Verse by Verse

30 And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book;

31 but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.

These verses are John’s purpose statement.

John indicates that he was selective in what he wrote. He only mentions six miracles specifically, although he states that there were others (John 2:23; 3:2; 4:45). He selected, with the guidance of the Spirit, the signs that prove Jesus is the Son of God.

The “many other signs” (v. 30) may be referring to post-resurrection signs done in the presence of just His disciples.

John was probably writing to those who already believed, encouraging them to continue in the faith. The verb tense of “believe” (v. 31) indicates an ongoing action.

24 Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came.

25 The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord.”So he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.”

26 And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, “Peace to you!”

27 Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.”

28 And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!”

29 Jesus said to him,  “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

The disciples first opportunity to witness to the risen Christ was to Thomas (v. 25). It was a failure. He did not believe.

nails (v. 25) — This is the only New Testament reference to the nails. (Some crucified persons were tied to the cross.) This fulfills Psalm 22:16.

Jesus’ words to Thomas (v. 27) show that He was aware of what Thomas had said earlier. This shows His omniscience.

My God (v. 28) — This is the only place in the Gospels where Jesus was addressed directly as God.

19 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, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, “Peace be with you.”

20 When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.

21 So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.”

22 And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.

23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”

doors were shut (v. 19) = in Greek, barred

fear of the Jews (v. 19) — A report was circulating that the disciples had taken the body (Matthew 28:13).

Peace be with you (v. 19) — the standard greeting for Jews

peace (v. 19) — The disciples’ failures, abandonment of Jesus, and denials had all been forgiven

His hands and His side (v. 20) — This was no ghost or illusion. The disciples were finally convinced the resurrection was true (John 16:16, 20).

The commentaries are all over the place regarding verse 22. I think this is where the disciples were indwelled. In Acts 2, they were filled and given special powers. We, today, can be indwelled (and are at salvation) but not filled.

The doors needed not to be unbolted to let Him in. The text makes it clear that the doors remained closed, especially when He appeared again, “the doors being shut, He stood in the midst.” The risen body of our Lord was not bound or controlled by the laws which bind and control the natural body of man. He could enter in, without an angel coming and opening the doors for Him. The risen body is a miracle in itself. That body is supernatural. While it was a real human body, a material body, a body which could be touched and handled, which had bones and flesh, yet it was a spiritual body, endowed with powers which are above our understanding. In that body He appeared and disappeared, was visible and invisible, entered through a close door and departed through a closed door, and it could finally be lifted up, no law of gravitation putting a check upon it, and carried in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, through the heavens into heaven itself. The resurrection body is a great mystery and will remain a mystery till we look no longer into a glass darkly. When that blessed day comes, we shall have the redemption of our body and that future body, in which we shall spend eternity, will be linked unto His glorious body (Philippians 3:21). Then we shall know. Then we shall live as He lives, in a resurrection body of glory. — Gaebelein, page 392

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But what did our Lord mean when He spoke these words [verse 23]?

He conferred upon them undoubtedly the power of declaring through the preaching of the Gospel, in the power of the Holy Spirit, whose sins are forgiven, and whose sins are not forgiven. Their preaching in the Book of Acts gives us examples of this declaration. Peter said in the house of Cornelius, “Whosoever believeth on Him shall receive remission of sins.” When Paul preached the Gospel in Antioch of Pisidia, he said, “Through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins,” and later he said to the jailer in the Macedonian city, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.” They declared that those who believe have their sins remitted, and, naturally, those who do not believe their sins are retained. — Gaebelein, page 396-397

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The Greek word here used [for “breathed” in verse 22] is employed nowhere else in the New Testament, but is the very one used by the Septuagint translators of Genesis 2:7; “And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” There, man’s original creation was completed by this act of God; who, then, can fail to see that here in John 20, on the day of the Savior’s resurrection, the new creation had begun, begun by the Head of the new creation, the last Adam acting as “a quickening spirit” (1 Corinthians 15:45)! The impartation of the Holy Spirit to the disciples was the “firstfruits” of the resurrection, as well as a proof that the Spirit proceeds from the Son as well as the Father — wonderful demonstration of the Savior’s Godhead! — Pink, page 286

