The Gospel of John
John 20:1–18
The Resurrection & Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene
Find a quiet place, alone and apart from distractions. Be comfortably alert, still, and at peace. Say the Lord’s Prayer. Sing or cant the Jesus Prayer. Pray for family, friends, neighbors, and yourself. Slowly and carefully read the passage of Scripture.
1. All four Gospel writers record the resurrection of Jesus. A woman, Mary Magdalene, is the first to see the resurrected Jesus. (In other Gospel accounts, Mary is not alone. Also, each account has a difference when it comes to who first greeted Mary. In John there are 2 angels in white, in Matthew it is one dazzling angel, in Mark 1 young man in white, in Luke 2 dazzling men.)
2. The men looked angelic but were identifiable as humans, there is no contradiction.
3. Mary only is mentioned by John, but finding the tomb empty she runs to where Peter and the “other disciple” are and tells them that “they” have taken away Jesus’ body. She has no idea what happened.
4. Peter and John (so very likely this “other disciple”) come to the tomb. The linen cloths are found there and the face cloth folded up, this indicating there had not been a stealing of Jesus’ body.
5. As yet, the disciples did not understand what Jesus had been telling them right along, that He would rise from the dead. Then they returned home.
6. Mary remains, weeping, outside the tomb, then stooping to look in the tomb, she sees 2 angels in white, actually sitting where Jesus’ body had been. Mary tells the angels that “they” have taken His body. Turning around now she finds Jesus standing there but she does not immediately recognize Him.
7. Mary thought she was talking with the gardener and thinks he has taken the body away, and if so, she will take the body away.
8. Jesus then utters “Mary” and hearing that she knows who it is who is before her. She says, “Rabboni!” In addition she touches Jesus’ body, probably His feet, falling on her knees.
9. Jesus says to her, “Do not cling to me” since He has not yet ascended, but that she is to go to His “brothers,” that is, His disciples, and tell them “I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.”
10. These words of comfort Mary reports to the disciples, and in Mark’s and Luke’s accounts, they do not believe her.