John 20 describes the pivotal events that occurred on the first day of the week following Jesus' crucifixion. Mary Magdalene visited the tomb early in the morning and discovered it empty. Distressed, she ran to inform Peter and John, who raced to the tomb to see for themselves. John reached the tomb first but hesitated to enter, while Peter entered and observed the linen wrappings left behind. As John entered, he believed in the resurrection.
Mary Magdalene, weeping outside the tomb, encountered two angels who asked why she was crying. Turning around, she saw Jesus standing before her but initially mistook Him for the gardener. Jesus revealed Himself to her, and Mary recognized Him, calling Him "Rabboni" (Teacher). Jesus instructed her to inform the disciples of His impending ascension.
Later that evening, Jesus appeared to His disciples, who were hiding behind locked doors for fear of the Jews. He showed them His wounds, imparted the Holy Spirit to them, and commissioned them to proclaim forgiveness of sins. However, Thomas, who was absent during this encounter, expressed doubt and stated that he would only believe if he saw and touched Jesus' wounds.
This summary captures the main events of John 20, but there is much more depth to each verse. Click the links below to explore the context and significance of each verse: