Gospel of John - Jesus Meets the Disciples

According to John, Chapter 20, on the evening of the first day of the week, the disciples were gathered, with doors locked because they were afraid of the Jewish authorities. Jesus suddenly appeared among them.

This activity takes place on the evening of the day of the resurrection.  According to John on the morning of the first day after the Sabbath, Mary had gathered her spices and went to the tomb to find it empty.  In Judaism the day begins at dusk/nightfall, and lasts 24 hours until the next nightfall.  The Sabbath begins on Friday evening and lasts until Saturday evening, so Mary would have been going to the tomb on Sunday morning, which is the first day of the week.

That evening, Jesus suddenly appears standing amount the disciples saying, “Peace be with you.”  This would have been an understatement considering Jesus somehow entered a locked room, suddenly appears and probably frightened the disciples.

John tells us that the disciples were overjoyed to see him as Jesus showed them the nail holes in his hands and feet, and the spear wound in his side.

In a statement similar to Matthew’s Great Commission, Jesus tells them, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”

Jesus continues, with an event which also takes place in Luke’s Book of Acts.  John tells us  Jesus breathes on them saying, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”

It seems at this point Jesus is ready to send them into world to carry on his ministry and build God’s church.

Jesus appears to the ten disciples.  In this interpretation Signorelli has introduced drama in the movement of the disciples.  Some have turned away from Jesus.  One seems to be reaching out to Jesus, or perhaps push him away.  All are head bowed toward Jesus or looking away.  Jesus stands boldly triumphant and positive displaying the nail marks in hands and feet.  There is also a glimmer of red for the wound in his side.  Resurrected Christ Appearing to His Disciples, painting by Luca Signorelli. 1514