John 20

King James Version

Full text for John Chapter 20

1¶ The first [day] of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.

2Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him.

3Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre.

4So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre.

5And he stooping down, [and looking in], saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in.

6Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie,

7And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself.

8Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed.

9For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead.

10Then the disciples went away again unto their own home.

11¶ But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, [and looked] into the sepulchre,

12And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.

13And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him.

14And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.

15Jesus saith unto her, ‹Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou?› She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.

16Jesus saith unto her, ‹Mary.› She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.

17Jesus saith unto her, ‹Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and [to] my God, and your God.›

18Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and [that] he had spoken these things unto her.

19¶ Then the same day at evening, being the first [day] of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, ‹Peace [be] unto you.›

20And when he had so said, he shewed unto them [his] hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord.

21Then said Jesus to them again, ‹Peace [be] unto you: as [my] Father hath sent me, even so send I you.›

22And when he had said this, he breathed on [them], and saith unto them, ‹Receive ye the Holy Ghost:›

23‹Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; [and] whose soever [sins] ye retain, they are retained.›

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

25The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.

26¶ And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: [then] came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, ‹Peace [be] unto you.›

27Then saith he to Thomas, ‹Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust [it] into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.›

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

29Jesus saith unto him, ‹Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed [are] they that have not seen, and [yet] have believed.›

30And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book:

31But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Mary Magdalene discovers Jesus' empty tomb and later encounters the resurrected Lord, who sends her to inform the disciples of His impending ascension. That evening, Jesus appears to His disciples in a locked room, showing His wounds and bestowing the Holy Ghost upon them. Eight days later, Jesus appears again to Thomas, who had doubted, leading him to confess, "My Lord and my God." The chapter concludes by stating these events are written that readers might believe Jesus is the Christ and have life through His name.

Medium Summary

On the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene found the sepulchre empty and reported it to Peter and John, who then observed the undisturbed grave clothes, leading John to believe. Mary, weeping at the tomb, saw two angels and then Jesus, whom she initially mistook for the gardener. Jesus revealed Himself to her, instructing her not to touch Him yet, and sent her to tell the disciples of His impending ascension to the Father. Later that evening, Jesus appeared to His fearful disciples in a locked room, showing them His hands and side, and breathing on them to receive the Holy Ghost, granting them authority regarding sins. Thomas, absent during this appearance, declared he would not believe without physical proof of the nail prints and spear wound. Eight days later, Jesus reappeared, inviting Thomas to touch His wounds, prompting Thomas's confession, "My Lord and my God." Jesus then blessed those who believe without seeing. The chapter concludes by affirming that these signs are written so that readers may believe Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and thereby have life through His name.

Long Summary

Early on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene came to the sepulchre and found the stone removed, prompting her to inform Simon Peter and the other disciple whom Jesus loved that the Lord's body was missing. Peter and John then ran to the tomb, with John arriving first and seeing the linen clothes, but not entering. Peter followed, entered, and observed the linen clothes and the napkin that had been about Jesus' head, folded separately. John then entered and, seeing the evidence, believed, though they did not yet understand the scripture concerning the resurrection. Mary Magdalene, weeping outside the tomb, looked in and saw two angels, who questioned her sorrow. Turning, she saw Jesus but did not recognize Him, mistaking Him for the gardener. Jesus called her by name, "Mary," at which point she recognized Him and called Him "Rabboni." Jesus instructed her not to cling to Him, for He had not yet ascended to the Father, but to tell His brethren that He was ascending to His Father and their Father, and to His God and their God. Mary Magdalene then went and reported her encounter to the disciples. Later that same evening, with the doors shut for fear of the Jews, Jesus appeared among His disciples, offering them peace and showing them His hands and side, filling them with joy. He reiterated His peace, commissioned them as the Father had sent Him, and breathed on them, saying, "Receive ye the Holy Ghost," granting them authority to remit or retain sins. Thomas, called Didymus, was not present for this first appearance and declared he would not believe unless he could physically examine Jesus' wounds. Eight days later, Jesus again appeared to the disciples, with Thomas present, and specifically invited Thomas to touch His hands and side. Thomas, convinced, confessed, "My Lord and my God." Jesus then pronounced a blessing upon those who believe without having seen. The chapter concludes by stating that many other signs were performed by Jesus, but these specific accounts are written that readers might believe Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and through that belief, have life in His name.

Core Concepts

  • The Empty TombMary Magdalene, Peter, and John discover the sepulchre empty, with the grave clothes carefully arranged, indicating not a theft but a miraculous departure.
  • Mary Magdalene's EncounterMary is the first to see the resurrected Jesus, initially mistaking Him, but recognizing Him when He speaks her name, and is commissioned to announce His ascension.
  • Jesus' Appearance to DisciplesJesus appears to His disciples in a locked room, demonstrating His resurrected body by showing His wounds and imparting the Holy Ghost, commissioning them for ministry.
  • The Commissioning of DisciplesJesus sends His disciples as the Father sent Him, breathing on them to receive the Holy Ghost and granting them authority regarding the remission and retention of sins.
  • Thomas's Doubt and ConfessionThomas initially refuses to believe without physical proof of Jesus' wounds, but upon seeing and being invited to touch them, he makes the profound confession, "My Lord and my God."
  • Belief Without SeeingJesus blesses those who believe without having seen, highlighting a foundational principle of faith for future generations of believers.
  • Purpose of the Written SignsThe author explicitly states that these accounts are recorded to lead readers to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, so that through belief, they may have life in His name.