Is John 20:19 a record of the disciples instituting Sunday-keeping?

The disciples did not believe the resurrection had taken place. That was the reason Christ appeared to them in John 20:19! They met with the doors bolted shut “for fear of the Jews,” not to worship. Jesus showed up to rebuke them. “He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen” (Mark 16:14).

We also need to keep in mind that the Romans and the Jews reckoned the beginning and ending of days differently. The Romans counted the beginning of a new day at midnight, which has carried over into many cultures today. But the Jews said a day began at sunset. The account of creation brings this out when we repeatedly read, “So the evening and the morning were the first day” (Genesis 1:5, my emphasis). This means the passage for today could actually be interpreted as a Sunday night meeting, which would be, for the Jews, the day of Monday.

There is no implication that they counted Sunday as a holy day. Only eight texts in the New Testament mention the first day of the week; none of them imply that it is holy. Jesus most definitely rose from the dead on Sunday, but He never commanded us to worship in honor of His resurrection. The way we honor the resurrection is the same way we honor His death—through baptism. Being buried with Christ in the waters of baptism symbolizes accepting His death on the cross. In the same way, as we are raised from the waters of baptism, we are raised with Christ into a new way of life. The power of Jesus’ resurrection is the power we live by every single day of the week, not just Sunday.

Key Bible Texts

Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. (John 20:19 KJV)