How does John 20:20 connect with Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah? The Moment Described John 20:20: “After He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.” - The risen Jesus physically displays the very wounds that secured redemption. - His bodily presence anchors the reality of His resurrection, not a vision or metaphor. Seeing the Wounds: Fulfillment of Specific Prophecies - Psalm 22:16: “They have pierced my hands and my feet” — literally realized as Jesus shows those very piercings. - Isaiah 53:5: “He was pierced for our transgressions” — the scars verify that the Suffering Servant has completed His atoning work. - Exodus 12:46; Numbers 9:12: the Passover lamb’s bones were not broken. John 19:36 cites this; the visible side wound, yet unbroken bones, ties Jesus to the flawless Passover lamb. Peace and Joy: Echoes of Isaiah’s Servant Songs - Isaiah 53:11: “He will see the light of life and be satisfied.” The disciples’ joy mirrors the Servant’s triumph after suffering. - Isaiah 52:7: “How beautiful… are the feet of him who brings good news, who proclaims peace.” Jesus announces “Peace be with you” (John 20:19) and shows the very feet predicted to bear good news. Resurrection Presence: Foreshadowed in Psalm 16 and Hosea 6 - Psalm 16:10: “You will not abandon my soul to Sheol, nor will You let Your Holy One see decay.” The living Christ, scars intact yet body incorruptible, embodies this promise. - Hosea 6:2: “After two days He will revive us; on the third day He will raise us up.” Jesus stands alive on the third day, inaugurating the restoration Hosea envisioned. The Pierced but Living Messiah: Zechariah’s Vision - Zechariah 12:10: “They will look on Me whom they have pierced, and they will mourn.” The disciples’ gaze fulfills the “looking,” while future Israel will also look and believe (cf. Revelation 1:7). - The side wound corresponds to Zechariah’s single pierced figure, affirming both sacrifice and ultimate victory. Messiah as Mediator: Exodus Types Completed - Moses showed his hand made leprous and then healed (Exodus 4:6–8) as a sign; Jesus shows His wounded yet healed hands as the greater sign. - High priests bore the names of Israel on their shoulders and over their heart (Exodus 28:9–12, 29). Jesus’ scars permanently carry the cost of His people on His body, confirming His eternal priesthood (Hebrews 7:23–25). Implications for Faith - The literal scars anchor our assurance: prophecy has been precisely fulfilled. - Joy flows naturally when prophecy moves from text to tangible reality before eyewitnesses. - The same Scriptures that foretold His suffering guarantee His ongoing intercession and future return, securing confidence for every believer today. |
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