Seeing and Believing

John 20:1–31 – John
Easter Sunday – April 20, 2025 (am)     

Christ is risen! (He is risen, indeed!) From the earliest days of the NT church this greeting has expressed the deepest joy of those who know Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. It reminds us of the central truth of our faith, the astoundingly amazing, almost inconceivable and unbelievable reality that Jesus Christ really did rise from the dead to complete and confirm the saving work He provided on the cross for the salvation of all who believe, all who receive Him by faith.

Other expressions also remind us of this truth: corporate worship gatherings moving from the Jewish tradition of Saturday, the Sabbath, to Sunday, the Lord’s Day—Resurrection Day—that’s a huge reminder. Songs, like those we’ve sung this morning capture the joyful celebrations of Jesus’ resurrection from different times and places throughout church history. That’s huge as well.

We’ll participate in another form of reminder later in our service today—the one established by Jesus Himself before going to the cross. But some here today will say: I still find it hard to believe that He really did come back to life from the dead. It just seems so unbelievable to me, even though I know Christians celebrate it week by week as the centerpiece of their faith.

I understand. Resurrection is not something we see every day, or even periodically. That’s one reason why even believers need so many different kinds of reminders. We can forget—sometimes actually forgetting it even happened. We can also forget what it means, or live in such a way that it means almost nothing. But Jesus rising from the dead changes everything in this life, everything in this universe, and not just in time, but for all eternity.

You’ve heard me mention my good friend, the psychiatry professor at Northwestern. It’s not that I have no other examples to cite on this point. But I’ve just never met anyone who listened more intently to my telling of the whole story of Jesus, then processed it more quickly, then expressed its implications more concisely! His response after a moment of silent reflection was: If this is true, it changes everything. One’s whole life would have to be lived entirely differently. I answered: Yes, that’s precisely what it means. Scripture says: 2Co.5:17 … old things have passed away; behold all things become new (nkjv). And even though we’d talked often about the gospel and the many similarities between his work and mine, he never wanted to talk about it again after that conversation. He’d understood what it meant to be a Christian, to need and to trust in Jesus as Savior, but by his own admission he feared the implications it would have on his life. So, he turned away. He rejected it.

The resurrection of Jesus is not just an amazing event. It’s the pivotal event in all of human history. If it’s true, it does change everything. And we believe it’s true. That’s why we gather every Sunday to refresh our relationship with God through Jesus, to encourage one another along in this walk of faith, to remind one another that Jesus died in payment for our sins, rose from the grave in victory over sin and death, and, as He eventually draws this world to a close, those who receive Him will likewise rise from the dead to live with Him forever in His new heaven and earth. We really do believe these things! And the resurrection of Jesus is the central proof that they really are true

But some of you may say, I’m just not sure I believe it. It seems like there are a lot of obstacles that would impede believing it. And each one here would say: We understand that. But Scripture presents the story in ways that the very main obstacles most of us would identify are actually addressed head-on. Joh.20:1-31 is one of the passages which does just that. Let’s walk through it together; it plays out in four scenes.

Peter and John saw the empty tomb and believed. – 1-10

On the Sunday morning after Jesus had been crucified and buried on Friday, 2 … Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, even before the sun had come up, likely alone, and she was shocked to see that the stone had been [rolled] away from the tomb (1), 2 So she ran to tell… Peter and [John] that Jesus’ body had been removed and she did not know where it had been taken. There’s little doubt why she was so grief-stricken. History tells us that grave-stealing and -desecration were so common that the Emperor Claudius made them a capital offense; they earned the death penalty (Carson 1991 636).

So, Peter [and John ran to] the tomb (3); Mary (and others [Mat.28:1; Mar.16:1; Luk.24:10]) soon followed. [John] got there first (4) and saw the grave clothes—so, no chance the body was stolen—but he did not go inside the tomb (5). Peter arrived next and, true to form, bolted right in! He saw the linen cloths (6) too. The cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head was folded up and lying off by itself (7)—an interesting, confirming detail.

