Bullet Point Bible

The Empty Tomb

¹ Now very early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been moved away from the entrance.² So she went running to Simon Peter and the other disciple whom Jesus loved and told them, "They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don't know where they have put him!"³ Then Peter and the other disciple set out to go to the tomb.⁴ The two were running together, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter and reached the tomb first.⁵ He bent down and saw the strips of linen cloth lying there, but he did not go in.⁶ Then Simon Peter, who had been following him, arrived and went right into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen cloth lying there,⁷ and the face cloth, which had been around Jesus' head, not lying with the strips of linen cloth but rolled up in a place by itself.⁸ Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, came in, and he saw and believed.⁹ (For they did not yet understand the scripture that Jesus must rise from the dead.)¹⁰ So the disciples went back to their homes.

Mary Magdalene's early arrival demonstrates her deep devotion and grief. Her initial conclusion is grave robbery, not resurrection (John 20:2).
The "first day of the week" (Sunday) becomes significant as the day of resurrection, eventually replacing the Sabbath as the primary day of Christian worship.
The "other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved," is traditionally identified as John, the author of this Gospel. His eyewitness details add credibility.
The race to the tomb highlights the urgency and perhaps Peter's attempt to regain standing after his denial, though John arrives first.
John's hesitation to enter the tomb contrasts with Peter's characteristic impulsiveness (John 20:5-6).
The specific description of the grave clothes—linen strips lying flat and the face cloth rolled up separately—argues against a simple theft. Grave robbers would likely have taken the body hastily, wrappings and all, or left them in disarray.
The orderly arrangement suggests a deliberate, unhurried departure, consistent with resurrection rather than removal by human hands.
John's reaction upon seeing the evidence is immediate belief (John 20:8), even before fully understanding the scriptural prophecies about the resurrection (John 20:9). This contrasts with Mary's initial assumption.
The disciples' lack of understanding (John 20:9) underscores that the resurrection was unexpected, not something they had preconceived based on scripture like Psalm 16:10 or Jesus' own predictions (e.g., Mark 8:31).
Their return home (John 20:10) might indicate confusion or uncertainty about what to do next, despite John's nascent belief.

Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene

¹¹ But Mary stood outside the tomb weeping. As she wept, she bent down and looked into the tomb.¹² And she saw two angels in white sitting where Jesus' body had been lying, one at the head and one at the feet.¹³ They said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?" Mary replied, "They have taken my Lord away, and I do not know where they have put him!"¹⁴ When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus.¹⁵ Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Who are you looking for?" Because she thought he was the gardener, she said to him, Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will take him.¹⁶ Jesus said to her, "Mary." She turned and said to him in Aramaic, Rabboni " (which means Teacher).¹⁷ Jesus replied, "Do not touch me, for I have not yet ascended to my Father. Go to my brothers and tell them, 'I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'"¹⁸ Mary Magdalene came and informed the disciples, "I have seen the Lord!" And she told them what Jesus had said to her.

Mary's persistent weeping highlights her profound love and sorrow for Jesus.
The presence of angels confirms the supernatural significance of the event, echoing angelic appearances at other key moments in salvation history (e.g., Luke 1:26-38). Their position (head and feet) might evoke the mercy seat on the Ark of the Covenant (Exodus 25:17-22).
Mary's initial failure to recognize the resurrected Jesus (John 20:14) could be due to her grief, altered appearance of Jesus, or a divine veiling later lifted. This theme appears in other post-resurrection accounts (Luke 24:16).
Jesus' gentle questions echo the angels' query, focusing on her grief and its cause (John 20:15).
Mary's assumption that Jesus is the gardener shows how unprepared she was for the reality of the resurrection.
Recognition occurs when Jesus calls her by name (John 20:16), emphasizing the personal relationship between the Shepherd and His sheep (John 10:3). Her response "Rabboni!" expresses deep respect and acknowledges Him as her Teacher.
Jesus' instruction "{{Do not touch me}}" (or "Do not cling to me") is debated. It likely signifies that their relationship must now change; He is ascending, and fellowship will be spiritual, not physical as before. It's not about impurity but about His new, glorified state and impending ascension.
Jesus refers to the disciples as "{{my brothers}}" (John 20:17), signifying their restored relationship despite their failures and His completed work establishing a new family relationship with God.
The message "{{I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God}}" confirms His unique relationship with the Father while affirming the disciples' new relationship through Him.
Mary becomes the first witness to the resurrection and the "apostle to the apostles," commissioned to carry the news (John 20:18).

