John 20

Resurrection

The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre. John 20:1–2

Early Sunday Mary finds the tomb open and the body gone. She calls Jesus "the LORD" even while thinking His body has been stolen; the empty tomb is the first witness that He lives.

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• the same event in Matthew 28:1-6 — the women at the tomb on the first day of the week
• the same event in Luke 24:1-3 — the stone rolled away and the body not found

Resurrection

And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in. John 20:5–9

The beloved disciple sees the grave clothes left behind and believes. John notes that scripture had already said the Messiah must rise from the dead, though the disciples did not yet understand it.

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• fulfils Psalm 16:10 — "neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption"
• alludes to Luke 24:46 — "it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day"

Resurrection

But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre, John 20:11–13

Angels sit where Jesus' body had been, like guardians at the place of His victory over death. Mary still grieves for "my LORD," showing her personal love for Him.

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• the same event in Luke 24:4-5 — two men in shining garments: "Why seek ye the living among the dead?"

Resurrection

And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus. John 20:14–16

The risen Jesus appears first to Mary Magdalene. She recognizes Him the moment He calls her by name, like the Good Shepherd whose sheep know His voice.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him · a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it

• the same event in Mark 16:9 — He appeared first to Mary Magdalene
• alludes to John 10:3-4 — the shepherd "calleth his own sheep by name" and they know his voice

Rabboni

Rabboni — Aramaic for "my Master" or "my Teacher"

Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master. John 20:16

Mary uses a tender, respectful title for Jesus as her Teacher. It shows the resurrected Lord is the same Jesus she knew and followed.

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• the same title in John 13:13 — "Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well"

Ascension

Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God. John 20:17

Jesus speaks of returning to His Father, whom He calls both His Father and ours. This shows the Father and the Son are separate beings, and that we are children of the same Heavenly Father.

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• fulfilled by Acts 1:9-11 — He is taken up into heaven

Resurrection

Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the LORD, and that he had spoken these things unto her. John 20:18

Mary becomes the first witness to tell others that she has seen the risen Lord.

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• the same event in Luke 24:10 — Mary Magdalene and the women told these things to the apostles

Resurrection

Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. John 20:19–20

Jesus appears through locked doors and shows the wounds in His hands and side. His resurrected body is real and tangible, and seeing Him turns fear into joy.

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• the same event in Luke 24:36-40 — "Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself"
• alluded to by 3 Nephi 11:14-15 — the risen Lord invites the Nephites to feel the prints of the nails and the wound in His side

Jesus

Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. John 20:21–23

The Father sent Jesus, and now Jesus sends His apostles with priesthood authority and the promise of the Holy Ghost. His mission continues through the people He commissions.

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• alludes to John 17:18 — "As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them"
• alludes to Genesis 2:7 — God breathed into man the breath of life

Resurrection

But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. John 20:24–25

The disciples testify, "We have seen the LORD," but Thomas wants physical proof. His words remind us the risen Christ still bears the marks of the crucifixion.

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• alludes to Luke 24:39 — "handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones"

Resurrection

And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. John 20:26–27

Jesus comes back for one doubting disciple and invites Thomas to touch His wounds. The Savior patiently meets people where they are and invites them to believe.

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• alluded to by D&C 6:37 — "Behold the wounds which pierced my side, and also the prints of the nails in my hands and feet"
• alluded to by 3 Nephi 11:14 — "thrust your hands into my side, and also that ye may feel the prints of the nails"

My Lord and my God

Lord — Greek Kyrios, Master; the word the Greek Old Testament used for the divine name

And Thomas answered and said unto him, My LORD and my God. John 20:28

Thomas gives one of the strongest confessions in the New Testament: Jesus is both his Lord and his God. Latter-day Saints understand Jesus as Jehovah, the God of the Old Testament, come in the flesh.

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• alludes to John 1:1 — "the Word was God"

Faith in Jesus Christ

Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. John 20:29

Jesus blesses everyone who believes in Him without seeing Him, which includes us. Faith in Christ does not require seeing Him with our eyes.

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• alluded to by 1 Peter 1:8 — "Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice"

Christ, the Son of God

Christ — Greek for "the Anointed One" (Messiah in Hebrew)

And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: John 20:30–31

John states why he wrote his Gospel: so we will believe Jesus is the Christ and the Son of God, and receive eternal life through His name.

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• alluded to by 1 John 5:13 — "that ye may know that ye have eternal life... believe on the name of the Son of God"