By Rony Kozman, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Biblical Studies, Samford University
The Resurrection of Jesus
John 20:3–9, 19–23, 27–29
John 19 presents Jesus’ death as the crucifixion of the Messiah, the promised King of Israel. God promised David he would have a son who would have an everlasting Kingdom (2 Sam. 7:12). The Gospels present Jesus as this promised Son of David. As David’s son, Jesus fills up the
experiences of David’s life.
David cried out in Psalm 22:1, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” As the suffering Son of David, Jesus also cries out these words in His crucifixion (Matt. 27:46; Mark 15:34). The division of Jesus’ garments in John 19:24 fulfills David’s words in Psalm 22:18: “They divide my clothes among them and cast lots for my garment.”
If we read Psalms 22 and 69 carefully (both of which John used in his narration of Jesus’ death), we will also see that David trusts that God will deliver him from his suffering. We see David’s “death” (i.e., suffering) and resurrection. In Psalm 22, David says that God “lay me in the dust of death” (v. 15). And David pleads that the Lord would deliver him from his enemies who seek his death (22:19–21). The psalm moves to hope when God heard David’s plea (22:24). And God’s salvation will be proclaimed (22:31).
The empty tomb gave proof Jesus is alive. (3–9)
The Son of David fulfilled Scripture in His crucifixion and resurrection. For the apostles, the death and resurrection of Jesus were “according to the Scriptures” (1 Cor. 15:3–4). When Mary Magdalene and Simon Peter came to the empty tomb and did not find Jesus’ body “they still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.”
Jesus proved He is alive. (19–23)
Even with the testimony of Israel’s Scripture, Mary and the disciples needed Jesus Himself to testify to His resurrection. It is only after Mary hears Jesus’ words that she realizes He is alive (John 20:16).
Jesus also appeared to some of the other disciples who were meeting together. Jesus shows them His hands and side, breathes the Holy Spirit upon them and commissions them.
When Jesus commissions the disciples to forgive sins, this means that those who believe in the message about Jesus’ life, death and resurrection will receive the forgiveness of sins. Those who believe will become part of the restored humanity.
As God breathed into Adam (i.e., “the human being”) and Adam became a living being (Gen. 2:7), so now the resurrected Christ breathes on the disciples and restores humanity.
The resurrection of Jesus secures the restoration of humanity, and those who believe in the testimony of the disciples are the restored humanity who have the Holy Spirit and the forgiveness of sins.
We are blessed when we believe Jesus is alive. (27–29)
There was one disciple who did not believe the testimony of his fellow disciples — Thomas. When the disciples who saw Jesus’ hands and side told Thomas about the resurrected Christ, Thomas did not believe them (v. 24).
Thomas demanded definitive proof. He wanted to see and touch Jesus’ hands and side for himself (v. 25).
While Jesus appeased Thomas’ request, Jesus makes clear that we should not expect the definitive proof of Jesus’ resurrection that Thomas received. Our thirst for a Thomas-like proof won’t be quenched. This is why Jesus says, “blessed are those who have not seen me and yet have believed.”
We must trust the testimony of those who witnessed the resurrected Christ — the apostles whose testimony we have in the New Testament.
And if we believe their testimony, we will receive the forgiveness of sins and the Holy Spirit, and we will become the restored humanity.
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