Juan 20

1 Y el primer día de la semana María Magdalena fue<***> temprano al sepulcro, cuando todavía estaba<***> oscuro, y vio<***> que ya la piedra había sido quitada del sepulcro.

2 Entonces corrió<***> y fue<***> a Simón Pedro y al otro discípulo a quien Jesús amaba, y les dijo<***>: Se han llevado al Señor del sepulcro, y no sabemos dónde le han puesto.

3 Salieron, pues, Pedro y el otro discípulo, e iban hacia el sepulcro.

4 Los dos corrían juntos, pero el otro discípulo corrió más aprisa que Pedro, y llegó primero al sepulcro;

5 e inclinándose para mirar adentro, vio<***> las envolturas de lino puestas allí, pero no entró.

6 Entonces llegó<***> también Simón Pedro tras él, entró al sepulcro, y vio<***> las envolturas de lino puestas allí,

7 y el sudario que había estado sobre la cabeza de Jesús, no puesto con las envolturas de lino, sino enrollado en un lugar aparte.

8 Entonces entró también el otro discípulo, el que había llegado primero al sepulcro, y vio y creyó.

9 Porque todavía no habían entendido la Escritura, que Jesús debía resucitar de entre los muertos.

10 Los discípulos entonces se fueron de nuevo a sus casas.

11 Pero María estaba fuera, llorando junto al sepulcro; y mientras lloraba, se inclinó y miró dentro del sepulcro;

12 y vio<***> dos ángeles vestidos de blanco, sentados donde había estado el cuerpo de Jesús, uno a la cabecera y otro a los pies.

13 Y ellos le dijeron<***>: Mujer, ¿por qué lloras? Ella les dijo<***>: Porque se han llevado a mi Señor, y no sé dónde le han puesto.

14 Al decir esto, se volvió y vio<***> a Jesús que estaba allí, pero no sabía que era Jesús.

15 Jesús le dijo<***>: Mujer, ¿por qué lloras? ¿A quién buscas? Ella, pensando que era el hortelano, le dijo<***>: Señor, si tú le has llevado, dime dónde le has puesto, y yo me lo llevaré.

16 Jesús le dijo<***>: ¡María! Ella, volviéndose, le dijo<***> en hebreo: ¡Raboní! (que quiere decir, Maestro).

17 Jesús le dijo<***>: Suéltame porque todavía no he subido al Padre; pero ve a mis hermanos, y diles: "Subo a mi Padre y a vuestro Padre, a mi Dios y a vuestro Dios."

18 Fue<***> María Magdalena y anunció a los discípulos: ¡He visto al Señor!, y que El le había dicho estas cosas.

19 Entonces, al atardecer de aquel día, el primero de la semana, y estando cerradas las puertas del lugar donde los discípulos se encontraban por miedo a los judíos, Jesús vino y se puso en medio de ellos, y les dijo<***>: Paz a vosotros.

20 Y diciendo esto, les mostró las manos y el costado. Entonces los discípulos se regocijaron al ver al Señor.

21 Jesús entonces les dijo otra vez: Paz a vosotros; como el Padre me ha enviado, así también yo os envío.

22 Después de decir esto, sopló sobre ellos y les dijo<***>: Recibid el Espíritu Santo.

23 A quienes perdonéis los pecados, éstos les son perdonados; a quienes retengáis los pecados, éstos les son retenidos.

24 Tomás, uno de los doce, llamado el Dídimo, no estaba con ellos cuando Jesús vino.

25 Entonces los otros discípulos le decían: ¡Hemos visto al Señor! Pero él les dijo: Si no veo en sus manos la señal de los clavos, y meto el dedo en el lugar de los clavos, y pongo la mano en su costado, no creeré.

26 Ocho días después, sus discípulos estaban otra vez dentro, y Tomás con ellos. Y estando las puertas cerradas, Jesús vino<***> y se puso en medio de ellos, y dijo: Paz a vosotros.

27 Luego dijo<***> a Tomás: Acerca aquí tu dedo, y mira mis manos; extiende aquí tu mano y métela en mi costado; y no seas incrédulo, sino creyente.

28 Respondió Tomás y le dijo: ¡Señor mío y Dios mío!

29 Jesús le dijo<***>: ¿Porque me has visto has creído? Dichosos los que no vieron, y sin embargo creyeron.

30 Y muchas otras señales hizo también Jesús en presencia de sus discípulos, que no están escritas en este libro;

31 pero éstas se han escrito para que creáis que Jesús es el Cristo, el Hijo de Dios; y para que al creer, tengáis vida en su nombre.

