Chapter 20
31 verses — switch translations with the toolbar below.
Scripture
KJV1The 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.
“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.”
Overview
On the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene finds the tomb empty and runs to tell Peter and John. Peter and John race to the tomb and find the grave clothes lying there. Jesus appears first to Mary, then to the disciples behind locked doors, showing them His hands and side. Thomas, who was absent, refuses to believe until Jesus appears again a week later and invites Thomas to touch His wounds, eliciting the confession, 'My Lord and my God.'
Key Themes
The Resurrection as Historical Fact
John records eyewitness details — the folded face cloth, the locked doors, the physical wounds — establishing the resurrection as a real event, not a myth.
From Doubt to Worship
Thomas' journey from skepticism to the highest Christological confession in the Gospel ('My Lord and my God') shows that honest doubt can lead to deep faith.
The Purpose of John's Gospel
John states explicitly that he wrote so that readers 'might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.'
Study Questions
Why is it significant that Mary Magdalene is the first person to see the risen Jesus, and what does 'Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended' (v. 17) mean?
What is the significance of the grave clothes being left behind in an orderly fashion (vv. 6-7)?
When Jesus breathes on the disciples and says 'Receive ye the Holy Ghost' (v. 22), how does this relate to the promise of the Spirit in earlier chapters?
How does Thomas' confession 'My Lord and my God' (v. 28) serve as the climax of John's entire Gospel?
Jesus says, 'Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed' (v. 29). How does this apply to every subsequent generation of Christians?
Connection to Christ
The resurrection is the vindication of everything Jesus claimed. He is the Son of God, the Resurrection and the Life, the Good Shepherd who took up His life again. Thomas' confession — 'My Lord and my God' — is the destination John has been guiding every reader toward from the opening verse. The risen Christ commissions His followers to continue His mission in the world.
Personal Reflection
Take time to journal or meditate on what God is teaching you through John 20. How can these truths transform your thinking and actions today?