John 20

John 20 describes the events surrounding the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It begins with Mary Magdalene discovering the empty tomb and informing the disciples, leading to Peter and John running to see for themselves. Jesus then appears to Mary and later to His disciples, showing His wounds as proof of His resurrection. Thomas, initially skeptical, believes after seeing Jesus himself. The chapter ends by stating the purpose of the Gospel of John: to foster belief in Jesus as the Son of God.

John 20:1-10 (NKJV)
1 Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb.
2 Then 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 do not know where they have laid Him.”
3 Peter therefore went out, and the other disciple, and were going to the tomb.
4 So they both ran together, and the other disciple outran Peter and came to the tomb first.
5 And he, stooping down and looking in, saw the linen cloths lying there; yet he did not go in.
6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; and he saw the linen cloths lying there,
7 and the handkerchief that had been around His head, not lying with the linen cloths, but folded together in a place by itself.
8 Then the other disciple, who came to the tomb first, went in also; and he saw and believed.
9 For as yet they did not know the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead.
10 Then the disciples went away again to their own homes.

Mary Magdalene, arriving at the tomb early, finds it open and empty, and she quickly alerts Peter and John. The two disciples run to investigate, with John arriving first but waiting for Peter. Inside, they observe the grave cloths left behind, a sign of an orderly departure rather than a grave robbery. John believes, even without fully understanding the prophecy of Jesus’ resurrection, yet both disciples leave without a clear understanding of the events.

John 20:11-13 (NKJV)
11 But Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping, and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the tomb.
12 And she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.
13 Then they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.”

Mary stays behind, filled with grief. When she looks into the tomb, she encounters two angels who ask why she is crying. Her sorrow reflects her deep attachment to Jesus and her misunderstanding of His resurrection, as she assumes someone has moved His body, unaware that He is alive.

John 20:14-16 (NKJV)
14 Now when she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus.
15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” 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 Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to Him, “Rabboni!” (which is to say, Teacher).

Mary does not initially recognize Jesus, mistaking Him for the gardener, possibly because of her tears or the changed nature of His resurrected body. When He calls her by name, she immediately knows it is her beloved Teacher, responding with the term "Rabboni," a respectful and intimate title for a teacher.

John 20:17-18 (NKJV)
17 Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.’”
18 Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that He had spoken these things to her.

Jesus instructs Mary not to cling to Him, indicating that His mission isn’t fully complete; He still needs to ascend to the Father. He asks her to share the news with His "brethren" – the disciples – emphasizing a new, familial relationship with God. Mary obeys, becoming the first witness to the resurrection, sharing her encounter with the others.

John 20:19-23 (NKJV)
19 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, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, “Peace be with you.”
20 When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.
21 So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.”
22 And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.
23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”

On the evening of the resurrection, Jesus appears to His fearful disciples, reassuring them with peace. He shows His wounds as proof of His identity, and the disciples are overjoyed. Jesus commissions them, breathing the Holy Spirit upon them, empowering them for their future ministry. The authority to forgive or retain sins reflects the spiritual responsibility entrusted to them as His representatives.

John 20:24-29 (NKJV)
24 Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came.
25 The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” So he said to them, “Unless I 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.”
26 And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, “Peace to you!”
27 Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.”
28 And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!”
29 Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

Thomas doubts the resurrection until he has physical proof. Eight days later, Jesus appears again and directly addresses Thomas’s doubts, inviting him to touch His wounds. This encounter transforms Thomas’s skepticism into profound faith, as he acknowledges Jesus as “My Lord and my God.” Jesus commends those who will believe without needing physical evidence, highlighting the blessing of faith.

John 20:30-31 (NKJV)
30 And truly Jesus 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 Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.

John concludes the chapter by explaining the purpose of his Gospel: to inspire belief in Jesus as the Christ, leading to eternal life. While Jesus performed many more signs, these recorded events were selected to affirm His identity and mission, encouraging readers to place their faith in Him.