John Chapter 20 - The Risen Savior: Victory Over Death and Living Hope

Today we are studying John Chapter 20. In this chapter, we see the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The tomb is found empty, and Jesus appears to His followers, proving that He has conquered death. Mary Magdalene encounters the risen Lord, the disciples are filled with both fear and joy, and Thomas moves from doubt to belief. Jesus says in John 20:29, “Because you have seen Me, you have believed. Those who believe without seeing are blessed.” This chapter reminds us that the resurrection is not just an event—it is the foundation of our faith and the source of our living hope.

Transcript

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God's truth continues to go forward in powerful ways. I'm thinking about what Jesus said in John 17:17. Sanctify them by the truth. Your word is truth. Praise God that his word is moving, reaching hearts, and being shared in 42 countries around the world. We want to take a moment to say hello to our listeners in Damam, Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia, Cleveland, Ohio, United States. Oshiage, Tokyo, Japan, Burnsville, North Carolina, United States, and West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. We're thankful you chose to be here today. Your time and support truly matter to us. We're grateful to be on this journey together.

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Welcome to Giving God Praise. This is a podcast where we walk through the entire Bible, book by book and chapter by chapter. Our desire is to discover not only what God's Word says, but what it means to praise God in our daily life. In each episode, we explore a promise to claim, a response to make, an attitude to change, an instruction to obey, a sin to confess, and an example to follow. So let's go ahead and grab our Bibles and dive into today's teaching. Today we are studying John chapter 20. In this chapter, we see the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The tomb is found empty, and Jesus appears to his followers, proving that he has conquered death. Mary Magdalene encounters the risen Lord, the disciples are filled with both fear and joy, and Thomas moves from doubt to belief. Jesus says in John 20, 29, Because you have seen me, you have believed. Those who believe without seeing are blessed. This chapter reminds us that the resurrection is not just an event, it is the foundation of our faith and the source of our living hope. Let's begin reading John chapter 20. On the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early while it was still dark. She saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb, so she ran to Simon Peter and to the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said to them, They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don't know where they have put him. At that, Peter and the other disciple went out, heading for the tomb. The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and got to the tomb first. Stooping down he saw the linen cloths lying there, yet he did not go in. Then, following him, Simon Peter came also. He entered the tomb and saw the linen cloths lying there. The wrapping that had been on his head was not lying with the linen cloths, but was folded up in a separate place by itself. The other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, then entered the tomb, saw and believed. For they still did not understand the scripture that he must rise from the dead. Then the disciples went home again, but Mary stood outside facing the tomb, crying. As she was crying, she stooped to look into the tomb. She saw two angels in white sitting there, one at the head and one at the feet, where Jesus' body had been lying. They said to her, Woman, why are you crying? Because they've taken away my Lord, she told them, and I don't know where they've put him. Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, though she did not know it was Jesus. Woman, Jesus said to her, Why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for? Supposing he was the gardener, she replied, Sir, if you've removed him, tell me where you've put him, and I will take him away. Jesus said, Mary. Turning around she said to him in Hebrew, Rabuni, which means teacher. Don't cling to me, Jesus told her, for I have not yet ascended to the Father, but go to my brothers and tell them that I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God, and your God. Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, I have seen the Lord. And she told them what he had said to her. In the evening of that first day of the week, the disciples were gathered together with the doors locked because of their fear of the Jews. Then Jesus came, stood among them, and said to them, Peace to you. Having said this, he showed them his hands and his side. So the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, Peace to you, as the Father has sent me, I also send you. After saying this, he breathed on them and said, Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them. If you retain the sins of any, they are retained. But one of the twelve, Thomas, called twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples kept telling him, We have seen the Lord, but he said to them, If I don't see the mark of the nails in his hands, put my finger into the mark of the nails, and put my hand into his side. I will never believe. After eight days his disciples were indoors again, and Thomas was with them. Even though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them. He said, Peace to you. Then he said to Thomas, Put your finger here and observe my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Don't be an unbeliever, but a believer. Thomas responded to him, My Lord and my God. Jesus said, Because you have seen me, you have believed. Those who believe without seeing are blessed. Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples that are not written in this book, but these are written so that you may believe Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God. And by believing, you may have life in his name. Let's pause for a moment and fix our hearts on the Lord. Heavenly Father, thank you for the truth of John chapter 20 and the victory of Jesus over death. Thank you that the resurrection gives us hope, life, and assurance. Lord, help us to truly believe even when we cannot see. Strengthen our faith and remind us that you are alive and present with us today. Fill our hearts with peace just as you spoke peace to your disciples. Help us to live in the power of the resurrection every day. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

