John 20: Resurrection of Jesus
If Mary Magdalene was with the other women who went to the tomb, talked to an angel, and saw Jesus, why did she run to tell Peter and John that Jesus’ body had been stolen?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Insights Pending
Author’s Paraphrase
Matthew 28:1–8 After observing the Sabbath, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary headed to the tomb at the break of dawn on Sunday, the first day of the week.
A great earthquake shook the ground. God’s angel came from Heaven, rolled the stone away from the tomb entrance, and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning and his clothes were white as snow. When the guards saw him, they trembled and became like dead men.
The angel spoke to the women. “Do not be afraid. I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here, because he has risen as he said he would. Come and see where his body was. Hurry now! Tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead. He will go before you, and you will see him in Galilee as I have told you.”
With fear and amazement, they ran from the tomb to tell the disciples.
John 20:1–2 Early on Sunday, the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been rolled back from the entrance. She ran to find Simon Peter and John. “They have stolen Jesus from the tomb,” she said, “and we do not know where they have put him.”
King James
Matthew 28:1–8 In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you. And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word.
John 20:1–2 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. 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.
If John outran Peter to the empty tomb, why did Peter go in first?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Insights Pending
Author’s Paraphrase
John 20:3–6 Peter and that other disciple left for the tomb. They ran together, but the other disciple ran faster and reached the tomb first. He stooped and looked inside, saw the linen pieces lying there, but did not go in.
When Peter arrived, he went in and saw the linen cloth.
King James
John 20:3–6 Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre. So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre. And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in. Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie,
What interpretation did Peter and John give to the grave clothes being separate from the piece around Jesus’ head?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Insights Pending
Author’s Paraphrase
John 20:7–10 The piece that had been around Jesus’ head was folded in place, separate from the other linen.
John went in, saw the evidence, and believed his body had been stolen.
As yet, they still did not understand from scripture that Jesus must rise from the dead, so the disciples went back home.
King James
John 20:7–10 And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself. Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed. For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead. Then the disciples went away again unto their own home.
Why wasn’t Mary Magdalene fearful when she saw two angels inside the tomb? Why were they present?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Insights Pending
Author’s Paraphrase
John 20:11–13 Mary stood outside the tomb, crying. As she cried, she stooped to look inside and saw two angels dressed in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head, the other at the feet.
“Woman, why are you crying?” they said.
“Because they have stolen my master’s body, and I do not know where they have put him.”
King James
John 20:11–13 But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre, 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. 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.
As well as Mary Magdalene knew Jesus, why didn’t she recognize his voice?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Insights Pending
Author’s Paraphrase
John 20:14–16 She turned and saw someone standing by her but did not know it was Jesus.
“Woman, why are you crying,” Jesus said. “Who are you looking for?”
She assumed he was the gardener. “Sir, if you have taken his body, tell me where you have put him, and I will take him away.”
“Mary!” Jesus said.
She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabboni,” which means “Teacher.”
King James
John 20:14–16 And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus. 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. Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.
How did Mary Magdalene react after seeing Jesus?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Insights Pending
Author’s Paraphrase
John 20:16–17 “Mary!” Jesus said.
She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabboni,” which means “Teacher.”
“You do not have to cling to me,” Jesus said, “because I am not going to my Father yet. But go to my brothers and tell them I will soon ascend to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.”
King James
John 20:16–17 Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master. 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.
What was the disciples’ response to Mary Magdalene’s story that she had seen Jesus?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Insights Pending
Author’s Paraphrase
John 20:18 Mary Magdalene found the disciples, told them she had seen Jesus, and delivered the message.
King James
John 20:18 Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her.
What did the disciples think when Jesus appeared among them?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Insights Pending
Author’s Paraphrase
Luke 24:41–43 In their joy and amazement, this seemed too good to be true.
Jesus said, “May I have something to eat?”
They gave him a piece of broiled fish and watched him eat it.
John 20:19–20 That Sunday evening, the disciples met behind closed doors because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders.
Jesus appeared and stood among them. “Peace be with you.”
After he showed them the wounds in his hands and side, they realized it was Jesus and rejoiced.
King James
Luke 24:41–43 And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat? And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb. And he took it, and did eat before them.
John 20:19–20 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. 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.
How does our being “sent” compare with Jesus being sent?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Insights Pending
Author’s Paraphrase
John 20:21 “Peace be with you,” Jesus said. “As the Father has sent me, I send you.”
King James
John 20:21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.
By what authority could the disciples forgive sins committed against someone else?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Insights Pending
Author’s Paraphrase
John 20:22–23 After saying this, he breathed on them. “Receive the Holy Spirit. The sins you forgive will be forgiven, and the sins you do not forgive will not be forgiven.”
King James
John 20:22–23 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.
How did Thomas’s doubt compare with the other disciples unbelief?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Insights Pending
Author’s Paraphrase
John 20:24–28 Thomas, one of the twelve, who was called the Twin, was not with the rest of them when Jesus came. They told him, “We have seen Jesus.”
But he said, “Unless I see the scars in his hands, put my finger where the nails were driven, and place my hand on his wounded side, I will not believe.”
Eight days later, the disciples were again gathered behind closed doors, and Thomas was with them.
Jesus appeared and stood among them. “Peace be with you.” He said to Thomas, “Look at the scars in my hands, and put your finger where the nails were driven. Put your hand on my side. Do not doubt anymore. Believe.”
Thomas said, “My Lord and my God!”
King James
John 20:24–28 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. 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. 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. 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. And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.
Is the saying, “Seeing is believing,” true? Why? How do people believe without seeing?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Insights Pending
Author’s Paraphrase
John 20:29 “Because you have seen me, Thomas, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen me, yet believe.”
King James
John 20:29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.
What other miracles might Jesus have done? Why weren’t they recorded?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Insights Pending
Author’s Paraphrase
John 20:30–31 The disciples saw Jesus do many other miracles that have not been recorded, but these are written so you will believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God. By believing, you will have life through his name.
King James
John 20:30–31 And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: 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.