John 20:11 - Printer Friendly

ESV: But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb.

NIV: Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb

NASB: But Mary was standing outside the tomb, weeping; so as she wept, she stooped to look into the tomb;

CSB: But Mary stood outside the tomb, crying. As she was crying, she stooped to look into the tomb.

NLT: Mary was standing outside the tomb crying, and as she wept, she stooped and looked in.

KJV: But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre,

NKJV: But Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping, and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the tomb.

Mary Magdalene had arrived at Jesus' grave (Matthew 27:61) intending to attend to Jesus' body, only to find the tomb open and empty (John 20:1). She told Peter and John, who came to see the crypt and saw the empty grave clothes inside (John 20:2–10). After this, the two men left and Mary is alone, apparently not knowing what it was Peter and John saw or what they are thinking. As she bends to look into the rocky opening, she will see two angels (John 20:12), and soon after Jesus Himself (John 20:16).

Mary's presence in this part of Jesus' story is important. In ancient culture, women were usually considered less intelligent and less trustworthy than men. Jesus' ministry and teachings lifted women out of those stereotypes (John 11:28; Galatians 3:28). The first people to realize and proclaim His resurrection will be women. That fact not only elevates the status of women, but it also speaks to the honesty of the gospel writers. An invented story, of that age, would never have claimed that women were the initial discoverers of such a monumental truth.

John 20:11–18 describes a remarkable scene. In an era where women were ignored and often mistrusted, a woman becomes the first person to share her experiences with a risen Jesus. Mary Magdalene encounters two angels outside Jesus' empty tomb, followed by Jesus Himself. She obeys His commands to speak with the disciples. This event is another example of John including certain details, without repeating the exact same points as the other, older gospel writings (Matthew 28:1–10; Mark 16:1–8; Luke 24:1–12).

Peter and John get a report from Mary Magdalene that Jesus' body is gone. They arrive to find an open grave, and empty grave clothes, along with a folded face cloth. When the two men leave, Mary remains and suddenly encounters a resurrected Jesus. Though she tells the others, they resist believing until they see Jesus in person. Thomas is especially stubborn, and Jesus remarks on how blessed they are to have been given so much proof. John points out that his writing is meant to prove that Jesus is the Messiah, arranged to encourage those who read to come to faith.

Most of Jesus' disciples scattered and hid when He was arrested (Matthew 26:56). Only John and some women were present to see His death and burial (John 19:26–30, 41–42; Matthew 27:60–61). When Jesus' tomb is seen empty, there is further confusion. Jesus appears to His followers, proving that He is alive, and remarking that they are blessed to have so much proof. John will complete his account in the next chapter with another encounter and more reminders about the nature of his writing.

The gospel of John was written by the disciple John, decades later than the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. The author assumes that a reader is already familiar with the content of these other works. So, John presents a different perspective, with a greater emphasis on meaning. John uses seven miracles—which he calls “signs”—in order to prove that Jesus is, in fact, God incarnate. Some of the most well-known verses in all of the Bible are found here. None is more famous than the one-sentence summary of the gospel found in John 3:16.

Accessed 5/5/2024 10:41:50 PM