Juan 20

El sepulcro vacío

1 El primer día de la semana, muy de mañana, cuando todavía estaba oscuro, María Magdalena fue al sepulcro y vio que habían quitado la piedra que cubría la entrada.

2 Así que fue corriendo a ver a Simón Pedro y al otro discípulo, a quien Jesús amaba, y les dijo:—¡Se han llevado del sepulcro al Señor, y no sabemos dónde lo han puesto!

3 Pedro y el otro discípulo se dirigieron entonces al sepulcro.

4 Ambos fueron corriendo, pero como el otro discípulo corría más aprisa que Pedro, llegó primero al sepulcro.

5 Inclinándose, se asomó y vio allí las vendas, pero no entró.

6 Tras él llegó Simón Pedro, y entró en el sepulcro. Vio allí las vendas

7 y el sudario que había cubierto la cabeza de Jesús, aunque el sudario no estaba con las vendas sino enrollado en un lugar aparte.

8 En ese momento entró también el otro discípulo, el que había llegado primero al sepulcro; y vio y creyó.

9 Hasta entonces no habían entendido la Escritura, que dice que Jesús tenía que resucitar.

Jesús se aparece a María Magdalena

10 Los discípulos regresaron a su casa,

11 pero María se quedó afuera, llorando junto al sepulcro. Mientras lloraba, se inclinó para mirar dentro del sepulcro,

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

13 —¿Por qué lloras, mujer? —le preguntaron los ángeles.—Es que se han llevado a mi Señor, y no sé dónde lo han puesto —les respondió.

14 Apenas dijo esto, volvió la mirada y allí vio a Jesús de pie, aunque no sabía que era él.

15 Jesús le dijo:—¿Por qué lloras, mujer? ¿A quién buscas?Ella, pensando que se trataba del que cuidaba el huerto, le dijo:—Señor, si usted se lo ha llevado, dígame dónde lo ha puesto, y yo iré por él.

16 —María —le dijo Jesús.Ella se volvió y exclamó:—¡Raboni! (que en arameo significa: Maestro).

17 —Suéltame,^[a] porque todavía no he vuelto al Padre. Ve más bien a mis hermanos y diles: “Vuelvo a mi Padre, que es Padre de ustedes; a mi Dios, que es Dios de ustedes”.

18 María Magdalena fue a darles la noticia a los discípulos. «¡He visto al Señor!», exclamaba, y les contaba lo que él le había dicho.

Jesús se aparece a sus discípulos

19 Al atardecer de aquel primer día de la semana, estando reunidos los discípulos a puerta cerrada por temor a los judíos, entró Jesús y, poniéndose en medio de ellos, los saludó.—¡La paz sea con ustedes!

20 Dicho esto, les mostró las manos y el costado. Al ver al Señor, los discípulos se alegraron.

21 —¡La paz sea con ustedes! —repitió Jesús—. Como el Padre me envió a mí, así yo los envío a ustedes.

22 Acto seguido, sopló sobre ellos y les dijo:—Reciban el Espíritu Santo.

23 A quienes les perdonen sus pecados, les serán perdonados; a quienes no se los perdonen, no les serán perdonados.

Jesús se aparece a Tomás

24 Tomás, al que apodaban el Gemelo,^[b] y que era uno de los doce, no estaba con los discípulos cuando llegó Jesús.

25 Así que los otros discípulos le dijeron:—¡Hemos visto al Señor!—Mientras no vea yo la marca de los clavos en sus manos, y meta mi dedo en las marcas y mi mano en su costado, no lo creeré —repuso Tomás.

26 Una semana más tarde estaban los discípulos de nuevo en la casa, y Tomás estaba con ellos. Aunque las puertas estaban cerradas, Jesús entró y, poniéndose en medio de ellos, los saludó.—¡La paz sea con ustedes!

27 Luego le dijo a Tomás:—Pon tu dedo aquí y mira mis manos. Acerca tu mano y métela en mi costado. Y no seas incrédulo, sino hombre de fe.

28 —¡Señor mío y Dios mío! —exclamó Tomás.

29 —Porque me has visto, has creído —le dijo Jesús—; dichosos los que no han visto y sin embargo creen.

30 Jesús hizo muchas otras señales milagrosas en presencia de sus discípulos, las cuales no están registradas en este libro.

31 Pero estas se han escrito para que ustedes crean que Jesús es el Cristo, el Hijo de Dios, y para que al creer en su nombre tengan vida.

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.

Footnotes

• [a]. "Suéltame" . Lit. "No me toques" .
• [b]. "apodaban el Gemelo" . Lit. "llamaban Dídimos" .