Then [John] went in. As he looked around, he saw the empty tomb and the grave clothes, and [he] believed (8) that Jesus had indeed risen from the dead. Until then, neither he nor any of the other disciples could understand the Scripture that Messiah must rise from the dead (9), even though Jesus had told them several times that this is what would happen (cf. Luk.24:46). They just didn’t get it.

They didn’t fully grasp what the poet had meant in Psa.16:10 You will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption. They didn’t connect the words of Hosea the prophet: Hos.6:2 After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will raise us up, that we may live before him. They hadn’t processed the implications of the dry bones coming to life in Eze.37:1-14, having their flesh and [muscle] restored and receiving the breath of life. He just didn’t understand. We might call this ignorance.

But seeing the empty tomb opened [John’s] mind (8) to understand Scripture (9) and to comprehend what Jesus had been teaching. [John] saw the empty tomb and he believed (8). Scripture came alive to him right there and then.

Mary saw Jesus and believed. – 11-18

As the others left, Mary remained behind at the tomb, weep-ing. She stooped to look inside again (11), likely just stunned that all this was really happening. But what she saw in there shocked her even more. There were two angels, one sitting where Jesus’ head had been, and the other at [His] feet (12). 13 They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She [answered], “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” Then, for some unexplained reason, her attention was drawn away from the two angels.

14 … she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but, and this is what the text says, she did not know that it was Jesus. Actually, I doubt that any of us would’ve recognized Him either if we’d seen what Mary saw just two days before—all the beating and abuse of crucifixion. Jesus [also asked] her why she was [crying] and whom [she was looking for]. 15 … Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.”

Very troubled, and probably less and less hopeful of finding Jesus’ body, Mary was jolted out of her grief by one word: Jesus said her name (16): “Mary.” Was it His voice she recognized? His inflection, maybe? Did He communicate familiarity somehow? Or compassion? Whatever it was, she instantly recognized Him, and replied in kind, with one word (16): “Teacher!” Seeing Him overcame her grief, her mourning, her desperation, and she believed (cf. 18). In fact, Matthew (28:9) said she fell before Him grasping His feet.

Jesus told her not to cling to [Him] (17). He wasn’t going to disappear before her eyes even though He was moving toward His ascension back to his Father, just as He’d recently taught His disciples (16:7). But He had an assignment for her: He wanted her to go and tell the disciples, his brothers (17) He called them, that He would be ascending up to heaven, to [His] Father and [theirs], to [His] God and [theirs].

Mary returned to the disciples and reported that she’d seen the Lord. And she told them what he had said… to her (18). But, bottom line for us on this part of the story today, Mary saw the resurrected Jesus and believed, despite her grief.

The disciples saw Jesus’ wounds and believed. – 19-23

That evening of the first Easter Sunday, while the disciples were gathered behind locked doors for fear of the Jews (19), 19 … Jesus [appeared] among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” He reassured them of Who He is by showing them his hands and side (20). And then—and I’m sure this is an understatement—they were glad [to see Him]! (20) The disciples saw Jesus’ wounds and believed (cf. 25, 29) that He was risen from the dead. Their fear may not have been removed immediately, but it surely didn’t impede their belief.

Once again He bid them peace (21), suggesting that He’d meant more than just the familiar Hebrew greeting the first time He said it. They needed peace. And He spoke it. This is the peace that’ll find its ultimate fulfillment when they’re with Him in heaven forever, but it was already available to them in part right then. ‘Shalom!’ on Easter evening is the complement of ‘it is finished’ on the cross, for the peace of reconciliation and life from God is now [granted] (Carson 1991 647). And they would become messengers of that peace (21-23).

So, ten of the remaining eleven disciples, hiding in fear, saw the wounds of the resurrected Jesus’ and believed. (cf. 25) But there was one among them who’d missed all of this.

