John 20

1. Early on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb. It was still dark. Mary saw that the large stone had been moved away from the tomb.

They could move the stone without help. The original language says that the stone was “thrown away” from the tomb. Matthew 28:2 says that an angel rolled the stone away.

2. So Mary ran to Simon Peter and [John] the other follower (the one Jesus loved). Mary said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb. We do not know where they have put Him.”

There is no way that the soldiers would have gone to sleep because they knew that the Pharisees were afraid that the disciples would come and take the body. They also knew that they would be killed by their captain if this happened. Also, how can they say that the disciples took the body? If they were sleeping then they would not be able to see who took the body.

A meeting with the leaders was called, and they decided to give the soldiers a lot of money. They told the soldiers, “You must say, ‘Jesus' disciples came during the night while we were sleeping, and they took His body.'

If Pilate hears about it, we will stand up for you so you will not get in trouble.” So the guards took the money and said what they were told to say. Their story spread everywhere to the Jews, and they still tell it today. Matthew 28:12-15

3 – 4

So Peter and [John] the other follower started for the tomb. They were both running, but the other follower ran faster than Peter. So the other follower reached the tomb first.

Peter may have been ashamed to come to the tomb because he had denied the Lord. We feel this way when we have done something which we are not proud of. Chapter 21 shows us what Jesus will do about it.

5 – 7

He bent down and looked in. He saw the strips of linen cloth lying there, but he did not go in. Then following him came Simon Peter. He went into the tomb and saw the strips of linen lying there. He also saw the cloth that had been around Jesus' head. The cloth was folded up and laid in a different place from the strips of linen.

For those who say that the disciples took Jesus body away, why would anyone take the time to fold the head cloth if they are running from Roman soldiers?

There is a fake piece of cloth, called the Shroud of Turin, which was made to look as if the image of Jesus can be seen in the cloth. The fake image shows the feet all the way to the head. John shows us that there was a different cloth for the head and the sheet was for the rest of the body. This shows us that the Shroud of Turin is a fake because Jesus head was not wrapped in a sheet but with a different cloth.

Some churches make things like this and say that this helps people to worship God. Some churches even sell little pieces of wood that are supposed to be from the cross of Christ. We do not need these things because we have the Holy Spirit living inside of us and He helps us to worship.

8 – 10

Then the other follower, who had reached the tomb first, also went in. He saw and believed. (These followers did not yet understand from the Scriptures that Jesus must rise from death.) Then the followers went back home.

For You will not leave My soul among the dead or allow Your Holy One to decay in the grave. Psalm 16:10

As Jonah was in the belly of the great fish for three days and three nights, so will the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights. Matthew 12:40

After two days will He revive us: in the third day He will raise us up, and we shall live in His sight. Hosea 6:2

11 – 12

But Mary stood outside the tomb, crying. While she was still crying, she bent down and looked inside the tomb. She saw two angels dressed in white. They were sitting where Jesus' body had been, one at the head and one at the feet.

There were two angels at the tomb which remind us of the two angels covering the mercy seat on the Ark of the Covenant. Jesus is our mercy seat and covering.

13 – 15

They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?” She answered, “They have taken away my Lord. I don't know where they have put Him.”

When Mary said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there. But she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Whom are you looking for?”

Mary thought He was the gardener. So she said to Him, “Did you take him away, sir? Tell me where you put Him, and I will get Him.”

When we are under stress, we do not know what we are saying and our thinking is confused. If we go on this way we will be controlled by imaginations . 2 Corinthians 10:5

16. Jesus said to her, “Mary.” Mary turned toward Jesus and said in the Jewish language, “Rabboni.” (This means Teacher.)

Do not be afraid, for I have saved you. And I have called you by name ; you are mine. Isaiah 43:1

17 – 18

Jesus said to her, “Do not keep holding onto Me. I have not yet gone up to the Father. But go to My brothers and tell them this: ‘I am going back to My Father and your Father. I am going back to My God and your God.'”

Mary Magdalene went and said to the followers, “I saw the Lord!” And she told them what Jesus had said to her.

Jesus knew that Peter was feeling bad so He also told her to tell Peter to meet Him in Galilee. After this, the devil could no longer say to Peter, “God is finished with you. From now on you cannot be close to Him after what you did!” Mark 16:7

Mary tried to tell her friends what Jesus had said to her, but they thought she was just making up a story (Luke 24:11). Sometimes the Lord shows us something that is just between us and Him. All we can do is hide it in our heart and ask the Lord to show it to them.

19 – 21

It was [Sunday] the first day of the week. That evening Jesus' followers were together. The doors were locked, because they were afraid of the Jews. Then Jesus came and stood among them. He said, “ Peace be with you!”

After He said this, He showed them His hands and His side. His followers were very happy when they saw the Lord.

Then Jesus said again, “Peace be with you! As the Father sent Me, I now send you .”

What does He send us to do? We are sent to show people how to have peace between themselves and God. You cannot share in I am ready to peace until you have peace yourself.

22. After He said this, He breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.

When we give our lives to Christ, we receive the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit may come on us for a different purpose than He did at the first time. “Those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them do not belong to Him (Romans 8:9).

As we give more of ourselves to Christ we keep on being filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18).

Jesus said they would later receive more power from the Holy Spirit for a different job they would do for Him. ( Acts 1:8 ).

23. If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven. If you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”

Some churches think that this means they have the power to forgive sins. When we share the Gospel with someone, we agree that their sins are forgiven. We do not hold someone sins against them. We can only agree that their sins are forgiven or not forgiven him based on what they do with the Gospel.

24. Thomas (called Didymus) was not with the followers when Jesus came. Thomas was one of the twelve.

Thomas was being attacked by demonic thoughts and stayed away from other Christians even after hearing about the resurrection. This is the first sign of a demonic attack. The devil says to stay away from other Christians.

25. The other followers told Thomas, “We saw the Lord.” But Thomas said, “I will not believe it until I see the nail marks in His hands. And I will not believe until I put my finger where the nails were and put my hand into His side.”

Thomas was not the only one who doubted. When the devil tells you that you are not a Christian because you have some doubts it means that he is trying to pull you away from the rest of the sheep. If you soak yourself in the reading of the Word, God will give you the answer to this spirit of fear. Daniel was known as someone who was able to help people get rid of doubts. He could do this because he studied the Bible very carefully. Daniel 5:12

And when they saw her, they worshipped Him: but some doubted. Matthew 28:17

26 – 27

A week later the followers were in the house again. Thomas was with them. The doors were locked, but Jesus came in and stood among them. He said, “ Peace be with you!”

Then He said to Thomas, “Put your finger here. Look at My hands. Put your hand here in My side. Stop doubting and believe.”

It hurts Jesus when we are hurting. When we do our best to heal wounded people it is as if we are touching the wounds of Christ.

What are these wounds in Your hands?' Then He will say, ‘Those are from when I was wounded in the house of My friends." Zechariah 13:6

28. Thomas said to Him, “My Lord and my God!”

People who teach that Jesus is not God have a hard time with this verse.”

29. Then Jesus told him, “You believe because you see Me. Those who believe without seeing Me will be truly happy.”

Jesus promised us that He would be with us always, even when we cannot see Him.

30 – 31

Him Jesus did many other miracles before His followers that are not written in this book. But these are written so that you can believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. Then, by believing, you can have life through His name.

If Christ has not been raised, then your faith is useless and you are still guilty of your sins. 1 Corinthians 15:17

These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life. 1 John 5:13