THE KING’S BUSINESS
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nently established in the minds and hearts o f the disciples. The death o f Christ had been a rude shock to the faith o f the disciples. They trusted and hoped that Jesus was “ He who should redeem Israel” (Luke 24:21). Their hopes, however, seem absolutely at an end when the bpdy o f Christ was placed in the tomb and the great stone rolled across its mouth. The disciples felt, possibly, they had made a colossal mistake in leaving their boats to follow the Nazarene. It was prob ably just as well for them now to return to the business they had left. And so Jesus finds them back again at their boats and nets, fishing. By a miraculous sign (the draught o f fishes, vv. 1-8), Jesus introduces Himself to the disciples, and is recognized by John (v. 7). A fter the disciples have c,ome to the shore and their hunger has been appeased by Jesus (vv. 9-14), Peter, who probably because o f his denial (Mark 14:66-72) had need o f a special reinstatement into the official ranks o f the apostles, not only for his own sake (Mark 16:7; 1 Corinthians 15:5), but also that the other apostles might recognize that he had been fully reinstated (cf. Mark 14:27-31 with John 21:15^—“More than these?” ), is specially dealt with by our Lord, being fully forgiven, reinstated and recommissioned (vv. 15-19) in the presence o f the apostles. The future career o f the apostle John receives some attention on account o f Peter’s question (vv. 20-23). In a final word the gospel record is attested (vv. 24, 25) and thus ends the “gospel o f witness” according to John.
“ It is finished” (John 19:30). “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit” (Luke 23:46). 3. The burial, 19:38-42. The burial o f Christ is one o f the evi dences o f His death and a. fulfilment o f Isaiah 53:9, with which should be com pared Matthew 12:38-41. Paul in 1 Cor inthians 15 :4 considers the burial o f Christ as a constituent fact in gospel truth. In connection with the burial o f Christ we have the open and bold confession of Jesus by the hitherto.secret disciples, Jos eph o f Arimatheá, and Nicodemus (cf. 3:1, 2; 9:22; 12:42)—an illustration o f how the grace o f God can enable a man to triumph over natural timidity (Isaiah 35:4; John 18:15-18; Acts 4:13). D. THE CLIMAX AND TRIUMPH OF FAITH — THE RESURRECTION, 20 :1-31. The divisions o f this section are five: 1. Peter and John at the tomb, 20:1-10. 2. Mary Magdalene at the tomb, 20:11-18. 3. First appearance o f Jesús to the dis ciples, 20:19-23 (Thomas absent). 4. Second appearance o f Jesus to the dis ciples, 20:24-29 (Thomas present). 5. Conclusion o f the gospel proper, 20:30, 31. THE EPILOGUE, 21 :1-25. The incidents narrated in this chapter Íshow us in a most graphic way the manner in which faith in Jesus Christ as the Word o f God, and the Saviour and Redeemer of the world, was triumphantly and perma
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