John 20
The Gospel of John, chapter 20, begins with the account of Jesus' resurrection. Mary Magdalene visits the tomb early in the morning, while it is still dark, but finds that Jesus’ body is gone. After receiving the news from Mary, Peter and another disciple run to the tomb as well and check only Jesus’ burial cloths and the cloth that had been around his head. At that point, they had not yet fully understood that, as the Scriptures said, Jesus had to rise from the dead. This section captures the confusion of the eyewitnesses, as well as the fear and sorrow regarding Jesus’ absence, showing well that the mystery of the resurrection was difficult to accept at first.
1verseNow on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene went early, while it was still dark, to the tomb, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb.
2verseTherefore she ran and came to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus 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!”
3verseTherefore Peter and the other disciple went out, and they went toward the tomb.
4verseThey both ran together. The other disciple outran Peter and came to the tomb first.
5verseStooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths lying there; yet he didn’t enter in.
6verseThen Simon Peter came, following him, and entered into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying,
7verseand the cloth that had been on his head, not lying with the linen cloths, but rolled up in a place by itself.
8verseSo then the other disciple who came first to the tomb also entered in, and he saw and believed.
9verseFor as yet they didn’t know the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead.
10verseSo the disciples went away again to their own homes.
11verseBut Mary was standing outside at the tomb weeping. So as she wept, she stooped and looked into the tomb,
12verseand she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.
13verseThey asked 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.”
14verseWhen she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, and didn’t know that it was Jesus.
15verseJesus 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.”
16verseJesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him, “Rabboni!” which is to say, “Teacher!”
17verseJesus 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.’”
18verseMary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had said these things to her.
19verseWhen 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 Jews, Jesus came and stood in the middle and said to them, “Peace be to you.”
20verseWhen he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples therefore were glad when they saw the Lord.
21verseJesus therefore said to them again, “Peace be to you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you.”
22verseWhen he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit!
23verseIf you forgive anyone’s sins, they have been forgiven them. If you retain anyone’s sins, they have been retained.”
24verseBut Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, wasn’t with them when Jesus came.
25verseThe 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, put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”
26verseAfter eight days, again his disciples were inside and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, the doors being locked, and stood in the middle, and said, “Peace be to you.”
27verseThen 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.”
28verseThomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!”
29verseJesus said to him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”
30verseTherefore Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book;
31versebut these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name.
The First Encounter with the Risen Jesus
Mary Magdalene remains at the tomb, grieving, and becomes the first person in this Gospel to meet the risen Jesus. At first she does not recognize Him, but she realizes who He is when Jesus calls her by name. Jesus gives Mary the mission to tell the disciples about His resurrection. This passage serves as an important testimony to Jesus’ personal encounter with an individual and to the new calling that follows the resurrection.
Jesus Appears to the Disciples
That evening, Jesus appears to the disciples who are afraid and have shut the doors and declares peace. He also tells them to receive the Holy Spirit and mentions the authority to forgive sins. This symbolizes the authority of the risen Christ and the beginning of a new era through the Holy Spirit. However, Thomas—who was not there at the time—cannot believe what the disciples say.
Thomas’s Assurance and Confession of Faith
A week later, Jesus responds to Thomas’s demand for concrete assurance by inviting him to see His hands and side. Thomas then makes the confession, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus says, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed,” extending the significance of the resurrection testimony beyond those who saw Him directly.
The Purpose Declaration of John
In the final part of chapter 20, John states that the things recorded in this book are intended to help people believe that Jesus is the Son of God, the Christ. He also summarizes that the purpose is to enable people to gain life by believing in him. In this way, chapter 20 of John connects Jesus’ resurrection, encounters, the confirmation of faith, and the purpose of faith in an integrated manner, and thus holds an important place as the concluding section of the entire Gospel.
Meditation Points
- Reflect on the emotions of each person: Mary standing before the tomb, the disciples’ fear, and Thomas’s doubt.
- Consider what a personal encounter with the risen Jesus meant for each of them.
- When Jesus said, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed,” it prompts reflection on the nature of faith and testimony.
Apply It to Me
- When I am filled with fear or uncertainty, I can reflect on whether I am willing to receive the peace Jesus gives.
- There are times when faith, like Thomas’s, wants assurance. This passage shows Jesus meeting doubt with invitation rather than simple condemnation.
- Think about how to communicate the news of the resurrection in the language of everyday life.
