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.

John 19:38-42

1. We learn that there are some true Christians in the world of whom very little is known.
2. We learn that there are some servants of Christ whose end is better than their beginning.
3. We learn that the burial of the dead is an act which God sanctions and approves.

"He does not hesitate to confess himself one of Christ’s friends, at a time when Jews and Romans alike had condemned Him as a criminal and put Him to death. Surely the man who could do such things must have had strong faith! Can we wonder that wherever the gospel is preached throughout the whole world, this pious action of Joseph is told of as a memorial of him?"

"We must not condemn others as graceless and godless because they do not see the whole truth at once and only reach definite Christianity by slow degrees. The Holy Spirit always leads believers to the same foundation truths and into the same highway to heaven. In these there is invariable uniformity. But the Holy Spirit does not always lead believers through the same experience or at the same rate of speed."

"The true Christian need never be ashamed of regarding a funeral with particular reverence and solemnity."

Questions:

1. We learn of a man not previously known, showing love to Christ when even those who were closest to him had fled. Ryle points out that Joseph of Arimathea was a man of strong faith, and that, like the 7,000 unknown believers in Elijah's day, there are likely numerous Joseph's today we know nothing about. Do we find the greatest value in those who do great things, or do we value all who love Christ despite the flashiness of their works?
2. We see a man who once came to Jesus by night only 3 years later boldly come forward to serve Christ. Ryle highlights that the Holy Spirit always leads believers to the same foundation truths and into the same highway of heaven, yet he doesn't always lead believers through the same experience, or at the same rate of speed. Are we guilty of condemning young believers for not grasping full maturity or despising the day of small things? Do we deal gently with those who have grace but struggle? What does this truth do to help how we deal with others?
3. We see that Jesus' body is buried. Ryle draws out from this evidence that sanctions the burial of the dead and that we should never be ashamed to regard a funeral with particular reverence. In the West, we live in a day in which many want to call a service for a loved one who has passed away a 'celebration of life' instead of a funeral. It seems to me that this is a subtle shift from highlighting the sorrow of such a loss to just focus on the 'good' stuff, and I wonder if we do it because we are ashamed as Ryle says. As of recording this, my family, just this morning, buried our 15-month-old child, Tobias. As Christians, we need to recover the funeral in which we mourn and allow others to mourn with us, or take time to mourn with those who have lost loved ones. We need to bury the dead and give respect to the body God knit together for our loved ones, believing that God will raise that body again when Jesus returns. I have two questions. First, do we give dignity to the body or have we said things like, "that person isn't here?" when standing before the dead? We are embodied souls, and we must treat the dead body with the understanding that God will raise it in glory. Second, Ecclesiastes 7:2 says, "It is better to go to the house of mourning than to the house of feasting." The Preacher then gives the reason: "for this is the end of all mankind, and the living will lay it to heart." Do we run from and find excuses to not attend a funeral or are we wise and go to learn wisdom even while we mourn with those who mourn?

John 19:28-37

1. Let us mark the frequent fulfilments of prophetic Scripture in every part of Christ’s crucifixion.
2. We should mark the particularly solemn saying which came from our Lord’s lips just before He died.
3. We should mark the reality and truth of Christ’s death.

"It really requires more unreasoning faith to be an unbeliever than to be a Christian. The one who regards the repeated fulfilments of minute prophecies about Christ’s death, such as the prophecies about His dress, His thirst, His pierced side and His bones, as the result of chance and not of design must indeed be willing to believe anything."

"We need not fear that either sin, Satan or law shall condemn us at the last day. We may lean on the thought that we have a Saviour who has done all, paid all, accomplished all, performed all that is necessary for our salvation."

"Whatever view we take of the blood and water, let us make sure that we are among those who “washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb” (Revelation 7:14). It will matter nothing at the last day that we held during life the most exalted view of the sacraments if we never came to Christ by faith and never had personal dealings with Him."

Questions:

1. We see numerous Scriptures fulfilled in Christ's death. Ryle points out that the only rational explanation of so many prophecies being fulfilled so many years later can only point us to God. How well verses are we with these prophecies, and do they have the effect of strengthening our faith?
2. Jesus's last words on the cross were, "it is finished." Ryle says that we cannot fully comprehend all that this statement contains, though it obviously points to no less than Christ as our substitute, the fulfilling of many prophecies and so forth. One great truth we certainly pull from this is that we need not fear that sin, Satan, or law shall condemn us on the final day, because we lean on a Savior who has done all, paid all, and accomplished all. Stop and praise God for his glorious grace and the firm foundation you stand on in him.
3. We see the reality of Christ's death as the soldier pierces his side and blood and water come out. Ryle says that there are many interpretations of this, but what matters most is that we have washed our robes white in the blood of the Lamb by faith and had dealings with him. Have we done so? Have we seen that our robes are indeed dirty and that nothing but the blood of Jesus can wash them clean? May it be so, and may it increase thanksgiving to Him as we consider it!

John 19:17-27

1. We should observe how our Lord had to bear His cross when He went forth from the city to Golgotha.
2. We should observe how our Lord was crucified as a King.
3. We should observe how tenderly our Lord took thought for Mary, His mother.

"To wear crosses as an ornament, to place crosses on churches and tombs, is cheap and easy work and entails no trouble. But to have Christ’s cross in our hearts, to carry Christ’s cross in our daily walk, to know the fellowship of His sufferings, to be conformed to His death, to have crucified affections, and live crucified lives—all this needs self-denial and Christians of this kind are few and far between."

"They only will find Him their Saviour at the last day who have obeyed Him as King in this world. Let us cheerfully pay Him that tribute of faith, love and obedience which He prizes far above gold. Above all, let us never be afraid to declare ourselves His faithful subjects, soldiers, servants and followers however much He may be despised by the world."

