John 20:6 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there,

NIV: Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there,

NASB: So Simon Peter also *came, following him, and he entered the tomb; and he *looked at the linen wrappings lying there,

CSB: Then, following him, Simon Peter also came. He entered the tomb and saw the linen cloths lying there.

NLT: Then Simon Peter arrived and went inside. He also noticed the linen wrappings lying there,

KJV: Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie,

NKJV: Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; and he saw the linen cloths lying there,

Peter arrives at the tomb after John (John 20:1–4), but he is the first to walk in. John is waiting near the entrance, either out of fear or respect (John 20:5). This corresponds to Peter's typical enthusiasm (Matthew 14:28–29; 26:35; John 18:10).

Jesus was buried quickly (John 19:42), but Nicodemus and Joseph still wrapped His body before closing the tomb (John 19:39–40). Mary Magdalene had reported that the body was gone—and yet the grave clothes are still there. That would have been confusing, to say the least. One can imagine both Peter and John wondering why someone would unwrap the corpse before stealing it.

In context with the following verse, it seems likely Peter is speaking to John about what he sees. A crucial detail is one of the cloth pieces. This was, somehow, identifiable as the one used specifically for a person's face (John 11:44). Peter notes that it's not with the rest of the remnants. John will come in to see this for himself and have a moment of realization (John 20:7–8).

In hindsight, the presence of the grave clothes helps explain something about Jesus' resurrection. When Lazarus was raised, he was still bound in his burial linens (John 11:44). Jesus was also wrapped, but those strips are still here—the body is gone. The implication is as if Christ passed right through the clothes. Later, Jesus will come through a locked door to speak with the disciples (John 20:19). He will repeat the action to see Thomas (John 20:26).

This raises the question of why the stone was rolled back—if Jesus could pass through solid matter, why open the tomb? The answer, it seems, comes in this very passage. This is visual, physical evidence meant to be seen and understood.

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.