John 20:6 Meaning and Explanation
“Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie,”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Peter arrives and, unlike the beloved disciple, enters the tomb and sees the grave clothes.
The Context of John 20:6
Peter has followed the beloved disciple to the sepulchre and now arrives to look at the tomb.
What Does John 20:6 Mean?
Simon Peter comes following, always the bold one who acts. Where the beloved disciple paused, Peter enters. He goes into the sepulchre and sees the linen clothes lying there. It is Peter who crosses the threshold, Peter who steps into the place of death to confront the empty grave. The man who had denied his Master three times, who had cut off a servant's ear in panic, now acts with courage. He goes into the tomb where Jesus lay.
The grave clothes are there, visible, undisturbed in their arrangement. Peter sees this and knows that something beyond the ordinary has happened. He does not yet understand resurrection; the scriptures have not yet opened to his mind to show him that the Messiah must rise. But he has entered the place of death and found it changed, emptied, made strange by absence. His courage in entering is a small reflection of what the risen Christ will ask of all the disciples: to go forward into the unknown, trusting that Christ is alive.
How to Apply John 20:6 Today
Sometimes boldness—entering into the unknown, asking the hard question—is the way faith grows.
Frequently Asked Questions About John 20:6
What does John 20:6 mean?
Peter arrives and, unlike the beloved disciple, enters the tomb and sees the grave clothes.
What is the context of John 20:6?
Peter has followed the beloved disciple to the sepulchre and now arrives to look at the tomb.
How can I apply John 20:6 today?
Sometimes boldness—entering into the unknown, asking the hard question—is the way faith grows.