John 20: Jesus is recognised

Lieutenant Patsy Attwood faces up to an identity challenge.

Key texts

John 20:19-31

When watching a film or television programme, I often see actors pop up time and time again. They look familiar, but what are their names? What have they been in? Sometimes, the answer comes quickly. Other times, it takes until the end of the film or programme to work it out, or I have to give in and Google them.

That got me thinking about how we recognise people. Do we recognise them by their voice, what they wear, their haircut? We all have unique features – things that make us recognisable.

As Christians, we are called to bear witness to God and to share the good news with everyone we meet. We are called to ensure that our lives – the way we behave and treat people – model the actions of Jesus, so that we can be recognisable as believers.

Our study passage from the Gospel of John details Jesus’ appearances to his disciples after his resurrection, where he is recognised simply from his greeting: ‘Peace be with you!’ (v19). In that moment, the disciples’ despondency is lifted – maybe things seem a lot less hopeless.

Pause and reflect

How can you ensure that you are recognising Jesus in your everyday life?

Jesus pronounces four things in this passage. The first is: ‘Peace be with you.’ He repeats this three times, in verses 19, 21 and 26. The second is: ‘As the Father has sent me, I am sending you’ (v21). The third is: ‘Receive the Holy Spirit’ (v22). The fourth is: ‘Stop doubting and believe’ (v27).

All these can help us to ensure that we are recognising Jesus daily. With his pronouncement ‘peace be with you’, Jesus is assuring the group of hopeless and frightened disciples that he has not left them.

His words should be seen as an encouragement, a message of assurance of his presence with them – and, therefore, us too. These words are a reminder to ensure that we are constantly aware of Jesus’ presence with us every day of our lives. Knowing Jesus’ peace encourages us to make sure that we are seeking him out, being encouraged and being built up by his presence each day.

Pause and reflect

How can you be more intentional in seeking out God’s presence?

Then, Jesus explains that, just as he was sent, he is also sending us (see v21). Jesus has perfectly modelled what it means to be sent and how that is to be lived out. Therefore, we are sent people sent by God – the one who sent his Son into the world so that we ‘may have life, and have it to the full’ (John 10:10). This means that, along with being aware of and seeking out his presence, we are also discerning where he is calling us to go to share the good news with everyone we meet.

Pause and reflect

Where is God sending you to proclaim the good news that Jesus offers?

Next, we are called to ‘receive the Holy Spirit’ (v22). It is through the receiving of God’s Spirit that we are strengthened and equipped to proclaim the good news. Receiving God’s Spirit changes us from the inside out. The Holy Spirit prompts us and encourages us to act in ways that are in line with God’s desire for us.

God is constantly revealing himself to us, making himself recognisable to us.

Jesus breathes on the disciples and they receive his Spirit. In doing so, they are equipped and motivated to go out into the world and continue the mission of God, as Jesus is about to return to Heaven. Receiving the Holy Spirit means that the disciples are enabled and called to forgive people of their sins (see v23). Jesus has modelled for us what true forgiveness looks like – his death and resurrection have made an atonement for us so that our relationship with God can be restored. The Holy Spirit is at work in our lives, encouraging us and prompting us to act according to God’s will for us.

Pause and reflect

How will you receive the Holy Spirit anew today?

Finally, Jesus invites us to ‘stop doubting and believe’ (v27). Throughout this passage, we are presented with two differing responses to Jesus’ appearance. We have the disciples who are in the room when Jesus appears to them for the first time, who immediately recognise him, believe and are full of joy. We also have Thomas, who isn’t there and doubts that the others have seen Jesus – he is dubious. Perhaps things seem just too good to be true and he doesn’t want to be disappointed, so he doubts.

Thomas needs to see for himself. For him, words simply aren’t enough. He needs to be able to ‘see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side’ (v25).

Sometimes, Thomas gets a bit of bad press for doubting, but how many of us could truly say that we would just take people’s word for it if they said that someone had risen from the dead? Even though we were not present at the Resurrection, we can still recognise Jesus today. God is constantly revealing himself to us, making himself recognisable to us. We have to posture our hearts and minds in ways that will expectantly wait for – and recognise – him.