John 20
John Chapter 20, Explained
John 20 tells the morning everything changed. Mary Magdalene comes to the tomb while it is still dark and finds the stone rolled away. Peter and John run to see the empty grave clothes, and then the risen Jesus meets Mary in the garden and calls her by name. Her mourning turns to worship as she runs to tell the others, I have seen the Lord.
That evening Jesus appears to the frightened disciples behind locked doors, showing them His wounded hands and side and breathing peace over them. When Thomas doubts, Jesus meets his doubt gently and invites him to touch and believe. John says he wrote all of this so that we might believe that Jesus is the Christ, and by believing, have life in His name.
Key verses from John 20
“Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.”
John 20:29
“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.”
John 20:31
The main point
John 20 is about the risen Jesus meeting doubt and grief in person so that we might believe and have life.
How John 20 points to Jesus
The empty tomb and the wounded, risen Jesus are the ground of our hope. He is patient with our doubts, blesses those who believe without seeing, and gives life in His name to all who trust Him.
Want to sit with this chapter for yourself? Open The Living Bread to read John 20 in full, ask any question about it, and pray with others, free.