Bible Commentaries
John 20

Verses 1-31

This is the story of a dark morning and a lost Master. The strange excitement of it all is evidenced by the fact that the three disciples named are all seen running. Mary ran to tell the disciples, and John and Peter ran to the grave.

Mary tarrying in the neighborhood of an empty tomb after the disciples had returned to their home is symbolical of what the Church would have been had there been no resurrection. Her cry, "They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we know not where they have laid Him," tells the whole story. It was when she thus spoke that He made Himself known to her as the living One, and she cried out, "Rabboni."

On that memorable resurrection day John records the morning and evening appearances of our Lord. Between the morning interview with Mary and the evening meeting with His disciples He had seen Peter alone, and journeyed with two men who walked to Emmaus. John tells of Jesus appearing in the midst of the assembled disciples. He greeted them with the words, "Peace unto you," showing them His hands and His side. He then repeated the salutation, and declared what their commission would be, and prophetically indicated the power that would be theirs as He breathed on them and said, "Receive ye the Holy Spirit."

Very beautiful is our Lord's dealing with Thomas eight days later.