John 20:4 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first.

NIV: Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first.

NASB: The two were running together; and the other disciple ran ahead, faster than Peter, and came to the tomb first;

CSB: The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and got to the tomb first.

NLT: They were both running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first.

KJV: So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre.

NKJV: So they both ran together, and the other disciple outran Peter and came to the tomb first.

The two men running are Peter and John (John 13:23; 20:2–3). They are responding to a report from Mary Magdalene (John 20:1), who arrived at Jesus' grave to find it opened and empty. Along with John's brother, James, they are Jesus' closest followers (Matthew 17:1; 26:37). What's depicted here matches what we know of these two disciples.

We are not sure exactly how old any of the disciples were. Scholars suggest Peter might have been the oldest, and John the youngest. If so, it makes sense that John would outpace him and get to the tomb first. And yet, John's first instinct is to stay outside the crypt and look in. Peter, infamously intense, seems to rush right in to get a closer look. What the men see inside (John 20:5–7) will not fully sink in until later. John appears to grasp the meaning more quickly (John 20:8–9). Peter, on his part, apparently comes back later, but even then does not entirely understand (Luke 24:12).

No mention is made of the Roman guards who had been posted to watch the tomb (Matthew 27:62–66). It's likely they have already woken up from their terrified collapse (Matthew 28:3–4) and have gone to make their report to the priests (Matthew 28:11).

John 20:1–10 includes the first moments in which Jesus' followers realize He has been resurrected. Mary Magdalene brings Peter and John to the grave after finding it open. John sees the empty grave wrappings and realizes what has happened. Mary will remain behind and encounter a pair of angels, as well as Jesus, soon after. John's chosen details complement those found in Matthew 28:1–10, Mark 16:1–8, and 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.