John 20 - The Swindoll Study Bible

THE PURPOSES OF THE RESURRECTION John 20:1-29 What does Jesus’ resurrection accomplish? I can think of at least five things: (1) It vindicates Christ’s name. All He ever said and did is proven true by His resurrection. (2) It validates His death as being effective for forgiving sins. (3) It enables believers, through His Spirit, to live with power over sin. (4) It assures us of our future resurrection, after which we will always be with Him. (5) It gives us a present, living hope. Just as dawn pushes back the darkness, so Jesus’ resurrection disperses our despair.

Some may follow a dead hero into death, but only a living Savior can lead us into life. Only Jesus can guide us through the darkness into the dawn.

DOUBTS John 20:25 We need to give Thomas a break. Sure, he doubted. Don’t all of us have doubts at one time or another? You will never know the doubts that I struggle with at times. Perhaps you shouldn’t—but they’re there. Oh, I don’t doubt my faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. I certainly don’t doubt His blood, which paid the price for my sins, or His resurrection from the grave and full victory. But I have many questions in life. My book of learning hasn’t been sealed now that I’ve been saved. I’m in a school room, and I need to keep questioning and learning and trusting God about life in this world.

SIGNS John 20:30-31 The term signs is interesting to me when it is used in reference to miracles. Signs show the way. They prod you to get from where you are to where you need to be. “Jesus did many other miracles than those presented in this book,” says John, in effect, “but the ones I have selected have been deliberately chosen to help you, the reader, come to realize that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, so that you may believe in Him and have life in His name.” The primary purpose of any miracle is to be a sign that points the way to Jesus and His message.