John 20
LipscombJohn 20:1
Now on the first day of the week—The body of Jesus had been hastily buried on Friday evening to avoid breaking the Sabbath. The care in embalming him had not been as carefully done as the women who followed him desired. They had bought perfumes on Friday afternoon. (Mark 16:1; Luke 24:1). The approach of the Sabbath caused them to delay the completion of their kind offices until Sunday morning. With the first dawn of the morning they appeared with the spices to complete the work. [This was our Sunday, here called “The first day of the week.” The Sabbath ended at sunset so that Jesus had been dead and buried Friday night, Saturday, and Sunday morning, beginning at the previous sunset, three days according to Jewish reckoning. (1 Samuel 30:12-13; 2 Chronicles 10:5; 2 Chronicles 10:12).]
cometh Mary Magdalene early, while it was yet dark, unto the tomb,—John mentions only Mary Magdalene; Matthew 28:2 and Mark 16:1 mentions also Mary the mother of Jesus, and Salome. John gives prominence to Mary Magdalene. She had been possessed of seven demons, most likely quite a sinner. The demons had been cast out of her, her many sins forgiven her, and she loved much—was much devoted to her Lord. For this devotion special mention is made of her service. [They had prepared spices to anoint and embalm the body.]
and seeth the stone taken away from the tomb.—They had anticipated difficulty in rolling away the stone from the door of the vault that they might enter. They found it rolled away, saw the angels and empty tomb, and went and told the disciples. (Matthew 28:2-4).
John 20:2
She runneth therefore, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved,—They find Peter and John and tell the strange discovery. No thought of a resurrection seems to have entered the minds of either of the apostles or the women, notwithstanding Jesus had so often told them he would rise. The women were not led by faith, but by love, to the tomb to perform the last rites of respect and love for one who had been their true friend and helper while alive. [Mary Magdalene left the other women and ran to carry this news to the apostles. The others walked on and had the experience described in Matthew 28:5-8; Mark 16:5-8; Luke 24:3-9 and left the tomb.]
and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we know not where they have laid him.—The only thought that came to their minds was that he had been taken away and they knew not where to find his body. This shows how difficult it is to see and accept things that are contrary to our fixed convictions and desires. [She had jumped at this conclusion from the sight of the open sepulchre, for none were expecting a resurrection.]
John 20:3
Peter therefore went forth and the other disciple, and they went toward the tomb.—Peter seems to have led in the start with his characteristic promptness. John first reached the tomb, but went not in. His timidity likely caused him to pause at the entrance, but he looked in and saw the cloths lying.
John 20:4
And they ran both together: and the other disciple outran Peter, and came first to the tomb;—[Their emotion would not allow them to walk.]
John 20:5
and stooping and looking in, he seeth the linen cloths lying; yet entered he not in.—[He was too timid to enter the tomb immediately. He went close enough to see the linen in which Jesus had been wrapped.]
John 20:6
Simon Peter therefore also cometh, following him, and entered into the tomb; and he beholdeth the linen cloths lying,—[How characteristic this is of Peter who twice plunged into the sea to meet Jesus. He hesitates not a moment, like the timid John, but springs at once into the tomb.]
John 20:7
and the napkin, that was upon his head, not lying with the linen cloths, but rolled up in a place by itself.—Peter, coming up without hesitation, entered the tomb and found the cloths folded carefully, showing deliberation and care in disposing of them. [This napkin doubtless held the mouth closed. Its position and condition shows a calm preparation to leave the tomb instead of a hasty removal of the body.]
John 20:8
Then entered in therefore the other disciple also, who came first to the tomb, and he saw, and believed.—[Doubtless believed that Jesus had risen from the grave.] John, after Peter had entered, also entered, saw and believed. It is not clear as to the extent of his belief. As yet they had not understood what he meant when he said he would rise from the dead. Now the truth began to dawn on their minds that he had been made alive and had risen from the dead.
John 20:9
For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead.—[Scriptures mentioned include Psalms 16:10; Isaiah 53:10-11. John desires to emphasize the fact that his faith was founded on what he witnessed with no previous expectations founded on scripture.]
John 20:10
So the disciples went away again unto their own home.—Finding the tomb empty, the body gone, these two disciples went away to their places of abode in Jerusalem.
