John 20
When the Risen Jesus Comes Near
John 20 takes us from an empty tomb to joyful meetings with the risen Jesus. Mary, the disciples, and Thomas learn that death has not won, and John invites us to believe in Jesus and receive life through Him.
Walking Through John 20
An Empty Tomb and Growing Faith (John 20:1-10)
1 Now very early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been moved away from the entrance. 2 So she went running to Simon Peter and the other disciple whom Jesus loved and told them, “They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!” 3 Then Peter and the other disciple set out to go to the tomb. 4 The two were running together, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 He bent down and saw the strips of linen cloth lying there, but he did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter, who had been following him, arrived and went right into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen cloth lying there, 7 and the face cloth, which had been around Jesus’ head, not lying with the strips of linen cloth but rolled up in a place by itself. 8 Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, came in, and he saw and believed. 9 (For they did not yet understand the scripture that Jesus must rise from the dead.) 10 So the disciples went back to their homes.John 20:1-10 · NET Bible
Mary Magdalene comes to the tomb while it is still dark and finds the stone moved away. She assumes someone has taken Jesus’ body and runs to Peter and the disciple Jesus loved. Both men hurry to the tomb. They find the burial cloths there, with the head cloth separate from the others. John draws our attention to these details because the tomb is not simply an empty space; it holds signs of what has happened. The beloved disciple sees and believes, though they do not yet understand the Scripture about Jesus rising from the dead. I find that detail encouraging. Their faith is growing before their understanding is complete. God’s work does not depend on His people having every piece in place. The men return home, but the story is only beginning.
Jesus Calls Mary by Name (John 20:11-18)
11 But Mary stood outside the tomb weeping. As she wept, she bent down and looked into the tomb. 12 And she saw two angels in white sitting where Jesus’ body had been lying, one at the head and one at the feet. 13 They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” Mary replied, “They have taken my Lord away, and I do not know where they have put him!” 14 When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Who are you looking for?” Because she thought he was the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will take him.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni” (which means “Teacher”). 17 Jesus replied, “Do not touch me, for I have not yet ascended to my Father. Go to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” 18 Mary Magdalene came and informed the disciples, “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them what Jesus had said to her.John 20:11-18 · NET Bible
Mary stays outside the tomb crying. She sees two angels, then turns and sees Jesus without knowing who He is. Still thinking about a missing body, she mistakes Him for the gardener. Everything changes when Jesus speaks her name. She recognizes her Teacher. Jesus tells her not to hold on to Him, because He has not yet gone up to the Father. This meeting is not a return to life exactly as it was before His death. His work is moving toward His return to the Father. He sends Mary to tell His brothers, meaning His disciples, what is coming. Notice the warmth of that family word after they had failed Him. Mary goes with news of the living Lord. Her tears were real, but they were not the whole truth about that morning.
Peace Behind Locked Doors (John 20:19-23)
19 On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the disciples had gathered together and locked the doors of the place because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Jesus came and stood among them 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 rejoiced when they saw the Lord. 21 So Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. Just as the Father has sent me, I also send you.” 22 And after he said this, he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven; if you retain anyone’s sins, they are retained.”John 20:19-23 · NET Bible
That evening, the disciples gather behind locked doors because they fear the Jewish leaders. Jesus comes among them and brings peace. He shows them His hands and His side, making clear that the living Lord is the same Jesus who was crucified. Their fear gives way to joy. Then He gives them a mission, sending them as the Father sent Him. He breathes on them and speaks of receiving the Holy Spirit. Their work will depend on God’s power, not their own strength. His words about forgiving and retaining sins belong to this mission. They do not give the disciples freedom to decide forgiveness by personal preference. They are entrusted with announcing God’s forgiveness through Jesus and the seriousness of refusing Him. I want us to notice this: Jesus meets frightened people with peace and gives them meaningful work.
Thomas Meets the Living Lord (John 20:24-29)
24 Now Thomas (called Didymus), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 The other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he replied, “Unless I see the wounds from the nails in his hands, and put my finger into the wounds from the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will never believe it!” 26 Eight days later the disciples were again together in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and examine my hands. Extend your hand and put it into my side. Do not continue in your unbelief, but believe.” 28 Thomas replied to him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are the people who have not seen and yet have believed.”John 20:24-29 · NET Bible
Thomas was absent when Jesus first appeared to the gathered disciples. When the others tell him, he refuses to believe unless he can see and touch Jesus’ wounds. A week later, Jesus comes again, though the doors are locked. He offers Thomas the very evidence Thomas demanded and calls him from unbelief to faith. John does not say Thomas actually touches the wounds. He does record Thomas addressing Jesus as his Lord and his God. This is a clear statement of who Jesus is. Jesus then blesses those who believe without seeing Him in person. That includes readers who receive the witnesses’ account. Faith is not pretending evidence does not matter. John has been giving us reasons to trust Jesus. Yet faith also means receiving truthful testimony rather than demanding that God meet every condition we set.
Written So We May Have Life (John 20:30-31)
30 Now Jesus performed many other miraculous signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not recorded in this book. 31 But these are recorded so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.John 20:30-31 · NET Bible
John explains why he has written this Gospel. Jesus did many other signs in front of His disciples, but John has chosen these so that his readers may believe. A sign is an act that points beyond itself to reveal who Jesus is. John wants us to know Him as the Christ, God’s promised King, and the Son of God. His purpose is not merely to make us better informed about a remarkable person. Through believing, we receive life in Jesus’ name. That means life found in who He is and what He has done. I do not want us to miss this invitation at the end of the chapter. The empty tomb, Mary’s meeting, the disciples’ joy, and Thomas’s confession all point toward a living relationship with Jesus.
- Resurrection — Jesus truly rose from death in His body, never to die again.
- Believe — Trust Jesus as God’s Son and promised Savior.
What does Jesus’ care for Mary, the frightened disciples, and Thomas show you about how He meets people who struggle?
Father, thank You for raising Jesus from the dead and giving us life through Him. Help us trust Your Son when grief, fear, or doubt clouds our sight. Fill us with Your Spirit so we can share His peace and good news with others. Amen.