John 20

1 And in one day of the week Mary Magdalene came early to the grave, when it was yet dark [+Forsooth in one day of the sabbath, that is, of the week, Mary Magdalene came early, when darknesses were yet, at the grave]. And she saw the stone moved away from the grave.

2 Therefore she ran, and came to Simon Peter, and to another disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith to them, They have taken the Lord from the grave, and we know not, where they have laid him.

3 Therefore Peter went out, and that other disciple, and they came to the grave.

4 And they twain ran together [Forsooth they two ran together], and that other disciple ran before Peter, and came first to the grave.

5 And when he stooped, he saw the sheets lying, nevertheless he entered not [in].

6 Therefore Simon Peter came following him, and he entered into the grave, and he saw the sheets laid,

7 and the sudarium that was on his head, not laid with the sheets, but by itself wrapped into a place.

8 Therefore then [and] that disciple that came first to the grave, entered, and saw, and believed.

9 For they knew not yet the scripture, that it behooved him to rise again from death. [+Forsooth they knew not yet the scripture, for it behooved him to rise again from dead.]

10 Therefore the disciples went again to themselves.

11 But Mary stood at the grave withoutforth weeping. And while she wept, she bowed her(self), and beheld forth into the grave.

12 And she saw two angels sitting in white, one at the head and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus was laid.

13 And they say to her, Woman, what weepest thou? She said to them, For they have taken away my Lord, and I know not, where they have laid him.

14 When she had said these things, she turned backward [she turned aback], and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.

15 Jesus saith to her, Woman, what weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She guessing that he was the gardener, saith to him, Sire, if thou hast taken him up, say to me, where thou hast laid him, and I shall take him away.

16 Jesus saith to her, Mary. She turned, and saith to him, Rabboni, that is to say, Master.

17 Jesus saith to her, Do not thou touch me, for I have not yet ascended to my Father; but go to my brethren, and say to them, I ascend to my Father and to your Father, to my God and to your God [and say to them, I ascend to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God].

18 Mary Magdalene came, telling to the disciples, That I saw the Lord, and these things he said to me.

19 Therefore when it was even in that day [Therefore when eventide was in that day], [in] one of the sabbaths, and the gates were shut, where the disciples were gathered, for dread of the Jews, Jesus came, and stood in the middle of the disciples, and he saith to them, Peace to you [and said to them, Peace be to you].

20 And when he had said this, he showed to them [his] hands and side; therefore the disciples joyed, for the Lord was seen.

21 And he saith to them again, Peace to you; as the Father sent me, I send you. [Therefore he said to them again, Peace to you; as the Father hath sent me, and I send you.]

22 When he had said this, he blew on them, and said, Take ye the Holy Ghost;

23 whose sins ye forgive, those be forgiven to them [they be forgiven]; and whose sins ye withhold, those be withheld [they be withholden].

24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, that is said Didymus, was not with them, when Jesus came.

25 Therefore the other disciples said, We have seen the Lord. And he said to them, But I see in his hands the printing of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put mine hand into his side, I shall not believe. [Forsooth he said to them, No but I shall see in his hands the fixing of nails, and shall send my finger into the places of the nails, and shall send mine hand into his side, I shall not believe.]

26 And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, while the gates were shut [Jesus came, the gates shut], and stood in the middle, and said, Peace to you.

27 Afterward he saith to Thomas, Put in here thy finger, and see mine hands, and put hither thine hand, and put [it] into my side [Bring in hither thy finger, and see mine hands, and bring to thine hand, and send, or put, it into my side], and do not thou be unbelieveful, but faithful.

28 Thomas answered, and said to him, My Lord and my God.

29 Jesus saith to him, Thomas, for thou hast seen me, thou believedest; blessed be they, that saw not, and have believed.

30 And Jesus did many other signs in the sight of his disciples, which be not written in this book. [Forsooth and many other signs Jesus did in the sight of his disciples, the which be not written in this book.]

31 But these be written, that ye believe, that Jesus is Christ, the Son of God, and that ye believing have life in his name.

John 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.