John 20:1–18

Bible Studies for Life
Director, Extension Division, Beeson Divinity School, Samford University

Jesus Lives For Us
John 20:1–18
Christ, in obedience to God and in fulfillment of Scripture, had just given Himself out of love for all mankind. John tells us that later that Friday, the authorities turned the body over to Joseph of Arimathea — a believer in and follower of Jesus — who, with Nicodemus, prepared and then buried Christ in a garden tomb. What happened next changed the world, and many of our lives, forever.

Searching — But Not Finding (1–2)
Very early on Sunday — it was still dark outside — Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and found that the stone that had covered the entrance was rolled away. When she looked inside, she saw that Jesus’ body was not there. Mary took this information to Peter and John, telling them that someone had taken “the Lord out of the tomb” and she didn’t know where He might be.

Believing — But Not Understanding (3–10)
Once they received Mary’s report, these two disciples ran to the tomb. John arrived first, looked inside and saw Jesus’ grave clothes. Peter then entered the opening and saw the same thing but came out of the grave seemingly confused. John then stepped in, fully observed everything and “believed” (that Christ had risen). Scripture also tells us that none of them seemed to remember Jesus’ declaration that He would rise after dying.

Seeing — But Not Recognizing (11–15)
Peter and John left but Mary Magdalene remained near the tomb and looked inside. Upon doing so, she saw two angels who asked her why she was crying. Mary told them Jesus had been taken away and she didn’t know where. She turned around and encountered Jesus but thought He was the gardener. He then asked her the same question as the angels, and she replied in the same fashion. Mary was desperate to find the Lord.

Seeing — And Telling (16–18)
Jesus spoke to Mary again, and that time, she recognized and grabbed onto Him. But instead of allowing her to stay there, focused on this reunion, He gave her a firm instruction to “go to my brothers and tell them.”

Three different encounters at the tomb and three different responses. And each of these three close followers of Jesus failed to grasp that He really had risen from the dead as He had promised to do.

Isn’t that how it always seems to be? We encounter great stress and wonder where our “Lord” is? He is supposed to be there — we know that — but we allow the distractions in our lives to take our eyes off of Him, and suddenly, it seems, we can’t find Him.

Peter just didn’t get “it” and went home. John witnessed, believed in the resurrection but couldn’t grasp what should come next and departed. Mary stayed. She was looking for answers. She explored the tomb, talked with the angels and spoke with the “gardener.” Mary wanted to find Jesus. She needed Him. He promised to meet all of her needs, to be her peace, comfort, provision, family, everything. He promised to be there.

She was searching for answers. Don’t we all? When the pressure is on, when disappointments occur, when we feel like something is missing, we search for answers. Sometimes we forget to search for Jesus. He doesn’t hide from us; we’re just not looking.

The resurrection is the answer. But sometimes, for a moment, we forget that. The resurrection that Jesus promised brings the new life we desire, search for and need. And without it, we remain lost and searching. Mary teaches us a great lesson — no matter what was going wrong around her, she was determined to seek her answers in Christ.

And then He spoke and she knew. It was Him. He wasn’t gone. Jesus had been there the whole time. And will be there for eternity.

But that’s not the end. Just as Jesus instructed her, He instructs us to tell everyone who He is and what He’s done for us, forever.

Jesus did what He promised to do — He died and rose for us so that we could live. So that we could hear Him assure us that if we continually seek Him, we will find Him.