The Gospel of John: John 20.1-31

Read and meditate on John 20.1-10.
It is the morning of the first day of the week, Sunday. We can imagine the sorrow, disappointment, and fear that was dogging the disciples. Then Mary went to the tomb.

¹Now Mary Magdalene came to the place
where He was buried, early the first day,
while it was dark, and saw the stone had been
removed. ²She ran to Peter and the man
whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “See, they
have taken Jesus from the tomb away
somewhere, and we do not know where.” ³So then
both Peter and the other disciple ran
together, ⁴and the other disciple ran
ahead of Peter, and came first unto
the tomb. ⁵And stooping down, he looked into
the tomb, and saw the linen cloths in place;
but he did not go in. ⁶Then Peter came
and went into the tomb. He also saw
the linen cloths, ⁷but Peter also saw
the face cloth that had been around His head.
⁸The other disciple, who had run ahead
of Peter, also went in then, and when
he saw, believed. ⁹For they did not yet then
know what the Scriptures said, that from the dead
He must arise. ¹⁰Then the disciples went
away again unto their homes.

- John 20.1-10

Reflect
1.  It is the first day of the week, early in the morning, while it is still dark, the third day (Friday afternoon through Sunday morning) since Jesus was laid in the tomb. The old week is over, the week of sin and violence and death. It’s a new week, and indeed, a whole new era. Meditate on Zechariah 3.1-10. What happened during Saturday, the day after the Preparation Day and before the first day of the week? Complete this prayer: Father, thank You for accepting Jesus’ sin-bearing sacrifice, for only thus…

2.  Mary immediately thought that someone had moved Jesus from the tomb. She knew she was at the right tomb, just as Peter and John knew where to come, and as everyone who’d had anything to do with Jesus’ death also knew. Why did John think it was important we know that three different people came to the tomb and found it empty? What “explanation” for the empty tomb does this eliminate? Thank You, Lord Jesus, for rising from the dead on that first day of the week, that first new week of…

3.  John and Peter ran to the tomb. Why? What was so urgent about Mary’s report, that they felt they needed to run to the tomb? What might they have been thinking as they ran? What were they probably not thinking (v. 9)? Lord, let me never hesitate to be identified with You, but let me run to…

4.  John reports the situation in the tomb. What did he and Peter see? Recall that Jesus’ body had been wrapped in a hundred pounds of spices and linen cloths. How do you suppose Peter processed what he saw? What about John (v. 8)? What’s the difference between their responses? Lord, increase my faith, day by day, that I may believe more and more, and …

5.  Summarize all that Mary, Peter, and John knew, or thought they knew, at this point. If they had known the Scriptures better (v. 9), would they have had a better understanding of what they saw? What does this suggest for us with respect to our understanding of God’s Word? The tomb, sealed with Roman and Jewish authority, was open. The Roman guard set on the tomb was dispersed (Matt. 27.62-66). The garments of the dead have been thrown off and cast aside. Who’s in charge here? What’s the message of this new era? Bring together into one the prayers you composed for questions 1-4.

Summary
“When these men (I mean Peter and John, the writer of this book, for he gives himself the name of the other disciple) heard this news from the woman’s mouth, they ran with all the speed they could and hurried to the sepulcher. They saw the marvel with their own eyes, being in themselves competent to testify to the event, for they were two in number as the Law enjoined. As yet they did not meet Christ risen from the dead, but they infer his resurrection from the bundle of linen clothes, and from that time on they believed that he had burst the bonds of death, as holy Scripture had long ago proclaimed that he would do. When, therefore, they looked at the issues of events in the light of the prophecies that turned out true, their faith was from that time forward rooted on a firm foundation.” Cyril of Alexandria (375-444 AD)

The resurrection of Jesus is a mystery. We cannot understand all the details of how it happened. But does this mean we can’t believe in the resurrection? Why can we believe? What does it signify? Explain.

Closing Prayer
I will bless the LORD who has given me counsel;
My heart also instructs me in the night seasons.
I have set the LORD always before me;
Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved.
Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices;
My flesh also will rest in hope.
For You will not leave my soul in Sheol,
Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption.
You will show me the path of life;
In Your presence is fullness of joy;
At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Psalm 16.7-11

Psalm 16.7-11 (All to Christ: Jesus Paid It All)
I bless Your Name, O Lord; my mind instructs each night;
You teach me by Your Word and guide me in the right.
    Make me know life’s way; pleasures fill Your hand;
    Fill my life with joy each day! Before Your face I stand.

You are ever with me, Lord; in You I shall not fall.
But rejoicing in Your Word, I abide within Your call.
    Make me know life’s way; pleasures fill Your hand;
    Fill my life with joy each day! Before Your face I stand.

Soon Your glory I shall see, for as Jesus rose again,
You will come to gather me to my home with You in heav’n.
    Make me know life’s way; pleasures fill Your hand;
    Fill my life with joy each day! Before Your face I stand.

T. M. Moore

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing adapted from The Ailbe Psalter. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series IV a and b: John, edited by Joel C. Elowsky, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006. Verse translation of John by T. M. Moore.