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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 20:16 mean?

Explanation

John 20:16 recounts a poignant moment in the New Testament where Mary Magdalene, after discovering the empty tomb and speaking with what she initially thought were angels, encounters the resurrected Jesus.

Unaware that He has risen, she mistakes Him for the gardener.

When Jesus speaks her name, "Mary," she recognizes Him and responds with "Rabboni," which John translates as "Master." This immediate recognition upon hearing her name highlights the personal and intimate nature of the relationship between Jesus and His followers.

The literal meaning of the verse records a simple exchange of recognition.

The deeper meaning, however, shows the fundamental change in Mary Magdalene's understanding.

She moves from despair over Jesus' death to the joy of recognition that He is alive.

This single word, "Rabboni," also reflects the honor and reverence she has for Jesus, acknowledging Him as her teacher and lord.

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Historical Context

John 20:16 is situated within the narrative of Jesus' resurrection as described in the Gospel of John.

The historical context is the Jewish environment of the early 1st century A.D., after the crucifixion and purported resurrection of Jesus.

Within this context, it was typical for women to visit tombs to mourn the deceased, which is what brought Mary Magdalene to the tomb initially.

The notion of a physical resurrection was not a common expectation; hence, her initial misunderstanding of the situation is culturally understandable.

Theological Insights

Different Christian denominations might emphasize various theological insights from this passage:

Recognition and Relationship: The moment of recognition speaks to the personal relationship each believer can have with Christ.
The Importance of Women in the Gospels: The fact that a woman is the first to witness and proclaim the resurrected Christ challenges some societal norms of the time and underscores the inclusive nature of Jesus' ministry.
Resurrection as a Central Doctrine: This encounter underscores the importance of the resurrection in Christian theology, serving as a foundational proof of Jesus' divinity and the fulfillment of prophecy.

Practical Applications

Practically, this verse can be applied in daily life in the following ways:

Listening for the Call: Just as Mary recognized Jesus by His voice, believers today may be encouraged to listen for and recognize God's call in their own lives.
Personal Relationship with God: Understanding that God knows us individually and desires a personal relationship can encourage believers to seek a deeper intimacy with their faith.

Cross-References

Luke 24:34 - "Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon."
John 10:3 - "To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out."
Mark 16:9 - "Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils."

Language Study

In the original Greek text, "Rabboni" (ῥαββουνῐ́) is an Aramaic word meaning "my master" or "my teacher." The term is a more personal and exalted form of "Rabbi," indicating a deep respect and recognition of Jesus' authority.

The use of Aramaic amidst the Greek text emphasizes the authenticity and emotional intensity of the encounter.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The Recognition of Divine Beings in Other Religions: The theme of recognizing a spiritual figure is not unique to Christianity.

Various myths and religions recount mortals' encounters with deities or prophets, often with a feature of recognition or a revelatory moment.

Women and Spiritual Revelations: Other ancient cultures and religious traditions also feature women who receive divine insights or encounters, suggesting an archetypal role for women as conduits of spiritual wisdom.

Scientific Perspectives

While the scientific perspective does not deal directly with matters of faith such as the resurrection, psychology can provide insights into the profound impact such an experience might have on a person.

An encounter of this magnitude could lead to transformational psychological changes, altering Mary's cognitive and emotional states drastically.

Commentaries

Commentaries from scholars and theologians on John 20:16 offer a variety of perspectives:

Some focus on the transformational aspect of the encounter, emphasizing the move from grief to joy and from disbelief to faith.
Others delve into the significance of Jesus appearing to a woman first, highlighting the role of women in the early church.
There is also discussion on the nature of resurrection appearances and how this differentiates Jesus from the other figures in history who claimed messianic or prophetic titles.

John 20

John 20

What does John 20:16 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 20:16 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?