Jean 20

1 Le premier jour de la semaine, Marie de Magdala vint le matin au sépulcre, comme il faisait encore obscur; et elle vit la pierre ôtée du sépulcre.

2 Elle courut donc et vint vers Simon Pierre, et vers l'autre disciple que Jésus aimait; et elle leur dit: On a enlevé du sépulcre le Seigneur, et nous ne savons où on l'a mis.

3 Alors Pierre sortit avec l'autre disciple, et ils allèrent au sépulcre.

4 Et ils couraient tous deux ensemble; mais cet autre disciple courut plus vite que Pierre, et arriva le premier au sépulcre.

5 Et s'étant baissé, il vit les bandelettes qui étaient à terre; mais il n'entra point.

6 Mais Simon Pierre, qui le suivait, étant arrivé, entra dans le sépulcre, et vit les bandelettes qui étaient à terre,

7 Et le suaire qu'on lui avait mis sur la tête, lequel n'était pas avec les autres linges; mais plié dans un endroit à part.

8 L'autre disciple, qui était arrivé le premier au sépulcre, entra aussi, et il vit, et il crut.

9 Car ils n'avaient pas encore compris l'Écriture, portant qu'il fallait que Jésus ressuscitât des morts.

10 Et les disciples retournèrent chez eux.

11 Cependant Marie se tenait dehors, près du sépulcre, en pleurant; et comme elle pleurait, elle se baissa dans le sépulcre,

12 Et elle vit deux anges vêtus de blanc, assis l'un à la tête, et l'autre aux pieds, au lieu où le corps de Jésus avait été couché.

13 Et ils lui dirent: Femme, pourquoi pleures-tu? Elle leur dit: Parce qu'on a enlevé mon Seigneur, et je ne sais où on l'a mis.

14 Et ayant dit cela, elle se retourna, et vit Jésus debout; mais elle ne savait point que c'était Jésus.

15 Jésus lui dit: Femme, pourquoi pleures-tu? Qui cherches-tu? Elle, croyant que c'était le jardinier, lui dit: Seigneur, si tu l'as emporté, dis-moi où tu l'as mis, et je le prendrai.

16 Jésus lui dit: Marie! Et elle, s'étant retournée, lui dit: Rabbouni! c'est-à-dire, mon Maître!

17 Jésus lui dit: Ne me touche point, car je ne suis pas encore monté vers mon Père; mais va vers mes frères, et dis-leur que je monte vers mon Père et votre Père, vers mon Dieu et votre Dieu.

18 Et Marie de Magdala vint annoncer aux disciples qu'elle avait vu le Seigneur, et qu'il lui avait dit cela.

19 Le soir de ce jour, qui était le premier de la semaine, les portes du lieu où les disciples étaient assemblés étant fermées, par crainte des Juifs, Jésus vint, et se présenta au milieu d'eux et leur dit: La paix soit avec vous!

20 Et quand il eut dit cela, il leur montra ses mains et son côté. Les disciples donc, voyant le Seigneur, eurent une grande joie.

21 Il leur dit de nouveau: La paix soit avec vous! Comme mon Père m'a envoyé, je vous envoie aussi.

22 Et quand il eut dit cela, il souffla sur eux et leur dit: Recevez le Saint-Esprit.

23 Ceux à qui vous pardonnerez les péchés, ils leur seront pardonnés; et ceux à qui vous les retiendrez, ils leur seront retenus.

24 Or, Thomas, l'un des douze, appelé Didyme, n'était pas avec eux lorsque Jésus vint.

25 Les autres disciples lui dirent donc: Nous avons vu le Seigneur. Mais il leur dit: Si je ne vois la marque des clous dans ses mains, et si je ne mets mon doigt dans la marque des clous, et si je ne mets ma main dans son côté, je ne le croirai point.

26 Huit jours après, ses disciples étaient de nouveau dans la maison, et Thomas était avec eux. Jésus vint, les portes étant fermées, et se tint au milieu d'eux et dit: La paix soit avec vous!

27 Puis il dit à Thomas: Mets ici ton doigt, et regarde mes mains; avance aussi ta main, et la mets dans mon côté, et ne sois pas incrédule, mais croyant.

28 Thomas répondit et lui dit: Mon Seigneur et mon Dieu!

29 Jésus lui dit: Parce que tu m'as vu, Thomas, tu as cru. Heureux ceux qui n'ont pas vu, et qui ont cru!

30 Jésus fit encore en présence de ses disciples plusieurs autres miracles, qui ne sont pas écrits dans ce livre.

31 Et ces choses ont été écrites, afin que vous croyiez que Jésus est le Christ, le Fils de Dieu, et qu'en croyant vous ayez la vie par son nom.

Jean 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.