JOHN CHAPTER 20 - THE EMPTY TOMB

John Chapter 20 – Lesson 1

The Empty Tomb

John 20:1 (ESV) Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb.

Jesus was crucified on Friday, and it was now Sunday morning. According to how the Jews reckoned time, this would still be three days as any portion of a day counted as a day. How did Mary Magdalene think she was going to move the heavy stone in front of the entrance to the tomb? Perhaps she thought the soldiers posted there to make sure the body was not stolen by Jesus’ followers would assist her. How startled must she have been to see the stone already moved?!

John 20:2 So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.”

Mary was perplexed. Where was the body? Who moved it? Why did they move it? Where was it moved? So she took off running to find Peter and report this strange turn of events. She found him in the company of John, the beloved disciple. She delivered the astonishing news that the tomb was empty and that she and the other women (Matthew 28:1, Mark 16:1-3, Luke 23:55-24:1) thought the body appeared to have been moved.

John 20:3 So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. 4 Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first.

Peter and John raced to the tomb as fast as their feet would carry them. John, being the faster runner, arrived first.

John 20:5 And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in.

John peaked in the door but did not enter the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there but waited at the entrance. We do not know why John did not enter the tomb, but here are some ideas. Perhaps he was awe-stricken and feeling the place was holy. Perhaps he was timid, although I can’t picture one of the “Sons of Thunder” being afraid. Perhaps he was waiting for Peter who may have been his elder and was an acknowledged leader of the disciples.

Q – The tomb was empty! Although Jesus had told them in no uncertain terms many times that He would be killed and would rise on the third day, they could not comprehend that it had actually happened. Would you have believed? We like to think we would, but would we? Do we believe modern day miracles when they occur or do we search for a scientific explanation?

John Chapter 20 – Lesson 2

Folded Linens Minus His Body

John 20:6 (ESV) Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, 7 and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus' head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself.

Simon Peter caught up with John at the tomb and barged in with no hesitation. He saw the linen that had been wrapped around Jesus’ body just neatly lying there. The face cloth was strategically placed by itself, folded differently from the rest. The fact that the linen cloths were still there and nicely arranged would indicate the body had not been stolen since robbers would not have taken such care. Also, it would have been much easier to move the body while still wrapped up. It is awesome to picture Jesus just rising right out of His grave clothes.

John 20:8 Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; 9 for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead.

As soon as he saw the linen cloths arranged in the tomb, John believed that Jesus had resurrected as He said He would. Prior to that, the disciples had not clearly understood what Jesus meant when He had predicted that He would rise from the dead. When John realized that Jesus had risen from the dead, pieces of the Messiah puzzle began to finally fit together in his mind.  

John 20:10 Then the disciples went back to their homes.

I don’t get it. Did they go home because it was too much for their human brains to comprehend? The greatest moment in their lives, in history had just been proven before their eyes, and they just go home? But Mary Magdalene must have lingered…oops, next lesson!

Q – John records that he believed after seeing the empty tomb and linens; but according to the other gospels, Peter was not yet convinced. Have you ever had an experience with a friend and the two of you come away with widely different takes on what you saw? Our personalities and definitely our heart conditions influence how we view things. Do you come to Scripture expecting to be filled or do you come at it as a daily “task” to check off your list? If you read the word of God expectantly, your hunger will be filled, and your thirst will be quenched. 

John Chapter 20 – Lesson 3

Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene

John 20:11 (ESV) But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb.

            Mary Magdalene had stayed behind when John and Peter went home. Mary Magdalene was a woman who had once been possessed by SEVEN demons. Jesus cast those demons out and gloriously brought her into His forever family. However, at this moment, she was confused and frightened because she did not yet realize He was alive, raised from the dead. She thought His body had been moved or stolen away. Mary was having an “ugly cry” outside the tomb. She bent down and looked into the tomb the disciples had just vacated.

John 20:12 And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet.

John and Peter had not seen angels, but when Mary peeked into the tomb, there were two of them. They sat where Jesus’ head and feet had so recently lain. Mary must have been breathless with wonderment at the sight of two men in what she thought was an empty tomb! How had they entered without her knowledge? She had been standing right there!

John 20:13 They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.”

The angels showed concern for her distress and asked her why she was crying. She must not have realized they were angels because she did not express any fear or awe of them. She once again explained that she thought someone had moved or stolen the body of Jesus, her Lord and Teacher.

John 20:14 Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus.

