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20:1 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.
20:2 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 out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him.
20:3 Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre.
20:4 So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre.
20:5 And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in.
20:6 Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie,
20:7 And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself.
20:8 Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed.
20:9 For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead.
20:10 Then the disciples went away again unto their own home.
20:11 But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre,
20:12 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.
20:13 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.
20:14 And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.
20:15 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest 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.
20:16 Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.
20:17 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.
20:18 Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the LORD, and that he had spoken these things unto her.
20:19 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.
20:20 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.
20:21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.
20:22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:
20:23 Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.
20:24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.
20:25 The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen 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.
20:26 And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.
20:27 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.
20:28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My LORD and my God.
20:29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.
20:30 And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book:
20:31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

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Everything King James Bible:John

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
back to: John
Book: John
Chapter: 20

Overview:
The Sepulchre found to be empty. (1-10) Christ appears to
Mary. (11-18) He appears to the disciples. (19-25) The unbelief
of Thomas. (26-29) Conclusion. (30,31)

1-10 If Christ gave his Life a Ransom, and had not taken it
again, it would not have appeared that his giving it was
accepted as satisfaction. It was a great trial to Mary, that the
body was gone. Weak believers often make that the matter of
complaint, which is really just ground of Hope, and matter of
joy. It is Well when those more honoured than others with the
privileges of disciples, are more active than others in the duty
of disciples; more willing to take pains, and run hazards, in a
good work. We must do our best, and neither envy those who can
do better, nor despise those who do as Well as they can, though
they come behind. The Disciple whom Jesus loved in a special
manner, and who therefore in a special manner loved Jesus, was
foremost. The Love of Christ will make us to abound in every
duty more than any thing else. He that was behind was Peter, who
had denied Christ. A sense of guilt hinders us in the service of
God. As yet the disciples knew not the Scripture; they Christ
must rise again from the dead.

11-18 We are likely to seek and find, when we seek with
Affection, and seek in tears. But many believers complain of the
clouds and Darkness they are under, which are methods of Grace
for humbling their souls, mortifying their sins, and endearing
Christ to them. A sight of angels and their smiles, will not
suffice, without a sight of Jesus, and God's smiles in him. None
know, but those who have tasted it, the sorrows of a deserted
soul, which has had comfortable evidences of the Love of God in
Christ, and hopes of Heaven, but has now lost them, and walks in
Darkness; such a wounded Spirit who can Bear? Christ, in
manifesting himself to those that seek him, often outdoes their
expectations. See how Mary's Heart was in Earnest to find Jesus.
Christ's way of making himself known to his people is By his
Word; his Word applied to their souls, speaking to them in
particular. It might be read, Is it my Master? See with what
pleasure those who Love Jesus speak of his authority over them.
He forbids her to expect that his bodily presence look further,
than the present state of things. Observe the relation to God,
from union with Christ. We, partaking of a Divine nature,
Christ's Father is our Father; and he, partaking of the human
nature, our God is his God. Christ's Ascension into Heaven,
there to plead for us, is likewise an unspeakable comfort. Let
them not think this Earth is to be their home and Rest; their
Eye and aim, and Earnest desires, must be upon another world,
and this ever upon their hearts, I ascend, therefore I must seek
the things which are above. And let those who know the Word of
Christ, endeavour that others should get good from their
knowledge.

19-25 This was the first Day of the Week, and this Day is
afterwards often mentioned By the sacred writers; for it was
evidently set apart as the Christian Sabbath, in remembrance of
Christ's resurrection. The disciples had shut the Doors for fear
of the Jews; and when they had No such expectation, Jesus
himself came and stood in the midst of them, having
miraculously, though silently, opened the Doors. It is a comfort
to Christ's disciples, when their assemblies can only be held in
private, that No Doors can shut out Christ's presence. When He
manifests his Love to believers By the comforts of his Spirit,
he assures them that because he lives, they shall live also. A
sight of Christ will gladden the Heart of a Disciple at any
time; and the more we see of Jesus, the more we shall rejoice.
He said, Receive ye the Holy Ghost, thus showing that their
spiritual Life, as Well as all their ability for their work,
would be derived from him, and depended upon him. Every Word of
Christ which is received in the Heart By Faith, comes
accompanied By this Divine breathing; and without this there is
neither Light nor Life. Nothing is seen, known, discerned, or
felt of God, but through this. After this, Christ directed the
apostles to declare the only method By which Sin would be
forgiven. This power did not exist at all in the apostles as a
power to give Judgment, but only as a power to declare the
character of those whom God would accept or reject in the Day of
Judgment. They have clearly laid down the marks whereby a Child
of God may be discerned and be distinguished from a false
professor; and according to what they have declared shall every
case be decided in the Day of Judgment. When we assemble in
Christ's name, especially On his holy Day, he will meet with us,
and speak peace to us. The disciples of Christ should endeavour
to build up one another in their most holy Faith, both By
repeating what they have heard to those that were absent, and By
making known what they have experienced. Thomas limited the Holy
One of Israel, when he would be convinced By his own method or
not at all. He might justly have been left in his unbelief,
after rejecting such abundant proofs. The fears and sorrows of
the disciples are often lengthened, to punish their negligence.

26-29 That one Day in Seven should be religiously observed, was
an appointment from the beginning. And that, in the kingdom of
the Messiah, the first Day of the Week should be that solemn
Day, was pointed out, in that Christ On that Day once and again
met his disciples in a religious assembly. The religious
observance of that Day has come down to us through every Age of
the Church. There is not an unbelieving Word in our Tongues, nor
thought in our minds, but it is known to the Lord Jesus; and he
was pleased to accommodate himself even to Thomas, rather than
leave him in his unbelief. We ought thus to Bear with the weak,

Ro 15:1,2. This warning is given to all. If we are faithless,
we are Christless and graceless, hopeless and joyless. Thomas
was ashamed of his unbelief, and cried out, My Lord and my God.
He spoke with Affection, as one that took Hold of Christ with
all his might; "My Lord and my God." Sound and sincere
believers, though slow and weak, shall be graciously accepted of
the Lord Jesus. It is the duty of those who read and hear the
Gospel, to believe, to embrace the doctrine of Christ, and that
record concerning him, 1Jo 5:11.

30,31 There were other signs and proofs of our Lord's
resurrection, but these were committed to Writing, that all
might believe that Jesus was the promised Messiah, the Saviour
of sinners, and the Son of God; that, By this Faith, they might
obtain eternal Life, By his Mercy, Truth, and power. May we
believe that Jesus is the Christ, and believing may we have Life
through his name.

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