John 20:19-23

1. We should observe the remarkable language with which our Lord greeted the apostles, when He first met them after His resurrection.
2. We should observe the remarkable evidence which our Lord supplied of His own resurrection.
3. We should observe the remarkable commission which our Lord conferred upon His eleven apostles.

"Peace, we may safely conclude, was intended by our Lord to be the keynote to the Christian ministry. That same peace which was so continually on the lips of the Master was to be the great subject of the teaching of His disciples. Peace between God and humanity through the precious blood of atonement, peace between men and women through the infusion of grace and charity, to spread such peace as this was to be the work of the church."

"That principle is that our Master requires us to believe nothing that is contrary to our senses. Things above our reason we must expect to find in a faith that comes from God, but not things contrary to reason."

"To treat ministers as being in any sense mediators between us and God is to rob Christ of His prerogative, to hide saving truth from sinners and to exalt ordained ministers to a position which they are totally unqualified to fill."

Questions:

1. Jesus' first words to his disciples is peace. Ryle points out that this should be no surprise as this was the song sung by angels at Christ's birth, and was the general subject of what he preached for 3 years. Peace with God through the blood of Christ is what the church must proclaim and promote in the world. Is that what we promote and what our churches promote?
2. Jesus condescends to his disciples by having them see that he had a real body. Ryle, in light of this, lays down a helpful principle, namely that although we can expect to find things above our reason when it comes to knowing God (like the Trinity), we should not expect anything contrary to reason (like Roman Catholicism telling us that the bread and wine are actually and really the body and blood of Jesus). How does this principle help you?
3. We see Jesus commissioning his disciples. Ryle warns that this passage has been the subject of controversy for hundreds of years, and gives a more probably understanding, namely that the apostles were commissioned to preach the gospel, which was also means by which sins would be forgiven upon hearing and believing. He warns against the silence of such arguments that would give them authority to absolve people of sins, evidence of which we would expect to see in Acts and the Pastoral Epistles but find nothing of the sort. He exhorts us to respect the high office of the minister in his gospel ministry, but warns against investing more power and authority than Christ has given. If a pastor, how do you see your role? If not, what role and authority do you see in your pastor?

John 20:11-18

1. We see that those who love Christ most diligently and perseveringly are those who receive most privileges from Christ’s hand.
2. We see that the fears and sorrows of believers are often quite needless.
3. We see what earthly thoughts of Christ may creep into the mind of a true believer.

"All believers have not the same degree of faith, hope, knowledge, courage or wisdom and it is foolish to expect it. But it is a certain fact that those who love Christ most fervently and cleave to Him most closely will always enjoy most communion with Him and feel most of the witness of the Spirit in their hearts."

"Two-thirds of the things we fear in life never happen at all and two-thirds of the tears we shed are thrown away and shed in vain. Let us pray for more faith and patience and allow more time for the full development of God’s purposes."

"In every age there has been a tendency in the minds of many, to make too much of Christ’s bodily presence and to forget that He is not a mere earthly Friend, but one who is God over all, blessed forever, as well as human. Let us pray for a right judgment in this matter, as in all other things concerning our Lord’s person. Let us be content to have Christ dwelling in our hearts by faith, and present when two or three are met in His name, and to wait for the real presence of Christ’s body till He comes again."

"As He dealt with His erring disciples on the morning of His resurrection, so will He deal with all who believe and love Him until He comes again. When we wander out of the way He will bring us back. When we fall He will raise us again."

Questions:

1. We see Mary Magdalene remain at the tomb of Jesus and become the first to see and hold conversation with the Lord Jesus. Ryle points out that while there are various degrees of faith, hope, knowledge, courage, and wisdom among believers, the simple rule applies: those who love Christ most fervently and cleave to him most closely will, like Mary experienced that Resurrection morning, enjoy most communion with Him. Do we read the Bible just to check off a reading plan list, or to know and enjoy Christ more?
2. We see Mary weep for Jesus even while Jesus is right at hand. Ryle draws from this the reality of what many Christians regularly face, namely anxiety when there is no just cause for anxiety. He states that two-thirds of things we fear in life never happen at all and two-thirds of the tears we shed are thrown away and shed in vain. If we look back on the situations that draw anxiety out of us, even this past month, how many of them come to pass? Would we not pray for more faith and patience and allow more time for the full development of God's purposes?
3. We see Mary receive a gentle rebuke from Jesus when he tells her not to cling to him. Ryle draws from this a mistake of many in every age, namely a tendency to make too much of Christ's bodily presence when what we really need is his Spirit. Are we content to have Christ dwelling in our hearts by faith, present when two or three are gathered, and waiting for his physical presence when he returns?
4. We see Jesus speak tenderly and compassionately to his disciples in the message he gives Mary to deliver to them. Remember, they had fled from and denied him only three days earlier, and now Jesus speaks as if all is forgiven and forgotten. He brings them back and heals their wounds. Ryle declares from Hebrews that this compassionate Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever. How does this comfort us as we consider our failings and backslidings?

John 20:1-10

1. We are taught that those who love Christ most are those who have received most benefit from Him.
2. We are taught that there are widely different temperaments in different believers.
3. We are taught that there may be much ignorance even in true believers.

"How is it that many, whose faith and grace it would be uncharitable to deny, work so little, give so little, say so little, make so little effort to promote Christ’s cause and bring glory to Christ in the world? These questions have only one answer. It is a low sense of debt and obligation to Christ which is the account of the whole matter."

"Let us love all who love Christ in sincerity and thank God that they love Him at all. The great thing is to love Jesus."

"After all we must remember that true grace, and not head knowledge, is the one thing needed. We are in the hands of a merciful and compassionate Saviour who passes by and pardons much ignorance when He sees a heart right in the sight of God."

Questions:

1. We see that the first person to Jesus' tomb was Mary. Ryle draws from this evidence that Mary had a deep love for Jesus because she felt her need and indebtedness to Him. He asks why many who have faith and grace work so little, give so little say so little, and make so little effort to promote Christianity in the world? The answer is that we, unlike Mary, do not feel our indebtedness to Christ. If this is us, would we make it our daily prayer that we may see the sinfulness of our sin and the amazing grace of Christ more clearly and distinctly?
2. We see two men, John and Peter, who loved Jesus and yet respond differently when arriving at the tomb of Jesus. Ryle draws out from this that although all Christians are planted by one Spirit and love the same Lord yet have different temperaments and characteristics. Are we guilty of judging others because they are different than us, or don't respond the same way we do or feel the way we feel, or vice versa? Would we be charitable toward those who are different from us and cherish the fact that we love Jesus Christ?
3. John humbly testifies that Peter and himself did not yet understand that Jesus had to rise again from the dead. Ryle draws from this that a believer may be ignorant of many things, but it is grace in the heart that matters most. Far from discouraging knowledge, Ryle exhorts us to seek knowledge and be ashamed of ignorance, but most importantly to make sure we have grace and right hearts. As Paul tells us, knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. May this be true of us for God's glory and our joy.