04/05/2023 – Gospel of John Fellowship – Chapter 20 – He is Risen! / 1 of ?
I am copying over the 02/20/2022 post from last cycle – 1 o 2. I also encourage y’all to search on date: “02/20/2022”, to pick up the 2nd one. Let’s get started:
The first and foremost purpose given by John for writing the gospel is given in the last verse, verse 31: “… so that you may believe Jesus is the Messiah, the son of God, and by believing you may have life in His name.”
I will share as well my footnote for verses 30 – 31 in my Apolgetics Study Bible: “These verses explain the highly selective nature of this Gospel’s contents as well as its purpose. The book is one of testimony to the identity of Jesus as Messiah and divine Son. Because these verses seem like an appropriate ending, come have wondered if chapter 21 was added later as a kind of appendix. But it contains numerous references to ‘unfinished business’ from the rest of the Gospel, and other ancient works also exhibit the phenomenon of seeming to end a little bit before they actually do (cp. the location of the purpose statements in John’s other writings — 1 John 5:13; Revelation 22:6).
Let’s look at 20:12 : “She saw two angels in white sitting there, one at the head and one at the feet, where Jesus’ body had been lying.”
Skeptics have pointed out what they content are discrepancies between the synoptic gospels. Here is what my bible footnote says: “Matthew referred to “an angel” (Matthew 28:2); Mark to “a young man” (Mark 16:5; and Luke to “two men” (Luke 24:4). John harmonized the three accounts. Two angels, appearing like men (as consistently in Scripture), were present. Only one is ever said to speak, so abbreviated accounts could easily have left the second one out. Since no Gospel says that only one angel or man was present, there is no contradiction..”
From Halley’s Bible Handbook commentary, I will share this comment with noted quotes:
“… There is no conceivable way to account for the origin of the story except that it was an ACTUAL FACT. We, too, one day, by His Grace, shall Rise.”
DeWette: “Although a mystery which cannot be dissipated rests on the matter of the Resurrection, the Fact of the resurrection can no more be brought into doubt by honest historic evidence than the assassination of Caesar.”
Edersheim: “The Resurrection of Christ may unhesitantly be pronounced the Best Established Fact in history.”
Ewald: “Nothing is more historically certain that Jesus Rose from the Dead and appeared again to his followers.”
John A. Broadus: “If we do not know that Jesus of Nazareth Rose from the Dead, we do not know anything historical whatever.”
Soli Deo Gloria!