John 20 - The Life Recovery Bible

20:11-18 Mary Magdalene modeled an essential part of the recovery process—telling others the good news. Once healed of seven demons (Mark 16:9), Mary had supported the ministry of Jesus financially (Luke 8:2-3) and was a faithful follower from early in his ministry. Her faithfulness was honored when the risen Christ appeared and spoke to her before he spoke to anyone else! After seeing the resurrected Jesus, she went immediately and told the disciples. When we realize the power that the risen Christ can bring us through the recovery process, we can show our gratitude by doing as Mary did—carrying the message to others.

20:22-23 The risen Christ did as he had promised (see 14:16-17; 15:26; 16:7) and breathed his Holy Spirit on his disciples. This life-bringing, truth-revealing, sin-convicting, comfort-giving Spirit is also a Spirit of forgiveness. Just as we receive God’s forgiveness for our sins, so we are exhorted and enabled to forgive those who sin against us. If we refuse to forgive others, we will miss the blessed freedom that God offers. He wants us to experience the emotional healing that comes only from working through our anger and hurt to the point of releasing it to God. By God’s Spirit, recovery from our painful past can be completed.

20:24-29 Here doubting Thomas earned his reputation. He refused to believe in Jesus’ resurrection until he saw and felt the risen Christ with his own eyes and hands. In recovery we often experience doubts. We have a hard time believing that God is at work in our life when we don’t see immediate changes or miraculous results. Recovery can be a painstaking process without much to show for it at first. Even when evidence of God’s power is not immediate, if we persevere in faith, we will experience the peace that comes from trusting God with our present problems and the unknown future.