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Scott's Reference Library
John 20:1 through John 20:18 (NIV)
1Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene
went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. 2So
she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and
said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they
have put him!”
3So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. 4Both were running, but
the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5He bent over and
looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. 6Then Simon
Peter, who was behind him, arrived and went into the tomb. He saw the strips of
linen lying there, 7as well as the burial cloth that had been around Jesus’
head. The cloth was folded up by itself, separate from the linen. 8Finally the
other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and
believed. 9(They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise
from the dead.)
10Then the disciples went back to their homes, 11but Mary stood outside the tomb
crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb 12and saw two angels in
white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the
foot.
13They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?”
“They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put
him.” 14At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not
realize that it was Jesus.
15“Woman,” he said, “why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?”
Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell
me where you have put him, and I will get him.”
16Jesus said to her, “Mary.”
She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means
Teacher).
17Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father.
Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am returning to my Father and your
Father, to my God and your God.’”
18Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!”
And she told them that he had said these things to her.
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
VERSES 1-10
If Christ gave his life a ransom, and had not taken it again, it would not have
appeared that his giving it was accepted as satisfaction. It was a great trial
to Mary, that the body was gone. Weak believers often make that the matter of
complaint, which is really just ground of hope, and matter of joy. It is well
when those more honoured than others with the privileges of disciples, are more
active than others in the duty of disciples; more willing to take pains, and run
hazards, in a good work. We must do our best, and neither envy those who can do
better, nor despise those who do as well as they can, though they come behind.
The disciple whom Jesus loved in a special manner, and who therefore in a
special manner loved Jesus, was foremost. The love of Christ will make us to
abound in every duty more than any thing else. He that was behind was Peter, who
had denied Christ. A sense of guilt hinders us in the service of God. As yet the
disciples knew not the Scripture; they Christ must rise again from the dead.
VERSES 11-18
We are likely to seek and find, when we seek with affection, and seek in tears.
But many believers complain of the clouds and darkness they are under, which are
methods of grace for humbling their souls, mortifying their sins, and endearing
Christ to them. A sight of angels and their smiles, will not suffice, without a
sight of Jesus, and God’s smiles in him. None know, but those who have tasted
it, the sorrows of a deserted soul, which has had comfortable evidences of the
love of God in Christ, and hopes of heaven, but has now lost them, and walks in
darkness; such a wounded spirit who can bear? Christ, in manifesting himself to
those that seek him, often outdoes their expectations. See how Mary’s heart was
in earnest to find Jesus. Christ’s way of making himself known to his people is
by his word; his word applied to their souls, speaking to them in particular. It
might be read, Is it my Master? See with what pleasure those who love Jesus
speak of his authority over them. He forbids her to expect that his bodily
presence look further, than the present state of things. Observe the relation to
God, from union with Christ. We, partaking of a Divine nature, Christ’s Father
is our Father; and he, partaking of the human nature, our God is his God.
Christ’s ascension into heaven, there to plead for us, is likewise an
unspeakable comfort. Let them not think this earth is to be their home and rest;
their eye and aim, and earnest desires, must be upon another world, and this
ever upon their hearts, I ascend, therefore I must seek the things which are
above. And let those who know the word of Christ, endeavour that others should
get good from their knowledge.