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John 20

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.

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.

Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre.

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

And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in.

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

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

Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed.

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

Then the disciples went away again unto their own home.

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

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.

And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

Then saith he to Thomas, reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.

And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.

Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.

And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book:

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.

What does John 20:15 mean?

Explanation

John 20:15 captures a deeply emotional and significant moment in the Christian narrative.

In the passage, Mary Magdalene is speaking to the risen Christ, though she does not yet recognize Him.

She is at His empty tomb, weeping because she believes His body has been taken away.

Jesus addresses her as "Woman," a term that, while it may seem impersonal to modern ears, was used respectfully at that time.

He inquires about the source of her grief and whom she is seeking.

Mary, not realizing that she is speaking to Jesus and supposing Him to be the caretaker of the garden where the tomb is located, entreats this "gardener" to tell her where Jesus' body has been placed so that she can take care of it herself.

This exchange reflects the confusion and sorrow felt by Jesus's followers after His crucifixion, as well as the dramatic moment of revelation that follows when Jesus reveals His identity to her.

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Historical Context

John 20:15 occurs after the crucifixion and burial of Jesus and describes an event early on the first day of the week, when Mary Magdalene goes to Jesus' tomb and finds it empty. The importance of this event lies in the belief that Jesus rose from the dead, a cornerstone of Christian faith.

The setting of a garden for the tomb is consistent with burial practices of wealthy Jews in the 1st century, and the historical context assumes a familiarity with Jewish burial customs and the importance of anointing the dead body, which Mary intends to perform.

Theological Insights

From Christian perspectives, this verse is rich in theological significance:

Resurrection: The verse sets the stage for a revelation of the Resurrection, affirming the belief that Jesus overcame death.
Misrecognition: Mary's initial failure to recognize Jesus can be seen theologically as a metaphor for spiritual blindness or the inability to perceive divine truth without revelation.
Personal Relationship: When Jesus addresses Mary personally (happening in the following verses), it signifies the personal nature of faith and the intimate relationship Jesus has with each believer.

Practical Applications

The teachings of this verse can influence daily life in several ways:

Dealing with Grief: Mary Magdalene's sincere expression of sorrow can comfort those who are grieving, showing that it is natural to feel loss deeply.
Seeking the Divine: The passage encourages the faithful to actively seek Jesus, even in the midst of misunderstanding or uncertainty.
Recognition of the Divine: The verse invites believers to be open to the presence of the divine in unexpected places and people.

Cross-References

Luke 24:5-6: Similar to Mary Magdalene's experience, the women at Jesus' tomb are asked why they seek the living among the dead, pointing to the resurrection.
Mark 16:6-7: The angel tells Mary Magdalene and the other women that Jesus has risen, and they will see Him in Galilee.
Matthew 28:5-6: An angel addresses the women at the tomb, emphasizing that Jesus has risen as He said.
John 20:14: Just before the current verse, it mentions that Mary Magdalene turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize it was Jesus.

Language Study

In the original Greek text:

Γυναί, τί κλαίεις (gynai, ti klaieis): "Woman, why weepest thou?" "Γυναί" (gynai) is a respectful address to a woman, used various times in the New Testament.
τίνα (tina): "whom" indicating the object of her search.
ζητεῖς (zēteis): "seekest thou" this verb signifies seeking with carefulness and diligence.
κηπουρός (kēpouros): "the gardener" referring to someone who tends a garden, implying here that Mary mistook Jesus for the caretaker.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

This encounter between Mary Magdalene and Jesus bears resemblance to various myths and religious narratives where a deity appears in disguise or is initially unrecognized by mortals.

Similarly, in ancient myths, such as those found in Greek and Roman traditions, gods and goddesses would often appear to humans disguised as ordinary people, reflecting a common theme across cultures of divine figures testing or revealing themselves to individuals.

Scientific Perspectives

While the verse itself does not directly engage with scientific perspectives, modern scientific views on consciousness, grief, and perception may provide additional insight into Mary Magdalene's state of mind and her initial failure to recognize Jesus.

The study of bereavement and its effects on the mind could provide an understanding of why Mary, in her intense grief, did not recognize Jesus at first.

Commentaries

Various experts and biblical commentators have provided insights into John 20:15.

Some suggest that her weeping reflects a profound love for Jesus, while the misrecognition of Jesus is often discussed in terms of spiritual discernment, the idea that spiritual truths are often not immediately apparent to the senses or intellect.

Commentators also see the moment when Mary recognizes Jesus by name as a dramatic turning point, symbolizing the passage from grief to joy and unbelief to faith.

John 20

John 20

What does John 20:15 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated John Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does John 20:15 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated John Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?