John 20

John 20:1-10

The proofs of Christ’s resurrection which we have in this chapter, are, 1. Such as reserved immediately at the sepulchre. (1.) The sepulchre found empty, and the grave-clothes in good order, ver. 1—10. (2.) Two angels appearing in Mary Magdalene at the sepulchre, ver. 11—19. (3.) Christ himself appearing to her, ver. 14—18. 2. Such as reserved afterwards at the meetings of the apostles. (1.) At one, the same day at evening that Christ was, when Thomas was absent, ver. 19—25. At another, that day seven-night, when Thomas was with him, ver. 26—31.

a Mat. revin. 2. Mark col. 1. Luke xxiv. 1. b Chap. xiii. 13 & xii. 5. xi, 34. c Luke xxiv. 12. d Chap. xix. 40. e Chap. xi. 44. f Cf. col. 10. Arts ii. 45. 31. & xiii. 35.

1. THE first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene, early when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre. 2. Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord one of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him. 3. Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre. 4. So they ran both together: And the other disciple did out-run Peter, and came first to the sepulchre. 5. And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in. 6. Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes he. 7. And the napkin that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself. 8. Then went in also that other disciple which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed. 9. For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead. 10. Then the disciples went away again unto their own home.

The reconciling the accounts of the several Evangelists, with regard to the circumstances attending the resurrection, hath exercised the ingenuity of many learned expositors. The fact itself is proved by a great cloud of witnesses.

1. Mary Magdalene very early, while it was yet dark, set out for the sepulchre, where she arrived about sun-rising, and to her surprise found the stone removed from the door. Hereupon looking in, and missing the body of Jesus, she, with the other women, ran to Peter and John, and with great concern informed them of the removal of the body of Jesus, they knew not whither. Note, (1.) They who truly love Christ, will delight to meet him early. (2.) It is a bitter grief to a gracious soul to feel the absence of Jesus, and not to know where he may be found. (3.) We often make that matter of our mourning, which should afford us real cause for joy. (4.) The communication of our sorrows is often the nearest way to recover our lost comforts.

2. Peter and John immediately went forth, desirous to inform themselves how matters stood; and running together, John out-run Peter, and came first to the sepulchre, where stooping down, and looking in, he saw the linen clothes lying, yet went not in. Peter, more courageous, no sooner reached the place, than he went in to gain the fullest satisfaction possible, and observed the grave-clothes, not carelessly thrown down, but each part separately folded up, and laid by itself; a certain proof, that whoever removed the body, did it deliberately, and not in haste. Hereupon John also now ventured in after Peter, and he saw, and believed, either that the body was removed, or that Christ was really risen from the dead; for hitherto none of the disciples had entertained any right notions of the Messiah, nor, after all the scripture prophecies, and their Master’s predictions, seem at all to have expected his resurrection from the dead.

3. Hereupon the disciples return to their companions, to communicate to them the state of the matter as it appeared to them, and to wait the event.

g Mark col. 5. h Ver. 15. i Mat. revin. 6. i Luke xii. 9. i Luke xxiv. 16. 17. Chap. xxi. 4.

11. But Mary stood without at the sepulchre, weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre. 12. And seeth two angels in white, sitting the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain: 13. And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him. 14. And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus. 15.

Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seeketh thou? she supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away. 16. Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni, which is to say, Master. 17. Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not: for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, “I ascend unto my Father and your Father, and to my God and your God. 18. Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples, that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her.

John 20:11-18

Christ’s first appearance was to Mary Magdalene. Much had been forgiven her, and she loved much. Her past conduct was all forgotten, and her unfeigned pretext attachment to Jesus made her now guilty dear to him, and she is favoured with this distinguished token of his regard.

1. She stood without at the sepulchre weeping, being returned the second time to seek further after her dear Lord: and they who wait constantly upon him, though he withdraw for a while, yet shall they find him at the last, and what they sow in tears, they shall reap in joy.

2. As she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre, and saw two angels in human forms, (the three, as some suppose, which appeared to her before, Luke xxiv. 3—6.) They were clothed in white, the emblem of their apostles purity, and sat one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain, to pay him honour, and to be the messengers of his resurrection.

3. They kindly addressed her, Woman, why weepest thou? She, whose heart overflowed with sorrow, as her eyes with tears, replied, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him: and this she thought a sufficient reason for her grief; but our vexation, like hers, are often imaginary, and of our own making: had we but saith, the clouds would immediately disappear.

