John 20:1–10 (WEL) The first day of the week, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early while it was still dark and saw the stone had been removed from the tomb. 2 Then she ran, came to Simon Peter and the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have laid him.” 3 Then Peter and that other disciple went out and came to the tomb. 4 They were both running, but the other disciple outran Peter and came to the tomb first. 5 Stooping down, he saw the linen clothes lying there, but he didn’t go in.
6 Following him, Simon Peter came, went into the tomb, and saw the linen clothes lying there. 7 The cloth, which was around his head, was not lying with the linen cloths but rolled up in a place by itself. 8 The other disciple, who came to the tomb first, then went in, saw, and believed. 9 But at that point they didn’t know the Scripture that he must rise again from the dead. 10 Then the disciples went back to their home.
Chapter summary:
Joseph Benson:
In this chapter evidence is given of Christ’s resurrection,
- By his body’s not being found by Peter and John in the sepulcher, where his grave-clothes were lying in good order, John 20:1–10.
- By the appearance of two angels to Mary Magdalene at the sepulcher, John 20:11–13.
- By Christ’s own appearance to her, John 20:14–18.
- By his appearing that night to all the apostles, except Thomas, John 20:19–25.
- By his appearing to them on that day seven-night, and offering Thomas his desired proof of feeling his wounded body, John 20:26–31.
V1 The first day of the week, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early while it was still dark and saw the stone had been removed from the tomb.
This is early Sunday morning. The first hints of the coming dawn have appeared. Mary Magdalene probably had a small light with her. These were made of clay with a small opening for adding olive oil and a wick. The soldiers had already fainted, awakened, and fled from fear of the angel (Matthew 28:1–4).
Mary was the first. Why was she there? Probably to honor the Lord Jesus and possibly remembered Jesus’s prophecy of 3 days and 3 nights in the tomb (Matthew 12:40, Matthew 12:40, Luke 24:46, Acts 10:40, and 1 Corinthians 15:4). Another reason, I believe, was to show that women are reliable witnesses. Jesus is honoring women.
V2 Then she ran, came to Simon Peter and the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have laid him.”
The Greek word for ran is G5143 τρέχω trechō, which means (Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament Based on Semantic Domains (Louw & Nida)) “to run, with emphasis upon relative speed in contrast with walking—to run, to rush.”
Jesus has already risen from the dead; the soldiers had got up and went into the city to tell the authorities, and the angel had left. It was all quiet. It would seem to be reasonable upon seeing this and becoming frightened, she would run to tell others in the believers group (Peter and John).
It would seem she either forgot or didn’t understand Jesus’s resurrection.
Principle: If someone doesn’t understand at first, explain it again and repeat if necessary. God does this for us.
V3 Then Peter and that other disciple went out and came to the tomb.
Both left at the same time.
V4 They were both running, but the other disciple outran Peter and came to the tomb first.
John was a faster runner than Peter. They were serious. Both had a concern that something sinister had happened.
Spiritual blindness is upon all humans. The change happens when the Holy Spirit initiates salvation by opening the heart and mind (Acts 16:4). After one believes in Jesus Christ for salvation, there is still much spiritual blindness. The Holy Spirit works in our lives to mature us and give us understanding. The main thing any believer can do is read and study the Scriptures (Psalm 119:130, Psalm 119:105, and Psalm 19:8).
V5 Stooping down, he saw the linen clothes lying there, but he didn’t go in.
This indicates the tomb opening was shorter than the witnesses. Linen was the burial clothes. He was observing and trying to understand what had happened. I can’t imagine the questions and possibly fear that John felt.
V6 Following him, Simon Peter came, went into the tomb, and saw the linen clothes lying there.
Good old impulsive Peter just marches right in. They make an eyewitness observation, namely that while the other clothes were disordered, the face cloth was folded. Jesus gave them a sign that it was not a hurried event but a planned and deliberate action.
Principle: Seemingly small details may be important.
V7 The cloth, which was around his head, was not lying with the linen cloths but rolled up in a place by itself.
This is unusual, as explained in verse 6.
The Greek word for folded, rolled up, etc., is G1794 ἐντυλίσσω entylissō, which means (Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament Based on Semantic Domains (Louw & Nida)) to enclose an object by winding something about or around it—to wrap, to bandage; to cause something to be in the shape of a roll—to roll up, to make into a roll.”
V8 The other disciple, who came to the tomb first, then went in, saw, and believed.
John gives his testimony of believing the resurrection.
This is John.
Under Jewish customs and laws, women were not acceptable witnesses. Only men were acceptable. The Scriptures just read “witnesses” (Deuteronomy 17:6 and Deuteronomy 19:15).
Comment:
(ESV Global Study Bible Notes) “John may be thinking of specific OT passages (such as Psalm 16:10; Isaiah 53:10–12; Hosea 6:2) or of broader themes in the whole of Scripture (Luke 24:25–27, Luke 24:32, and Luke 24:44–47).”
V9 But at that point they didn’t know the Scripture that he must rise again from the dead.
The Greek word for know is G1492 εἴδω eidō, and means to see, that is, understand, perceive, and comprehend.
The Apostles have learned so much, learning, and continued to learn God’s ways through life.
Principle: Growth involves learning. The perfect teacher is the Holy Spirit. The perfect food is the Bible. See Psalm 1:1–3, 1 Peter 2:2, Hebrews 5:12,
Comment:
(New Living Translation (NLT) Study Bible Notes) “The author of Hebrews was concerned with the spiritual immaturity of his audience. He wanted to give them real spiritual meat, but they were acting like spiritual babies who needed basic nourishment rather than deeper teaching (Hebrews 5:13). They had not been listening to the word of God. They had been believers long enough to be teaching others (Hebrews 5:12), but a growing insensitivity had rendered them spiritually dull (Hebrews 5:11; cp. 1 Corinthians 3:1–3). They lacked maturity to discern the basic difference between right and wrong (Hebrews 5:14).
“The author challenged them to move on to maturity so he could present them with deeper truths of the faith (6:1–3). As elsewhere in the NT, maturity in Hebrews has to do with one’s ability to discern spiritual truth (1 Corinthians 2:6). Christians are exhorted to be mature in their thinking (1 Corinthians 14:20). The body of Christ is growing to maturity through the equipping of believers and by growing in knowledge of the Son of God (Ephesians 4:11–16). The result is a united community of faith in which love and truth further build up the body of Christ.
“Spiritual maturity is not an automatic result of time. It results from focused listening to the word of God and living out that word in fellowship with the community.
cf.: 1 Corinthians 2:6; 1 Corinthians 3:1–3; 1 Corinthians 14:20; 2 Corinthians 13:9–11; Ephesians 4:11–16; Colossians 4:12; Hebrews 6:1–3; Hebrews 10:14; Hebrews 12:1–2; 1 Peter 2:1–3.”
V10 Then the disciples went back to their homes.
No doubt, they had much to think and talk about.
We learn:
- About eyewitnesses.
- Resurrection witnesses.
- Maturing in the faith.
Questions:
- How much time do you spend to grow spiritually?
- Do you believe the Scriptures in their plain, normal sense?