John 20

John 20:1

THe first day of the week] Matthew 28:1. Mark 167:1. Which is with us the Lords day; for our Saturday was their Sabbath.

when it was yet dark] She departed from home before day, and by that time she came to the Sepulchre, the Sun was about to rise, Mark 16:2.

unto the spulchre] These women came now to embalme him, which for the want of time they could not before do. See Cha. 19. 40. & Mark 16:1.

John 20:2

other disciple whom Jesus loved] Chap. 13. 23. and 21. 20.

John 20:8

and beleeved] That Christs body was taken away according to Maries report.

John 20:17

Touch me not] Because she was too much addicted to sense, Christ would teach her to lift up her minde to the consideration of his state of glory in heaven, where we must finde him with the eye of faith, not bodily senses. See 2 Corinthians 5:16.

my brethren] The disciples.

my Father, and your Father] My Father by nature, and your Father by adoption.

John 20:19

Then the same day] Mark 16:14. Luke 24. 36.

when the doors were shut] Shut (either because it was night, or for fear of the Jews) but he could make them open to himself a he after did for Peter. Acts 12:10.

Peace be unto you] This was an Hebrew manner of salutation, who by peace meant all prosperitie.

John 20:22

he breached on them] By this signe prefiguring what they should receive, to wit, the gifts and graces of the Holy Ghost, proceeding from the Father and the Sonne.

John 20:23

Whose soever sinnes ye remit] Matthew 18:18. This power is equally given to all the disciples, and their successors; first in respect of the doctrine of faith and repentance, as the Key of heaven committed to their Ministerie, which (according as it is received and obeyed) bindeth or looseth: if we repent and beleeve on earth, God forgiveth in heaven; and it is the Ministers office to preach the same in generall, and to applie it particularly, for the comfort of the truly penitent. Secondly, in respect of the power of excommunication and absolution, which is in discipline, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord. 1 Corinthians 5:5.

John 20:27

Reach hither thy finger] Christ made such use of Thomas present unbeliefe, that he thereby left the truth of his resurrection more certain and undoubted to us.

John 20:29

they that have not seen] Which shall hereafter beleeve through the preaching the Gospel, though they see me not in the flesh or bodily presence.

John 20:30

And many other signes] Chap. 21. 25. In the presence of his disciples, to confirm them; for after his resurrection we read not that he ever appeared to the wicked.

which are not written in this book] As being sufficiently recorded by the other Evangelists, or for that God knew that which is written to be sufficient; as 2 Timothy 3:15.

John 20:31

that ye might beleeve] For faith in Christ, and our salvation thereby, as it was the onely scope of Christs doing miracles, so was it of the Evangelists recording the same.