SOME MISSIONAL TRUTHS FROM THE POST RESURRECTION ACCOUNT OF JOHN 20:18-22; 

I am excited and enthused when I read the post resurrection stories of Jesus in Johns’ gospel it give us an insight and a key to understanding “ Jesus and His Way.” It invites us to know Him and it offers us an invitation to participate with him in His offer of abundance in life and His gift of love. This gift has embedded within it the real gift of  forgiveness and the possibility of real hope to people who are confused, lacking purpose and direction.

In the gospel of John. chapter 20:18 – 22; onwards we read about the dramatic  witness of Mary “I have seen the Lord”. His disciples were perplexed, their hopes were shattered and they were hiding behind locked doors, scared and bewildered by the crucifixion and the death of their teacher and leader. There was this strange news filtering through that Mary  Magdalene had seen and spoken to Jesus!  He is risen and alive!  Was this true?  Could the testimony of a woman be trusted? No one was quite sure what to make of these recent happenings.

John dramatically records in his gospel that “Jesus came and stood among them and said “Peace be with You!”  Jesus then shows them the physical scars of his ordeal on the cross.  The sheer amazement and joy of his disciples is palpable, it makes my skin tingle with excitement and anticipation. Oh how we in the Church need to experience this Living Jesus who is alive and real!  Jesus then said “…Peace be with you as the Father has sent me, I am sending you…”  John goes on to record he breathed on them and said “… Receive the Holy Spirit…” Jn.20:21-22; This an amazing!  I have been thinking a great deal about this and would like to offer some insights and reflections which I hope encourage and build those of you who read this blog.

1. The change of Mood: Note is the change in the atmosphere, from fear and despair to Joy. The mood of Easter is pure Joy! We could do with more joy in our lives and in our local churches.

2. It confirmed the witness of Mary He “Jesus” is Risen!  It was Jesus who chose Mary to be the bearer of the Easter tiding “He is alive!” Jesus was radical by challenging the prevailing view that the witness of a woman was unreliable and could  not be trusted. He entrusted a woman with the most stupendous truth of the reality of His Resurrection. He trusted this faithful woman who by her actions expresses her devotion to Him. Jesus dignifies women through his commissioning of Mary to share with the brethren the good news of Easter “…the Lord is risen!”

3. The resurrection announcement brought with it the amazing hope of a life beyond the grave. The good news is that Jesus is alive. This reality gives new meaning and hope to the obedience and love of Jesus on the cross. It highlights the power of God to raise Jesus from the grave. This resurrection power in Jesus demonstrates the triumph of good over evil. light over darkness and life over death. Jesus is King over life and death. He inspires His disciples not just to believe in life after death but to appreciate and believe in the power of a life well lived! The life of abundance that only Jesus offers to any and all who come to Him.

4. Jesus the Shalom of God: The repetition of the greeting of “Shalom!” i.e. Peace by Jesus was reassuring and a confidence builder, not only was Jesus alive but He was present with his disciples. He was able to show them His wounds inflicted on the Cross and now they were scars, healing was taking place. His work on the Cross was indeed finished there was no looking back. The work entrusted by the Father to the Son must continue in a new way through His students, but they needed to understand this task. It was Emil Bruner who famously said the ‘Church is to mission as fire is to burning’. Therefore we are called to recognise that following Jesus is an invitation to participate in the continuing mission of God who sent His Son Jesus in to His World with the power of His Spirit and His Word.