11 November 2009 by Mark Penrith
Anti-climaxes usually suck. The whole of chapter 21 of the Gospel of John is an anti-climax. It’s not boring it’s just not the Big Bang ending that you might have wanted to round off a best seller.
You see the Big Bang happened at the end of chapter 20.
1 – 11 describes the life and ministry of the Lord, 12 – 17 the period of time just before His arrest, 18 His arrest and subsequent trial and 19 His crucifixion. Now 20 is always going to steal the show, His resurrection, however that event isn’t even the climax, it’s the scene setter. You see chapter 20 details first Jesus appearing to Mary, then Jesus appearing to the 10 without doubting Thomas and then finally Jesus appearing to the 11 with doubting Thomas.
And it’s Thomas’ reaction to the risen Christ after he has touched His side and put his fingers into His hands which is the pinnacle, the ultimate, the apex, the climax of the Gospel of John. Read the Scripture below starting at verse 24,
24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples were saying to him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the imprint of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.” 26 After eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus *came, the doors having been shut, and stood in their midst and said, “Peace {be} with you.” 27 Then He *said to Thomas, “Reach here with your finger, and see My hands; and reach here your hand and put it into My side; and do not be unbelieving, but believing.”
28 Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!“
Thomas’ great acclamation of the deity of Christ has to be the climax! And John says as much in the verses following,
30 Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book;
31 but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.
So why did John bother writting chapter 21? Well he’d given the testimony of Peter a huge knock during the telling of the tale and he needed to rectified it in the final chapter. 21 is the tell of Peter being a Jumping, Loving, Following Christian and a call to you and me to be the same.
Take some out and read the chapter today. It’ll change your testimony. It’ll change your life.
Posted in in His way | Tagged anti-climax, Caravaggio, Christian Living, Christianity, church, doubting Thomas, John, John 20, John 20:24 - 28, John 20:30 - 31, John 21, John's Gospel, Peter, Scripture, Thomas | Leave a Comment »
11 November 2009 by Mark Penrith
The seven signs in John’s Gospel point to Jesus being the Christ, the Son of God, but the eighth sign feels different. Click image to enlarge.
You’ll remember from Sunday School the stories about Jesus turning water into wine at the wedding in Cana of Galilee. A while later, in Cana again, He healed a royal man’s son after which, beside the pool of Bethesda, a lame man. With each sign John steps it up a gear giving more “evidence that demands a verdict”. On the banks of Lake Gennesaret Jesus fed the 5,000 and then walked on water and stilled a storm. In Jerusalem, towards the end of His ministry, He healed a man who was blind from birth and finally, in chapter 11, Jesus is presented as Lord, even over death, as he raises Lazarus from the dead.
John 20:30 – 31 reads,
30 Therefore many other
signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book;
31 but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.
Seven signs in the Gospel of John all pointing to Jesus being the Christ, the Son of God. In chapter 21 there is another sign, a further sign, but I’m thinking the author’s intent is a bit different,
1 After these things Jesus manifested Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias, and He manifested {Himself} in this way. 2 Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the {sons} of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples were together. 3 Simon Peter *said to them, “I am going fishing.” They *said to him, “We will also come with you.” They went out and got into the boat; and that night they caught nothing.
4 But when the day was now breaking, Jesus stood on the beach; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.
5 So Jesus *said to them, “Children, you do not have any fish, do you?”
They answered Him, “No.”
6 And He said to them, “Cast the net on the right-hand side of the boat and you will find {a catch.}” So they cast, and then they were not able to haul it in because of the great number of fish.
7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved *said to Peter, “It is the Lord.” So when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put his outer garment on (for he was stripped {for work),} and threw himself into the sea.
Bottom line is that the whole of chapter 21 is an epilogue of sorts. It’s the testimony of belief that was the Apostle Peter’s life. And this sign is the literary canvas that John is going to use to position Peter to the reader as a Jumping, Loving, Following Christian. It’s a call to you and to me to ensure that our Christian testimony isn’t warming the pew on a Sunday but rather is a representation of the work that Christ has done in our hearts by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Take some out and read the chapter today. It’ll change your testimony. It’ll change your life.
Posted in in His way | Tagged John 20:30 - 31, Jesus, John, John's Gospel, Peter, signs, Eighth sign, Seven signs, fishing, boat, John 21:1 - 7 | Leave a Comment »
6 November 2009 by Mark Penrith
John 21, illistrated, in lego, seriously. Click any image to link to the source.
This is a short note to say: My favorite chapter of the Bible is John 21. It illicits an emotional response from me every time I read or hear it. Now I’m really looking forward to preaching it on Sunday, 8 November, 10:00 am, at Mountain View Bible Church on the southwest side of Alberton.
There are so many great verses in chapter 21 but verse 7 always stands out,
7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved *said to Peter, “It is the Lord.” So when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put his outer garment on (for he was stripped {for work),} and threw himself into the sea.
Peter is such a character. He’s so… real. I love that a real God saves real people, people with warts and flaws and problems just like me. What’s your favorite section of Scripture?
Posted in with His people | Tagged Bible illistrated, Christian Living, Christianity, church, John 21, John 21:7, Lego, Peter, Scripture, Sermon | 1 Comment »
