Today we conclude the gospel of John, completing our reading of the gospels.
Chapter 19
Joseph of Armathea, a secret disciple of Jesus asked Pilate for the body to be buried. He was a secret disciple no longer.
Nicodemus, who we remember from John 3, was a Pharisee. We find that he said yes to being born again. We'll see Nicodemus one more time in the New Testament but don't miss this redemption story.
Chapter 20
Jesus resurrects. Peter and John went out for a run together (vs 4 :smile:) and they came across the empty tomb. Mary is the first to speak to the resurrected Christ. By the way if you're trying to start a new faith (a fulfilled promised faith), one that's dependent one one man; first of all it's not a good idea to let the lead man get killed, then you don't send a woman to the tomb to be the only testimony of his resurrection. Women's testimony just wasn't valid back then. But that's how Jesus chose to begin this movement that we'll read about in the remainder of the New Testament and the story of our lives that we're living today.
Chapter 21
Peter denied Jesus three times the night he was betrayed and crucified. I believe Jesus has this encounter with Jesus and John records it to redeem that night. Jesus comes to the shore and Peter in his excitement grabs his coat and swims to Jesus. They eat and then Jesus asks Peter three times "Peter, do you love me?" Each time Peter says yes, on the third time Peter begins to be grieved. I think Jesus was getting at the cost it would require for Peter to fulfill his love for Christ. Feed my sheep...and eventually be crucified for it.
vs. 18-25 Jesus tells Peter that like him he'll be stretched out and crucified. Then Jesus said follow me. Peter then sees John, the one Jesus loved, and he questioned Jesus about what kind of death John would have. Jesus said "what's it to you? You follow me."
That's good. That's real good. If we're honest we look at our lives sometimes and we wonder why so and so has it better than us. We wonder why bad things happen to that family and not to that family. There are times that I wonder why some people are called to sacrifice so much for the gospel where as others seem to be provided for in abundance for the gospel. Personally I have nothing to complain about, and usually the one's suffering don't find themselves complaining but being transformed as they live out the gospel of Jesus Christ. In many ways suffering is purifying; that doesn't necessarily make the suffering easy to endure but at least there is purpose in it.
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