John 20:19-28

1. One of the most difficult and complexing Bible passages is found in John 20:19-28.

2. This passage records an appearance of Jesus on the first day of the week - the same day Jesus was raised from the dead.

3. Jesus had been raised on the third day as He had promised. (Jno. 2:19-21; Matt. 16:21).

4. Mark, Luke, and John record the appearance of Jesus to the disciples in Jerusalem, Thomas being absent. (Mk. 16:14; Lk. 24:36-43; Jno. 20:19-25).

1. They seem to suggest something was different about Jesus.

2. The "doors were shut" yet Jesus "came and stood in the midst." (Jno. 20:19).

Do these words teach Jesus was raised with a spiritual body?

1. Some affirm "yes" to this question.

• They deny Jesus was raised with a material body.
• They affirm He was raised with a spiritual body.
• They affirm His physical body either remained in the tomb or was transformed into a spiritual body.

 2. Others affirm "no."

• They argue Jesus was raised with a material body.
• They contend Jesus was raised physically and had a physical body until His ascension.

The Bible affirms "that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God..." (1 Cor. 15:50).

One deducts from this that the body of Jesus was transformed as He ascended into heaven. (Acts 1:9-11).

1. John 20:19-28 is used as an argument for a spiritual resurrection.

2. If Jesus were raised physically, how do we explain His appearance in the room when "the doors were shut"?

• Some respond by saying the door was not said to be locked and Jesus opened the door and entered the room.
• This may be possible, but it does not appear to be what occurred.
• John added "for fear of the Jews."

Jesus had been crucified on Friday just 3 days before this gathering.

They were afraid they also might be imprisoned or killed by the Jewish leaders and they would have most likely locked the doors.

3.  Others use Jesus' appearance to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus as proof of a spiritual resurrection. (Mk. 6:12,13; Lk. 24:13-35).

• Mark exclaimed Jesus appeared "in another form." (Mk. 16:12).
• Jesus restrained their vision. (Lk. 24:16).
• Jesus preached to them without them knowing they were hearing the Lord Himself. (Lk. 24:19-28).
• As Jesus was eating with them, "their eyes were opened." (Lk. 24:31).
• They knew Him. (Lk. 24:31).
• "He vanished out of their sight." (Lk. 24:31).
• The word "vanished" it is argued proves Jesus was not raised bodily.

 4. Others use 1 Peter 3:18 as an argument for a spiritual resurrection.

• Peter wrote "For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit.." KJV
• The ASV reads "but made alive in the spirit." See also NASB
• The NEB says, "in the spirit he was brought to life."
• It is asserted the word "spirit" referred to the divine spirit of Jesus and not to the Holy Spirit in this context.
• It is claimed this proves Jesus was raised spiritually - not physically.

1. Look again at John 20:19-28.

• The first appearance of Jesus (Jno.20:19-25).
• Jesus showed them His hands and His side. (Jno. 20:20).
• "He breathed on them..." (Jno. 20:22).
• This showed He was raised physically.
• The breathing on them was a sign or pledge they would be endowed with the Holy Spirit.

• The appearance of Jesus to all the apostles including Thomas. (Jno. 20:26-28).
• Jesus appears as He did eight days earlier and invites Thomas to do what he had said he must do to believe. (Jno. 20:25,27).
• Thomas seeing Jesus with his own eyes confessed faith in the risen Lord. (Jno. 20:28).

2. Luke's account of the resurrection undeniably supports the physical resurrection of Jesus.

• Luke reported the disciples were frightened by the appearance of Jesus and supposed they "beheld a spirit." (Lk. 24:37).
• Jesus invited them to look at His hands and feet. (Lk. 24:39).
• Jesus showed them His hands and feet. (Lk. 24:40).
• He denied a spirit had flesh and bones as He had. (Lk. 24:40).
• Jesus ate to prove He was not a spirit, but was fleshy. (Lk. 24:41-43).

3. What about the appearance of Jesus to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus?

• The word "vanished" may mean He suddenly left.
• It might mean He Jesus miraculously disappeared and became invisible to them.
• This does not disprove Jesus was raised physically, but may indicate Jesus could materialize and de-materialize, that is, could appear and disappear.

4. What about 1 Peter 3:18?

• These words are difficult, but they must not be used to contradict clear passages affirming Jesus had a physical body.
• The word "spirit" may refer to the Holy Spirit.
• We know it was by the Spirit Jesus was raised from the dead. (Rom. 8:11).

5. Many hold this is the meaning of the passage.

• They hold that Jesus preached to the antediluvians through the Holy Spirit and Noah. (2 Pet. 2:5; 1 Pet. 1:12).
• It is said that the "spirits in prison" were not in prison at the time of the preaching, but at the time of the writing.

6. Others believe the "spirit" refers to the divine spirit of Christ.

• They insist that Jesus in His spirit preached to the spirits in prison between the time His body wasplaced in the tomb on Friday and Sunday.
• They are not sure what Jesus preached to the spirits.
• They are not sure why Jesus preached to the antediluvians only.
• They are not sure if the spirits were angels who sinned or men who sinned or both.
• They are not sure if the message for a message of triumph or condemnation or salvation.

7. This interpretation is possible, but it presents some difficult problems.

• The Bible teaches Jesus went to Paradise on Friday. (Lk. 24:39-43)
• Nothing is said about Jesus going to Hades and preaching to the antediluvians.
• The uncertainties above in "6" remain largely unanswered in this view.
• Even if Jesus did proclaim some message to the antediluvians, this would not prove He was raised a spirit.

How Do We Explain The Appearance Of Jesus?

1. The Bible clearly affirms Jesus was raised physically. (1 Cor. 15:1-22; Acts 13:35; Rom. 8:11).

2. One thing is different about Jesus.

• Jesus used the power to materialize and de-materialize.
• He could suddenly appear and suddenly disappear.

3. This is a miracle and does not disprove a bodily resurrection.

4. We should keep in mind Jesus made it a point to prove He was raised physically and was not a spirit.

5. If Jesus was raised spiritually, how do we explain the empty tomb? What happen to the body of Jesus?

6. If His body was in the tomb, why didn't the Jews produce it on Pentecost when Peter said Jesus had been raised without seeing corruption and He was at the right hand of God? (Acts 2:24-35).

1. In summary, the Bible teaches Jesus was raised bodily from the tomb. The Bible leaves the impression Jesus materialized and de-materialized on several occasions

2. This is a miracle and does not disprove the bodily resurrection of Jesus.

3. The Bible teaches the same Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead will also raise our mortal bodies. (Rom. 8:11).