She turned around and was startled once again to see a man before her. She did not recognize Jesus perhaps because of shock or because His appearance had changed or He purposely did not allow her to comprehend who He was. Perhaps Mary was in shock due to the tomb being empty causing her to not recognize her Lord, Master, and closest Friend.

Q – Women (see also Matthew 28:1-10) were the first people to see the resurrected Jesus face to face. According to the Jewish Law, only men could be witnesses in court, and women’s testimony was not seen as trustworthy. Yet Jesus entrusted this most important news that He was alive to women before appearing to the eleven male apostles. Some people try to tell us that Jesus would make women less than they are. The truth is that Jesus elevated women to a higher position in society than they had ever held. Do you harbor prejudices due to gender, race, or ability? Jesus broke down those barriers over 2000 years ago. 

John Chapter 20 – Lesson 4

Go and Tell My Brothers

John 20:15 (ESV) Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.”

At first, Jesus did not give Himself away but just addressed her politely as “woman.” Mary Magdalene still did not recognize the Lord, so she addressed Him respectfully as “Sir.” He asked her why she was crying and whom she was looking for. For some reason she thought He might be the gardener and would know what had happened to Jesus’ body. Then she said she would take Him away. How does she, a woman, think she’s going to take the body anywhere? And where on earth did she think she was going to take Him? In her distraught state, I guess she just wanted to make sure the body was properly cared for and re-entombed.

John 20:16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher).

When Jesus finally spoke her name, Mary, she recognized the cadence of her teacher’s voice. Her eyes were opened to the fact that Jesus was standing there before her. She addressed Him as “My Teacher” acknowledging the fact that she now knew who He was.

John 20:17 Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”

According to Matthew 28:9, Mary Magdalene bowed in worship and took hold of Jesus’ feet. So He urged her not to cling to Him. Jesus did not want her to cling to the relationship they had here on earth. He would be ascending to the Father and sending His Spirit bringing their relationship to whole different level. Jesus gave her a message for the disciples whom He now called His brothers. Jesus had to be the firstborn of the resurrection before other brothers and sisters could join Him in His forever family. He entrusted Mary, a woman whom He had delivered from seven demons, with the message that He would soon ascend to the Father. Jesus smashed down the wall of thinking women were not credible witnesses by having Mary Magdalene be the first to see Him and declare He was alive. This also proves that once one has trusted Jesus as their Savior and Lord, they are considered clean in God’s eyes. He did not view this formerly demon possessed woman as unworthy but saw her as His chosen, redeemed child capable of taking an important message to His disciples.

John 20:18 Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”—and that he had said these things to her.

Mary immediately obeyed. She sought out the disciples to tell them she had seen the Lord and to give them His message. Luke 24:11 records that the disciples had a hard time believing the women who had seen Jesus thinking it to be “an idle tale” (ESV), “nonsense” (CJB), “fiction” (VOICE). Apparently the disciples did not get the memo that their Lord deemed women to be credible witnesses!

Q – I remember a student listening to the Carman song “Lazarus, Come Forth” in my classroom before school began. It was a public school. Suddenly he said, “Bad to the bone, man. He’s talking about dead people coming to life!” He had never heard the story of Lazarus, let alone the resurrection of Jesus. However, Jesus’ own disciples had a hard time believing He had actually fulfilled His promise to rise from the dead on third day. Nothing is impossible for God. The next time you think your situation is hopeless, impossible, no way out, remember the resurrection of Jesus. He is able to deliver you!

John Chapter 20 – Lesson 5

Jesus Walks Through Locked Doors

John 20:19 On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.”

The disciples were locked inside the room where they were staying because they were afraid the Jews would have them arrested for following Jesus. They were trying to stay inconspicuous, under the radar of the religious elite by not going out among them and being holed up behind locked doors. Suddenly, Jesus was standing in front of them. He did not knock or wait for someone to ask Him the password. He just entered through the locked doors without even opening them! Jesus, the Prince of Peace, greeted them with, “Peace be with you.” He was the only One who could restore peace to their trembling hearts.

John 20:20 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.

Jesus verified that it was He by bodily proof, voluntarily showing the disciples the nail prints in His hands and the hole in His side where the spear pierced Him. The disciples were glad when they realized it was truly Jesus, and He really had risen from the dead as He had told them beforehand. The impossible was made possible by the power of the Lord.

            We look forward to having perfected bodies when we are with the Lord someday. However, notice that the Lord chose to retain the scars of crucifixion to prove His identity and His love to His disciples. Michael Card has an excellent song called “Known by the Scars.” You can listen to it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OgkU2QPs6eo

John 20:21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.”

