INTRO TO THE GOSPEL OF JOHN, Sarah Barry
AS THE FATHER HAS SENT ME, I AM SENDING YOU!
Passage: John 20:19~31  
Key verse: 21
Jesus Appears to His Disciples
19 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders,(A) Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace(B) be with you!”(C) 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and side.(D) The disciples were overjoyed(E) when they saw the Lord.
21 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you!(F) As the Father has sent me,(G) I am sending you.”(H) 22 And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.(I) 23 If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”(J)
Jesus Appears to Thomas
24 Now Thomas(K) (also known as Didymus[a]), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!”
But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side,(L) I will not believe.”(M)
26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace(N) be with you!”(O) 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”(P)
28 Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”
29 Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed;(Q) blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”(R)
The Purpose of John’s Gospel
30 Jesus performed many other signs(S) in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book.(T) 31 But these are written that you may believe[b](U) that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God,(V) and that by believing you may have life in his name.(W)
Footnotes
- John 20:24 Thomas (Aramaic) and Didymus (Greek) both mean twin.
- John 20:31 Or may continue to believe
Cross references
- John 20:19 : S Jn 7:13
- John 20:19 : S Jn 14:27
- John 20:19 : ver 21, 26; Lk 24:36-39
- John 20:20 : Lk 24:39, 40; Jn 19:34
- John 20:20 : Jn 16:20, 22
- John 20:21 : ver 19
- John 20:21 : S Jn 3:17
- John 20:21 : Mt 28:19; Jn 17:18
- John 20:22 : Jn 7:39; Ac 2:38; 8:15-17; 19:2; Gal 3:2
- John 20:23 : Mt 16:19; 18:18
- John 20:24 : S Jn 11:16
- John 20:25 : ver 20
- John 20:25 : Mk 16:11
- John 20:26 : S Jn 14:27
- John 20:26 : ver 21
- John 20:27 : ver 25; Lk 24:40
- John 20:29 : S Jn 3:15
- John 20:29 : 1Pe 1:8
- John 20:30 : S Jn 2:11
- John 20:30 : Jn 21:25
- John 20:31 : S Jn 3:15; 19:35
- John 20:31 : S Mt 4:3
- John 20:31 : S Mt 25:46
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source:  BibleGateway
1. Peace be with you (19-23)
The disciples locked the doors for fear of death by the Jewish leaders. The risen Jesus stood among them saying, "Peace be with you!" Now they have nothing to fear, for Jesus has conquered death. He showed the evidences: the nailed hands and the pierced side. Yes, he was really dead but surely has risen. The disciples were overjoyed. Jesus then gave them the great commission, "As the Father has sent me, I am sending you!" He breathed the Holy Spirit to give them power to carry out their mission to forgive sins of the people through Jesus. This is the most urgent and important for all sinners.
2. Blessed are those who believe (24-32)
Thomas was not there. He refused to believe unless he saw and touched Jesus. Jesus once again came to help Thomas stop doubting and believe. Jesus let him touch him with his finger, see his hands and side. When Thomas confessed, "My Lord and my God!" Jesus blessed those who have not seen and yet have believed in him as the Messiah and the Son of God. They will have eternal life.
Prayer: Praise Jesus who conquered death, sin and Satan. Thank you for sending us to preach the forgiveness of sins and eternal life.
One Word: I am sending you!