John 20:1-10 · Read 3 min · think and write 15 min
The last lesson read that Jesus died and was laid in a tomb; “Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses, saw where he was laid” (Mark 15:47). John’s Gospel records where that tomb was: “Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden. In the garden was a new tomb in which no man had ever yet been laid” (John 19:41). “Then, because of the Jews’ Preparation Day (for the tomb was near at hand), they laid Jesus there” (John 19:42).
Then came the Sabbath. This lesson reads the morning after the Sabbath, as John’s Gospel records it.
1Now on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene went early, while it was still dark, to the tomb, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb.
2Therefore she ran and came to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have laid him!”
3Therefore Peter and the other disciple went out, and they went toward the tomb.
4They both ran together. The other disciple outran Peter and came to the tomb first.
5Stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths lying there; yet he didn’t enter in.
6Then Simon Peter came, following him, and entered into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying,
7and the cloth that had been on his head, not lying with the linen cloths, but rolled up in a place by itself.
8So then the other disciple who came first to the tomb also entered in, and he saw and believed.
9For as yet they didn’t know the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead.
10So the disciples went away again to their own homes.
While it was still dark. “Now on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene went early, while it was still dark, to the tomb, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb” (v. 1). In the last lesson she saw where he was laid; on this day, before it was light, she came.
We don’t know where they have laid him. “Therefore she ran and came to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and said to them, ‘They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have laid him!’” (v. 2). What she saw was an open tomb; what she said was that the Lord had been taken away.
They both ran. “Therefore Peter and the other disciple went out, and they went toward the tomb” (v. 3). “They both ran together. The other disciple outran Peter and came to the tomb first” (v. 4). “Stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths lying there; yet he didn’t enter in” (v. 5).
The linen cloths and the cloth for his head. “Then Simon Peter came, following him, and entered into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying” (v. 6), “and the cloth that had been on his head, not lying with the linen cloths, but rolled up in a place by itself” (v. 7). The passage writes down what they saw, one thing at a time.
He saw and believed. “So then the other disciple who came first to the tomb also entered in, and he saw and believed” (v. 8). Then the passage says: “For as yet they didn’t know the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead” (v. 9). The passage does not say what he believed; it simply records that they did not yet know.
Their own homes. “So the disciples went away again to their own homes” (v. 10).
Afterwards. The next verse is: “But Mary was standing outside at the tomb weeping” (John 20:11). The next lesson reads from there.
Luke’s Gospel records that on that morning the women went back from the tomb and told these things to the apostles; “These words seemed to them to be nonsense, and they didn’t believe them” (Luke 24:11). “But Peter got up and ran to the tomb. Stooping and looking in, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he departed to his home, wondering what had happened” (Luke 24:12).
Readers can see this: what John’s Gospel records is that she “ran and came to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved” (v. 2), and “They both ran together” (v. 4).
Perhaps you too have known a morning like this: what you went looking for was no longer there; what you had kept watch over had suddenly changed; you did not know what had happened, only that you had to go and tell someone quickly.
This lesson does not say that those who believe understand as soon as they see; nor does it say that being anxious, or not understanding, means your faith is too small. What it shows you is this: “while it was still dark”, she came to the tomb (v. 1); when she saw the stone taken away, she ran to tell Peter and the other disciple (v. 2); and the passage also records plainly that “as yet they didn’t know the Scripture” (v. 9).
This week: Think of one thing that worries you and that you don’t understand. This week, find a brother or sister you trust, tell them about it just as it is, and pray about it together once.
Scripture: World English Bible.