The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.
Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him.
Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre.
So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre.
And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in.
Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie,
And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself.
Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed.
For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead.
Then the disciples went away again unto their own home.
But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre,
And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.
And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him.
And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.
Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.
Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.
Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.
Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her.
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.
And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord.
Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.
And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:
Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.
But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.
The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.
And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.
Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.
And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.
Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.
And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book:
But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.
John 20 is a pivotal chapter in the Gospel of John, detailing the earth-shattering event of Jesus' resurrection and its profound impact on his followers. It's a chapter filled with disbelief, discovery, and ultimately, deep faith. John masterfully weaves together personal encounters and theological truths, inviting us to witness the risen Christ and embrace the life-transforming power of his victory over death. This chapter, along with John 21, serves as the conclusion to John's Gospel, emphasizing the purpose of his writing: to lead readers to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and to find eternal life through him (John 20:30-31).
The Empty Tomb (John 20:1-10)
On the first day of the week, Sunday, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early in the morning while it was still dark (John 20:1). The Synoptic Gospels add that she was accompanied by other women, intending to anoint Jesus' body with spices (Mark 16:1; Luke 23:55-24:1). To her shock, she found the large stone sealing the tomb had been removed (John 20:1). Overwhelmed, she ran to Simon Peter and the "other disciple, the one Jesus loved" (John, referring to himself), with the alarming news: "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don't know where they have put him!" (John 20:2).
Peter and John immediately raced to the tomb (John 20:3). John, being younger and faster, arrived first but hesitated to enter (John 20:4-5). Peter, ever the bold one, went straight into the tomb (John 20:6). They observed the linen cloths that had wrapped Jesus' body lying there, and the cloth that had been around his head was folded up by itself, separate from the other linens (John 20:7).
This detail about the neatly folded head cloth is significant. One theory attempting to discredit the resurrection suggests Jesus was merely resuscitated after the crucifixion's trauma. However, this doesn't explain why a half-dead man would meticulously fold his head cloth. It suggests a deliberate act, further undermining attempts by unbelievers to deny the resurrection.
John then entered the tomb and "saw and believed" (John 20:8). While he previously believed in Jesus' identity, this moment marked his belief in the resurrection itself. However, John adds that they "still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead" (John 20:9). Despite Jesus' prior predictions (Luke 9:21-22; 18:31-34) and the Old Testament prophecies (Acts 2:24-31), the disciples hadn't grasped the necessity of the Messiah's resurrection. Puzzled and perhaps overwhelmed, they returned to their lodgings (John 20:10), attempting to make sense of what they had seen.
Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene (John 20:11-18)
Mary Magdalene remained at the tomb, weeping (John 20:11). Her grief and confusion are palpable. Stooping down to look inside, she saw two angels in white, sitting where Jesus' body had been (John 20:12). They asked her, "Woman, why are you crying?" (John 20:13). She replied, still focused on the missing body, "They have taken my Lord away, and I don't know where they have put him" (John 20:13). Resurrection was not an option she had considered.
Turning around, she saw Jesus standing there, but she did not recognize him (John 20:14). He also asked her, "Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?" (John 20:15). Mistaking him for the gardener (since the tomb was in a garden, John 19:41), she pleaded, "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him" (John 20:15). The King of creation, the Son of God, was standing before her, and she mistook him for a gardener!
Then Jesus spoke her name: "Mary" (John 20:16). Instantly, recognition dawned. She exclaimed, "Rabboni!" (which means Teacher) (John 20:16). She hadn't recognized him until he spoke her name, a beautiful illustration of John 10:4: "The sheep follow [the shepherd] because they know his voice."
Jesus told her, "Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, 'I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God'" (John 20:17). He commissioned her to deliver the incredible news to the disciples: "I have seen the Lord!" (John 20:18).
It's noteworthy that the risen Christ first appeared to a woman. In first-century Judaism, a woman's testimony was often considered less credible. If the disciples were fabricating the resurrection story, they likely wouldn't have chosen women as the first witnesses. This detail lends further credence to the historical accuracy of the resurrection account and affirms the communication gifting of women.
Jesus Appears to the Disciples (John 20:19-23)
That evening, the disciples were gathered together, with the doors locked "for fear of the Jewish leaders" (John 20:19). Suddenly, Jesus appeared and stood among them, saying, "Peace be with you!" (John 20:19). Despite the locked doors, Jesus joined them.
Now, Jesus had a tangible, physical body. Mary touched him (John 20:17); Thomas would touch him (John 20:27); later, he would eat with his disciples (John 21:12-13). He was not a mere phantom (Luke 24:39). He had risen bodily from the grave. Yet, his resurrected body transcended the limitations of his earthly body. He could seemingly pass through locked doors, and later he would ascend into heaven (Acts 1:9). The apostles tell us that our resurrection bodies will be like his (1 Corinthians 15:45-57; Philippians 3:21; 1 John 3:2).
