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
Now on the first day of the week, Miriam Magdalene went early, while it was still dark, to the tomb, and saw the stone taken away from the tomb. ​
2
Therefore she ran and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple whom Yeshua loved, and said to them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have laid him!” ​
3
Therefore Peter and the other disciple went out, and they went toward the tomb.
4
They both ran together. The other disciple outran Peter, and came to the tomb first.
5
Stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths lying, yet he didn’t enter in.
6
Then Simon Peter came, following him, and entered into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying,
7
and the cloth that had been on his head, not lying with the linen cloths, but rolled up in a place by itself. ​
8
So then the other disciple who came first to the tomb also entered in, and he saw and believed. ​
9
For as yet they didn’t know the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead. ​
10
So the disciples went away again to their own homes.

Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene

11
But Miriam was standing outside at the tomb weeping. So, as she wept, she stooped and looked into the tomb,
12
and she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head, and one at the feet, where the body of Yeshua had lain. ​
13
They told her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I don’t know where they have laid him.”
14
When she had said this, she turned around and saw Yeshua standing, and didn’t know that it was Yeshua. ​
15
Yeshua said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Who are you looking for?” She, supposing him to be the gardener, said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” ​
16
Yeshua said to her, “Miriam.” She turned and said to him, “Rabboni!” which is to say, “Rabbi!” ​
17
Yeshua said to her, “Don’t hold me, for I haven’t yet ascended to my Father; but go to my brothers, and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” ​
18
Miriam Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had said these things to her.

Jesus Appears to the Disciples

19
When therefore it was evening, on that day, the first day of the week, and when the doors were locked where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Judeans, Yeshua came and stood in the midst, and said to them, “Peace be to you.” ​
20
When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples therefore were glad when they saw the Lord.
21
Yeshua therefore said to them again, “Peace be to you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you.” ​
22
When he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit! ​
23
If you forgive anyone’s sins, they have been forgiven them. If you retain anyone’s sins, they have been retained.” ​

Thomas Demands Proof

24
But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, wasn’t with them when Yeshua came. ​
25
The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” ​
26
After eight days again his disciples were inside, and Thomas was with them. Yeshua came, the doors being locked, and stood in the midst, and said, “Peace be to you.”
27
Then he said to Thomas, “Reach here your finger, and see my hands. Reach here your hand, and put it into my side. Don’t be unbelieving, but believing.” ​
28
Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” ​
29
Yeshua said to him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen, and have believed.” ​

The Purpose of John's Gospel

30
Therefore Yeshua did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book; ​
31
but these are written, that you may believe that Yeshua is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that believing you 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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