4. Christ manifest himself to her; for they who can rest in nothing short of Christ and his love, shall not be disappointed. As she turned herself, she saw Jesus standing, and, because either her eyes were hidden, or they were so filled with tears, she knew not that it was Jesus: to much nearer to be to his mourning doors, than they oftentimes are aware. He kindly addressed her in the words of his angelic ministers, Woman, why weepest thou? and she not attending to him closely, and supposing him probably the gardener, begged to be informed if he had borne the body away, or could give her any intelligence concerning it, that she might give it an honourable interment elsewhere, if it might not lie there. Jesus saith unto her, Mary: his altered tone of voice, and calling her by her name, assured her instantly who spoke; and turning to him, she calls herself at his feet with reverence and rapturium joy, crying, Rethane, my Mother! how welcome, unnaturally welcome to her longing heart! Note, When Christ returns after a season of darkness and weeping, then, as the sun shining after rain, the beams of his love are more delightful than ever to the soul.

5. He sends her with the kindest message to his disciples. Touch me not; they not to express your affectionate regard; the moment is precious; for I am not yet ascended to my Father; you will therefore have other opportunities of seeing and converting with me. But go to my brethren without delay; in such affectionate terms doth he adderth these who had so lately shamefully fled and left him; and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father and your Father, and to my God and your God. Christ owns them in the endeared relation of brethren; assures them he was now entering into his glory, as the covenant head of his redeemed people; returning to his Father by eternal generation, and theirs by adoption and grace; to his God, whom, as the man Christ Jesus, the head of his redeemed people, he loved, obeyed, and worshipped; and their God, in a covenant of everlasting love, to bless them with all spiritual blessings in heavenly things in Christ. Blessed and happy are they who can say, The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ is my Father and my God.

6. Mary hastens to carry the glad news to the disconsolate disciples, and with a transport of joy declares she has seen him, and reports the kind message which he had delivered to her. They who have seen Christ by faith, and raised of his consolations, cannot but delight to tell of him, and to spread the knowledge of his grace.

7. Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut, where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. 20. And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad when they saw the Lord. 21. Then said

g Mark col. 14. Luke xxiv. 36. i Cor. xii. 5. g Ver. 17. i John xii. 4. Chap. xii. vii. Jesus

Jefus to them again, Peace he unto you: ‘as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. 22. And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the holy Ghost. 23. ‘Whosoever sin ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and ‘whosoever sin ye retain, they are retained. 24. ‘But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jefus came. 25. The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have sent the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.

9. 19—25. The reports of Mary and the women produced little conviction in the minds of the disciples; such fools, and flow of heart were they to believe; Jefus therefore appears to them himself, to put the matter out of doubt.

10. The apostles were all assembled, Thomas excepted, on the evening of the day in which Christ rose from the dead, which was the first day of the week. For fear of the Jews they had shut and barred the doors, when on a sudden, probably whilst they were considering over the strange reports which they had heard, and examining into their credibility, or paying for farther light and direction, Jefus appears in the midst of them, and with the kindest salutation addered them, Peace he unto you. He upbraids them not with any thing that had passed; it was forgiven and forgotten; and now he is come to put them in possession of that peace which before his death he had so solemnly bequeathed to them. Note, (1.) Where the disciples of Jefus assemble in his name, there will be he in the midst of them. (2.) The peace which our Redeemer bestows, lifts us superior to all our fears.

11. To give them undoubted assurance of the identity of his person, and the certainty of his resurrection, he shewed them his hands and his side, which shall bore the glorious fears gotten in that conflict he had endured for their sakes, when all their fools were vanquished; and, fully satisfied that it was indeed that a second Master himself, joy and gladness were obliged upon every heart, and sat on every countenance. Note, These love-points in the Saviour’s flesh should still be gazed upon by us with faith, delight, and wonder. Whilst they are pleading before the throne, who shall lay ought to our charge!

12. He solemnly invests them anew with their commission from him. Then said ‘Jefus unto them again, Peace he unto you: he would remove every remaining fear, and recover them from their astonishment, that they might hear and receive the commission he delivered to them. As my Father hath sent me, even so send I you; giving you full authority to go and preach my gospel, engaging to qualify you for the work, and to give you to see the most abundant success of your labours. And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost; by this emblem signifying to them, that the Spirit which proceeded from him, as the breath from the body, should rest upon them, as a quickening Spirit, like that which God breathed at first into the lifeless clay, (Gen. ii. 7.) and should enable them with the abundance of his gifts and grace to discharge that high office to which they were ordained. And as one breach of their divinely-delegated authority, he saith, Whosoever sin ye remit, according to the gospel which they preached, and as possessed of that discernment of spirits, whereby they were enabled to distinguish the truly faithful, they are remitted unto them; the abslution which they pronounce on earth, he engages to ratify in heaven: and whosoever sin ye retain, because of their impenitence and unbelief, they are retained; and if they die in their sins, the wrath of God, according to their denunciations, must for ever abide upon them. Note, (1.) Though men may give an outward mission, it is the office of the Holy Ghost to call and qualify every true minister of Christ; and, without his inspiration, they who run unseen, will be accustomed as thieves and robbers. (2.) Though ministers have no power of their own to pardon sins, or bind them upon the soul, yet, where they speak according to Christ’s word, he will confirm their sentence.

