John 20 - The King James Study Bible

20:1–21:25. John records four post-resurrection appearances of Jesus to His followers: to Mary Magdalene outside the tomb on Resurrection morning (20:1–18); to 10 disciples in the Upper Room—Thomas is absent (20:19–23); to 11 disciples in the Upper Room (20:24–29); and to seven disciples in Galilee (21:1–25).

20:1–10. Several other women were present on this first visit (cf. Matt. 28:1–8; Mark 16:1–8; and Luke 24:1–12). His clothes lay in an orderly fashion. Had His body been stolen, the grave-clothes would not have been left.

20:8,9. Believed. For as yet they knew not: They believed Jesus was alive, not yet knowing the details of His resurrection.

20:11,12. This was Mary’s second visit (vv. 11–18; cf. Mark 16:9–11).

20:17. Touch me not is a present imperative, forbidding the continuation of an action already begun. “Stop clinging to me” is a helpful paraphrase. Compare with verse 27, where, one week later, we are told He encouraged Thomas to touch Him. I am not yet ascended: “Do not worry, I am not leaving immediately.”

20:19. This was Sunday evening of the Resurrection. The doors are shut, and Jesus appears in His Resurrection body. Evidently He could appear, disappear, pass through material, and defy the law of gravity (as He did at the Ascension) in His Resurrection body.

20:22. Here the disciples are anointed by the Holy Spirit preliminary to Acts 2. This corresponds to the Holy Spirit’s special ministries in the Old Testament. Such ministries were for special tasks. Soon the Holy Spirit would come and permanently abide with them (Acts 2).

20:23. Remit . . . sins: This is a divine prerogative (cf. Mark 2:7). The anointing of the Holy Spirit makes this possible.

20:28. Lord . . . God: These words from Thomas form the climax to John’s gospel and summarize its theme.

20:30,31. John tells us here he wrote this gospel for purposes of conversion, that ye might believe, and of sanctification, that believing ye might have life.