John 20

Now on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene went early, while it was still dark, to the tomb, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb.

Therefore she ran and came to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have laid him!”

Therefore Peter and the other disciple went out, and they went toward the tomb.

They both ran together. The other disciple outran Peter and came to the tomb first.

Stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths lying there; yet he didn’t enter in.

Then Simon Peter came, following him, and entered into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying,

and the cloth that had been on his head, not lying with the linen cloths, but rolled up in a place by itself.

So then the other disciple who came first to the tomb also entered in, and he saw and believed.

For as yet they didn’t know the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead.

So the disciples went away again to their own homes.

But Mary was standing outside at the tomb weeping. So as she wept, she stooped and looked into the tomb,

and she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.

They asked her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I don’t know where they have laid him.”

When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, and didn’t know that it was Jesus.

Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Who are you looking for?” She, supposing him to be the gardener, said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.”

Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him, “Rabboni!” which is to say, “Teacher!”

Jesus said to her, “Don’t hold me, for I haven’t yet ascended to my Father; but go to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”

Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had said these things to her.

When therefore it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and when the doors were locked where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the middle and said to them, “Peace be to you.”

When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples therefore were glad when they saw the Lord.

Jesus therefore said to them again, “Peace be to you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you.”

When he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit!

If you forgive anyone’s sins, they have been forgiven them. If you retain anyone’s sins, they have been retained.”

But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, wasn’t with them when Jesus came.

The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails, put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

After eight days, again his disciples were inside and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, the doors being locked, and stood in the middle, and said, “Peace be to you.”

Then he said to Thomas, “Reach here your finger, and see my hands. Reach here your hand, and put it into my side. Don’t be unbelieving, but believing.”

Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!”

Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”

Therefore Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book;

but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name.

Chapter overviewAI-generated

Overview.
This chapter recounts the resurrection of Jesus Christ, beginning with Mary Magdalene’s discovery of the empty tomb and culminating in His appearances to His disciples, including the skeptical Thomas. It emphasizes the reality of Christ’s bodily resurrection, the mission He entrusts to His followers, and the foundation of faith even without sight. As the pivotal turn in John’s Gospel, it shifts from the narrative of Jesus’ death to the proclamation of His victory over death and the coming of the Holy Spirit.

Flow.

The chapter opens with Mary Magdalene finding the tomb empty and reporting it to Peter and the beloved disciple, who confirm the empty grave but do not yet understand the resurrection (vv. 1–10).
Mary remains weeping at the tomb, encounters the risen Jesus whom she initially mistakes for the gardener, and recognizes Him when He calls her by name, receiving a commission to announce His ascension (vv. 11–18).
That evening, Jesus appears to the disciples in a locked room, offers peace, shows His wounds, commissions them with the breath of the Holy Spirit, and bestows authority to proclaim forgiveness (vv. 19–23).
Eight days later, Jesus appears again, this time including Thomas, who moves from unbelief to worship when invited to touch Christ’s wounds, leading to Jesus’ declaration of blessing on future believers who trust without seeing (vv. 24–29).
The chapter closes with the evangelist’s stated purpose: these signs are recorded so that readers may believe Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and in believing, possess life in His name (vv. 30–31).

Connections.
Following chapter 19, where Jesus’ death and burial establish the fact of His true humanity and completed sacrifice, chapter 20 reveals the triumph of His resurrection, answering the despair of the cross. It directly prepares for chapter 21, where the risen Christ appears again by the Sea of Tiberias to restore Peter and reaffirm the mission of His Church, grounding continued discipleship in the reality of His life and authority.

What it teaches.
The resurrection of Christ is the confirmation of His divine identity and the basis of new life for His people (WCF 8.6). Jesus’ appearance and commissioning of the disciples enact the giving of the Holy Spirit and the authority of the Church to declare the gospel’s terms (WCF 26.2; HC LD 30). Thomas’ confession, “My Lord and my God,” affirms Christ’s full deity (WCF 2.2; BC Art. 9), while Jesus’ pronouncement blesses all who come to faith without physical sight, upholding the sufficiency of apostolic witness (HC LD 7). The resurrection body of Christ is both continuous with His crucified body and glorified, bearing the marks yet transcending physical barriers.

Apply.
The same Jesus who showed His wounds to transform doubt into worship sends His people with peace and purpose into a fearful world.

AI-generated. Not a substitute for Scripture, your pastor, or the confessions.