John 20:11
But Mary was standing without at the tomb weeping: so, as she wept, she stooped and looked into the tomb;—Mary, with her feelings wrought up, disappointed and supposing that some one had moved his body to a permanent resting place, lingered near the grave and relieved her overburdened feelings by weeping. She again stooped down and looked into the sepulchre. [Jesus had been everything to Mary in a spiritual way. He had freed her from the influence of seven devils. Around him all her hopes had centered, and now to be deprived of the privilege of embalming his body, the last sad rite of affection to his lacerated body seemed to be greater than she could bear.]
John 20:12
and she beholdeth two angels in white sitting, one at the head, and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.—[Two angels known by their bright attire sat, one at the head, the other at the feet, of where Jesus had lain.]
John 20:13
And 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.—They ask the question doubtless to open the way to say unto them: “Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen; remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, saying that the Son of man must be delivered up into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.” (Luke 24:5-7). “Go quickly, and tell his disciples, He is risen from the dead; and lo, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you.” (Matthew 28:7).
John 20:14
When she had thus said, she turned herself back, and beholdeth Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.—Jesus was standing near and as she turned from speaking to the angels she beholdeth him. She was so troubled in spirit that she did not look with care and did not discern that it was Jesus.
John 20:15
Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou hast borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.—When Jesus spoke to her she still did not recognize him, but took for granted it was the keeper of the garden who would know of the removal and so asked if he had removed it to let her know and she would take charge of the body. [Observe the realistic touch in the use of the pronoun “him” as though she knew that the gardener understood who she meant. In her intense love for, and grief of the body, she seems to forget womanly physical weakness, and proposes doing the work of men.]
John 20:16
Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turneth herself, and saith unto him in Hebrew, Rabboni; which is to say, Teacher.—Jesus, in a tone of tender reproach for not recognizing him, spoke her name with emphasis in a tone she well knew. She recognized the voice, and turned and called him, Rabboni.
[All the former richness of tone of Jesus who spake as never man spake was in that single name that she had heard so often from his lips, and she recognized him immediately and addressed him as Teacher.]
John 20:17
Jesus saith to her, Touch me not;—She ran to him, prostrated herself at his feet, and as Matthew 28:9 says “took hold of his feet, and worshipped him.” They did touch him as he afterwards had Thomas to do.
for I am not yet ascended unto the Father:—It is difficult to determine what is meant here. Was this done before the final ascension? Some interpret it to “cling to” instead of “touch,” and that he meant to tell them not to cling to him, for he would not leave them immediately, but go and tell his disciples that he would meet them in Galilee. This was an assurance that the time had not yet come for him to leave them.
but go unto my brethren, and say to them, I ascend unto my Father and your Father, and my God and your God.—[Why did he not say our Father and our God since he included both himself and them? For the reason he is not our Father, our God in the same sense that he is his Father and God.]
John 20:18
Mary Magdalene cometh and telleth the disciples, I have seen the Lord; and that he had said these things unto her.—Mary went to make his resurrection known to his disciples and to deliver his message to them. Peter and John had seen the empty tomb and were prepared somewhat for the information of his appearance, but Mark 16:11 says, “And they, when they heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, disbelieved.” [John does not mention their unbelief because he himself believed (John 20:8), and he could not mention their unbelief without an invidious distinction. Mary Magdalene was the first to tell the story of the resurrection.]
John 20:19
When therefore it was evening, on that day, the first day of the week, and when the doors were shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews,—The crucifixion of Jesus filled his disciples with fear as to their fate. So at evening they were met together to discuss the wondrous reports they had heard during the day. They did it within closed doors lest they should attract the attention and incur the hostility of the Jews.
Jesus came and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.—[He suddenly appeared among them. How he did it, by miracle, or otherwise, it is useless for any one to discuss, since it is an untaught question. It is enough for us to know and accept the fact.]
John 20:20
And when he had said this, he showed unto them his hands and his side. The disciples therefore were glad, when they saw the Lord.—While his wounds did not now create the suffering and pain that such wounds would in other persons, else he could not have been able to walk around as he did, still the gaping wounds were there into which they could thrust their fingers and these he showed to his disciples to produce perfect assurance that he was the same Jesus that they had seen nailed to the cross. The effect was to fill their hearts with gladness to see their Lord. [Seven days later Jesus shows his wounds to Thomas. The resurrected body still carried these proofs of his suffering and love. Sixty years later, when the apostle at Patmos saw the Lion of the tribe of Judah, he beheld “a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain.” Whether our Lord in glory will continue to bear the marks of the cross and whether these will forever, as we live with him in glory, remind us of the story of our redemption, I shall not discuss. Suffice it to say, that when the apostles saw Jesus they were glad.]
