Peter Paul Rubens had a way of saying things with lighting. In this painting, three disciples are confronted by Jesus. When three people are seen with Jesus, it's usually Peter, James, and John, but here the young one is Thomas. We assume Peter is the old man in the middle. My guess is that it's John at the left, looking at Jesus' face, rather than his wounds. The background appears entirely dark at first glance. However, you see that the light emanating from Jesus is giving a hint of light to the darkness behind him. There are even hints at a halo of light coming from the back of Jesus' head. In the resurrection, is Jesus alive? Yes. Yet he is still the one who bears wounds for our sake. And here, Thomas sees Jesus has come back especially for him, though he had been unbelieving. Jesus comes to us to turn our disbelief into belief, through his work as the risen Lord, the light of the world. The painting is part of a triptych. This panel is about 56x48 inches. It resides at the Royal Museum of Fine Arts in Antwerp.
Notice in the Bible we refer to the following:
Book - John (there are many different "books" in the one book of the Bible),
Chapter - Normally found as a big numeric heading. John has 21 chapters,
Verse - a segment usually about a sentence long.
The chapter and verse markings were added to the text as a handy index about 800 years ago. They are the same in virtually every different translation.
Here's a link to John chapter 20. You can also compare the text in several different languages and translations.
If you want a copy of John's Gospel in print, we're happy to meet you around the Mizzou campus and put one into your hand!
1. At the start of John 20, Mary (Magdalene) is at the tomb. Before she leaves the area in verse 10, what did she witness?
2. Why would it be surprising to have Mary as a primary witness to the resurrection?
3. What do verses 8-10 tell us about the state of belief of Peter and John at the time of the resurrection, as compared with what John knew by the time he wrote this Gospel?
4. Describe verses 19-23 in detail. What is significant about each part of the passage?
5. What does Jesus' return a week after the resurrection show us about his care for Thomas? What comfort do we have when we are faithless like Thomas?
6. At the end of the chapter, John says Jesus did many more things. These are written so we can know what Jesus is like and so we can believe. What is Jesus like? Do you believe him? What assurance does he give those who believe him?
Be sure to ask your questions and share your ideas in the comments for this post!
Book - John (there are many different "books" in the one book of the Bible),
Chapter - Normally found as a big numeric heading. John has 21 chapters,
Verse - a segment usually about a sentence long.
The chapter and verse markings were added to the text as a handy index about 800 years ago. They are the same in virtually every different translation.
Here's a link to John chapter 20. You can also compare the text in several different languages and translations.
If you want a copy of John's Gospel in print, we're happy to meet you around the Mizzou campus and put one into your hand!
1. At the start of John 20, Mary (Magdalene) is at the tomb. Before she leaves the area in verse 10, what did she witness?
2. Why would it be surprising to have Mary as a primary witness to the resurrection?
3. What do verses 8-10 tell us about the state of belief of Peter and John at the time of the resurrection, as compared with what John knew by the time he wrote this Gospel?
4. Describe verses 19-23 in detail. What is significant about each part of the passage?
5. What does Jesus' return a week after the resurrection show us about his care for Thomas? What comfort do we have when we are faithless like Thomas?
6. At the end of the chapter, John says Jesus did many more things. These are written so we can know what Jesus is like and so we can believe. What is Jesus like? Do you believe him? What assurance does he give those who believe him?
Be sure to ask your questions and share your ideas in the comments for this post!
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