John 20:1-2
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.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The text emphasizes Mary’s solitude in discovering the empty tomb, noting that John focuses on her experience rather than the group of women mentioned in other Gospels. This highlights the personal nature of her initial encounter with the resurrection's implications, even though her later words, "we know not," suggest an immediate inclusion of others in her bewildered state.
On the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene, driven by her love and grief, arrives at Jesus' tomb while it's still dark. She discovers the large stone has been rolled away, a crucial detail that immediately sparks her to rush and tell Peter and the beloved disciple.
Why did Mary come while it was still dark? What drove her to the tomb before sunrise?
Mary Magdalene's arrival at the tomb "while it was yet dark" isn't just a time marker; it speaks volumes about her love and devotion.
Driven by Affection
Coming so early, even before the sun fully rose, shows a deep, personal commitment. It wasn't a casual visit; it was an act of love that couldn't wait for daylight. This isn't just about fulfilling a duty, but about a heart yearning for connection even in grief.
A Race Against Grief
In the midst of profound loss, her actions reveal a powerful inner drive. While others might wait for the 'right' time or the full light of day, Mary is propelled by a love so strong that it pushes through the shadows of her sorrow and the literal darkness of the morning.
The first thing Mary sees is not a body, but a missing stone. What does this shocking sight signify?
Mary's initial discovery isn't the risen Christ, but the absence of the stone that sealed His tomb. This seemingly simple observation is the first, dramatic clue of the resurrection.
A Stone Moved, Not Broken
The stone was immense, a heavy barrier meant to secure the tomb. Its removal wasn't a violent act by grave robbers but a deliberate, supernatural event. It signifies that death's power has been overcome, not by force, but by divine intervention.
The Beginning of Revelation
This empty space, where the stone once lay, is the starting point for understanding the greatest event in history. It's the first sign that the normal rules of life and death no longer apply. The absence of the stone is the first 'opening' for faith, prompting Mary's immediate rush to tell the disciples.
Understand the original words
mia tōn sabbatōn · Greek Noun phrase
The day following the Sabbath, signifying the day of Christ's resurrection and the beginning of the new creation, eventually becoming the day of Christian worship.
Maria hē Magdalēnē · Greek Proper Noun
A woman from Magdala whom Jesus healed of seven demons; she became a devoted follower of Jesus, a witness to the crucifixion, and the first witness to the empty tomb.
mnēmeion · Greek Noun
A place for the dead; in the context of the Gospels, it refers to the burial place of Jesus, which became the site of the miraculous resurrection.
kyrios · Greek Noun
A title for God or Christ, expressing authority, sovereignty, and ownership; it signifies that Jesus is the exalted Master to whom believers owe total allegiance.
This verse captures the very first moments of the Resurrection discovery, highlighting Mary's deep devotion and the initial shock of finding the tomb empty, setting the stage for the momentous events that followed.
c. AD 30
Jesus is Crucified and Buried
Jesus is crucified on Friday and His body is laid in a tomb owned by Joseph of Arimathea, with a large stone rolled in front of the entrance.
c. AD 30 (Friday evening - Saturday evening)
The Sabbath Rest
The Jewish Sabbath (Saturday) begins at sunset on Friday and ends at sunset on Saturday. During this time, Jewish law required rest, preventing further embalming preparations.
c. AD 30 (First day of the week, before dawn)— this verse
Mary Magdalene Approaches the Tomb
Mary Magdalene comes to the tomb early on the first day of the week, while it is still dark, intending to anoint Jesus' body.
c. AD 30 (First day of the week, early morning)
Discovery of the Empty Tomb
Mary discovers the stone has been rolled away from the tomb and the body is missing.
This passage parallels John 20:1 by describing the first day of the week after Jesus' resurrection and the arrival of women at the tomb.
Mark 16:1Similar to John 20:1, this verse details Mary Magdalene and other women coming to the tomb early in the morning with spices to anoint Jesus' body.
Luke 24:1This passage describes the same event as John 20:1, with women coming to the tomb very early on the first day of the week and finding the stone rolled away.
John 20:11This verse immediately follows John 20:1 and shows Mary Magdalene still at the tomb, weeping, which highlights her deep devotion and grief before she encounters the risen Christ.
Isaiah 53:9This prophecy foretells the burial of the suffering servant with a rich man and his tomb, indirectly supporting the context of Jesus' burial and the subsequent discovery of the empty tomb described in John 20:1.
meyerJohn 20:1: "The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre."
John 20:1-2 . On the designation of the first day of the week by μία τῶν σαββ ., as well as on the irreconcilable deviation of John,[259] who (“for brevity’s sake!” Hengstenberg, indeed, thinks) makes only Mary Magdalene go to the grave, from the Synoptics, see on Matthew 28:1 . Of a hastening beforehand on the part of Mary, in advance…
bengelJohn 20:1: "The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre."
John 20:1 . Εἰς τὸ μνημεῖον ) unto the sepulchre .— τὸν λίθον , the stone ) which had been rolled to the mouth of it, according to custom: ch. John 11:38 [Lazarus’ tomb, which was “a cave”].
The text emphasizes Mary’s solitude in discovering the empty tomb, noting that John focuses on her experience rather than the group of women mentioned in other Gospels. This highlights the personal nature of her initial encounter with the resurrection's implications, even though her later words, "we know not," suggest an immediate inclusion of others in her bewildered state.
On the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene, driven by her love and grief, arrives at Jesus' tomb while it's still dark. She discovers the large stone has been rolled away, a crucial detail that immediately sparks her to rush and tell Peter and the beloved disciple.
On the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene, driven by her love and grief, arrives at Jesus' tomb while it's still dark. She discovers the large stone has been rolled away, a crucial detail that immediately sparks her to rush and tell Peter and the beloved disciple.
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hon ephilei ho Iēsous · Greek Noun phrase
Often identified as John the Apostle, this designation emphasizes his close personal intimacy with Jesus; it serves as a humble, indirect way of referring to himself throughout the Gospel.
c. AD 30 (First day of the week, early morning)
Mary Reports to Peter and John
Mary runs to tell Peter and the disciple Jesus loved (John) that the tomb is empty.
c. AD 30 (First day of the week, early morning)
Peter and John Investigate
Peter and John race to the tomb, find it empty with the grave clothes neatly folded, and are puzzled.
c. AD 30 (First day of the week, morning)
Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene
Jesus appears to Mary Magdalene outside the tomb, first mistaken by her for the gardener, then revealing Himself.
"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,…" — The text emphasizes Mary’s solitude in discovering the empty tomb, noting that John focuses on her experience rather than the group of women mentioned in other Gospels. This highlights the personal…