To reassure them, Jesus showed them his hands and side, bearing the marks of the nails and the spear (John 20:20). These scars, eternal reminders of the cost of our redemption, will forever give us reason to praise him. Jesus will be the only scarred person in eternity, a perpetual testament to the price paid for our salvation.
Again, he said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you" (John 20:21). Just as the Father had sent the Son on a mission of atonement, the Son was now sending his disciples on a mission to proclaim that message and make disciples (Matthew 28:16-20).
He breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit" (John 20:22). This is often interpreted as an anticipatory act, preparing them for the full indwelling of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-21). He granted them kingdom authority, saying, "If you forgive anyone's sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven" (John 20:23). The Holy Spirit would empower them to authoritatively declare that God had indeed forgiven the sins of those who believe in Jesus.
Thomas's Doubt and Jesus's Rebuke (John 20:24-29)
One of the disciples, Thomas, was not present when Jesus appeared (John 20:24). When the others told him, "We have seen the Lord!" he refused to believe unless he could personally touch the nail marks in Jesus' hands and put his hand into his side (John 20:25). This earned him the nickname "Doubting Thomas," though this isn't a complete picture of his character. Thomas had previously shown a willingness to go into hostile territory and die with Jesus (John 11:7-8, 16). This highlights that even strong believers can experience moments of doubt and spiritual struggle.
A week later, the disciples were together again, and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, even though the doors were locked, and stood among them, saying, "Peace be with you!" (John 20:26). Then he turned to Thomas and said, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe" (John 20:27).
Thomas responded with a profound confession: "My Lord and my God!" (John 20:28). He acknowledged Jesus's deity, echoing John's declaration at the beginning of the Gospel: "The Word was God" (John 1:1).
Jesus accepted Thomas's worship but added, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed" (John 20:29). God desires us to believe in him even before we see tangible evidence in our lives.
The Purpose of John's Gospel (John 20:30-31)
John concludes this section by stating that Jesus performed many other signs that were not recorded in his book (John 20:30). He highlights that his Gospel is a selection of key events chosen for a specific purpose. "These are written," John declares, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name" (John 20:31).
John clearly states the evangelistic purpose of his Gospel. He wrote it so that readers might believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the God-Man, who died as a substitutionary atonement for sins, and that by believing, they will receive eternal life – an eternal relationship with God.
The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.
Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him.
Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre.
So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre.
And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in.
Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie,
And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself.
Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed.
For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead.
Then the disciples went away again unto their own home.
But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre,
And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.
And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him.
And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.
Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.
Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.
Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.
Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her.
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.
And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord.
Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.
And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:
Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.
But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.
The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.
And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.
Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.
And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.
Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.
And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book:
But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.
John 20 is a pivotal chapter in the Gospel of John, detailing the earth-shattering event of Jesus' resurrection and its profound impact on his followers. It's a chapter filled with disbelief, discovery, and ultimately, deep faith. John masterfully weaves together personal encounters and theological truths, inviting us to witness the risen Christ and embrace the life-transforming power of his victory over death. This chapter, along with John 21, serves as the conclusion to John's Gospel, emphasizing the purpose of his writing: to lead readers to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and to find eternal life through him (John 20:30-31).
The Empty Tomb (John 20:1-10)
On the first day of the week, Sunday, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early in the morning while it was still dark (John 20:1). The Synoptic Gospels add that she was accompanied by other women, intending to anoint Jesus' body with spices (Mark 16:1; Luke 23:55-24:1). To her shock, she found the large stone sealing the tomb had been removed (John 20:1). Overwhelmed, she ran to Simon Peter and the "other disciple, the one Jesus loved" (John, referring to himself), with the alarming news: "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don't know where they have put him!" (John 20:2).
Peter and John immediately raced to the tomb (John 20:3). John, being younger and faster, arrived first but hesitated to enter (John 20:4-5). Peter, ever the bold one, went straight into the tomb (John 20:6). They observed the linen cloths that had wrapped Jesus' body lying there, and the cloth that had been around his head was folded up by itself, separate from the other linens (John 20:7).
This detail about the neatly folded head cloth is significant. One theory attempting to discredit the resurrection suggests Jesus was merely resuscitated after the crucifixion's trauma. However, this doesn't explain why a half-dead man would meticulously fold his head cloth. It suggests a deliberate act, further undermining attempts by unbelievers to deny the resurrection.
John then entered the tomb and "saw and believed" (John 20:8). While he previously believed in Jesus' identity, this moment marked his belief in the resurrection itself. However, John adds that they "still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead" (John 20:9). Despite Jesus' prior predictions (Luke 9:21-22; 18:31-34) and the Old Testament prophecies (Acts 2:24-31), the disciples hadn't grasped the necessity of the Messiah's resurrection. Puzzled and perhaps overwhelmed, they returned to their lodgings (John 20:10), attempting to make sense of what they had seen.
Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene (John 20:11-18)
Mary Magdalene remained at the tomb, weeping (John 20:11). Her grief and confusion are palpable. Stooping down to look inside, she saw two angels in white, sitting where Jesus' body had been (John 20:12). They asked her, "Woman, why are you crying?" (John 20:13). She replied, still focused on the missing body, "They have taken my Lord away, and I don't know where they have put him" (John 20:13). Resurrection was not an option she had considered.
Turning around, she saw Jesus standing there, but she did not recognize him (John 20:14). He also asked her, "Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?" (John 20:15). Mistaking him for the gardener (since the tomb was in a garden, John 19:41), she pleaded, "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him" (John 20:15). The King of creation, the Son of God, was standing before her, and she mistook him for a gardener!
Then Jesus spoke her name: "Mary" (John 20:16). Instantly, recognition dawned. She exclaimed, "Rabboni!" (which means Teacher) (John 20:16). She hadn't recognized him until he spoke her name, a beautiful illustration of John 10:4: "The sheep follow [the shepherd] because they know his voice."
Jesus told her, "Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, 'I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God'" (John 20:17). He commissioned her to deliver the incredible news to the disciples: "I have seen the Lord!" (John 20:18).
It's noteworthy that the risen Christ first appeared to a woman. In first-century Judaism, a woman's testimony was often considered less credible. If the disciples were fabricating the resurrection story, they likely wouldn't have chosen women as the first witnesses. This detail lends further credence to the historical accuracy of the resurrection account and affirms the communication gifting of women.
Jesus Appears to the Disciples (John 20:19-23)
That evening, the disciples were gathered together, with the doors locked "for fear of the Jewish leaders" (John 20:19). Suddenly, Jesus appeared and stood among them, saying, "Peace be with you!" (John 20:19). Despite the locked doors, Jesus joined them.
Now, Jesus had a tangible, physical body. Mary touched him (John 20:17); Thomas would touch him (John 20:27); later, he would eat with his disciples (John 21:12-13). He was not a mere phantom (Luke 24:39). He had risen bodily from the grave. Yet, his resurrected body transcended the limitations of his earthly body. He could seemingly pass through locked doors, and later he would ascend into heaven (Acts 1:9). The apostles tell us that our resurrection bodies will be like his (1 Corinthians 15:45-57; Philippians 3:21; 1 John 3:2).
To reassure them, Jesus showed them his hands and side, bearing the marks of the nails and the spear (John 20:20). These scars, eternal reminders of the cost of our redemption, will forever give us reason to praise him. Jesus will be the only scarred person in eternity, a perpetual testament to the price paid for our salvation.
Again, he said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you" (John 20:21). Just as the Father had sent the Son on a mission of atonement, the Son was now sending his disciples on a mission to proclaim that message and make disciples (Matthew 28:16-20).
He breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit" (John 20:22). This is often interpreted as an anticipatory act, preparing them for the full indwelling of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-21). He granted them kingdom authority, saying, "If you forgive anyone's sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven" (John 20:23). The Holy Spirit would empower them to authoritatively declare that God had indeed forgiven the sins of those who believe in Jesus.
Thomas's Doubt and Jesus's Rebuke (John 20:24-29)
One of the disciples, Thomas, was not present when Jesus appeared (John 20:24). When the others told him, "We have seen the Lord!" he refused to believe unless he could personally touch the nail marks in Jesus' hands and put his hand into his side (John 20:25). This earned him the nickname "Doubting Thomas," though this isn't a complete picture of his character. Thomas had previously shown a willingness to go into hostile territory and die with Jesus (John 11:7-8, 16). This highlights that even strong believers can experience moments of doubt and spiritual struggle.
A week later, the disciples were together again, and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, even though the doors were locked, and stood among them, saying, "Peace be with you!" (John 20:26). Then he turned to Thomas and said, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe" (John 20:27).
Thomas responded with a profound confession: "My Lord and my God!" (John 20:28). He acknowledged Jesus's deity, echoing John's declaration at the beginning of the Gospel: "The Word was God" (John 1:1).
Jesus accepted Thomas's worship but added, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed" (John 20:29). God desires us to believe in him even before we see tangible evidence in our lives.
The Purpose of John's Gospel (John 20:30-31)
John concludes this section by stating that Jesus performed many other signs that were not recorded in his book (John 20:30). He highlights that his Gospel is a selection of key events chosen for a specific purpose. "These are written," John declares, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name" (John 20:31).
John clearly states the evangelistic purpose of his Gospel. He wrote it so that readers might believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the God-Man, who died as a substitutionary atonement for sins, and that by believing, they will receive eternal life – an eternal relationship with God.