Juan 20 Commentary

Chapter 20

The sepulchre found to be empty. (1-10) Christ appears to Mary. (11-18) He appears to the disciples. (19-25) The unbelief of Thomas. (26-29) Conclusion. (30,31)

Verses 1-10 If Christ gave his life a ransom, and had not taken it again, it would not have appeared that his giving it was accepted as satisfaction. It was a great trial to Mary, that the body was gone. Weak believers often make that the matter of complaint, which is really just ground of hope, and matter of joy. It is well when those more honoured than others with the privileges of disciples, are more active than others in the duty of disciples; more willing to take pains, and run hazards, in a good work. We must do our best, and neither envy those who can do better, nor despise those who do as well as they can, though they come behind. The disciple whom Jesus loved in a special manner, and who therefore in a special manner loved Jesus, was foremost. The love of Christ will make us to abound in every duty more than any thing else. He that was behind was Peter, who had denied Christ. A sense of guilt hinders us in the service of God. As yet the disciples knew not the Scripture; they Christ must rise again from the dead.

Verses 11-18 We are likely to seek and find, when we seek with affection, and seek in tears. But many believers complain of the clouds and darkness they are under, which are methods of grace for humbling their souls, mortifying their sins, and endearing Christ to them. A sight of angels and their smiles, will not suffice, without a sight of Jesus, and God's smiles in him. None know, but those who have tasted it, the sorrows of a deserted soul, which has had comfortable evidences of the love of God in Christ, and hopes of heaven, but has now lost them, and walks in darkness; such a wounded spirit who can bear? Christ, in manifesting himself to those that seek him, often outdoes their expectations. See how Mary's heart was in earnest to find Jesus. Christ's way of making himself known to his people is by his word; his word applied to their souls, speaking to them in particular. It might be read, Is it my Master? See with what pleasure those who love Jesus speak of his authority over them. He forbids her to expect that his bodily presence look further, than the present state of things. Observe the relation to God, from union with Christ. We, partaking of a Divine nature, Christ's Father is our Father; and he, partaking of the human nature, our God is his God. Christ's ascension into heaven, there to plead for us, is likewise an unspeakable comfort. Let them not think this earth is to be their home and rest; their eye and aim, and earnest desires, must be upon another world, and this ever upon their hearts, I ascend, therefore I must seek the things which are above. And let those who know the word of Christ, endeavour that others should get good from their knowledge.

Verses 19-25 This was the first day of the week, and this day is afterwards often mentioned by the sacred writers; for it was evidently set apart as the Christian sabbath, in remembrance of Christ's resurrection. The disciples had shut the doors for fear of the Jews; and when they had no such expectation, Jesus himself came and stood in the midst of them, having miraculously, though silently, opened the doors. It is a comfort to Christ's disciples, when their assemblies can only be held in private, that no doors can shut out Christ's presence. When He manifests his love to believers by the comforts of his Spirit, he assures them that because he lives, they shall live also. A sight of Christ will gladden the heart of a disciple at any time; and the more we see of Jesus, the more we shall rejoice. He said, Receive ye the Holy Ghost, thus showing that their spiritual life, as well as all their ability for their work, would be derived from him, and depended upon him. Every word of Christ which is received in the heart by faith, comes accompanied by this Divine breathing; and without this there is neither light nor life. Nothing is seen, known, discerned, or felt of God, but through this. After this, Christ directed the apostles to declare the only method by which sin would be forgiven. This power did not exist at all in the apostles as a power to give judgment, but only as a power to declare the character of those whom God would accept or reject in the day of judgment. They have clearly laid down the marks whereby a child of God may be discerned and be distinguished from a false professor; and according to what they have declared shall every case be decided in the day of judgment. When we assemble in Christ's name, especially on his holy day, he will meet with us, and speak peace to us. The disciples of Christ should endeavour to build up one another in their most holy faith, both by repeating what they have heard to those that were absent, and by making known what they have experienced. Thomas limited the Holy One of Israel, when he would be convinced by his own method or not at all. He might justly have been left in his unbelief, after rejecting such abundant proofs. The fears and sorrows of the disciples are often lengthened, to punish their negligence.

Verses 26-29 That one day in seven should be religiously observed, was an appointment from the beginning. And that, in the kingdom of the Messiah, the first day of the week should be that solemn day, was pointed out, in that Christ on that day once and again met his disciples in a religious assembly. The religious observance of that day has come down to us through every age of the church. There is not an unbelieving word in our tongues, nor thought in our minds, but it is known to the Lord Jesus; and he was pleased to accommodate himself even to Thomas, rather than leave him in his unbelief. We ought thus to bear with the weak, ( romans 15:1 romans 15:2 ) . This warning is given to all. If we are faithless, we are Christless and graceless, hopeless and joyless. Thomas was ashamed of his unbelief, and cried out, My Lord and my God. He spoke with affection, as one that took hold of Christ with all his might; "My Lord and my God." Sound and sincere believers, though slow and weak, shall be graciously accepted of the Lord Jesus. It is the duty of those who read and hear the gospel, to believe, to embrace the doctrine of Christ, and that ( 1 John. 5:11 )

Verses 30-31 There were other signs and proofs of our Lord's resurrection, but these were committed to writing, that all might believe that Jesus was the promised Messiah, the Saviour of sinners, and the Son of God; that, by this faith, they might obtain eternal life, by his mercy, truth, and power. May we believe that Jesus is the Christ, and believing may we have life through his name.