Thomas inspected Jesus’ wounds and believed. – 24-29

24 Now Thomas, one of the Twelve…, was not with them when Jesus came. [John] gives no reason for his absence. But when Thomas heard what had happened he was pretty skeptical about their testimony. He stated in no uncertain terms—likely what he thought were impossible terms—that he’d need irrefutable proof that Jesus was alive. His exact words were: 25 … Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.

Now, Thomas was the one who’d urged the disciples to go to Jerusalem with Jesus even if it meant their death (11:16). Remember Eeyore? Moody, but all-in! Still, there’s something in his very specific demand that sounds like the attitude Jesus rebuked in that Jewish official back in c.4—48 Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe.

26 Eight days later…, when the disciples were together, again behind locked doors, Thomas was present. And Jesus again appeared and greeted them with peace (26). Then He spoke directly to Thomas about his statement. Jesus charged him to inspect His wounds (27). And evidently Thomas did so. But Jesus also said: 27 … Do not disbelieve, but believe. Thomas responded with one of the most simple but glorious confessions in all of Scripture: 28 … My Lord and my God! Laying down his doubt, he saw Jesus’ wounds and believed.

Conclusion

Obstacle after obstacle has disappeared here in John’s resurrection account—his and Peter ignorance, Mary’s grief, the fear of the ten disciples, and Thomas’ doubt—each swept away in the presence of the resurrected Jesus. My friends, what obstacles are impeding your belief in the resurrected Jesus today?

Do you feel that you just don’t know enough Scripture, enough about Jesus, or how His story all fits together? Just know that lack of knowledge needn’t stand between you and God. All you need to know is that you are separated from Him because of your sin; and that your sin renders you unable to do anything to repair your relationship with Him. But Jesus has provided for that. He’s met all God’s requirements for relationship, and He offers to give them all to you as a gift! (cf. 6:39) [John], the author of this Gospel, learned that very truth in this very passage. And he presents each of us with that same opportunity. 30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. This was [John’s] whole purpose, to help those who have not seen still believe (cf. 29).

Perhaps there is grief in your life, some deep struggle that’s placed you out of sorts with God. Perhaps it’s left you unable to recognize when He’s right there with you, like Mary at the tomb. Please don’t leave here today without turning to Him and trusting Him as Lord and God. We live in a painful world. But if we turn away from the only One in the universe Who’s truly able to understand our pain, and to do something about it, we’ve rejected our only hope. Don’t let grief keep you separated from Jesus.

Are you fearful of belief for some reason—perhaps a very different reason than the disciples in the locked room, but perhaps not? Are you fearful of how others will respond to your faith? Are you fearful of how you’ll respond, what it might cost you, like my psychiatrist friend? The writer of Hebrews quoted the psalmist (118:6) saying: Heb.13:6 The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me? Scripture says the perfect love of Jesus will cast out such fear (1Jo.4:18). Don’t let fear keep you separated from Jesus when He’s the only true remedy for fear.

Perhaps your struggle is doubt. You just don’t believe that Jesus rose from the dead, or that He could be the only way to salvation. Those two thoughts are almost certainly tied together. May I remind you of Thomas’ story? He was as skeptical as any; but when he saw Jesus, he melted. Perhaps we can’t see Jesus directly today, but we can surely identify with Thomas’ doubt. And we can also hear his confession.

We can see that it would’ve been virtually impossible for the story of the resurrection to gain any credibility if the tomb hadn’t been empty, and Jesus hadn’t been seen alive by so many people.

Matthew (28:11ff.) records that hardened skeptics were already present back then, and that religious officials were the source of the early rumor that the disciples had stolen the body. But how would they’ve even managed that, fearful as they were? How would they’ve eluded the Roman guard stationed there to prevent that very action? How would they’ve remained unseen while moving that heavy stone, and then escape unnoticed?

Others suggest Jesus didn’t really die. He just passed out from the severe beating and was resuscitated in the cool air of the tomb. But how would He have been able to recover so completely in thirty-six hours from a beating that left him apparently dead? How would He have been able to convince anyone, even closest friends like the disciples and Mary, that He was risen, not just resuscitated? He would’ve needed extensive medical treatment and extended recovery time before He’d have been able to pull off anything like that.

