John 20 Bible Study: The Empty Tomb and Mary Magdalene

Introduction

Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to Jesus’ tomb and found the stone rolled away. By the end of the morning, she’d seen the risen Lord and heard him speak her name. John 20:1-18 is the heart of Easter: Jesus is risen.

Context

Jesus was crucified on Friday and buried in a garden tomb by Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus (19:38-42). The Sabbath passed. Now it’s Sunday morning, the first Easter.

Passage Overview

Mary finds the stone removed and runs to tell Peter and “the other disciple” (John). They race to the tomb. John arrives first and looks in; Peter goes in and sees the linen cloths lying there and the face cloth folded separately. John enters, “and he saw and believed” (v. 8). Mary stays, weeping. She sees two angels, then turns and sees Jesus, thinking he’s the gardener. When he says, “Mary,” she recognizes him. He sends her to tell the disciples, “I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God” (v. 17). She announces, “I have seen the Lord” (v. 18).

Verse-by-Verse Commentary

Verses 1-2: Darkness and Grief

Mary came “while it was still dark,” fitting her grief. She assumed the body was stolen. Resurrection wasn’t what anyone expected.

Verses 3-10: Grave Clothes

The linen cloths were lying there, and the face cloth was “folded up in a place by itself” (v. 7). Grave robbers wouldn’t unwrap a body and leave the expensive linens neatly behind. John “saw and believed,” even before fully understanding the Scriptures (v. 9).

Verses 11-15: Mary’s Tears

Mary stayed when the others left. Even angels didn’t stop her weeping. Jesus asked, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” (v. 15). It echoes his first words in John’s Gospel: “What are you seeking?” (1:38).

Verse 16: “Mary”

One word, her name, and she knew him. “My sheep hear my voice” (10:27). The Good Shepherd calls his own by name (10:3).

Verse 17: My Father and Your Father

“Do not cling to me” means their relationship would now be different, not ended. Jesus calls the disciples “my brothers” and speaks of “my Father and your Father.” Through his death and resurrection, we become children of God.

Verse 18: The First Witness

Mary Magdalene, a woman whose testimony would have counted for little in that culture, was the first witness to the resurrection. That detail is a strong mark of authenticity: no one inventing the story would have chosen her.

Key Themes

• Jesus is physically risen.
• The evidence is real: an empty tomb, folded grave clothes, eyewitnesses.
• Jesus knows us by name.
• We become God’s children through the risen Christ.
• The risen Jesus sends us to tell others.

Gospel Connection

The resurrection proves that “It is finished” was true. The Father accepted Jesus’ sacrifice. “If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins” (1 Corinthians 15:17). But he has been raised, and he gives eternal life to all who believe. As he told Martha, “I am the resurrection and the life” (11:25).

Application

1. Believe the evidence. Read the resurrection accounts this week.
2. Bring your tears to Jesus. He asks why you’re weeping.
3. Listen for your name. Jesus knows you personally.
4. Live as God’s child. His Father is now your Father.
5. Tell someone: “I have seen the Lord” (in his word and in your life).

Discussion Questions

1. Why do you think Mary came while it was still dark?
2. What do the grave clothes tell us?
3. Why didn’t Mary recognize Jesus at first?
4. What does Jesus calling Mary’s name teach you?
5. What does “my Father and your Father” mean for believers?
6. Why is it significant that Mary was the first witness?
7. Who could you tell about the risen Jesus this Easter?

Frequently Asked Questions

What did Peter and John see in the empty tomb?

They found the burial linens left behind and the head wrapping folded separately (John 20:6-7). Grave robbers would not have unwrapped the body and left the wrappings neatly. The scene pointed to resurrection, and John believed when he saw it (v. 8).

Why didn’t Mary Magdalene recognize Jesus at first?

Mary was weeping and assumed the body had been taken, so she mistook Jesus for the gardener (John 20:14-15). Grief and wrong expectations can blind us. When Jesus spoke her name, she recognized him at once, showing that the risen Shepherd knows his sheep by name.

Why did Jesus tell Mary not to hold on to him?

Jesus was not rejecting Mary’s love. He was explaining that he had not yet ascended and that their relationship would now take a new form (John 20:17). Instead of holding him back, Mary was sent to tell the disciples. She became the first witness of the resurrection.

Prayer

Risen Lord Jesus, thank you that the tomb is empty and you’re alive. Thank you for calling me by name and making your Father my Father. Turn my grief into joy, and send me, like Mary, to tell others: “I have seen the Lord.” Hallelujah! Amen.

---

Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway. Used by permission. All rights reserved.