Chapter 19 should have been the last chapter, but it wasn't. Death should be the end of the story for Jesus, but it isn't. Joseph of Arimathea provides the tomb for Jesus' body. And the stone is rolled in front of the tomb, and that should be the end of it.
But it isn't. For Mary Magdalene, first to the tomb, and first to find it empty. For Peter and the Beloved Disciple (whoever it may be), For the other disciples, afraid and behind locked doors. For Thomas (a week later). For Mary, it's the sound of her name that convinces her that Jesus is not the gardener, but her friend and her Lord. For the disciples, it is the sight of his nail-scarred hands and his words, "Peace be with you." For Thomas, it is Jesus' invitation to touch him and find out for himself.
What is it for you?
At the end of Chapter 20 John hopes we who have not seen have come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, and that we too have life, and that this chapter is not the last chapter for us, either.
But then, curiously, there is this other chapter, chapter 21. Chapter 20 seems like it ought to be the end, especially with that wonderful summary of the purpose of the Gospel at the end. But then there is chapter 21, which begins with some of the disciples together -- doing what? -- we don't know. It seems like they were just hanging out when Peter says "I am going fishing." And Jesus appears to them, and he gives Peter the commission to "feed my sheep," and he says words that seem like a prophecy of Peter's eventual martyrdom.
And then, again, John ends the gospel for the second time, by telling the readers that his 21 chapters are only a fraction of the stories that could be told about Jesus. There are so many stories about Jesus that all of the books in the world could not contain them.
And the story will never end.
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