Scofield Reference Bible Notes
John 20

Jhn 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.

The first day of the week

For order of events on the resurection day, see Scofield Matthew 28:1, note.

Jhn 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.

the other disciple, whom Jesus loved

Jhn 13:23; 19:26; 21:7, 20, 24.

They have taken away the Lord

Jhn 19:11-13; Luk 24:21.

Jhn 20:4 So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre.

the other disciple did outrun Peter

Jhn 21:20.

Jhn 20:6 Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie,

Simon Peter…went into the sepulchre

Jhn 21:7.

Jhn 20:7 And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself.

the napkin, that was about his head

Jhn 11:44.

Jhn 20:9 For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead.

he must rise again from the dead

Psa 16:10; Luk 24:24-26; Act 2:25, 31; 13:34-35.

Jhn 20:10 Then the disciples went away again unto their own home.

went away again unto their own home

Cf. Jhn 21:3.

Jhn 20:11 But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre,

Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping

Jhn 20:13.

Jhn 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.

two angels in white

Luk 24:4.

Jhn 20:14 And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.

knew not that it was Jesus

Luk 24:16; Jhn 21:4.

Jhn 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.

whom seekest thou?

Jhn 1:38; 18:4.

Jhn 20:16 Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.

Jesus saith unto her, Mary

Jhn 10:3.

Jhn 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.

Touch me not

Or, do not detain me.

Cf. Matthew 28:9, "and they came and held him by the feet." A contradiction has been supposed. Three views are held:

1. That Jesus speaks to Mary as the High Priest fulfilling the day of atonement (Lev 16). Having accomplished the sacrifice, He was on His way to present the sacred blood in heaven, and that, between the meeting with Mary in the garden and the meeting of Mat 28:9, He had so ascended and returned: a view in harmony with types.
2. That Mary Magdalene, knowing as yet only Christ after the flesh (2Co 5:15-17), and having found her Beloved, sought only to hold Him so; while He, about to assume a new relation to His disciples in ascension, gently teaches Mary that now she must not seek to hold Him to the earth, but rather become His messenger of the new joy.
3. That He merely meant: "Do not detain me now; I am not yet ascended; you will see me again; run rather to my brethren," etc.

ascended to my Father

Luk 24:51; Heb 4:14-15.

brethren

Heb 2:11.

my Father

Jhn 17:11; Eph 1:3.

your Father

Gal 4:6.

Jhn 20:18 Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her.

Mary Magdalene…had seen the Lord

Mat 28:10; Luk 24:10.

Jhn 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.

fear of the Jews

Jhn 19:38; Act 12:12-17.

Jesus…stood in the midst

Miracles (N.T.). Jhn 21:6. (Mat 8:2-3; Act 28:8-9.)

Peace be unto you

Jhn 14:27; Eph 2:17.

Jhn 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.

he shewed unto them his hands

Luk 24:40; Col 1:20.

Then were the disciples glad

Jhn 16:22.

Jhn 20:21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.

as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you

Mat 28:18-20; Jhn 17:18.

Jhn 20:22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:

he breathed on them

Gen 2:7; 1Co 15:45.

Holy Ghost

Holy Spirit (N.T.). Act 1:2, 5, 8, 16. (Mat 1:18; Act 2:4.)

Jhn 20:23 Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.

Whose soever sins ye remit

Mat 16:19; 18:18.

Jhn 20:24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.

Didymus

Jhn 11:16.

Jhn 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.

Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails

Zec 12:10; Jhn 4:48.

Jhn 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.

Peace be unto you

Jhn 20:19.

Jhn 20:28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and My God.

My Lord and My God

Jhn 1:1, 49; 9:35-38; Phl 2:10-11.

The deity of Jesus Christ is declared in Scripture:

1. In the intimations and explicit predictions of the O.T.
   1. The theophanies intimate the appearance of God in human form, and His ministry thus to man (Gen 16:7-13; 18:2-23, especially Gen 18:17; 32:28 with Hos 12:3-5; Exo 3:2-14).
   2. The Messiah is expressly declared to be the Son of God (Psa 2:2-9), and God (Psa 45:6-7 with Heb 1:8-9; Psa 110:1 with Mat 22:44; Act 2:34 and Heb 1:13; Psa 110:4 with Heb 5:6; 6:20; 7:17-21 and Zec 6:13).
   3. His virgin birth was foretold as the means through which God could be "Immanuel," God with us (Isa 7:13-14 with Mat 1:22-23).
   4. The Messiah is expressly invested with the divine names (Isa 9:6-7).
   5. In a prophecy of His death He is called Jehovah's "fellow" (Zec 13:7 with Mat 26:31).
   6. His eternal being is declared (Mic 5:2 with Mat 2:6; Jhn 7:42).
2. Christ Himself affirmed His deity.
   1. He applied to Himself the Jehovistic I AM. (The pronoun "he" is not in the Greek; cf. Jhn 8:24; 8:56-58. The Jews correctly understood this to be our Lord's claim to full deity [Jhn 8:59]. See, also, Jhn 10:33; 18:4-6 where, also, "he" is not in the original.)
   2. He claimed to be the Adonai of the O.T. (Mat 22:42-45. See Scofield Genesis 15:2, note).
   3. He asserted His identity with the Father (Mat 28:19; Mar 14:62; Jhn 10:30; that the Jews so understood Him is shown by Jhn 10:31-32; 14:8-9; 17:5).
   4. He exercised the chief prerogative of God (Mar 2:5-7; Luk 7:48-50).
   5. He asserted omnipresence (Mat 18:20; Jhn 3:13); omniscience (Jhn 11:11-14, when Jesus was fifty miles away; Mar 11:6-8); omnipotence (Mat 28:18; Luk 7:14; Jhn 5:21-23; 6:19); mastery over nature, and creative power (Luk 9:16-17; Jhn 2:9; 10:28).
   6. He received and approved human worship (Mat 14:33; 28:9; Jhn 20:28-29).
3. The N.T. writers ascribe divine titles to Christ (Jhn 1:1; 20:28; Act 20:28; Rom 1:4; 9:5; 2Th 1:12; 1Ti 3:16; Tit 2:13; Heb 1:8; 1Jo 5:20).
4. The N.T. writers ascribe divine perfections and attributes to Christ (e.g. Mat 11:28; 18:20; 28:20; Jhn 1:2; 2:23-25; 3:13; 5:17; 21:17; Heb 1:3, 11-12 with Heb 13:8; Rev 1:8, 17-18; 2:23; 11:17; 22:13).
5. The N.T. writers ascribe divine works to Christ (Jhn 1:3, 10; Col 1:16-17; Heb 1:3).
6. The N.T. writers teach that supreme worship should be paid to Christ (Act 7:59-60; 1Co 1:2; 2Co 13:14; Phl 2:9-10; Heb 1:6; Rev 1:5-6; 5:12-13).
7. The holiness and resurrection of Christ prove His deity (Jhn 8:46; Rom 1:4).

Jhn 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.

blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed

Rom 4:18-20; 2Co 5:7.

Jhn 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.

believe

Faith. Act 3:16. (Gen 3:20; Heb 11:39.)

life

Life (eternal). Act 2:28. (Mat 7:14; Rev 22:19.)