13. Thomas, called Didymus, one of the twelve apostles who were first ordained, though now reduced to eleven by the apostles of Judæ, happened not to be present when Jefus shewed himself to the rest. By what he was detained, is not said; perhaps the fear which made them look the doors, kept him away; and if so, for his cowardice and neglect he is justly punished with the side of that blessed sight which his brethren enjoyed. But whether he was before in fault or not, his incredulity was justly lamented, when his brethren in a transport of joy assured him they had seen the Lord. Resolute in unbelief, he declares nothing shall convince him, but the evidence of his own senses: Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe; a very criminal incredulity, yet was it so over-rated by divine providence, as to add additional evidence to the certainty of Jefus’s resurrection. So far were his own apostles

from easily satisfying themselves about the fact, that nothing but the most infallible evidence could have convinced them; and indeed when they looked forward to what they must expect to meet with on account of their testimony, they needed the fullest conviction of the truth in their own souls, to bear them out in their sufferings.

26. ¶ And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jefus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, ‘Peace he unto you. 27. Then saith he to Thomas, ‘Reach him: the other thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach him: the other thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. 28. And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. 29. Jefus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: ‘blefied are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. 30. ¶ And ‘many other sights truly did Jefus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. 31. ‘But these are written, that ye might believe that Jefus is the Christ the Son of God, and ’that believing ye might have life through his name.

27. 26—31. Our Lord by his resurrection consecrated the first day of the week; then his disciples assembled, and he appeared to them. A week after he repeated his visit, to put a farther honour on the day, which was henceforward to be observed as the Christian Sabbath.

28. Christ appears to them, where they were met together, and Thomas with them, having shut the doors for fear of the Jews. Seven days Thomas was left to his unbelieving doubts, and in a miserable state of suspense; whilst the other disciples rejoiced in their risen Redeemer. But now having punished him for his former neglect and absence, and being joined again in communion with his fellow-apostles, he is favoured with the sight of Jefus, who graciously condescends to give him all that satisfaction which he pervertely required. He stood in the midst, and said, ‘Peace he unto you,’ according to his former gracious salutation: then particularly addressing himself to Thomas, to rebuke his infidelity, and satisfy his doubts, he bids him, since nothing else would convince him, but his finger upon the scars in his hands, and examine with his hand the wound in his side, and feel and see the certainty of that resurrection he would not credit, and he not faithless, or incredulous, but believing. Note, Unbelief is the injurious bar which robs us of our comfort, and God of his glory; most justly therefore does it deserve rebuke from Christ, and call for deep humiliation from us.

29. Thomas, quite overcome with the evidence and confounded and ashamed at his own incredulity, cries out, My Lord and my God, in the fullest assurance of faith, and with the deepest reverence and adoration of his glorious Master. He acknowledges his divinity, and worships him as the object of highest honour, as every God. Note, (1.) True faith regards Jefus not only as God and Lord, but as my God, and my Lord, in whole favour and love we have an affared interest. (2.) We are then disciples indeed, when Jefus is exalted in our hearts, and in our lips and life we comfy him our Lord and Master.

30. For a reproof to Thomas, and an encouragement to those who should come after, Jefus replies, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed; refusing every proof but the evidence of his own senses; and, though convinced at last, yet was he culpable in rejecting the testimony which his brethren had born, in which way the rest of the world must be converted to the faith. And therefore Christ adds, ‘Blefied are they that have not seen, and yet have believed,’ as the Old Testament Saints had done, and as must be the case with those who afterwards should believe the gospel on the testimony of the inspired wretches: their faith is more noble, spiritual, and honourable to God, and will procure the most transcendent blessings upon their own souls.

31. The Evangelist observes, that many other signs were given of the resurrection of Jefus, during the forty days he was seen of them, than those recorded in the sacred writings; but the evidence contained in the book of God is fully satisfactory to those who humbly desire information, and who search the scriptures to be made with unto salvation through them: they will be convinced from their sacred records, the ‘Jesus is the Christ, the promised Messiah, the Son of God, possessed of the same divine nature and perfections, and declared to be so by his resurrection from the dead (Rom. i. 4.); and they who believe on him may be assured of life through his name; the life of grace with all its comforts here, and the life of glory with all its unintelligible blessings hereafter, both being effectually obtained by the death and resurrection of Jefus, who hath opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers.

CHAP.