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Day 339

John 20:19-31 "A VERY PERSONAL REASON"

Day 339 – John 20

A VERY PERSONAL REASON

What were some of the reasons why Jesus appeared to His Disciples? Let us ponder over some of the possible reasons. The first reason seems obvious. In Matthew’s Gospel, we read about how the angels appeared to the weeping women Disciples of Jesus (Matthew 28:1-8).

The women were delighted to hear the news that Jesus was alive, and that He had risen from the dead! However, Matthew did not stop there, He wrote that Jesus appeared to these women who were hurrying back to tell the men Disciples that their Teacher had risen from the dead!

“And as they went to tell His Disciples, behold,
Jesus met them, saying, ‘Rejoice!’ So they came
and held Him by the feet and worshipped Him.
Then Jesus said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. Go
and tell My brethren to go to Galilee, and there
they will see Me.'”
Matthew 28:9-10

Did Jesus need to appear before these women Disciples? They were already convinced that He had risen from the dead. They were already on the way to fulfil what the angels had said to them! What reason could Jesus have to meet up with these Disciples other than a very personal one! He appeared even though He did not have to do that! A personal reason was good enough!

How gracious Jesus was to His Disciples. No wonder they loved Him the way they did! He had always been so wonderful and gracious to them. This appearance must have meant a lot to these women!

It was already a special thing to have the angels speak to them and to assure them that Jesus had risen from the dead. But to have Jesus Himself personally come to speak to them, that was something truly special! How lovingly and joyfully Jesus greeted them! He did not want them to be morose and grim! Their hearts were already singing because they had heard the news that Jesus had risen from the dead! Now there was an even more important reason to break out with a new song of praise and joy. They had seen Jesus personally! Thus they responded the only way they thought was appropriate. They fell at His feet, clung to Him and worshipped Him!

Jesus also graciously appeared to Mary Magdalene for a very personal reason! Just as she had loved Him because He was her beloved Saviour and Lord, so Jesus loved her for her devotion! That kind of deep devotion was rare, and in Jesus’ mind that would be rewarded with a special personal visit! How Mary must have treasured this special visit Jesus made. He must have known that she would be inconsolable if He had not made this visit! Sorrow was instantly transformed to joy and gladness.

ANOTHER SPECIAL REASON

There was another very important reason why Jesus appeared to His Disciples! John noted this in the following text.

“So Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace to you!
As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.'”
John 20:21

Twice, Jesus greeted His Disciples! The first time He greeted them with the traditional Jewish greeting, the Disciples were still puzzling among themselves whether they could believe what the women Disciples had said to them about the resurrection of their Master!

The greeting Jesus gave to the Disciples led to full recognition and assurance that their beloved Teacher was indeed alive and well! Gladness filled the heart of the Disciples! Full and blessed assurance filled the void that had been in their hearts the last three days!

We can imagine the Disciples looking at each other, staring at their Risen Teacher, and then all of them talking at the same time! They must have hugged each other in sheer glee! How could it be otherwise?

But soon, Jesus spoke to them again, and once more He greeted them with the same words. A smile must have stolen over their faces, because they must have realized that they had interrupted the flow of words that Jesus was going to speak to them.

They should have known better. They should have known that Jesus would not just appear to them! Of course He would appear to them for a very personal reason! There was a special bond between them!

What was the other reason why Jesus appeared to them? The Disciples must have listened in awe as Jesus opened His mouth!

“As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.”
John 20:21

It was about three years ago when Jesus had called them to be His Disciples. Those words He uttered were so compelling and powerful. Each one of them had given up one thing or another to follow Him. He had promised that He would make them fishers of men (Matthew 4:19).

Jesus had given them a taste of what service was like. He had called them to be Disciples once. But later He had called them “apostles” (Matthew 10:1-2). He had singled them out and had empowered them with His authority! He then sent them out to minister after carefully instructing them (Matthew 10:1-42)!

But they had failed Him miserably the last few days! They had been cowardly. They had deserted Him. Why, the women Disciples proved themselves far worthier! Could Jesus still trust them? Could He still use them as His Apostles?

How precious those words of Jesus were! Jesus Himself had to be there to say these words to His Disciples! Yes, He still wanted to send them forth as His Apostles! He had come personally to tell them that He was going to commission them!