I was reading John 20 this morning, and noticed a trend. Thought I'd share.

John 20 is the Resurrection Chapter of the book of John. It opens early on the first day of the week, finding Mary at an empty tomb. She runs and tells Peter and John that somebody has "taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre." The guys run off to check.

Of course, young John arrives first, but hesitates, and Peter rushes by him into the tomb. John then follows Peter. They see the 'linen clothes' and the 'napkin' lying there but no body.

John believes.


I. Hearing Not

Then comes verse 9, "For as yet they KNEW NOT the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead."

Now, obviously, they had heard about the resurrection; Jesus himself had mentioned it on more than one occasion. (Luke 18:33, for example) But they had never HEARD the scripture before.

There is a way of HEARING that is not simply the memorizing of verses - it is more than that. It is the Spirit speaking through the Scriptures. "He that hath ears to hear, let him hear what the Spirit saith..."


II. Seeing Not

While John and Peter were running into the tomb, Mary stood without. Some angels talked to her, then she turned around and saw Jesus. [More was going on OUTSIDE the tomb than INSIDE the tomb!!]

Actually, she saw a fella that she thought was the gardener. She "KNEW NOT that it was Jesus." She saw him, but didn't SEE him.

There is a way of SEEING that is more than looking at the visible. We are to SEE by faith, not by simple eyesight.

John 9:39, "And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might SEE; and that they which see might be made blind. "

Luke 18:10 tells us, "And he said, Unto you it is given to KNOW the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might NOT SEE, and hearing they might not understand."

III. Believing Not

Of course, Mary, John and Peter all gathered back together with the other disciples. Only Thomas was missing. Everybody was excited except Thomas. "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."

Eight days later, the Lord visits again. He tells Thomas, "...be not faithless, but believing." And, "blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed."



Some hear the scriptures but don't HEAR them. Some see the Lord but don't SEE him. And some just decide to not BELIEVE the testimony of others who have SEEN and HEARD. This is life immediately after the resurrection; it's not much different now.

On the other hand, some do HEAR, and some do SEE, and some BELIEVE in what they have never seen or heard.

:) Think about it.