John 20:21
Jesus therefore said to them again, Peace be unto you:—He again pronounces the benediction of peace upon them and announces
as the Father hath sent me, even so send I you.—For the same purpose and end. He was sent by the Father. By the same authority Jesus sends them. The authority of the Father and of the Son was to be present with the apostles. [The apostles are the executors of the New Testament that comes into force after the testator dies (Hebrews 9:15-17) and are to be sent forth to declare its provisions to a lost world. This is the first development of the Great Commission, which is more fully developed in Galilee a little later, and finally completed on Mount Olivet, just before he ascended.]
John 20:22
And when he had said this, he breathed on them,—This verse presents difficulties. Does it mean he blew his breath on his eleven disciples here assembled and that they were at once authorized to forgive or retain sins, to proclaim terms of pardon to the world. This would not be in harmony with his telling them to tarry at Jerusalem until they were endued with power from on high. (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:7).
and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Spirit:—Meaning when the Spirit should come. They showed no indication of having received the Spirit until received on the day of Pentecost. [Breath is the symbol of life. When God created man, he breathed into him the breath of life. (Genesis 2:7).]
John 20:23
whose soever sins ye forgive, they are forgiven unto them; whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.—It was a promise that the Holy Spirit would come to them and when he came they would be authorized to lay down the conditions on which they could be forgiven. God alone forgives sin, and the apostles proclaimed the conditions as he gave them on which sins could be forgiven and which they could not be forgiven.
John 20:24
But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.—Thomas always appears incredulous and slow to believe, given to looking on the dark side. He was not present when Jesus appeared to the disciples at night, nor any of the appearances of Jesus on the day of his resurrection. When told that they had seen Jesus, he firmly protested that he would not believe.
John 20:25
The 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 put my hand into his side, I will not believe.—When told by the other disciples that they had seen Jesus, he protested that he would not believe either them or his own senses. In addition to seeing and hearing him he should put his fingers in the nail-prints and thrust his hand into the pierced side.
John 20:26
And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them. Jesus cometh, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.—After eight days they were all again assembled and Thomas was present. The doors were shut and Jesus again stood in their midst and again spake peace to them.
John 20:27
Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and see my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and put it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.—He at once addressed himself to Thomas and proposed to meet the conditions he demanded. He held out his hands and his feet, asked him to place his finger in the nail-prints, and presented
his side, and asked him to thrust his hand into the wound, and believe.
John 20:28
Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.—Thomas was not so hard of belief as he had thought. When he saw Jesus he believed without thrusting in his fingers or his hand and exclaimed, “My Lord and my God.” The evidence came, and his conclusion was that he was both Ruler and God.
John 20:29
Jesus saith unto him, Because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.—While he presented these evidences to the senses of the apostles, he expected the world through all the ages to come to believe in him through the testimony of these apostles and other evidence that God would give to the world. So he reproved the lack of faith of Thomas by pronouncing a blessing on all who should believe without seeing him.
John 20:30
Many other signs therefore did Jesus in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book:—Jesus did many other miracles after his resurrection beside those mentioned in this book. “This book” means the book written by John. [Much that Jesus did both before and after his resurrection is not recorded. Each historian recorded some features of his work that the others omitted, and each of them reveal the fact that they only outlined his work.]
John 20:31
but these are written, that ye may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God;—These mentioned in the book were written to the end that those who read the book may believe.
and that believing ye may have life in his name.—The faith is based on the testimony given in the writings concerning Christ, his work, and teaching. The faith leads to put on Christ, enter into his name, and as a servant of Christ, as a member of the body of Christ, might so act as to attain to eternal life. [Producing faith in Christ is the object of all gospel history. They so reveal Christ as to produce faith in him. “So belief cometh of hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.” (Romans 10:17). “Here, with these words, John ends the great argument that he entered upon with the first chapter and which continues with unbroken connection until it reaches its culmination in the remarkable declaration of the purpose which he had written. The chain of argument embraces the testimony of Moses and the prophets, the witness of John the Baptist, whom the Jews acknowledged as a man of God, the wonderful life of Christ, the supernatural wisdom and authority of his teaching, his supernatural works, and last and greatest of all, the fact of his death, burial and resurrection. The last is the crowning argument, and it is after he has established it beyond a doubt, if such a wonderful fact can be proven by human testimony, that he closes with the declaration: These are written, that ye may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, etc.”]