20:1 The next day, Mary visits Jesus' tomb. She's faithful in her love for Him and also in respecting His life. She is mourning with respect His departure from earth. However, upon arriving, she notices that Jesus' tomb has been opened -- not an easy task, for it was guarded and closed with a massive stone.
20:2-4 Mary relates the circumstances to the disciple, Simon-Peter and he rushes to Jesus' tomb.
20:5 They noticed that Jesus' clothes remained in the exact place where He was laid to rest but that indeed, Jesus' body is gone.
20:6-8 Each of the disciples begin to arrive to observe the circumstances for themselves. They all notice that Jesus' body is gone but that His clothes remain. Not only do the clothes remain, but they are precisely placed, a handkerchief even folded -- evidence that there had not been a struggle or robbery.
20:9-10 The disciples did not yet understand what Jesus taught and foretold them: that He would rise after His death on earth. Jesus knew that they needed to see it to believe and therefore He was patient in bringing that physical evidence about. Jesus knew humanity needed a lesson on the spiritual life of God -- needed to witness how it supersedes this life, in order to understand.
20:11-12 Two angels (messengers of God) appear to Mary.
20:13 The reason the angels ask Mary why she is weeping is because they want her to understand with faith and trust that Jesus is not gone or missing. He's very much alive and always will be.
20:14-15 Momentarily disguised, Jesus appears behind Mary. He asks her why she is crying and who she is looking for. She wants to find Him so that she can put Him back in a respectful place; she always wants to know where He is because she loves Him.
20:16 Jesus presents Himself to Mary, "Teacher!" She exclaims with love and joy.
20:17 Jesus explains that for the moment, He cannot remain with her -- He needed to rejoin with God before He could present Himself to the other disciples. Jesus has just fulfilled His God-given purpose; He needed to return to the place and entity He came from before proceeding to teach on the earth (this time spiritually manifested). Jesus reaffirms that we are all of one family, the children of one God.
20:18 Mary immediately relays her experience with Jesus to the disciples. Jesus asked her to tell them of her sighting of Him, and that He must return to God before returning to them.
20:13 The reason the angels ask Mary why she is weeping is because they want her to understand with faith and trust that Jesus is not gone or missing. He's very much alive and always will be.
20:14-15 Momentarily disguised, Jesus appears behind Mary. He asks her why she is crying and who she is looking for. She wants to find Him so that she can put Him back in a respectful place; she always wants to know where He is because she loves Him.
20:16 Jesus presents Himself to Mary, "Teacher!" She exclaims with love and joy.
20:17 Jesus explains that for the moment, He cannot remain with her -- He needed to rejoin with God before He could present Himself to the other disciples. Jesus has just fulfilled His God-given purpose; He needed to return to the place and entity He came from before proceeding to teach on the earth (this time spiritually manifested). Jesus reaffirms that we are all of one family, the children of one God.
20:18 Mary immediately relays her experience with Jesus to the disciples. Jesus asked her to tell them of her sighting of Him, and that He must return to God before returning to them.
20:19 The disciples were together in a house, keeping a low profile. They had just witnessed their teacher quite tortuously killed. Even though they are within closed walls and doors, Jesus appears in the midst of them. This is Jesus spiritual manifested. Our souls, our spiritual selves, are not limited by the dimensions of the earth -- meaning what? They don't need doors to get through things. God's children's souls thrive and travel through all environments and atmospheres. He's perfect and He restores the compassionate to their perfectly spiritual selves.
20:20 Jesus identified Himself to them. He gave them the opportunity to realize that it truly was Him. We can imagine they were... quite shocked. He had foretold them of this but at the time, they did not yet understand.
20:21 Jesus relaxes them. He has arrived before them with the peaceful comfort and truth of God.
20:22 Jesus extended to them the spirit of God, healing and protective. He breathed life and understanding into them; He gave them the courage to go forth to spread and teach the message they were taught. Jesus knows that they (and we) need His guidance to be productive workers of God's word and He gives it to them (us).
20:23 The disciples were trained by Jesus as teachers. Jesus is solidifying everything they were taught: He explains that whoever listens to them, as teachers of the word of God, finds truth in their message and believes will be welcomed by God. Likewise, whoever they are cruelly rejected by, will not be absolved of their unkindness.
Difference of opinion is abundant and okay! Do not force anybody to convert to your way of thinking. God reaches people in many different ways and sometimes, some people cannot be reached. Their journey is with God and is not for us to judge. God understands that some people simply need more to understand and believe in Him -- let Him work with them, all of His children are important and He will inevitably reach them.
Jesus instructs the disciples and us to always offer the love, guidance and wisdom God's philosophy of life has given us. Offer, not force.
20:24-25 Thomas was not with the other disciples when Jesus appeared to them; he needs to see for Himself to believe. This can be a lesson to us: it's healthy to determine for yourself what is truth. However, when it comes to your faith with God, you should learn to trust Him. True love and appreciation is given with trust.
Create and develop your own, personal relationship with God. It's so special, so healing, so guiding and wise. You will naturally begin to trust Him because you will see His truth and promises appear in your life.
It's so common these days for people to follow along, impersonally, with a religion or organization. It's also common for people to follow others without making informed decisions for themselves. Realize that you have a particularly personal relationship with God to offered to you -- you will then begin to trust without needing the "proof" others demand of good.
20:26-28 Thomas does not yet believe. He needs the proof.
Develop your relationship; seek Him diligently and you'll have mutual trust between you.
20:29 Think about your own relationships and friendships: isn't is so much more meaningful when somebody loves and trusts you because of who you are instead of because of what you can do to prove to them your value?
God is so happy to receive our love accompanied by our trust. Love given without requirement.
Create and develop your own, personal relationship with God. It's so special, so healing, so guiding and wise. You will naturally begin to trust Him because you will see His truth and promises appear in your life.
It's so common these days for people to follow along, impersonally, with a religion or organization. It's also common for people to follow others without making informed decisions for themselves. Realize that you have a particularly personal relationship with God to offered to you -- you will then begin to trust without needing the "proof" others demand of good.
20:26-28 Thomas does not yet believe. He needs the proof.
Develop your relationship; seek Him diligently and you'll have mutual trust between you.
20:29 Think about your own relationships and friendships: isn't is so much more meaningful when somebody loves and trusts you because of who you are instead of because of what you can do to prove to them your value?
God is so happy to receive our love accompanied by our trust. Love given without requirement.
20:30-31 Jesus came, a prophet and son of God -- all that He did for humanity could never be properly or adequately quantified or written of. But God ensured that this scripture would reach each of us, so that we would learn and understand the compassion Jesus brought to us. Jesus was sent to bring us this philosophy of life in order that we may find, walk and work the path of God.