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From this moment, the Spirit dwelt within them. We have been accustomed to look upon the change which is so apparent in the apostles as dating from the day of Pentecost, but the great change had occurred before then. Read the closing chapters of each Gospel and the first of Acts, and the proofs of this are conclusive. Their irresolution, their unbelief, their misapprehensions, were all gone. When the cloud finally received the Savior from their sight, instead of being dispersed in consternation “they worshiped Him” and “returned to Jerusalem with great joy” (Luke 24:52) — this was “joy in the Holy Spirit” (Romans 14:17): Moreover, they continued “with one accord in prayer and supplication” (Acts 1:14) — this was the “unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:3). Peter has a clear understanding of Old Testament prophecy (Acts 1:20) — this was the Spirit guiding into the truth (John 16:13). And these things were before Pentecost. What happened at Pentecost was the baptism of power, not the coming of the Spirit to indwell them! — Pink, page 286-287

11 But Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping, and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the tomb.

12 And she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.

13 Then they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?”She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.”

14 Now when she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus.

15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?”She, supposing Him to be the gardener, said to Him, “Sir, if You have carried Him away, tell me where You have laid Him, and I will take Him away.”

16 Jesus said to her, “Mary!”She turned and said to Him, “Rabboni!” (which is to say, Teacher).

17 Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.'”

18 Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that He had spoken these things to her.

Perhaps angels had been guarding the body ever since it was first laid in the tomb (Psalm 91:11) but were invisible to Peter and John. Their presence should have convinced Mary that all was well.

Jesus evidently hid His identity at first, as He did on the road to Emmaus. Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer (2 Corinthians 5:16).

Whom are you seeking? (v. 15) — This is perhaps a gentle rebuke. Why search for God among the dead?

brethren (v. 17) — after His resurrection, Jesus called His disciples brothers (Hebrews 2:11-14).

Her [Mary’s] immediate response was to touch Him and cling to Him. But Jesus stopped her: “Do not hold on to Me,” which could also be translated “stop clinging to me.” The Greek verb underlying “clinging” is a present imperative. The action had already begun when Jesus spoke this to Mary. He was not preventing Mary from touching Him (which would be the meaning if an aorist imperative had been used). Perhaps Mary wanted to hold Jesus and so recapture the former relationship with Him or make sure He didn’t leave her. But Jesus was indicating that He had entered into a new, spiritual realm as the result of His resurrection. Life was not as it had been before. — Comfort, page 319.

1 Now the first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb.

2 Then she ran and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.”

3 Peter therefore went out, and the other disciple, and were going to the tomb.

4 So they both ran together, and the other disciple outran Peter and came to the tomb first.

5 And he, stooping down and looking in, saw the linen cloths lying there; yet he did not go in.

6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; and he saw the linen cloths lying there,

7 and the handkerchief that had been around His head, not lying with the linen cloths, but folded together in a place by itself.

8 Then the other disciple, who came to the tomb first, went in also; and he saw and believed.

9 For as yet they did not know the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead.

10 Then the disciples went away again to their own homes.

Mary Magdalene visited the tomb before sunrise (Mark 16:2) with other women (as recorded in Matthew, Mark and Luke). John 20:2 says “we.” This was after Christ rose, after the earthquake rolled away the stone and after the soldiers had fled.

The women went to the tomb to anoint the body with spices (Matthew 28:1; Mark 16:1).

Magdalene — from Magdala, a town near Capernaum (Luke 8:1-3)

John looked in and saw the clothes (v. 5) and probably thought it was the body. Peter went into the tomb and saw the head cloth lying separately (v. 6) and called John in.

John saw (v. 5) = in Greek, “glanced”

Peter saw (v. 6) = in Greek, “observed” — passive, without understanding

John saw (v.8) = in Greek, “understood” — John was the first to grasp the truth of the resurrection, but he still didn’t understand everything (v. 9).

The grave clothes were in order (v. 7), proof that no thief had taken the body. They were still in the shape they would have been in if a body had been inside.

All three members of the Trinity were involved in the resurrection — Father (Romans 6:4); Son (John 10:17); Spirit (Romans 8:11).

38 After this, Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly, for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus; and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took the body of Jesus.

39 And Nicodemus, who at first came to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds.

40 Then they took the body of Jesus, and bound it in strips of linen with the spices, as the custom of the Jews is to bury.

41 Now in the place where He was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid.

42 So there they laid Jesus, because of the Jews’ Preparation Day, for the tomb was nearby.

Crucified criminals were often left unburied, hanging on the cross. Joseph had opposed the council’s decision to crucify Jesus (Luke 23:50-51).

