The Gospel of John felt new and fresh for me this spring, though I’ve read it many times. Maybe my soul was hungry for reassurance about some foundational beliefs, and Jesus provided it.
Maybe you could use some reassurance too.
As strong as we are in our Christian walk, the world can suck the life and joy out of us. Besides this, we leak. We must imbibe nourishment from the Scriptures every day to remain full and fruitful in our faith.
There are so many topics I’d love to cover from the gospel of John, it could occupy the rest of the year, or maybe a book to come later.
For now, I’m going to focus on lessons Jesus taught through words and actions during the period between his resurrection and his ascension. For forty days, the resurrected Jesus revealed himself to his disciples many times and in many ways. He communed with them, comforted them, exhorted them, and prepared them for what was to come.
On the fortieth day, Jesus gave final instructions to his apostles on the Mount of Olives, and then they watched him ascend into the heavens.
I will present these lessons in two parts, together comprising Twelve Lessons from the Risen Lord. Most of the references are from John, but I will include additional references from the Synoptic gospels and the Book of Acts.
Let’s listen in on Jesus, our risen Lord, and dive into Lessons 1-6
Lesson 1: Don’t be afraid; be at peace! The disciples of Jesus were terrified and confused by the events surrounding his arrest, crucifixion, and burial. Though Jesus had told them multiple times that he would rise again, they didn’t comprehend. They were overcome with fear, hiding behind locked doors.
So, what did Jesus do first at his first appearance to them? He told them to be at peace.
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!” (John 20:19, emphasis added).
And then, 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!” (20:26)
When we are tempted to be afraid because of world events or personal crises, Jesus instructs us to remain at peace. This is what he offers first to our trembling hearts. It is not the same peace the world can offer. It is higher and greater, a supernatural, transcendent, inexplicable gift (John 14:27; Phil. 4:7).
Lesson 2: I am sending you! Though Jesus’s disciples would not fully understand until Pentecost their mission or how they would be empowered to carry it out, the risen Jesus reiterated this message to them before he left them.
“As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” (John 20:21)
“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” (Mt. 28:19-20).
“He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.’” (Mk.16:15).
“…you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8).
If we profess to be true disciples of Jesus Christ, we must accept his assignment as sent ones. We have been commissioned as ambassadors to tell the world about him, teach his ways, and do good works in his name.
(See previous blog, The Sender and the Sent for more elaboration on Lession # 2).
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Lesson 3: Be filled with the Spirit before going. Jesus taught long before his crucifixion that believers must be born again and filled with the Spirit of God because it is the Spirit that gives life; “the flesh is no help at all” (John 3:3-8; 6:63, ESV). At his second appearance to his disciples after the resurrection, Jesus said,
“As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit” (John 20:22)
Likewise, in Luke 24:49, he declares,
“I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”
And he reminds them in Acts 1:4 and 8,
- “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about…you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses…”
Jesus left no room for doubt that his disciples would need the power of the Holy Spirit dwelling within. Without the Spirit, we are carnal Christians, Christians in name only, who lack the power and authority to represent Christ in the world.
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Lesson 4: Search the Scriptures—I’m in every part and will fulfill every part. Jesus constantly referred to the Old Testament Scriptures that spoke of him in his earthly ministry. He continued this teaching ministry after his resurrection. A powerful example was when he met two disciples on the road to Emmaus:
“He said to them, ‘How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?’ And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.” (Lk. 24:25-27).
What an amazing experience that must have been for these two humble believers! After this teaching session, Jesus vanished, but met up shortly with these two disciples and the rest that were waiting in Jerusalem. Jesus said,
“This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.” (Lk. 24:44).
We must understand that the Bible is about Jesus Christ all the way through. Our never-ending homework is to search the Scriptures, where we will constantly be reminded that everything leads back to him in one way or another. This will support a single-minded devotion to him as our Messiah and Savior.
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Lesson 5: Believe in things you cannot see. It is self-evident that if we experience something with our senseswe readily accept that it exists in reality. Only two kinds of people believe in things that are not perceptible through the five senses—psychotics and people of faith. Followers of Jesus need to be squarely in the second category.
The first time Jesus appeared to the disciples, Thomas was not present. The second time was there, insisting that he wouldn’t believe Jesus was alive unless he could see for himself. Look at how Jesus responds to Thomas:
“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!” Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (John 20:27-29)
It requires no faith to believe in things we can see, hear, smell, taste, or touch, but God honors those who walk by faith and not by sight. As we grow in faith, we become more and more convinced of the spiritual reality of the things of God. This positions us to be witnesses of the supernatural power of God.
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Lesson 6: Eat breakfast! Jesus did many of the same things as a resurrected man that he did before his death. He traveled around, he taught, he served, and he ate.
The disciples had resumed their fishing schedule, but were not catching any fish. Jesus called out to them to lower their nets on the right side of the boat. When they did so, they caught a netful of 153 fish they had to drag behind the boat to haul in because there were too many to carry inside the boat. Perceiving that it was Jesus who had spoken to them, they rushed ashore.
- “When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread. Jesus said to them, ‘Bring some of the fish you have just caught…Come and have breakfast’…Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish.” (John 21:9-10, 12-13).
Luke tells us of a dinner they shared also:
“When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them.” (Luke 24:30).
And Jesus eats too:
They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate it in their presence. (42-43) I can’t help but wonder what they talked about over breakfast.
As we are living this kingdom life in Christ, we can still enjoy normal, everyday experiences. We should take care of ourselves. We should be well-nourished and healthy. And when we are eventually in our resurrected bodies, we will still have the ability, like Jesus, to enjoy food and fellowship.
To summarize, we are to remain at peace, we are to go where and when we are sent, and we must be filled with the Spirit before we go. We must stay in the word of God, acknowledging that it is about Jesus. We are to believe in invisible, supernatural, eternal things. And we should eat well, especially breakfast, because maybe it really is the most important meal of the day.
Signing off for today. Next time, Lessons 7-12.
