John 20: Resurrection, Faith, and Commission

Short answer: John 20 recounts the discovery of the empty tomb, the risen Jesus appearing to Mary Magdalene, to the gathered disciples, and to Thomas. It concludes with the purpose statement that these signs are written so readers may believe Jesus is the Christ and have life in his name.

What John 20 says

The chapter opens on the first day of the week while it is still dark. Mary Magdalene comes to the tomb and sees the stone removed. She runs to Simon Peter and the disciple whom Jesus loved, reporting that the Lord has been taken away and they do not know where he has been laid. The two disciples run to the tomb. The other disciple arrives first, stoops, sees the linen cloths, but does not enter. Peter arrives and goes in, observing the linen cloths and the head cloth rolled up by itself. Then the other disciple enters, sees, and believes. Yet verse 9 notes they did not yet know the Scripture that he must rise from the dead. They return home.

Mary remains outside weeping. She stoops to look into the tomb and sees two angels in white, one at the head and one at the feet where the body had lain. They ask why she is weeping. She repeats that they have taken away her Lord and she does not know where they have laid him. Turning, she sees Jesus standing but does not recognize him. He asks why she is weeping and whom she is seeking. Supposing him to be the gardener, she asks him to tell her where he has been laid so she can take him away. Jesus speaks her name, Mary. She turns and calls him Rabboni, meaning Teacher. He tells her not to hold him, for he has not yet ascended to the Father, but to go to his brothers and tell them he is ascending to his Father and their Father, to his God and their God. She goes and announces to the disciples that she has seen the Lord and reports his words.

That evening, on the first day of the week, the disciples are gathered behind locked doors for fear of the Jews. Jesus comes and stands in the middle and speaks peace to them. He shows them his hands and his side, and they are glad. He repeats the peace greeting and sends them as the Father sent him. He breathes on them and tells them to receive the Holy Spirit, adding that if they forgive anyone's sins they are forgiven, and if they retain anyone's sins they are retained. Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, is absent. The other disciples tell him they have seen the Lord, but he insists he will not believe unless he sees the print of the nails and puts his finger and hand into the wounds.

Eight days later the disciples are inside again, and Thomas is with them. Though the doors are locked, Jesus comes and stands in the middle and speaks peace. He invites Thomas to reach out his finger, see his hands, reach out his hand, and put it into his side, telling him not to be unbelieving but believing. Thomas answers, calling him my Lord and my God. Jesus notes that Thomas has believed because he has seen, and pronounces a blessing on those who have not seen and yet have believed. The chapter closes by stating that Jesus did many other signs not written in this book, but these are written so that readers may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing they may have life in his name.

Verses that carry the chapter

• “So then the other disciple who came first to the tomb also entered in, and he saw and believed.” (John 20:8) — The other disciple enters the tomb, sees the grave clothes, and believes, marking a turning point from confusion to faith even before understanding the Scripture.
• “Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him, “Rabboni!” which is to say, “Teacher!”” (John 20:16) — Jesus calls Mary by name, and her recognition of him as Teacher shows that the risen Lord personally reveals himself and turns grief into witness.
• “Jesus therefore said to them again, “Peace be to you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you.” (John 20:21)” (John 20:21) — Jesus repeats his peace and sends the disciples as the Father sent him, linking the resurrection to their mission and to the church's ongoing calling.
• “Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen, and have believed.” (John 20:29)” (John 20:29) — Jesus blesses those who have not seen and yet believe, extending the promise of faith beyond the first eyewitnesses to all who will read this account.

Gospel connection

John 20 stands at the climax of the biblical story, where the promised Messiah is not left in the grave but raised for our justification. The empty tomb, the folded cloths, and the appearances to Mary, the disciples, and Thomas all confirm that the one who died for sins has been vindicated by God. Jesus speaks of ascending to his Father and their Father, showing that his resurrection opens a new family relationship with God. He breathes the Holy Spirit on his disciples, fulfilling the promise of new life and empowering them to forgive and retain sins. Thomas's confession, my Lord and my God, echoes the Old Testament hope that God himself would come to save. The chapter's purpose statement in verses 30 and 31 ties everything together: these signs are written so that readers may believe Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and have life in his name. This is the gospel, that Christ died for our sins, was buried, was raised, and appeared, and that by faith we receive life.

Application

This chapter asks the reader to move from mere information about the resurrection to personal trust in the risen Jesus. Like Mary, we may weep in confusion, but Jesus calls us by name and turns our sorrow into testimony. Like the disciples behind locked doors, we may be afraid, but he comes and speaks peace, showing his wounds and sending us. Like Thomas, we may demand evidence, but Jesus meets honest doubt with patient invitation and pronounces blessing on those who believe without seeing. The application is not to manufacture faith but to receive the written signs and let them lead to belief. It also calls us to join Mary in telling others that we have seen the Lord, and to accept the commission to forgive and retain sins as those who have received the Holy Spirit. This is a call to live as witnesses, not merely as spectators, trusting that believing in his name brings life.

Biblical fidelity check

The chapter does not claim that Mary recognized Jesus immediately, nor does it explain how the stone was rolled away or who did it. It does not describe the resurrection moment itself, only the empty tomb and the appearances. It does not say that Thomas actually touched Jesus, only that Jesus invited him to do so and Thomas responded with belief. It does not specify the location of the locked room or the nature of the signs not written. It does not claim that the disciples understood the Scripture before believing, for verse 9 says they did not yet know it. It does not say that Jesus ascended at that moment, for he tells Mary he has not yet ascended. It does not explain the mechanism of the Holy Spirit being breathed on them or the exact meaning of retaining sins. The text is silent on many details, and we should not fill them in beyond what is written.

Questions for study

1. Why do you think the other disciple believed after seeing the empty tomb, even though verse 9 says they did not yet know the Scripture that he must rise from the dead?
2. Mary Magdalene weeps outside the tomb and does not recognize Jesus until he calls her name. What does this show about how the risen Lord reveals himself to us today?
3. Jesus greets the disciples with peace and shows them his hands and side. How does his physical resurrection body matter for our faith and for our own hope of resurrection?
4. Thomas insists he will not believe unless he sees and touches. How does Jesus respond to his doubt, and what does that teach us about bringing our own doubts to God?
5. The chapter ends by saying these signs are written so that readers may believe and have life in his name. What does it mean for you to believe without having seen, and how does that belief shape your daily life?

Keep reading

Related studies: John 10 Bible Study, John 11 Bible Study, John 12 Bible Study, John 13 Bible Study.

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FAQ

Why did Mary Magdalene not recognize Jesus at first?

The text says she supposed him to be the gardener, so her grief and the early morning darkness may have kept her from recognizing him until he spoke her name. Jesus chose to reveal himself to her personally, showing that recognition comes through his initiative.

What does Jesus mean when he tells Mary not to hold him because he has not yet ascended?

He is telling her that his resurrection is not a return to the old way of relating but a transition to a new phase where he will ascend to the Father. She is to go and tell his brothers about his ascension, which will complete his work and open a new relationship with God as Father.

Why does John include the story of Thomas's doubt?

The story shows that Jesus meets honest doubt with patient evidence and invites belief, and it leads to Thomas's great confession, my Lord and my God. It also gives Jesus the opportunity to pronounce a blessing on those who have not seen and yet believe, which includes all later readers of the Gospel.