The Gospels · Chapter 20 of 21

John 20

On the first day of the week Mary Magdalene finds the stone rolled away and runs to Peter and John, who race to the empty tomb and see the linen cloths. Mary weeps until Jesus speaks her name. Risen, he sends her to the disciples. That evening he appears among them, offering peace and the Spirit. Thomas, absent, doubts until Jesus invites him to touch his wounds and believe.

What happens in John 20

Early while it is still dark, Mary Magdalene comes to the tomb and sees the stone removed. She runs to tell Peter and the other disciple, who run to the tomb; the other disciple arrives first but Peter enters first, and they see the linen cloths and the folded napkin. The other disciple sees and believes, though they do not yet understand the scripture about the resurrection. Mary lingers, weeping, and sees two angels, then Jesus himself, whom she mistakes for the gardener until he says her name.

He tells her not to cling to him but to announce his ascending to the Father. That evening Jesus appears among the fearful disciples behind locked doors, shows his wounds, gives them peace, breathes on them the Holy Ghost, and sends them as the Father sent him. Thomas, absent, refuses to believe without seeing. Eight days later Jesus appears and invites Thomas to touch him, who answers, My Lord and my God.

John 20 in context

John's resurrection account centers on personal encounters rather than a general announcement. It unfolds on the first day of the week, the beginning of new creation. John writes as an eyewitness, noting details like the folded napkin and the locked doors.

He states his purpose plainly near the end: these things are written that readers may believe Jesus is the Christ and have life in his name.

Main themes of John 20

John 20 (KJV)

1The 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. 2Then 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. 3Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre. 4So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre. 5And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in. 6Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie, 7And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself. 8Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed. 9For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead. 10Then the disciples went away again unto their own home. 11But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre, 12And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. 13And 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. 14And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus. 15Jesus 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. 16Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master. 17Jesus 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. 18Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the LORD, and that he had spoken these things unto her. 19Then 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. 20And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the LORD. 21Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. 22And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: 23Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained. 24But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. 25The 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. 26And 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. 27Then 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. 28And Thomas answered and said unto him, My LORD and my God. 29Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. 30And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: 31But 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.

Verses to carry from John 20

“Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.”John 20:16

“And Thomas answered and said unto him, My LORD and my God.”John 20:28

“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

Reflection

Jesus met Mary in her tears and Thomas in his doubt, coming to each exactly where they were. He did not wait for them to arrive at strong faith first. Wherever you stand today, weeping, doubting, or afraid behind locked doors, how might the risen Lord be speaking your name and offering you his peace?

A prayer from John 20