And they made His grave with the wicked — but with the rich at His death … (Isaiah 53:9) — literally, “His grave was appointed with the wicked” (what the Jews wanted) “but with the rich man in His death” (Joseph was rich — Matthew 27:57).

Nicodemus (v. 39) — He is mentioned in John 3, in John 7:50 and here. Perhaps he believed after seeing “the Son of Man lifted up.”

myrrh and aloes (v. 39) — a hundred pounds was a large and expensive amount, as would be used for a king’s burial.

Christ’s body didn’t corrupt — Psalm 16:10: For You will not leave my soul in Sheol, nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption.

tomb (v. 41) — sepulcher carved out of rock

31 Therefore, because it was the Preparation Day, that the bodies should not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.

32 Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who was crucified with Him.

33 But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs.

34 But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out.

35 And he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you may believe.

36 For these things were done that the Scripture should be fulfilled, “Not one of His bones shall be broken.”

37 And again another Scripture says, “They shall look on Him whom they pierced.”

Preparation Day (v. 31) — Friday, the day before Passover Sabbath

might be taken away (v. 31) — If a man has committed a sin deserving of death, and he is put to death, and you hang him on a tree, his body shall not remain overnight on the tree, but you shall surely bury him that day, so that you do not defile the land which the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance; for he who is hanged is accursed of God (Deuteronomy 21:22-23).

It often took two or three days for a crucified person to die. Christ was dead after six hours. The other two were almost certainly still alive (Mark 15:44).

break (v. 33) — shiver to pieces, probably with a mallet or heavy bar

blood and water (v. 34) — the vitals, the pericardium. If Christ hadn’t already been dead, this thrust would have killed Him. (1 John 5:6) This is proof that He died as a human.

blood (v.34) = justification

water (v.34) = sanctification by the Word (Psalm 119:9)

his testimony is true (v. 35) — John is stating that he, with his own eyes, saw definite evidence that Jesus was dead.

No bones of the Passover lamb were broken (v. 36) — Exodus 12:46; Numbers 9:12; Psalm 34:20

With broken legs, a crucified person could not lift himself up to breath air into his collapsed lungs and would soon suffocate.

quote (v. 37) — Zechariah 12:10 — The fulfillment of the rest of the verse is still future, looking to His second coming.

whom they pierced (v. 37) — The Jews cannot escape their guilt (Acts 2:23; Revelation 1:7). They will look at Him in the future also — John does not say that this prophecy was fulfilled.

25 Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.

26 When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold your son!”

27 Then He said to the disciple, “Behold your mother!” And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home.

28 After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, “I thirst!”

29 Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth.

30 So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.

Mary (v. 25) — Simeon had predicted her sorrow (Luke 2:35).

disciple whom He loved (v. 26) — John

Woman (v. 26) — Perhaps Christ didn’t use “mother” to make a statement about who He was and to show that Mary should not be worshiped based on her relationship with Him.

The three hours of darkness probably occurred between verses 27 and 28.

thirst (v. 28) — My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and My tongue clings to My jaws; You have brought Me to the dust of death (Psalm 22:15). His thirst shows that His suffering was real.

sour wine (vinegar — v. 29) — They also gave me gall for my food, and for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink (Psalm 69:21). The vinegar was to deaden pain (Matthew 27:34). Christ would not take it. It was perhaps given to Christ by Roman soldiers who administered the crucifixion and had seen Christ on the cross for six hours by this time. They may have given it to Him in compassion and/or reverence.

hyssop — used to sprinkle blood on the doorposts in the Passover — also mentioned in Hebrews 9:19

It is finished (v. 30) — in Greek, this is one word, tetelestai, a shout of victory. It can mean “It is paid in full.”

gave up His spirit (v. 30) — voluntarily and willingly

But who can tell what this one word “It is finished!” means? It is as glorious as it is inexhaustible and unsearchable. Never before and never after was spoken such a marvelous word, which means so much. No saint is able to measure the depths of this triumphant shout. It means that His great sacrificial work, the sin-bearing, was now finished. All that needed to be done to satisfy the righteousness of God and to vindicate His holiness was finished; peace was now made in the blood of His cross; all that God in His eternal counsel had purposed was finished; prophecies and types relating to His matchless atoning work were finished. Yea, all was finished to reach down to man in his deepest degradation and to save him to the uttermost, so that the lost, the guilty, the hell-deserving sinner becomes, trusting in Him, a child of God and an heir of glory. All is finished to put on the side of the believer every spiritual blessing which an infinite God is able to bestow. — Gaebelein, page 371

17 And He, bearing His cross, went out to a place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha,

18 where they crucified Him, and two others with Him, one on either side, and Jesus in the center.