"It is not too much to say, however painful the assertion, that of all the inventions of the Church of Rome there never was one more without foundation in Scripture and reason, than the doctrine of Mary-worship."

Questions:

1. We see Jesus carry the cross like a criminal for our sake. Ryle draws the practical application that just as Jesus bore his cross, so we are called to carry our cross and follow Him. He says that to wear crosses is cheap, but to have Christ's cross in our hearts and to carry Christ's cross in our daily walk and to know the fellowship of his sufferings requires self-denial and is the only cross-bearing and cross-carrying that does any good in the world. Where are we when it comes to denying ourselves and taking up the cross in our lives?
2. We see that the sign declaring Jesus as the King of the Jews, though mocking, declared what was right and true. As a king he was born, lived, was crucified, and will come again. Ryle exhorts us that only those who know Jesus as King in their hearts will know him as Savior. Are we those who cheerfully pay him the tribute of faith, love and obedience that he prizes far above gold?
3. We see Jesus, in great pain and agony, caring for his mother. Ryle points out in this how unfounded the Roman Catholic Church is to venerate Mary, but for our purposes, we also see the matchless tenderness, sympathy, and consideration of Jesus for his people. And what a helpful thing to consider in the context of carrying the cross! Do we see in Jesus our Lord the one who also cares for us? May this truth carry us through whatever trials and cross-bearing may bring!

John 19:1-16

1. The first portrait in the picture is that of our Lord Jesus Christ Himself.
2. The second portrait in the picture before us, is that of the unbelieving Jews who favoured our Lord’s death.
3. The third and last portrait in the picture before us is that of Pontius Pilate.

"Never let us forget when we ponder this tale of suffering that Jesus suffered for our sins, the Just for the unjust, that He was wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquities and that with His stripes we are healed."

"There is no worse judgment from God than to be left to ourselves and given over to our own wicked hearts and the devil. There is no surer way to bring that judgment upon us than to persist in refusing warnings and sinning against light."

"The poorest labourer who has grace and fears God is a nobler being in the eyes of his Creator than the King, ruler or statesman whose first aim it is to please the people."

Questions:

1. We see a picture of Jesus who willingly went to the cross in our place. Ryle draws from 1 Peter, that not only was this for our sins, but it is also an example for us to follow. Have we armed ourselves with the same way of thinking of Jesus? When suffering comes, do we count it a strange thing or do we expect it?
2. We see a picture of the Jews exhibiting a hard heart as they press Pilate for the death of Jesus. Ryle warns that the worst judgement God can bring on men and women is to leave them to their own wicked hearts and the devil, and there is no surer way to bring that judgement upon them than to persist in refusing warnings and sinning against light. What effect do the warnings of the Bible have upon us? How do we respond to God's Word when we read it?
3. We see a picture of Pontius Pilate who, ultimately out of fear of man, declared a wicked sentence upon an innocent man. Ryle declares that rulers who do not fear God and seek to please people are the worst of rulers. He rightly encourages us to pray for our rulers to fear God. When is the last time you prayed for the rulers of your country?

John 18:28-40

1. The first point that we should notice is the false conscientiousness of our Lord’s wicked enemies.
2. The second point that we should notice in these verses is the account that our Lord Jesus Christ gives of His kingdom.
3. The third point that we should notice in these verses is the account that our Lord gives of His own mission.
4. The last point that we should notice in these verses is the question that Pontius Pilate addressed to our Lord.

"Christianity is worthless if it makes us try to make up for the neglect of heartfelt faith and practical holiness by an extravagant zeal for human ceremonies or outward forms."

"No doubt the kings of this world cannot make people Christians by laws and statutes, but they can encourage and support Christianity and they will do so if they are wise. The kingdom where there is the most industry, temperance, truthfulness and honesty will always be the most prosperous of kingdoms."

"Like [Jesus] we are to be witnesses to God’s truth, salt in the midst of corruption, light in the midst of darkness, men and women who are not afraid to stand alone and to testify for God against the ways of sin and the world. To do so may involve us in much trouble and even persecution, but the duty is clear and plain.

"God never left any honest, diligent inquirer without light and guidance."

Questions:

1. We see that the Pharisees, though committing the most grievous act of sin in killing the Messiah, were concerned about being ceremonially clean and did not enter the Praetorium. Ryle points out that the conscious of unbelievers can either become hard or simply put the emphasis on another lesser point. It might be easy to point to the Pharisees but what about us? Can we say, with Psalm 119:128, "Therefore all your precepts concerning all things I consider to be right; I hate every false way?"
2. Jesus declares before Pilate that his kingdom is not of this world. Ryle points out that while Jesus' kingdom is a spiritual kingdom that will not have taxes and armies, that doesn't mean the rulers in this world should neglect the teachings of this Kingdom. Wise rulers will do all that lies in their power to help Christianity and to discourage unbelief. When is the last time we prayed for our governing authorities to let Christians live a quiet and peaceful life, godly and dignified in every way?
3. Jesus declares that his mission is to bear witness to the truth. Ryle points out that this is an example of us to follow in this dark and sinful world. Whatever culture we find ourselves in, there are plenty of ways to speak the truth where it is distorted. Is this a mission we are fulfilling? When was the last time we spoke the truth in love to a false idea or action? When was the last time we failed to do so because of the cost?
4. We see Pilate ask Jesus, 'what is truth?' Ryle points out that this question was likely a sarcastic one rather than an honest question. The truth is that many do the same today and hide behind such statements. The verses in Proverbs quoted offer a good closing question for us, namely, do we seek truth as Solomon told us? He promises, "if you cry out for discernment, and lift up your voice for understanding, if you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures; then you will find the knowledge of God."