John 20 - Holman KJV Study Bible

20:1-21:25 The final two chapters of John's Gospel cover the aftermath of ­Jesus' crucifixion and burial, specifically the empty tomb, the risen ­Jesus' encounter with Mary Magdalene, three resurrection appearances to His disciples (21:14), the commissioning of the disciples (20:21), a special commissioning of Peter (21:15-23), conclusions to the Gospel proper (20:30-31), and the epilogue (21:24-25). The concluding statement in 20:30-31 rehearses some of the major themes of the Gospel, particularly ­Jesus' identity as Messiah and Son of God, His messianic "miracles," the importance of believing in ­Jesus, and the gift of eternal life. The conclusion to the epilogue identifies the disciple "­Jesus loved" (who was one of the twelvecp. ; 21:20; 13:23) as the writer of John's Gospel and affirms the truth of his testimony about ­Jesus (21:24; cp. 19:35).

20:1 The first day of the week was Sunday. Mary Magdalene (and several other women) decided to attend to some matters that had been left undone because of the sabbath (see note at 19:42). The need to complete the care for the dead may have overridden the customary seven-day mourning period (see note at 11:20). On when it was yet dark, compare Matt. 28:1; Mark 16:2; and Luke 24:1.

20:2 At this point Mary had no thought of ­Jesus' resurrection. The Jewish charge that His disciples stole His body (Matt. 27:62-66; 28:11-15) shows that grave robbery was not unheard of. The plural we suggests the presence of other women besides Mary. On the other disciple, see note at 18:15-16.

20:5 Apparently by now there was enough daylight to see inside the burial chamber through the small, low opening in the cave tomb.

20:7 ­Jesus' resurrection body apparently passed through the linen wrappings similar to the way in which He later appeared to His disciples in a locked room (v v. 19,26). The head wrapping being neatly folded up in a place by itself counters the notion of grave robbers, who in their haste would not have taken the time to do so.

20:8-9 The presence of two witnesses rendered the evidence admissible under Jewish law (Deut. 17:6; 19:15). The other disciple believed based on what he saw, not on an understanding from Scripture that ­Jesus must rise again. This lack of expectation of a resurrection shows that the disciples did not fabricate the resurrection story to fit their preconceived expectations. Rather, the resurrection shocked them and did not fit with what they understood from Scripture. Only later, aided by the Spirit's teaching (see notes at 14:26 and 16:13), did they come to see that ­Jesus' resurrection was foretold in the OT.

20:10 When the disciples went home, the disciple "­Jesus loved" in all likelihood told the Lord's mother, whom he had taken into his home (19:27), that He was risen.

20:11 Mary Magdalene was weeping, not because ­Jesus had died, but because His body had vanished.

20:12 Angels often appeared in pairs (Acts 1:10) and are often depicted as dressed in white (Ezek. 9:2; Dan. 10:5-6; Rev. 15:6).

20:15 Mary mistook ­Jesus for the gardener, which suggests that ­Jesus was indistinguishable from an ordinary person. Gardeners often work in the early morning.

20:17 Touch me not means more precisely, "don't cling to Me." When Jesus said He was not yet ascended, He meant that she should not worry that He would immediately disappear. My Father, and your Father maintains a distinction between how ­Jesus and the disciples relate to God. Even so, ­Jesus called believers His brethren.

20:19,21,26 The common Jewish greeting Peace be unto you (representing Hb Shalom alekem) is still used today. Peace was ­Jesus' gift to His followers by virtue of His sacrificial death on the cross. On the disciples' fear of the Jews, see note at 7:13.

20:21-22 These verses contain this Gospel's version of the Great Commission, which culminates in the presentation of ­Jesus as the One sent from the Father (see note at 3:16-18). Now the sent One (Jesus) had turned Sender, commissioning His followers to serve as His messengers and representatives (17:18). All three persons of the Godhead are involved in this commissioning. As ­Jesus was sent by God the Father, so He, the Son, was sending out His disciples (20:21), equipping them with the Holy Spirit (v. 22). John thus demonstrated that each member of the Godhead is involved in the redemption plan and the mission of spreading the gospel to the world. The Holy Ghost was given dramatically and permanently a short time later (Acts 2).

20:23 The reference to forgiveness or lack thereof may echo the reference to "the key of the house of David" in Isa. 22:22 (cp. Rev. 3:7). ­Jesus bestowed on His followers authority to announce access or disbarment from God's kingdom based on reception or denial of the gospel message. For those who reject ­Jesus, His messengers are commissioned to say that they do not have forgiveness of sins.

20:24 On Thomas as Didymus, see note at 1:38.

20:25 Apparently Thomas thought the disciples had seen a ghost (Matt. 14:26). Yet John was careful to affirm that ­Jesus' ­resurrection body was not that of a phantom or spirit apparition but a genuine (although glorified) human body (20:27).

20:26 After eight days refers to the following Sunday, one week after Easter (v. 19).

20:29 Readers of the Gospel of John may believe without seeing because John, through the Holy Spirit, has written the truth about God's Son.

20:30-31 On ­Jesus' signs in John's Gospel, see note at 2:11.