19 Now Pilate wrote a title and put it on the cross. And the writing was:JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS.

20 Then many of the Jews read this title, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin.

21 Therefore the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but, ‘He said, “I am the King of the Jews.”‘”

22 Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written.”

23 Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took His garments and made four parts, to each soldier a part, and also the tunic. Now the tunic was without seam, woven from the top in one piece.

24 They said therefore among themselves, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be,” that the Scripture might be fulfilled which says, “They divided My garments among them, And for My clothing they cast lots.” Therefore the soldiers did these things.

bearing His cross (v. 17) — fulfilling the type of Isaac (Genesis 22:6)

Matthew (Matthew 27:32) says that a man named Simon carried the cross. We don’t know why John’s account is different. Commentaries speculate, but the Bible doesn’t say.

Golgotha (v. 17) —  It’s not known where this was except that it was outside the gates of Jerusalem (Hebrews 13:12) — as was the sin offering (Leviticus 16:27).

Christ was crucified between two criminals — Isaiah 53:12; Luke 23:39-43

It was customary to carry a plaque before a criminal on the way to his execution that explained his crime and then to nail it to the cross as a warning (v. 19).

Hebrew (Aramaic) was the language of the Jews. Greek was the language of the Gentiles. Latin was the political court language.

tunic (v. 23) — inner garment

quote (v. 24) is from Psalm 22:18.

The name “Calvary” is from the Latin calvaria = skull.

12 From then on Pilate sought to release Him, but the Jews cried out, saying, “If you let this Man go, you are not Caesar’s friend. Whoever makes himself a king speaks against Caesar.”

13 When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus out and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called The Pavement, but in Hebrew, Gabbatha.

14 Now it was the Preparation Day of the Passover, and about the sixth hour. And he said to the Jews, “Behold your King!”

15 But they cried out, “Away with Him, away with Him! Crucify Him!”Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar!”

16 Then he delivered Him to them to be crucified. Then they took Jesus and led Him away.

Pilate was afraid of what Tiberius Caesar would do if the Jews sent him a report that Pilate had released someone claiming to be king.

The Jews hated Roman rule and wanted a king who would overthrow it. But, in hypocrisy, they claimed to be friends and subjects of Caesar.

Gabbatha (v. 13) = raised place. An elevated platform outside the palace (the Fortress of Antonia). There was a chair — the Bema = judgment seat on a tiled pavement.

Preparation Day of the Passover (v. 14) — Friday, the day before the Passover Sabbath (Saturday)

the sixth hour (v. 14) — John reckons by Roman time in which the day began at midnight (as we do). At 6 am, the Jews called out “Crucify Him!”

Mark uses Hebrew time, so in his account, it was the third hour when Christ was crucified — which was the very time the Passover lambs were slaughtered.

We have no king but Caesar (v. 15) — A rejection, not only of Christ, but of God. The Jews rejected the Davidic line. They rejected the promises and prophecies. They acknowledged only a Gentile pagan as ruler.

Pilate gave the death sentence — Matthew 27:24; Luke 23:24

delivered Him to them (v. 16) — to the Jewish will (Luke 23:25), but it was Roman soldiers who crucified Him.

Who was Pilate? It is supposed that he was a freedman. About the  year 26 S.D. he had succeeded Valerius Gratus as procurator of Judea and Samaria. This position he held for ten years. Josephus records the fact that he hated the whole Jewish race. He also was tyrannical toward the Samaritans. They entered a complaint against him and he had to go to Rome to defend himself. Before he arrived, Tiberius Caesar, whom he feared, had died. According to the historian Eusebius, Pilate committed suicide. — Gaebelein, page 360.

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Our Lord’s own estimate of Pilate’s act is recorded by the Spirit of prophecy through the Psalmist: “Shall the throne of iniquity have fellowship with that which frameth mischief by a law? They gather themselves together against the soul of the righteous, and condemn the innocent blood” (Psalm 94:20-21). Let us not forget, however, that behind the governor of Judea, who delivered the Lord Jesus unto the Jews, was the Governor of the Universe, who “spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all” (Romans 8:32). And why? Because He was “delivered for our offenses” (Romans 4:25). Christ was delivered to death, that we might be delivered from death. — Pink, page 227-228.