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)
Mary's desperate cry, "They have taken away the Lord," reveals more than just her shock; it shows how she still saw Him as her sovereign, the "Lord," even in death. Her immediate thought is not about Jesus's divinity or resurrection, but about the profound indignity of His body being moved, a testament to how deeply love and reverence still held her captive.
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)
Mary Magdalene, reeling from the shock of finding the tomb empty, rushes to find Peter and the disciple Jesus loved. In her distress and confusion, she cries out that the body has been removed, not knowing who took it or where it might be. This immediate reaction sets the stage for Peter and John's urgent, yet still uncertain, investigation of the empty grave.
Mary Magdalene rushes to tell Peter and John. What drove her desperate haste, and why these specific disciples?
Mary's immediate action to find Peter and the 'other disciple' reveals the profound shock and confusion following Jesus' discovery in the empty tomb. Her frantic energy is palpable as she races to share the unthinkable news: 'They have taken the Lord out of the tomb.'
A Mother's Heartbreak
Her words, 'we do not know where they have laid him,' aren't just a statement of fact; they're a cry of deep distress. The commentators highlight that her focus is on the absence of the body and the unknown fate of Jesus. This is the raw grief of someone who poured out her love and devotion, only to find the object of her affection gone, leaving her utterly disoriented.
Seeking Key Witnesses
Her choice to go to Peter and the beloved disciple is significant. Peter, the impetuous leader who denied Jesus, and John, the one Jesus loved, represented crucial pillars of Jesus' inner circle. She likely felt they were the ones who could understand the gravity of the situation and perhaps help unravel the mystery.
John is called 'the one whom Jesus loved.' But the Greek word used here hints at something deeper than just a title.
The Gospel of John consistently refers to himself with this tender description: 'the disciple whom Jesus loved.' This isn't just a way to identify himself; it's a profound statement about his relationship with Jesus.
More Than Just Affection
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Scholars note that the Greek word used here (philein) often denotes a personal, affectionate love, distinct from a more formal or esteemed love (agape). While Jesus loved all his disciples with a deep love, this specific phrasing emphasizes a uniquely intimate and cherished bond between Jesus and John.
Humility in Identity
By identifying himself this way, John is not boasting. Instead, he's grounding his testimony in the intimate love of Christ. It's a reminder that even as he recounts pivotal events, his authority and perspective come from a place of deep, personal connection with the Savior.
Mary says, 'we do not know where they have laid him.' Who is this 'we,' and what does it reveal about her state of mind?
Mary's use of the plural 'we' is a crucial detail that opens up layers of meaning.
Shared Confusion and Grief
It strongly suggests that Mary wasn't alone in her distress. Commentaries point out that she was likely speaking on behalf of other women who had also come to the tomb, or perhaps echoing the general bewilderment felt by all who loved Jesus. The shock of the empty tomb, coupled with the grief of Jesus' death, created a shared sense of panic and disorientation.
A Cry of Utter Loss
Beyond just a statement of fact, 'we do not know' expresses a profound sense of helplessness. The love and care they had planned for Jesus' body were thwarted. Their efforts to honor Him were met with an inexplicable emptiness, leaving them grasping for understanding and fearing the worst – that His body had been moved to an unknown, possibly dishonorable, resting place. The despair is palpable in their collective cry.
Understand the original words
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.
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.
Mary's frantic message reflects the confusion and distress following the discovery of the empty tomb, highlighting the disciples' initial lack of understanding about the resurrection.
c. AD 30
Jesus' Crucifixion and Burial
Jesus is crucified on Passover eve and buried in a borrowed tomb by Joseph of Arimathea before sunset on Friday, the day before the Sabbath.
c. AD 30, early Sunday morning— this verse
Empty Tomb Discovered
Mary Magdalene and other women arrive at the tomb to anoint Jesus' body, finding the stone rolled away and the tomb empty.
c. AD 30, shortly after discovery
Mary Reports to Disciples
Mary Magdalene runs to inform Peter and the 'other disciple' (John) that Jesus' body has been removed from the tomb.
c. AD 30, soon after Mary's report
Peter and John Investigate
Peter and John race to the tomb, with John arriving first, to see the empty tomb and the grave clothes.
c. AD 30, later Sunday morning
Resurrection Appearances Begin
Jesus begins to appear to his followers, starting with Mary Magdalene outside the tomb, then to others throughout the day.
This passage describes the same event from the perspective of multiple women, including Mary Magdalene, who also ran to tell the disciples the news of Jesus' resurrection.
Luke 24:10-11This account highlights the disciples' initial disbelief when the women, including Mary, reported the empty tomb, mirroring the confusion and urgency in John's narrative.
John 11:3The phrase 'the one whom Jesus loved' appears here in reference to Lazarus, showing Jesus' deep personal affection for individuals, which parallels the special relationship John the disciple had with Jesus.
John 21:7This passage shows Peter's immediate, and perhaps impulsive, reaction to recognize Jesus by the shore, contrasting with Mary's desperate, yet mistaken, assumption in John 20:2.
Psalm 16:10This Old Testament prophecy speaks of God not abandoning His Holy One to the grave, which foreshadows the reality of Jesus' resurrection that Mary and the disciples were struggling to comprehend.
ellicottJohn 20:2: "Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him."
(2) To Simon Peter, and to the other disciple. —St. Matthew has, “to His disciples;” St. Luke has, “to the Eleven, and to all the rest.” St. John relates only that announcement of which he had special personal knowledge. For “the other disciple” comp. Introduction, p. 375. For the…
cambridgeJohn 20:2: "Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him."
2 . Then she runneth ] She runneth therefore , concluding that the body must be gone. Simon Peter ] His fall was probably known and his deep repentance also: he is still chief of the Apostles, and as such the one consulted first. and to the other ] The repetition of ‘to’ implies t…
Mary's desperate cry, "They have taken away the Lord," reveals more than just her shock; it shows how she still saw Him as her sovereign, the "Lord," even in death. Her immediate thought is not about Jesus's divinity or resurrection, but about the profound indignity of His body being moved, a testament to how deeply love and reverence still held her captive.
Mary Magdalene, reeling from the shock of finding the tomb empty, rushes to find Peter and the disciple Jesus loved. In her distress and confusion, she cries out that the body has been removed, not knowing who took it or where it might be. This immediate reaction sets the stage for Peter and John's urgent, yet still uncertain, investigation of the empty grave.
Mary Magdalene, reeling from the shock of finding the tomb empty, rushes to find Peter and the disciple Jesus loved. In her distress and confusion, she cries out that the body has been removed, not knowing who took it or where it might be. This immediate reaction sets the stage for Peter and John's urgent, yet still uncertain, investigation of the empty grave.
"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.”" — Mary's desperate cry, "They have taken away the Lord," reveals more than just her shock; it shows how she still saw Him as her sovereign, the "Lord," even in death. Her immediate thought is not about…
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Last reviewed October 2026