1 The first [day] of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.
2 Then she runneth, 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 sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him.
3 Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre.
4 So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre.
5 And he stooping down, [and looking in], saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in.
6 Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie,
7 And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself.
8 Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed.
9 For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead.
10 Then the disciples went away again unto their own home.
11 But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, [and looked] into the sepulchre,
12 And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.
13 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.
14 And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.
15 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.
16 Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.
17 Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto 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 unto her.
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, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace [be] unto you.
20 And when he had so said, he shewed unto them [his] hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord.
21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace [be] unto you: as [my] Father hath sent me, even so send I you.
22 And when he had said this, he breathed on [them], and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:
23 Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; [and] whose soever [sins] ye retain, they are retained.
24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.
25 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 thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.
26 And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: [then] came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace [be] unto you.
27 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust [it] into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.
28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.
29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed [are] they that have not seen, and [yet] have believed.
30 And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book:
31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.
Summary of John Chapter 20
John Chapter 20 narrates the events surrounding the resurrection of Jesus Christ, detailing the reactions of His followers and the implications of His resurrection. This chapter is pivotal in Christian theology as it confirms the belief in Jesus as the risen Savior.
Key Events
- The Resurrection of Jesus (Verses 1-10)
- Mary Magdalene discovers the empty tomb early on the first day of the week.
- She runs to inform Peter and the other disciple (John), stating that the body of Jesus has been taken.
- Peter and John race to the tomb; John arrives first but waits for Peter to enter.
- They find the linen wrappings and the face cloth neatly folded, indicating that Jesus had risen.
- Mary Magdalene Encounters the Risen Jesus (Verses 11-18)
- Mary remains at the tomb, weeping, and sees two angels inside.
- She turns and encounters Jesus but does not recognize Him initially.
- Jesus calls her by name, revealing His identity.
- Mary is instructed by Jesus to inform His disciples of His resurrection.
- Jesus Appears to His Disciples (Verses 19-23)
- On the evening of the same day, Jesus appears to His disciples who are in hiding for fear of the Jews.
- He greets them with “Peace be with you” and shows them His hands and side.
- Jesus commissions them, breathing on them and saying, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”
- He gives them authority to forgive sins.
- Thomas Doubts and Believes (Verses 24-29)
- Thomas, one of the twelve, was not present during Jesus’ first appearance.
- He expresses doubt about the resurrection, insisting he must see and touch Jesus’ wounds.
- Jesus later appears to Thomas, inviting him to touch His wounds.
- Thomas declares, “My Lord and my God!” and Jesus responds, affirming faith without seeing.
- The Purpose of John’s Gospel (Verses 30-31)
- The chapter concludes with a statement of purpose, highlighting that the signs recorded are meant to lead to belief in Jesus as the Messiah.
- It emphasizes that through believing, individuals may have life in His name.
Theological Implications
The resurrection of Jesus is central to Christian faith, affirming the belief in life after death and the power of God over sin and death. This chapter illustrates several key theological themes:
- Hope and Renewal: The resurrection signifies hope for believers, representing new life and the promise of eternal life.
- Faith and Doubt: Thomas’ story serves as a reminder that doubt can coexist with faith, and personal encounters with Jesus can lead to deeper belief.
- Commissioning of Believers: Jesus’ instruction to His disciples emphasizes the call to spread the message of the Gospel and the empowerment through the Holy Spirit.
Conclusion
John Chapter 20 is a profound narrative that encapsulates the essence of the Christian faith—the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It invites believers to reflect on their faith, the nature of doubt, and the transformative power of encountering the risen Lord.