Jesus reiterated His message of peace and said He was sending them out. The Father had sent Jesus to share the kingdom of God on this earth, and now He was sending the disciples out as ambassadors to spread the Gospel, the message that the Kingdom of God was at hand and available to those who would believe.

John 20:22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”

After the traumatic experience of watching their beloved Lord die on the cross and then seeing Him appear before them even though a heavy door was securely locked, the disciples needed a booster shot of strength and peace. When Jesus breathed on the disciples, he confirmed the fact that they had believed and trusted Him and had eternal life. Jesus enabled the disciples to be sustained until the Holy Spirit came in power to indwell believers about 40 days later at Pentecost. The disciples were not empowered to forgive or not forgive sins, nor did they ever do that in the accounts we find in Acts. They were to herald the fact that Jesus became our sacrifice, the substitute for our sin, in order that those who believe would be forgiven. When we proclaim the gospel message, we are leading people to the only One who can forgive and cleanse away their sins, Jesus. When we fail in that mission, people do not hear the message and do not have the opportunity to repent and be forgiven unless someone else shares. Jesus commissioned the disciples and us today to be witnesses of His amazing grace. This is what we are “sent out” to do. The purpose of our being “born again,” “saved,” granted eternal life is to glorify God and proclaim Him to the world. As Dawson Trotman, founder of The Navigators, so aptly put it, “To know Him and to make Him known.”

John 20:24 Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came.

We are not given the reason that Thomas was absent. But He missed the excitement!

John 20:25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.”

Thomas gets a bad rap for not believing, but Thomas was not satisfied to be a crowd follower. Perhaps he was from “The Show Me State” LOL. I’m not sure why he wouldn’t trust the testimony of the other disciples. Not sure why we pick on Thomas when the others did not believe the women when they said they had seen Jesus. Yes, we focus on Thomas as “the Doubter,” but history records that He became a great missionary and was martyred for His faith.

Q – As Christians, we have the responsibility to share the truth of the Gospel with a lost, hungry, and dying world. Are you actively telling others that Jesus can forgive their sins? Do you know how to share your faith? Find a believer who obeys this commission and ask to tag along. It is really as simple as telling others what Jesus has done for you.

John Chapter 20 – Lesson 6

Thomas Gets What He Asked For

John 20:26 (ESV) Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.”

I think Jesus enjoyed entering through locked doors. These dramatic, miraculous entries were a part of confirming that He was indeed the Son of God, risen from the dead. This time all of the eleven were present and accounted for, including Thomas. Jesus did not want Thomas to be the only one missing out on the fact that He was risen from the grave, in the flesh, but able to appear in the room with the doors locked tight.

John 20:27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.”

Jesus gave Thomas the opportunity to test Him. I believe that Thomas was not the only that had doubts. He was the only one brave enough to articulate them. The others had doubted as well before Jesus had shown them proof of the crucifixion scars on His body.  Note that Jesus did not wait for Thomas to ask to see His hands and side – He offered that proof immediately. Jesus admonished Thomas not to reject this proof but to believe.

John 20:28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!”

Jesus had shown Thomas the proof he needed, and Thomas worshipped Him as both Master and God.

John 20:29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

Jesus chided Thomas a bit for not believing until he had seen for himself. Then He pronounced a blessing on those who would believe even though they had never seen Him with their physical eyes. “Those” are those of every generation after the original disciples who had walked with Him on earth. Including us!!! We have not seen and touched Jesus’ physical, human body; but the Holy Spirit graciously has enabled us to believe with spiritual eyes and recognize His word in the Bible as truth. We are truly blessed!

John 20:30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

John had walked over three years with Jesus, so there was much more he could have written. The Holy Spirit enabled John to discern what key events to record that would lead people to believe the things Jesus had done and said during His sojourn on planet earth. This gospel account was written so that people would believe and trust in Jesus and gain eternal life. There is power in the name of Jesus. Peter later preached concerning the name of Jesus:

Acts 4:12 (NASB) And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.

Q – Thomas may have doubted, but that did not cause Jesus to reject Him. Jesus proved Himself to Thomas and through the Holy Spirit caused him to become a bold witness of the truth. John wrote so that people would believe. Do you ever recommend that a person who is seeking God read the Bible? Point them to the gospel of John as it is a clear account of Jesus life, death, and resurrection that can lead them to eternal life. I (Susie) have even seen just that one book of the Bible printed as something to give to people, called “Living Water.” I once had the Spanish Version. They are available at http://www.livingwater.org/#home for ministries who might want to give them out to visitors, seekers, or new believers.