Online Resource Library
Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadBob Utley You Can Understand the Bible - John 20:1 - 20:10
(Show All Books | Show All Chapters)
This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Joh_20:1-10
1Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came early to the tomb, while it was still dark, and saw the stone already taken away from the tomb. 2So she ran and came to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and said to them, "They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him." 3So Peter and the other disciple went forth, and they were going to the tomb. 4The two were running together; and the other disciple ran ahead faster than Peter and came to the tomb first; 5and stooping and looking in, he saw the linen wrappings lying there; but he did not go in. 6So Simon Peter also came, following him, and entered the tomb; and he saw the linen wrappings lying there, 7and the face-cloth which had been on His head, not lying with the linen wrappings, but rolled up in a place by itself. 8So the other disciple who had first come to the tomb then also entered, and he saw and believed. 9For as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead. 10So the disciples went away again to their own homes.
Joh_20:1 "on the first day of the week" This was Sunday, the first work day following the high Sabbath of Passover week, when the first fruits were offered in the Temple. Jesus was the first fruits of the dead (cf. 1Co_15:23). Jesus' appearances on three successive Sunday nights set the stage for believers worshiping on Sundays (cf. Joh_20:19; Joh_20:26; Luk_24:36 ff; Act_20:7; 1Co_16:2).
▣ "Mary of Magdalene" This was one of several women who accompanied Jesus and the Apostles. In Galilee Jesus had delivered her from several demons (cf. Mar_16:9 and Luk_8:2). She was present at the crucifixion. See notes at Joh_19:25.
Although John's Gospel does not state the purpose of Mary's visit, Mar_16:1 and Luk_23:56 mention that several women (cf. Joh_20:2) came early to anoint Jesus' body with spices. Apparently they did not know of Joseph and Nicodemus' anointing or thought it needed to be supplemented.
▣ "while it was still dark" Apparently she and the others had left home while it was still dark, but by the time they arrived it was dawn (cf. Mat_28:1; Mar_16:2).
▣ "the stone already taken away from the tomb" Literally this is "taken out" (perfect passive participle) from its groove (cf. Mat_28:2). Remember the stone was removed to let the eyewitnesses into the tomb, not to let Jesus out. His new resurrection body did not have the physical limits of His earthly body (i.e., Joh_20:19; Joh_20:26).
Joh_20:2 "So she ran" Apparently she left the empty tomb early to tell the disciples about Jesus not being there (cf. Mat_28:5).
▣ "the other disciple whom Jesus loved" This Greek word for love is phileô which has the connotation of "brotherly love." However in the Koine Greek (300 b.c.-a.d. 300) it was being used synonymously with agapaô. The disciple mentioned seems to be John, the author of the Gospel (cf. Joh_20:4-8; Joh_13:23). Here he is linked with Peter.
▣ "They have taken away the Lord" This is an aorist active indicative (i.e., completed action). Jesus was gone. In Mary's mind, "they" refers to the Jewish leaders. Apparently, the Apostles and the disciples present in the upper room were surprised by the resurrection!
▣ "we" This includes Mary of Magdala, Mary the mother of James, Salome, Joanna and the other women (cf. Mat_28:1; Mar_16:1; Luk_24:10).
Joh_20:4 "the other disciple ran ahead faster than Peter and came to the tomb first" John was probably the youngest of the Apostles (i.e., tradition).
Joh_20:5 "stooping" The tombs of this period had a low entrance about 3 to 4 feet high. One would have to bend down (cf. Joh_20:11) to enter the cave/dugout.
▣ "looking in" This is literally "to squint so as to see." This was because of the contrast between the morning light and the darkened tomb.
▣ "the linen wrappings lying there" Where and how the bandages were lying is not specified in the Greek text. If the body was stolen, the bandages would have been taken also because the spices acted like a glue!
Joh_20:6 "Simon Peter" Simon (Cephas) was his Hebrew (Aramaic) name, while Peter (Petros) was his Greek name given to him by Jesus. In Greek it meant "a detached stone or boulder" (cf. Mat_16:18). In Aramaic there is no distinction between Petros and Petra.
Joh_20:7 "face-cloth" The face was wrapped with a separate cloth (cf. Joh_11:44). It is possible that this handkerchief was used to (1) lay over the face; (2) wrap the face (cf. NJB); or (3) tie the jaw lightly in place (cf. TEV).
▣ "but rolled up in a place by itself" This is another perfect passive participle which implies that special care was taken by someone to fold it. This is apparently what caught John's attention and elicited belief (Joh_20:8).
Joh_20:8 "he saw and believed" John saw the physical evidence and believed Jesus was alive! Belief in the resurrection becomes a crucial theological issue.
1. Rom_10:9-13
2. 1 Corinthians 15
1Co_15:12-19 is a good summary of the consequences if Jesus has not been raised! The resurrection became a central truth of the early apostolic sermons in Acts called the kerygma. See Special Topic at Joh_5:39.
Joh_20:9 "they did not understand the Scripture" This is another editorial comment by the author. It may refer to Psa_16:10, which Peter quotes on the Day of Pentecost in Act_2:27. However, it could refer to Isa_53:10-12 or Hos_6:2. The Sanhedrin understood Jesus' prediction about His resurrection (cf. Mat_27:62-66), while the disciples did not. What irony!
This verse may have functioned theologically to reinforce the truth that the Spirit had not yet come in fullness on the disciples. The Spirit, once given, would help believers understand Jesus' words and actions (cf. Joh_2:22; Joh_14:26).
Joh_20:10 This may mean (1) they went back to Galilee (cf. Mat_26:32; Mat_28:7; Mat_28:10; Mat_28:16; John 21 finds them fishing in the Sea of Galilee) or (2) they went to their quarters in Jerusalem. Because the post-resurrection experiences were in the upper room, #2 is more probable.