The final resurrection account to be considered is that of John’s gospel. As a simple reading of the four Gospels undoubtedly reveals, John’s gospel is quite different from the Synoptics (i.e., Matthew, Mark, and Luke). Such is true of John’s resurrection account. While there are quite a few similarities between John’s account and that found in the Synoptics, John, once again, does something different. Note, especially, John’s extended descriptions of Jesus’ post-resurrection appearances, filling out most of chapter 20 and all of chapter 21. As well as John’s detailed character development, emphasizing Jesus’ interactions with Mary Magdalene, Thomas, Peter, and “the beloved disciple.” 

While John does a masterful job of integrating a multitude of themes found throughout the gospel into his account of the resurrection, we will focus on John’s primary theme that both introduces his gospel and concludes it. In the prologue to John’s gospel (Jn 1:1–18), we are introduced to Jesus as the Word made flesh (1:14) who has come to bring new creation. In Jesus’ resurrection, we see the culmination of this theme. 

New Creation

John’s gospel begins with these words: “In the beginning,” bringing the reader back to Genesis 1:1. Jesus has come to bring about new creation, to put the world to rights, to make the creation, once again, the place God created and designed it. Through Jesus’ death and resurrection, through which he conquered the powers of sin and death that have held the creation captive, Jesus has brought about this new creation. 

In John’s resurrection account, he emphasizes that Jesus was raised “on the first day of the week” (20:1, 19). In the original creation account of Genesis 1, on the sixth day, God created humankind, and on the sixth day, Jesus, God become human, dies. On the seventh day, God rested, and on the seventh day, Jesus rests in the tomb. However, “on the first day of the week,” something new happens. Not only has a new week begun, but a new age, a new kingdom, a new creation. As the new week begins and the tomb is found empty, God has begun making all things new (Rev 21:5). 

Light and Darkness

In John’s prologue, we also see a contrast between light and darkness. “In him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.” (1:4–5). At the end of the story, Mary comes to the tomb “while it was still dark” to discover it empty. Once again, in the darkness, Jesus’ light shines. In the darkness of the evil and brokenness of creation, the light of Jesus’ resurrection shines forth as a promise of God’s work to restore his broken creation. 

Jesus’ Humanity 

John’s prologue also emphasizes Jesus’ humanity. “He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God.” (1:11–13). After Jesus’ resurrection, he appears in a locked room to his disciples who have believed in him (20:19–23) and says, “’I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” (20:17). For the first time in the gospel, God is referred to as the disciples’ God and Father. Through Jesus, God become human, God who went to a cross and rose from the grave, humankind has been adopted as the children of God. 

Jesus as God

Finally, John’s prologue primarily demonstrates that Jesus is God. “No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father’s heart, who has made him known.” (1:18). The resurrection, more than anything else, proves this to be true. Thomas was not present for Jesus’ first appearance to the disciples. Therefore, he doubts the authenticity of Jesus’ resurrection. However, when Jesus appears to them a second time, in the presence of Thomas, and shows Thomas the nail marks in his hands and the hole in his side, Thomas declares, “’My Lord and my God!’” (20:28). Jesus, through the resurrection, has shined a light proving himself to be God, become human, for the purpose of making a new creation. 

by: Spencer Shaw

Check out the entire article series: Jesus’s Resurrection Through the Gospels