THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO JOHN
Chapter 20
“The first day
of the week cometh Ma’ry Mag-da-le’ne early, when it was yet
dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.”
(Verse 1)
All
Glory be to God for the dawning of a new day, for the arrival of a new week,
the 1st day of which is the Lord’s Day. Praise Thy Name, Almighty
Jehovah God that 3 days have passed since My Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ died
on the cross for my sins. Now, all creation (past, present, and future) will
clearly see the proof of the Truth of Jesus’ Proclamation that He would rise
from the dead in 3 days. Praise Thy Name, Lord God, for sending the angel to
roll away the stone from the empty tomb for all God’s creation to look
inside.
“Then she
runneth, and cometh to Si’mon Pe’ter, and to the other
disciple, whom Je’sus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of
the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him.” (Verse 2)
Lord Jesus, save us all from the natural human tendency to doubt the Wonderful Words that Thou doest speak to us. At this point, Mary did not believe that Thou wast alive. She thought someone had taken away Thy dead body. Please save us all from being slow to believe Thee. Save us all from an evil heart of unbelief.
“Pe’ter therefore went forth,
and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre.” (Verse 3)
Heavenly Father, please impress upon my soul the spiritual significance of Peter’s eagerness to examine that empty sepulcher. Please instill within me all the zeal Thou hast ordained for me regarding thoroughly studying and examining all thy Holy Scriptures to learn all I should from Thy Holy Bible.
“So they ran
both together: and the other disciple did outrun Pe’ter, and came first to the
sepulchre.” (Verse 4)
Lord Jesus, by Thy Almighty Power please draw me unto Thee and give me a holy zeal to run after Thee. (Song of Solomon 1:4)
“And he stooping
down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in.”
(Verse 5)
Lord Jesus, I confess that after 3 days, Thy dead body was no longer in the tomb. Glory to God, I serve a Risen Saviour!
“Then cometh Si’mon Pe’ter following him, and went
into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie,” (Verse 6)
Lord Jesus Christ, I confess that death and the grave held no power over Thee. Thou doest live forever. I trust in Thee as my Eternal Life.
“And the napkin,
that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together
in a place by itself.” (Verse 7)
Heavenly Father, please send Thy Holy Spirit to teach me all I should know regarding these clothes and the cloth being laid out in order in that empty sepulcher. Teach me that wearing linen garments maintains good health for one’s physical body.
“Then went in
also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and
believed.” (Verse 8)
Our Father which art in Heaven, please give me spiritual eyes to see, and a heart to believe, all the evidence of my Risen Lord and Saviour. Please save me from any and all doubt concerning my miraculous Lord Jesus Christ.
“For as yet they
knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead.” (Verse 9)
Heavenly Father, I praise Thy Great Name that I well know the Scriptures that teach that Jesus Christ must rise again from the dead, because I have all those Scriptures in the Holy Bible. Please give me unshakable faith to fully believe all those glorious Scriptures.
“Then the
disciples went away again unto their own home.” (Verse 10)
Lord Jesus, cause me to think deeply on these friends of Thine being confused simply because they didn’t think on and believe Thy words to them when Thou didst clearly tell them that Thou wouldest rise again from the dead on the 3rd day.
“But Ma’ry stood without at the
sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into
the sepulchre,” (Verse 11)
Heavenly Father, please save us all from a heart of unbelief and from the resulting sorrow that a faithless heart brings upon us.
“And seeth two
angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where
the body of Je’sus had lain.” (Verse 12)
Our Father which art in Heaven, please grant unto me Spiritual eyesight to look upon each and every unseen thing that is Thy Will for me to behold.
“And they say
unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken
away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him.” (Verse 13)
My Lord Jesus, teach me that Thou art a God that hideth Thyself. (Isaiah 45:15) Please stir up my heart to always seek and to search for Thee with all my heart. Where art Thou, Lord Jesus? I earnestly desire to find Thee. Please reveal Thyself unto me now.
“And when she
had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Je’sus standing, and knew not
that it was Je’sus.” (Verse 14)
Abba Father in Heaven, please turn my entire being, body, soul, and spirit toward The Lord Jesus Christ. Lord Jesus, I want to see Thee with Spiritual eyes and I want to recognize that it is Thee, Lord Jesus. I desire to see Thee and to know Thee to the fullest degree possible. Save me, Almighty God, from not knowing and from failing to recognize The Saviour of the world, God the Son, The Lord Jesus Christ.
“Je’sus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest
thou? whom seekest thou?” She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou
have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him
away.” (Verse 15)
Our Father which art in Heaven, I seek the Lord Jesus Christ. I seek The Lord Jesus among the living, not among the dead. Please empower me to seek Jesus with all my heart, soul and might. Where art Thou, Lord Jesus? Please reveal Thyself unto me. Please speak unto me just as Thou didst speak unto Mary. Tell me things I should know. Ask me of things I should ponder and answer.
“Je’sus saith unto her, Ma’ry. She
turned herself, and saith unto him, Rab-bo’ni; which is to say,
Master.” (Verse 16)
Lord Jesus, I greatly long to hear Thy Voice from Heaven calling my name. I now call Thee my Master, my Lord, my God, my All. Please ever call my name and speak unto me great and glorious things that I know not. O how I long to hear Thy Wonderful Voice, Lord Jesus. Please speak Thy Will unto me right now.
“Je’sus saith unto her, Touch me not; for
I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I
ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.” (Verse 17)
Lord Jesus Christ, help me to confess unto all Thy Creation that Thou didst rise from the dead and afterwards ascended unto God Thy Father in Heaven. I confess that He is also my God and my Heavenly Father. Lord, send me to tell this wonderful news to everyone I can. Thou didst command Mary not to touch Thee. Please save me from ever being too forward with Thee, Almighty Lord Jesus.