Others say that the disciples just made it all up. But the Jewish or Roman authorities would only have had to produce the body and their lie would’ve been exposed.

If they went to the wrong tomb at first, they’d surely just have moved on to the right one; it had only been a couple of days since He was buried.

No, all this happened before a watching world. The response of the disciples—like their gathering behind locked doors out of fear—confirmed that Jesus was indeed crucified, dead, and buried. They were terror-stricken that they were next. But then their behavior turned on a dime. From hiding behind locked doors to preaching in the streets! This is exactly what you’d expect if they suddenly realized, and were fully persuaded, that Jesus really did rise from the dead. We may have doubts. But all these details challenge our doubts continuously, and they just won’t keep silent.

Summary Questions

So, I ask, what is it that stands between you and belief in Jesus? If you were my friend the psychiatrist, what would be your reason for walking away from faith in Him?

Do your objections hold water? Are they airtight? Are you absolutely confident you’re right and the Bible is wrong? Or is it possible that now’s the time to reconsider the claims of Jesus once again?`

And what better could happen on this Resurrection Sunday than to have your obstacles removed so that you can receive by faith the forgiveness of sins and eternal life that Jesus died and rose again to provide?

Let’s now remember His death together by receiving His body and blood. And let’s do it in light of His resurrection, proclaiming [His] death until He comes (1Co.11:26).

 _____________________

Resources

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Barclay, William. 1975. The Daily Study Bible Series. The Gospel of John, Revised Edition. Louisville: Westminster John Knox.

Beale, G. K., & D. A. Carson, eds. 2007. Commentary on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament. John, by Andreas J. Köstenberger, 415-512. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic.

Bruce, F. F. 1983. The Gospel of John. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans.

                  , Gordon D. Fee, & Ned B. Stonehouse, gen. eds. 1995. The New International Commentary on the New Testament. The Gospel According to John, Revised Edition, by Leon Morris. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans.

Calvin, John. 1553. Commentary on the Gospel According to John, trans. by, William Pringle. Logos.

Carson, D. A., gen. ed. 1991. The Pillar New Testament Commentary. The Gospel According to John, by D. A. Carson. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans.

                  , R. T. France, J. A. Motyer, & G. J. Wenham, eds. 1994. New Bible Commentary 21st Century Edition. John, by Donald Guthrie, 1021-1065. Leicester, Eng.: InterVarsity.

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Dever, Mark. 2005. The Message of the New Testament. Ch. 4, The Message of John: Jesus, the Son of God, 101-122. Wheaton: Crossway.

Grudem, Wayne, ed. 2008. ESV Study Bible. Study notes on John, 2015-2072, by Andreas J. Köstenberger. Wheaton: Crossway.

Longman III, Tremper, & David E. Garland, eds. 2007. Revised Expositor’s Bible Commentary. Vol. 10, Luke-Acts. John, by Robert H. Mounce, 357-661. Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

Martin, Ralph P., & Lynn Allan Losie, NT eds. 1999. Word Biblical Commentary. Vol. 36, John, Second Edition, by George R. Beasley-Murray. Dallas: Word.

Morris, Leon, gen. ed. 2003. Tyndale New Testament Commentaries. Vol. 4, John, by Colin G. Kruse. Downers Grove: InterVarsity.

Osborne, Grant, ed. 1993. Life Application Bible Commentary. John, by Bruce B. Barton, Philip W. Comfort, David R. Veerman, & Neil Wilson. Wheaton: Tyndale.

Tasker, R. V. G. 2000. Tyndale New Testament Commentary. Vol. 4, John. Leicester, Eng.: InterVarsity.

Tenney, Merrill C. 1976. John: The Gospel of Belief. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans.

NEXT SUNDAY: His Commandment Is Eternal Life, John 12:37–50