JOH 20In this chapter Mary of Magdala represents the believing remnant of the Jews transferred into the new position and power of our present blessings in Christ: while Thomas represents the Jews who will not believe till Christ appears in glory. All is the blessed result of the work of Christ in atonement.
Verse 1. The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulcher, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulcher. Had she taken into her heart what the Lord had said, she would not have been there; not because of indifference on her part, for she loved Him very devotedly, as we can see by her presence there, but because, as the Messiah, He had delivered her from the power of the devil, and she still had Him before her soul in that character. She did not yet know Him as the Son of God, nor the power of His resurrection.
Verse 2. On seeing the empty tomb, and not understanding why it was so, she ran and told Peter, and the other disciple whom Jesus loved, "They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulcher, and we know not where they have laid Him."
Verses 3-10. These two then ran to the sepulcher; the other disciple outran Peter, and came first to the sepulcre. He stooped down and looked in and saw the linen clothes lying, yet went he not in. When Peter came, he went in and saw the linen clothes lie, and the napkin that was about His head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself. The other disciple also went in, and he saw and believed, for as yet they knew not the scriptures that He must rise again from the dead. There had been no haste, but perfect calmness and composure marked the tomb, even lo the wrapping up the napkin taken off His blessed head. Then the disciples go away to their own home, as if they had no further interest. They did not lay hold of God's thoughts of His Son yet. They saw and believed.
Verses 11-18. But Mary could not go away. Where else could she find Him whom her soul loved? She stood there weeping, and stooping down, and looking into the sepulcher. She sees two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. They say to her, "Woman, why weepest thou?" She replied, "Because they have taken away My Lord, and I know not where they have laid Him." How great was her affection for Him! too great for angels to satisfy.
The Lord will answer it, for as she turned herself back she saw Jesus standing, but did not yet recognize Him. Jesus says to her, "Woman, Why weepest thou? Whom seekest thou?" She, supposing Him to be the gardener, saith unto Him, "Sir, if thou have borne Him hence, tell me where thou hast laid Him, and I will take Him away." Jesus saith unto her, "Mary." She turned herself, and saith unto Him, "Rabboni", "Master." She knows Him now.
"He calleth His own sheep by name, and leadeth them out." (John 10:33To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. (John 10:3)) He is now leading her out of her old position in Judaism under the law, into the new position in Christ as a child of God the Father. But the manner of her knowing Him is now to be changed, so He says, "Touch Me not." It is by faith she is to know Him henceforth, (2 Cor. 5:16,16Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. (2 Corinthians 5:16)) no longer as Messiah on earth, for He is going back. to His Father and God, but in a spiritual way now, that is, by faith, but before He goes He gives her a message to convey-the new blessing to His brethren. For the first time, He calls them His brethren. "Touch Me not; for I am not yet ascended to My Father: but go to My brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto My Father, and your Father; and to My God, and your God." Such words were never heard before. This is outside the fold; it is the flock now, the family of God. It is association with the Son of God raised from the dead, and ascended to the Father's right hand. In its fullness, it could only be entered into, and enjoyed when the Holy Spirit was given. Mary did not forget a word of it. She came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that He had spoken these things unto her. She was ignorant no longer.
Verses 19, 20. It was the news of the risen, living One, that brought them all together the evening of the same day, being the first day of the week, marking a new epoch, and giving it its character from the resurrection day. It was the "morrow after the Sabbath" (Lev. 23.) When the wave sheaf was offered; it was not the Sabbath changed. For the Christian it is, "the Lord's day." They were together with the doors shut, apart from the antagonistic world and its religion. It was complete separation from it. The doors were shut for fear of the Jews, and there the Lord comes and takes His place in their midst, with the loving salutation, "Peace (be) unto you." He then showed them His hands and His side as the fullest proof that it is Himself, and that His work of atonement is finished and accepted by God who raised Him from the dead for their perfect peace and eternal salvation. He now is their gathering center Himself in their midst. (Math. 18:20.) Blessed be His name, that was the beginning of it, but the blessing of His presence is given to the two or three still.
Verses 21-23. This blessed story is for others also. He again says, "Peace unto you: as My Father hath sent Me, even so send I you." When He had so said, He breathed on them, and saith unto them, "Receive ye the Holy Ghost: Whose so ever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose so ever sins ye retain, they are retained." They were thus His sent ones bearing the message of forgiveness to those who would receive it, and to the condemnation of those who reject it.
While this was true in a special manner of His apostles, it is also true in the measure of grace given to each one here to represent the Lord, but to fit them for such a mission, we see Linn here breathing on them-as God breathed into man's nostrils at the beginning the breath of life, and man became a living soul; (Gen. 2.) so here the living, risen Man, (Col. 3:1-41If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. (Colossians 3:1‑4)) the first born from the dead, gives them His risen life, and the Holy Spirit, as its power, which not only frees them from the law of sin and death, (Rom. 8:22For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. (Romans 8:2)) but also gave them to bear witness for a heavenly Christ in this the scene of His rejection. While this 23rd verse was in a special manner true of the Apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ, we must remember, it is in connection here with the gospel that brings the sinner to know His sins all put away forever from God's sight, through the death of Christ, His well beloved Son. It is not the assembly forgiveness or discipline. (as in 1 Cor. 5 or 2 Cor. 2.) It is the forgiveness through the work of Christ, which the gospel brings to us.
Verses 24, 25. Thomas represents the Jews who will not believe till Christ appears in glory.(Zech. 12.)
Verses 26-28. This is a distinct period, after eight days. It pictures for us how the Jews will be convinced of their sins, at least, of crucifying the Lord of Glory, when they shall look on Him whom they pierced, and shall mourn for Him, and then be restored as a nation. So Thomas is convinced, and said, "My Lord, and my God." (Compare Zech. 13:99And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The Lord is my God. (Zechariah 13:9).) It is a Jewish confession.
Verse 29. Jesus' answer to Thomas is, "Because thou hast seen Me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed." Here we find in the time to come, that is, the tribulation period, those who have been converted before the appearing of Christ, (compare Rev. 12Th and 14th chapters.) It is the testimony of Jesus, during that time of trial. They are nourished and preserved of the Lord, and they follow the Lamb wheresoever He goeth, that is, they are faithful to Him then.
In 1 Peter 1:8,8Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: (1 Peter 1:8) we find the Jews who have not seen Christ, but believed on Him during the period of grace. These are brought into the body of Christ; these have a heavenly calling, and a heavenly inheritance.
The last two verses tell us much more was done by Jesus than is told. God selected for the evangelist what was necessary that we might believe on Him as Son of God, and that believing we might have life through His name.