Jesus Appears to the Disciples

¹⁹ On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the disciples had gathered together and locked the doors of the place because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you."²⁰ When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.²¹ So Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. Just as the Father has sent me, I also send you."²² And after he said this, he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit.²³ If you forgive anyone's sins, they are forgiven; if you retain anyone's sins, they are retained."

The disciples met behind locked doors, indicating their fear following the crucifixion (John 20:19). This contrasts sharply with their later boldness after Pentecost.
Jesus' sudden appearance despite the locked doors demonstrates the nature of His resurrection body, capable of passing through physical barriers.
His greeting, "{{Peace be with you!}}" (Shalom aleikhem), is a standard Jewish greeting but carries profound theological weight here: peace with God established through His sacrifice, and peace dispelling their fear (John 20:19, 21).
Showing His hands and side (John 20:20) served two purposes: identification (proving it was truly Him) and emphasizing that His glorification did not erase the marks of His suffering and sacrifice. These wounds are central to the message they will preach.
The disciples' joy replaced their fear upon recognizing the risen Lord (John 20:20). Seeing Jesus transformed their despair into rejoicing.
Jesus commissions the disciples, linking their mission directly to His own: "{{As the Father has sent me, I am sending you}}" (John 20:21). This establishes the apostolic mission's authority and pattern.
Breathing on them and saying "{{Receive the Holy Spirit}}" (John 20:22) is a symbolic act, perhaps a foretaste or impartation of the Spirit for the immediate task, distinct from the fuller outpouring at Pentecost (Acts 2). It echoes God breathing life into Adam (Genesis 2:7).
The authority to forgive or retain sins (John 20:23) is given to the disciples as representatives of Christ. It refers to the authority to declare, based on the Gospel message, the conditions under which God forgives sins (i.e., through repentance and faith in Christ). It is not an arbitrary power but tied to proclaiming the truth of the Gospel.

Jesus Appears to Thomas

²⁴ Now Thomas (called Didymus), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came.²⁵ The other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord!" But he replied, Unless I see the wounds from the nails in his hands, and put my finger into the wounds from the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will never believe it!²⁶ Eight days later the disciples were again together in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!"²⁷ Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here, and examine my hands. Extend your hand and put it into my side. Do not continue in your unbelief, but believe."²⁸ Thomas replied to him, "My Lord and my God!"²⁹ Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are the people who have not seen and yet have believed."

Thomas's absence from the first appearance sets the stage for a powerful lesson on faith (John 20:24). His designation "Didymus" (meaning "twin") is noted, but its significance is unclear.
Thomas's demand for empirical, physical proof ("Unless I see... and put my finger...") represents a struggle many face with faith (John 20:25). His doubt is specific and emphatic.
Jesus appears again a week later, specifically addressing Thomas's conditions, showing His knowledge of Thomas's earlier statement even though He wasn't physically present (John 20:26-27).
Jesus invites Thomas to touch His wounds, meeting him at his point of doubt but also challenging him: "{{Stop doubting and believe}}" (John 20:27). The imperative suggests doubt is a state one can choose to leave.
It is not explicitly stated whether Thomas actually touched Jesus' wounds. The focus shifts immediately to his confession.
Thomas's response, "My Lord and my God!" (John 20:28), is the climax of the Gospel's testimony to Jesus' identity. It is the most explicit declaration of Jesus' divinity by a disciple in the Gospels.
Jesus affirms Thomas's belief but pronounces a blessing on future generations: "{{Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed}}" (John 20:29). This extends the possibility of faith beyond the eyewitnesses to all subsequent believers, including the Gospel's readers.
This episode highlights that while doubt is a real human experience, the highest form of faith trusts God's testimony without needing physical proof.

The Purpose of John's Gospel

³⁰ Now Jesus performed many other miraculous signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not recorded in this book.³¹ But these are recorded so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

John explicitly states that his Gospel is selective, not exhaustive (John 20:30). He chose specific "signs" (miracles pointing to Jesus' identity) for his purpose.
This verse serves as the original conclusion to the Gospel (Chapter 21 is often considered an epilogue).
The stated purpose of the writing is twofold (John 20:31):
"Believing" is presented as the key response to the testimony presented in the Gospel.
"Life in his name" emphasizes that salvation and eternal life are accessed through Jesus' authority and identity.
These verses encapsulate the core message of the entire Gospel of John, focusing on belief in Jesus' divine identity as the source of eternal life.

The Bullet Point Bible

John 20