John20

Mary Magdalene discovers Jesus' empty tomb and later encounters the resurrected Lord, who sends her to inform the disciples of His impending ascension. That evening, Jesus appears to His disciples in a locked room, showing His wounds and bestowing the Holy Ghost upon them. Eight days later, Jesus appears again to Thomas, who had doubted, leading him to confess, "My Lord and my God." The chapter concludes by stating these events are written that readers might believe Jesus is the Christ and have life through His name.
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The Empty Tomb Discovered

1
Now on the firstdayof the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, while it was yet dark, unto the tomb, and seeth the stone taken away from the tomb. ​
2
She runneth therefore, 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 tomb, and we know not where they have laid him. ​
3
Peter therefore went forth, and the other disciple, and they went toward the tomb.
4
And they ran both together: and the other disciple outran Peter, and came first to the tomb;
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and stooping and looking in, he seeth the linen cloths lying; yet entered he not in.
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Simon Peter therefore also cometh, following him, and entered into the tomb; and he beholdeth the linen cloths lying,
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and the napkin, that was upon his head, not lying with the linen cloths, but rolled up in a place by itself. ​
8
Then entered in therefore the other disciple also, who came first to the tomb, and he saw, and believed. ​
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For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead. ​
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So the disciples went away again unto their own home.

Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene

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But Mary was standing without at the tomb weeping: so, as she wept, she stooped and looked into the tomb;
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and she beholdeth two angels in white sitting, one at the head, and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. ​
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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.
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When she had thus said, she turned herself back, and beholdeth Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus. ​
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Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou hast borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away. ​
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Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turneth herself, and saith unto him in Hebrew, Rabboni; which is to say, Teacher. ​
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Jesus saith to her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended unto the Father: but go unto my brethren, and say to them, I ascend unto my Father and your Father, and my God and your God. ​
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Mary Magdalene cometh and telleth the disciples, I have seen the Lord; and that he had said these things unto her.

Jesus Appears to the Disciples

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When therefore it was evening, on that day, the firstdayof the week, and when the doors were shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. ​
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And when he had said this, he showed unto them his hands and his side. The disciples therefore were glad, when they saw the Lord.
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Jesus therefore said to them again, Peace be unto you: as the Father hath sent me, even so send I you. ​
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And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Spirit: ​
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whose soever sins ye forgive, they are forgiven unto them; whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained. ​

Thomas Demands Proof

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But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. ​
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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 put my hand into his side, I will not believe. ​
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And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them. Jesus cometh, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.
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Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and see my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and put it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. ​
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Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. ​
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Jesus saith unto him, Because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. ​

The Purpose of John's Gospel

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Many other signs therefore did Jesus in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book: ​
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but these are written, that ye may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye may have life in his name. ​

Study Notes for John 20

Verse 1

The 'first day of the week' establishes Sunday as the day of resurrection. Mary Magdalene is the first witness, highlighting the early church's recognition of women in significant roles.

Verse 2

Mary’s initial assumption is that the body was stolen, reflecting confusion and lack of understanding regarding Jesus's repeated predictions of his resurrection.

Verse 7

The careful arrangement of the linen clothes (shroud) and the separate head napkin suggests that the body was not hastily stolen, which would have left the wrappings in disarray. This detail provides physical evidence against the body-snatching theory.

Verse 8

The Beloved Disciple 'saw, and believed.' His belief was based on the visual evidence of the orderly, empty tomb, moving beyond Mary's initial theft assumption.

Verse 9

This editorial comment explains why the disciples were initially surprised. Despite hearing Jesus teach from the Scriptures (e.g., Psalm 16:10), they did not yet fully comprehend the necessity of the resurrection.

Verse 12

Angels often appear in biblical accounts at moments of divine intervention or revelation, underscoring the supernatural significance of the resurrection event.

Verse 14

Mary’s inability to recognize Jesus immediately is a common feature in resurrection accounts. This emphasizes that the resurrection body possessed a mysterious, yet recognizable, quality.

Verse 15

Her mistake in assuming Jesus was the gardener highlights her grief and singular focus on the missing body. Jesus’s question forces her to articulate her deepest desire: finding the Lord.

Verse 16

Recognition comes only when Jesus speaks her name, illustrating that discipleship is based on hearing and recognizing the voice of the Shepherd (John 10:3). 'Rabboni' is a highly reverent form of 'Rabbi' (Teacher).

Verse 17

The command 'Touch me not' (Noli me tangere) likely means 'Do not cling to me.' Jesus is transitioning from his earthly ministry to his heavenly exaltation; he identifies his disciples as 'my brethren,' signifying the new family relationship established by the resurrection.

Verse 19

This appearance takes place on Resurrection Sunday evening. The closed doors affirm that Jesus’s resurrected body is not bound by physical limitations, yet he retains tangible, physical features.

Verse 21

This provides the Great Commission in John's Gospel, emphasizing that the disciples are sent into the world just as the Father sent the Son—as representatives of divine love and truth.

Verse 22

Jesus 'breathed on them,' mirroring the act of God breathing life into Adam (Gen. 2:7). This act symbolizes the impartation of the Spirit, equipping them for the new creation and their mission.

Verse 23

This authority relates to the proclamation of the Gospel. By declaring the terms of forgiveness (repentance and faith) and exercising church discipline, the disciples announce God’s judgment regarding who is forgiven or retained.

Verse 24

Thomas, whose name means Didymus (Twin), is singled out here. His absence from the first gathering sets the stage for a crucial lesson on the nature of faith.

Verse 25

Thomas demands empirical proof, refusing to rely on the collective testimony of the believing community. His insistence on touching the wounds highlights the depth of his doubt.

Verse 27

Jesus meets Thomas’s specific demands, demonstrating his omniscience and his patience. He offers the physical evidence not to satisfy curiosity, but to conquer doubt and establish belief.

Verse 28

Thomas’s confession is the climax of John’s Gospel, offering the highest Christological title: 'My Lord and my God.' This declaration affirms Jesus’s full deity, fulfilling the opening statement of the Gospel (John 1:1).

Verse 29

This verse pivots the focus from those who witnessed the historical resurrection to future generations. The truly blessed are those who believe based on testimony and the Spirit, not physical sight.

Verse 30

This verse indicates that the Gospel writer was selective in his material, choosing only those 'signs' that best served his overall purpose.

Verse 31

This verse serves as the original conclusion to John’s Gospel (before Chapter 21). The explicit purpose of the entire book is evangelistic and theological: to lead readers to faith in Jesus as the Christ, the divine Son, and thereby obtain eternal life.

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