Bible ReadingJohn 20:31 “but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”
[00:48]John 20:1–18 “Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, ‘They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.’ So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus' head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead. Then the disciples went back to their homes.
“But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. They said to her, ‘Woman, why are you weeping?’ She said to them, ‘They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.’ Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?’ Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, ‘Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.’ Jesus said to her, ‘Mary.’ She turned and said to him in Aramaic, ‘Rabboni!’ (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, ‘Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, “I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.”’ Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, ‘I have seen the Lord’—and that he had said these things to her.”
[14:57]John 20:19–23 “On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.’ When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.’ And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.’”
[17:26]John 20:24–29 “Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, ‘We have seen the Lord.’ But he said to them, ‘Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will not believe.’
“Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you.’ Then he said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.’ Thomas answered him, ‘My Lord and my God!’ Jesus said to him, ‘Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.’”
[19:17]Observation questions- What details in John 20:1–10 show that Mary, Peter, and John arrived at the tomb with different expectations and responses?
- What changes for Mary when Jesus speaks her name, and what does she do immediately afterward? [16:20]
- What is still true about the disciples’ situation when Jesus says, “Peace be with you”? What has not changed outside the locked room? [18:35]
- What does Thomas ask for before he will believe, and what words does he use after Jesus meets him? [19:42]
Interpretation questions- John says that he “saw and believed,” even though the disciples did not yet understand all that Scripture said about the resurrection. What does this show about taking a step of faith before every question is answered? [15:55]
- Mary comes to the tomb expecting death and disappointment, yet she meets the risen Jesus. How does this moment help explain why resurrection hope can change the way believers see loss, suffering, and situations that seem final? [15:28]
- Jesus gives peace while the disciples remain behind locked doors and their enemies remain a real threat. How is Jesus’ peace different from simply having an easy or problem-free life? [18:01]
- Jesus does not reject Thomas for his doubts but calls him to believe. How can a person bring honest questions to Jesus without allowing doubt to become a reason to stop seeking him? [20:19]
Application questions- What has been tempting you to use as the foundation of your identity—success, relationships, health, approval, security, or something else? What would it look like this week to root your identity more deeply in Jesus, who does not fail or change? [02:07]
- Is there an area where you have been telling God, “I will obey if it happens in my timeframe or in the way I prefer”? What might it mean to offer God a more honest surrender and say, “Yes, Lord, your servant is listening”? [06:23]
- Jesus calls his sheep by name, and his sheep learn to recognize his voice. What regular practice could help you spend more time listening to Jesus this week—Scripture, prayer, quiet, worship, or obedience to something he has already shown you? [05:05]
- Where do you most need to receive Jesus’ peace right now? Since peace does not mean that every problem has disappeared, how might you look for Jesus’ presence in the middle of that situation? [18:01]
- Thomas moved from doubt to saying, “My Lord and my God.” What question, disappointment, or struggle do you need to bring honestly to Jesus rather than hiding it or giving up? [20:33]
- Jesus says, “As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” Who in your everyday life may be carrying pain, fear, grief, or hopelessness and needs to see the hope of Jesus through your words or actions? [21:28]
- The goal is not merely more information about Jesus, but life and transformation in his name. What is one specific area where you want your belief in Jesus to become visible through humility, service, forgiveness, courage, or love this week? [23:01]