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Now that we've read God's Word and prepared our hearts in prayer, let's begin our praise study and listen to what God wants to say to our hearts today. In John chapter 20, we see a powerful promise to claim in the reality of the resurrection. Jesus is alive. This truth changes everything. Because he lives, we have hope beyond the grave. Because he lives, our faith is not empty. Because he lives, we have victory over sin and death. The resurrection is not just a moment in history, it is a present reality that impacts our lives today. Jesus' words, peace to you, remind us that through his victory, we are no longer separated from God. We are brought into relationship, forgiven, and made new. This promise assures us that death is not the end and that God's power is greater than anything we face. No matter what circumstances surround us, the resurrection gives us confidence that God is at work and that life in Christ is eternal. The response to make in this chapter is to believe. Over and over, we see people confronted with the truth of the resurrection. Mary believed when she heard his voice. The disciples believed when they saw him. Thomas believed when he encountered him personally. Each one had a moment where they had to respond. Our response is the same. We are called to believe that Jesus is who he says he is. This belief is not just intellectual, it is personal and transformative. It changes how we live, how we think, and how we respond to life. Belief leads to trust, and trust leads to action. We are also called to share what we have seen and heard. Mary ran to tell the disciples, we are called to do the same. This chapter calls us to respond with faith and to live as witnesses of the risen Christ. We are called to change our attitude from fear to peace. The disciples were hiding behind locked doors, afraid of what might happen next. But when Jesus appeared, he spoke peace into their situation. That same peace is available to us. We must change from living in fear to living in confidence. Another attitude to change is from doubt to trust. Thomas struggled to believe without seeing. Yet Jesus met him where he was and called him to faith. We often wrestle with doubt, but this chapter reminds us that faith is choosing to trust God even when we do not have all the answers. We must also change from hopelessness to hope. The resurrection proves that God can bring life out of death. A changed attitude lives with confidence, trust, and hope in the risen Savior. The instruction to obey in this chapter is to go and share the message. Jesus told Mary to go and tell the disciples. He told the disciples, As the Father has sent me, I also send you. We are not meant to keep the message of the resurrection to ourselves. We are sent into the world to share the truth of who Jesus is. We are also instructed to live in the peace He gives. Peace to you was not just a greeting, it was a gift. We are called to walk in that peace daily. Another instruction is to believe without needing to see. Jesus said those who believe without seeing are blessed. Obedience means trusting his word fully and living it out. This chapter calls us to live as people who are sent, grounded in faith and filled with peace. The sin to confess in this chapter is unbelief. Thomas openly expressed doubt, but even the other disciples struggled to understand it first. We must confess the times we have doubted God's power or questioned his truth. Another sin to confess is fear. The disciples were hiding, overwhelmed by uncertainty. We must confess when fear keeps us from stepping out in faith. We also need to confess silence. There are times when we know the truth but fail to share it. Mary's example shows us that we are called to speak. Another sin is spiritual hesitation, waiting until we feel certain before we act. Confession brings us back to a place of faith and boldness. It reminds us that God meets us in our weakness and calls us forward. The example to follow in this chapter is Mary Magdalene. She sought Jesus, even in her grief. She stayed when others left. And when she encountered him, she immediately went and shared the good news. Her example shows us devotion, persistence, and obedience. We also see the disciples as an example of transformation. They moved from fear to boldness after encountering Jesus. Thomas also becomes an example. Though he doubted, he ultimately declared, My Lord and my God. This reminds us that doubt does not disqualify us. What matters is where we end up. Following these examples means seeking Jesus, responding in faith, and sharing the truth with others. John chapter 20 reminds us that Jesus is alive. The tomb is empty, and hope is real. This chapter calls us to believe, to trust, and to live in the power of the resurrection. Take time today to reflect on your faith. Do you truly believe that Jesus is alive and active in your life? Are you living in fear or in the peace he gives? If this message encouraged you, share it with someone who needs to hear the good news of the risen Savior. Let's close our time by lifting our hearts to the Lord in prayer. Heavenly Father, we are so grateful that our listeners chose to spend their time with us in your word today. Thank you for the truth of John chapter 20 and the victory of the resurrection. Lord, help us to live as people who truly believe, strengthen our faith, remove our fears, and fill us with your peace. Give us boldness to share the message of Jesus with others. Help us to walk in the power of the resurrection every day. We pray that this message would encourage every listener and draw them closer to you. May God bless you and keep you in his grace. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

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