just as God had rested on the seventh day after He completed this tangible, easily corrupted world, Jesus endured the cross unto death and now rested in a borrowed tomb. John chapter 20 begins with, “The first day of the week.” J. A. Macdonald states, “Since in the week there are seven days, the “eighth” day and the “first” are the same. now, it was on the “first day of the week” that Jesus rose from the dead (Matthew 28:1). He seems to have several times appeared to his disciples on the first day during the forty days of his sojourn on the earth after his resurrection. On the first day, he ascended into heaven if we take the “forty days” to be clear days. The memorable day of Pentecost is calculated to have fallen upon the first day of the week. The early Christians kept the first day sacredly, as the seventh had been by the Jews (see Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:2). This was called “the Lord’s day” (Revelation 1:10), just as our Eucharist is called “the Lord’s Supper,” because he instituted it.” 4 it was the first day of the week when he appeared to the disciples, breathed on them and said receive the Holy Ghost (John 20:19, 22). after eight days, He erased all doubt from Thomas’ mind (John 20:26).
Jesus had created something new through His resurrection. this new creation requires voluntary sacrifice and consecration, similar to the vow of the Nazarite. Jesus atoned for sin for all time but still requires separation and sanctification, just like the vessels, the tabernacle, and the priests. as in the Feast of Tabernacles, this new age is a time of thanksgiving! one where we present our offerings to God with [the Holy Ghost and] fire and he will assuredly do “no ordinary work”! as for the practice of circumcision, “In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ. Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross” (Colossians 2:11-14). Jesus’ new creation was the birth of the church, an open door to the Gentiles, and a spiritual revolution that would turn the world upside down! the eighth day of the week was also the first day of the church, where everything was clean and made new.
John did not conclude his gospel with the ascension of Christ. he writes of Jesus repeatedly asking Peter if he loved Him and, upon affirmation, telling him to feed His sheep. the last verse of his book also states, “there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written” (John 21:25). these verses are significant statements in the New Testament that Jesus established. Jesus stresses the need to care for the flock. if you love Him, you will tend to the following. if you love Him, you will be actively involved in the nourishment of His congregation. in my opinion, John also confirms the history book of the early church with “the world itself could not contain the books that should be written.” we have somewhat of a cliffhanger at the end of the Acts of the Apostles. i have heard many times that this is due to the church continuing beyond chapter 28. we are actively living out Acts chapter 29 right now, and all of the miracles and those that have yet to happen would be hard to contain on paper. Jesus said, “He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do” (John 14:12).
in conclusion, many of the events in the life of Jesus can parallel the Genesis creation week. many studies have been completed on this thought that gives specific scriptures, and they are readily available with a quick internet search. when we begin to look at the eighth day as the first day and dawn of the new covenant, we appreciate the poetry and the masterful inspiration of John’s writing. whether John was aware of this parallel is unknown, but God has always been able to put together a wondrous work!
Works Cited
1 Phillips, Brian “The 8 Days of Creation: How the Gospel of John echoes Genesis” Circe
Institute blog, https://www.circeinstitute.org/blog/8-days-creation, Apr 15,
2020.
2 Biblestudy.org “What is the Nazarite Vow?” Bible Study, Home, In-Depth,
https://www.biblestudy.org/maturart/what-is-the-nazarite-vow.html
3 Ligonier.org “The Feast of Booths” Devotionals,
https://www.ligonier.org/learn/devotionals/feast-booths, Jun 14, 2010.
4 Macdonald, J. A. “The Eighth Day” Biblehub Pulpit Commentary,
https://biblehub.com/sermons/auth/macdonald/the_eighth_day.htm, Biblesoft,
Inc., 2010.