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.

The Empty Tomb Discovered

1
Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Miryam from Magdala went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. ​
2
So she came running to Shim‘on Kefa and the other talmid, the one Yeshua loved, and said to them, “They’ve taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they’ve put him!” ​
3
Then Kefa and the other talmid started for the tomb.
4
They both ran, but the other talmid outran Kefa and reached the tomb first.
5
Stooping down, he saw the linen burial-sheets lying there but did not go in.
6
Then, following him, Shim‘on Kefa arrived, entered the tomb and saw the burial-sheets lying there,
7
also the cloth that had been around his head, lying not with the sheets but in a separate place and still folded up. ​
8
Then the other talmid, who had arrived at the tomb first, also went in; he saw, and he trusted. ​
9
(They had not yet come to understand that the Tanakh teaches that the Messiah has to rise from the dead.) ​
10
So the talmidim returned home,

Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene

11
but Miryam stood outside crying. As she cried, she bent down, peered into the tomb,
12
and saw two angels in white sitting where the body of Yeshua had been, one at the head and one at the feet. ​
13
“Why are you crying?” they asked her. “They took my Lord,” she said to them, “and I don’t know where they have put him.”
14
As she said this, she turned around and saw Yeshua standing there, but she didn’t know it was he. ​
15
Yeshua said to her, “Lady, why are you crying? Whom are you looking for?” Thinking he was the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you’re the one who carried him away, just tell me where you put him; and I’ll go and get him myself.” ​
16
Yeshua said to her, “Miryam!” Turning, she cried out to him in Hebrew, “Rabbani!” (that is, “Teacher!”) ​
17
“Stop holding onto me,” Yeshua said to her, “because I haven’t yet gone back to the Father. But go to my brothers, and tell them that I am going back to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.” ​
18
Miryam of Magdala went to the talmidim with the news that she had seen the Lord and that he had told her this.

Jesus Appears to the Disciples

19
In the evening that same day, the first day of the week, when the talmidim were gathered together behind locked doors out of fear of the Judeans, Yeshua came, stood in the middle and said, “Shalom aleikhem!” ​
20
Having greeted them, he showed them his hands and his side. The talmidim were overjoyed to see the Lord.
21
“Shalom aleikhem!” Yeshua repeated. “Just as the Father sent me, I myself am also sending you.” ​
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Having said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Ruach HaKodesh! ​
23
If you forgive someone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you hold them, they are held.” ​

Thomas Demands Proof

24
Now T’oma (the name means “twin”), one of the Twelve, was not with them when Yeshua came. ​
25
When the other talmidim told him, “We have seen the Lord,” he replied, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands, put my finger into the place where the nails were and put my hand into his side, I refuse to believe it.” ​
26
A week later his talmidim were once more in the room, and this time T’oma was with them. Although the doors were locked, Yeshua came, stood among them and said, “Shalom aleikhem!”
27
Then he said to T’oma, “Put your finger here, look at my hands, take your hand and put it into my side. Don’t be lacking in trust, but have trust!” ​
28
T’oma answered him, “My Lord and my God!” ​
29
Yeshua said to him, “Have you trusted because you have seen me? How blessed are those who do not see, but trust anyway!” ​

The Purpose of John's Gospel

30
In the presence of the talmidim Yeshua performed many other miracles which have not been recorded in this book. ​
31
But these which have been recorded are here so that you may trust that Yeshua is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by this trust you may have life because of who he is. ​

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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