Jesus: his resurrection
Resurrection comes from the latin verb resurrectio (to rise again).
Christians believe that following Jesus’ death on the cross and his burial, Jesus rose again from
the dead, and for a period of 40 days appeared to many of his followers.
The Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke record that he warned his disciples:
‘That he must go to Jerusalem… and be killed and on the third day be raised’.
The resurrection in John 20-21
John 20
Highly structured account. In chapter 20 we have a series of 5 episodes in which the risen
Jesus overcomes the disciples’ sorrow, fear and doubt to bring them to faith:
● John ‘saw and believed’ (he saw the empty tomb, not Jesus) (20:8)
● Mary comes to believe when she hears Jesus calls her name (20:16)
● The disciples recognise Jesus and receive the Holy Spirit (20:22)
● Thomas believes when he is allowed to touch Jesus’ wounds (20:28)
● John says that those who read this evidence will believe (20:31)
Form a chiasm (form ABCBA).
In the first and last, the risen Jesus does not appear, but people come to believe on the basis of
evidence. In 2 and 4 Jesus appears to individuals who fail to recognise him. At the centre of the
chiasm he imparts the Holy Spirit to the disciples.
When the disciple ‘whom Jesus loved’ entered the tomb, ‘he saw and believed’.
We are told in the next verse that they didn’t truly understand the resurrection. They can testify
to the empty tomb, but not the resurrection.
When Jesus appears to Mary Magdalene, she does not recognise him at first and supposes him
to be the gardner. It isn’t until he says her name, that she believes. (Suggests change in the
body, along with the Sea of Galilee story).
Jesus then sends Mary with a message for the disciples. She becomes ‘an apostle to the
apostles’.
On the evening of the day of the resurrection Jesus appears to the disciples as a group. He can
move through locked doors, and the disciples don’t recognise him until he shows them his
wounds.
Resurrection comes from the latin verb resurrectio (to rise again).
Christians believe that following Jesus’ death on the cross and his burial, Jesus rose again from
the dead, and for a period of 40 days appeared to many of his followers.
The Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke record that he warned his disciples:
‘That he must go to Jerusalem… and be killed and on the third day be raised’.
The resurrection in John 20-21
John 20
Highly structured account. In chapter 20 we have a series of 5 episodes in which the risen
Jesus overcomes the disciples’ sorrow, fear and doubt to bring them to faith:
● John ‘saw and believed’ (he saw the empty tomb, not Jesus) (20:8)
● Mary comes to believe when she hears Jesus calls her name (20:16)
● The disciples recognise Jesus and receive the Holy Spirit (20:22)
● Thomas believes when he is allowed to touch Jesus’ wounds (20:28)
● John says that those who read this evidence will believe (20:31)
Form a chiasm (form ABCBA).
In the first and last, the risen Jesus does not appear, but people come to believe on the basis of
evidence. In 2 and 4 Jesus appears to individuals who fail to recognise him. At the centre of the
chiasm he imparts the Holy Spirit to the disciples.
When the disciple ‘whom Jesus loved’ entered the tomb, ‘he saw and believed’.
We are told in the next verse that they didn’t truly understand the resurrection. They can testify
to the empty tomb, but not the resurrection.
When Jesus appears to Mary Magdalene, she does not recognise him at first and supposes him
to be the gardner. It isn’t until he says her name, that she believes. (Suggests change in the
body, along with the Sea of Galilee story).
Jesus then sends Mary with a message for the disciples. She becomes ‘an apostle to the
apostles’.
On the evening of the day of the resurrection Jesus appears to the disciples as a group. He can
move through locked doors, and the disciples don’t recognise him until he shows them his
wounds.
