), through His name
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More links related to the study:
www.Godstruegems.ca (website with all the studies up to John 14 and more on the way. Feel free to share and comment)
Ch. 10, Fallen Angels sentenced to watch their offspring, the Nephilim (earthborn), die, starting 500 years before the flood, and then the fallen angels would be bound for 70 generations (ie. 70 x 70 = 4900yrs), flood is generally dated 2348 BC +/- 30 – 500 + 4900 = 2023 – 2083 AD (or right about now)
Ch. 17-24 Journey through Hell, Tartarus (where Fallen Angels held in chains), Paradise (place for the righteous dead), Sheol (place of torments for the unrighteous dead, 3 divisions), Lake of Fire (final fate for Fallen Angels and some men)