“Ma’ry Mag-da-le’ne came and told the
disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these
things unto her.” (Verse 18)
Lord Jesus, I earnestly desire to now see Thy Glorious Face. I desire for Thee to now speak wonderful things unto me. Please grant these desires of mine heart. Then guide me to go and tell every human soul I can the many wonderful things that Thou doest speak unto me.
“Then the same
day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were
shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Je’sus and stood in the midst,
and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.” (Verse 19)
Lord Jesus Christ, I confess that Thou art Almighty God Who is unbound and unlimited by physical objects. I confess that the door did not need to be opened for Thee to enter that room. I confess that all souls who believe on Thee will one day receive a glorified body that will endure forever and never be limited by physical objects. I rejoice in that blessed hope. Save me from the fear of man. I praise Thee for Thy Blessed Peace Thou doest give unto believers. No matter what troubles or dangers come my way, Thou wilt always keep me in perfect peace if only I will keep my mind stayed upon Thee. Please help me to always do so.
“And when he had
so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples
glad, when they saw the Lord.” (Verse 20)
Lord Jesus, please show unto me Thy nail-pierced hands and the wound in Thy side from the spear. Thank Thee for being wounded for me. Please reveal Thyself unto me and thus make me glad. Please make me into one of Thy disciples.
“Then said Je’sus to them again, Peace be
unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.” (Verse 21)
Heavenly Father, I confess that The Lord Jesus Christ is The Prince of Peace. Lord Jesus, Thou art my Peace. Please fill my entire being with Thy Wonderful Peace that passeth understanding. Father in Heaven, I confess that Thou didst send Thy Son Jesus Christ into this world. Lord Jesus, please send me whithersoever Thou wouldest have me to go, to proclaim Thee to this lost and dying world.
“And when he had
said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Ho’ly Ghost:” (Verse 22)
Lord Jesus Christ, please breathe on me right now. Please breathe Thy Holy Ghost upon me to dwell in me forever. I now receive God The Holy Spirit. Please fill me to the fullest with God’s Holy Ghost Power.
“Whose
soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins
ye retain, they are retained.” (Verse 23)
Heavenly Father, by Thy Holy Spirit please teach me now the meaning of this Scripture. How to I remit another person’s sins? How do I retain another person’s sins? Please teach me the exact meaning of this and always clearly guide me as to when it is Thy Will for me to remit some someone’s sins and when I am to retain someone’s sins.
“But Thom’as, one of the twelve,
called Did’y-mus, was not with them when Je’sus came.” (Verse 24)
Lord Jesus, I desire to always be present where so ever Thou art. Save me from ever separating myself from Thee. My heart’s foremost desire is to forever abide in The Lord Jesus Christ. Please grant this earnest desire of mine.
“The other
disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto
them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger
into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not
believe.” (Verse 25)
Heavenly Father, please teach me important eternal truths thru the actions and speech of Christ’s disciple Thomas who was a doubter. Save me from doubting Thy Words to me in the Holy Bible. Please give me strong unshakable faith to believe all that Thou doest speak unto me in the Bible or by Thy Holy Spirit without desiring to see the manifestation of those Truths with my physical eyes. Teach me to walk by faith and not by sight.
“And after eight days again his disciples were
within, and Thom’as with them: then came Je’sus, the doors being shut,
and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.”(Verse 26)
Jesus of Nazareth, I confess that Thy art Almighty God Who appeared in this room without walking thru an open door. I confess that Thou art my God and that Thou canst do anything for me. Please cause me to fully delight myself in Thee in order for Thee to give me all the desires of my heart. May I ever hear Thy Comforting Voice saying unto me, “Peace be unto you.”
“Then saith he
to Thom’as, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy
hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.” (Verse 27)
Abba Father, I cry out unto Thee! Save me from the awful sin of being faithless. Please perfect my faith to always wholly believe Thee. I confess that pure faith in The Lord Jesus Christ is the victory that overcometh the world, the flesh, sin, and Satan.
“And Thom’as answered and said unto
him, My Lord and my God.” (Verse 28)
Lord Jesus Christ, I confess that Thou art my Lord and my God. Please make me totally subservient unto Thee as my Lord. Teach me to worship Thee and Thee alone as the One True and Living God. Enable me to daily live in accordance to Thy Perfect Will for my life.
Je’sus saith unto him, Thom’as, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are
they that have not seen, and yet have believed.” (Verse 29)
Lord Jesus, I want to be blessed by Thee. I want to fully believe upon Thee without seeing Thee with my natural eyes. Please grant these desires of mine. I know these desires of mine heart are pleasing unto my Creator God.
“And many other
signs truly did Je’sus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this
book:” (Verse 30)
My Precious Lord Jesus, I call unto Thee to now do wondrous signs in my presence that will glorify Thee and will strengthen my faith in Thee, and that will strengthen my love and zeal for Thee my God. My heart’s desire is to be Thy disciple and to be fully pleasing unto Thee. Please grant this desire of mine.
“But these are
written, that ye might believe that Je’sus is the Christ, the Son
of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.” (Verse 31)
Almighty
Lord Jehovah God on High, I confess to all Thy creation that Jesus of Nazareth
is the Christ, the Son of God. I confess that by believing I might have life
thru Jesus’ Name. Our Father which art in Heaven, I have prayed all these
prayers in this chapter not only for myself but also for all other human souls
now living on this earth. I pray these prayers to the Lord Jesus Christ. And I
also pray all these prayers to Thee, God the Father, in the Name of my Lord and
Saviour Jesus Christ. Thus I humbly ask Thee to, in accordance to Thy Divine
Will, please answer all these prayers of mine for Thy Son Jesus Christ’s
Precious Name’s sake. Amen.