When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus shows the disciples the very wounds of his crucifixion, not just as proof he's alive, but as the source of the peace he's just declared to them. Their gladness isn't just relief; it's the profound joy of seeing their slain Savior now living and able to bring them peace.
When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus has just appeared to his disciples, even with the doors locked, and offered them peace. To convince them that he is not a ghost but truly alive, he reveals the wounds from his crucifixion—the nail marks in his hands and the spear wound in his side. This tangible proof immediately transforms their fear and doubt into overwhelming joy as they recognize their risen Lord.
Imagine the disciples' fear and confusion. Then Jesus appears, but how do they know it's really Him? He doesn't just say 'It's me!' He shows them something powerful.
Jesus doesn't dismiss the disciples' fear or doubt. Instead, He provides tangible evidence of His resurrection. By showing them His hands and His side, He allows them to see the very marks left by the nails and the spear.
The Body Matters
This wasn't a ghost or an apparition. The wounds were real, a testament to the suffering He endured. This corporeal proof was essential for the disciples to grasp the reality of His resurrection. He bore the scars of death, proving that He had truly overcome it.
A Familiar Form
It was the same body they knew, now alive. The wounds, though graphic, served as undeniable proof that this was indeed the resurrected Jesus, the same One who had died for them.
The disciples were huddled in fear, likely convinced they'd be next. Suddenly, Jesus is there. But their initial reaction isn't immediate celebration. What shifts their despair into gladness?
The appearance of Jesus transforms the disciples' emotional state from one of fear to overwhelming joy. Their initial reaction, as noted in some accounts, might have been shock, fear, or even disbelief, mistaking Him for a spirit.
The Source of Joy
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This joy wasn't just about seeing their Master alive; it was about the proof He offered. Seeing the wounds confirmed His victory over death. It meant their hope was not lost, their faith was not in vain, and His promises were true.
A New Reality
This encounter marked a pivotal moment, moving them from the despair of the crucifixion to the dawning reality of the resurrection. This joy was a foretaste of the peace and hope that Jesus, the risen Lord, brings.
Jesus didn't hide His wounds after the resurrection. Why? What do these scars represent, even now, as He appears in glory?
The wounds of Jesus were not merely evidence for the disciples; they hold enduring theological significance. They point to the sacrificial nature of His death and the foundation of our peace.
A Lamb Still Slain
Even in His resurrected glory, Jesus bears the marks of His sacrifice. This reminds us that His victory is inseparable from His suffering. He is the Lamb slain, alive forevermore, signifying that redemption is rooted in His atoning work.
The Basis of Peace
Jesus had just greeted them with peace. These wounds are the very source of that peace. They declare that the debt of sin has been paid, reconciliation with God is possible, and through His suffering, we find healing and wholeness.
The disciples' overwhelming joy wasn't just about seeing Jesus alive, but about the tangible proof of his resurrection and the reality of his sacrifice, symbolized by the wounds he still bore.
c. AD 30
Crucifixion of Jesus
Jesus is crucified by Roman authorities in Jerusalem, and his side is pierced by a soldier's spear.
c. AD 30— this verse
Resurrection of Jesus
Jesus is raised from the dead, appearing to various individuals and groups in the days following his crucifixion.
c. AD 30
Disciples' initial fear and doubt
The disciples, locked away for fear of Jewish authorities, are initially frightened and disbelieving when Jesus first appears to them.
c. AD 30
Jesus' post-resurrection appearances
Jesus continues to appear to his disciples over a period of 40 days, offering proofs and teaching them about the Kingdom of God.
This passage parallels John 20:20 by describing Jesus showing his disciples his hands and feet, emphasizing the tangible reality of his resurrected body.
John 16:20Jesus spoke earlier about the disciples' sorrow turning into joy, which is exactly what happens in John 20:20 when they see the resurrected Lord.
1 John 1:1This epistle highlights the importance of seeing, hearing, and touching Jesus, echoing the disciples' experience in John 20:20 where seeing the physical marks of his suffering brings them joy and conviction.
Isaiah 53:5This prophecy speaks of Jesus being wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquities, directly connecting to the physical wounds the disciples see in John 20:20 as the very proof of his atoning sacrifice.
Revelation 5:6This vision depicts Jesus as a Lamb standing as though it had been slain, showing that the marks of his sacrifice, seen by the disciples in John 20:20, are eternally significant even in his glorified state.
barnesJohn 20:20: "And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord."
He showed unto them his hands ... - In this manner he gave them indubitable proofs of his identity. He showed them that he was the same Being who had suffered; that he had truly risen from the dead, and had come forth with the same body. That body had not yet put on its glorified form. It was necessary first to establish the proof of his resurrection, and that…
cambridgeJohn 20:20: "And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord."
20 . his hands and his side ] S. Luke ( Luke 24:40 ), who does not mention the piercing of the side, says ‘His hands and His feet,’ and adds that He told them to ‘handle’ Him, the very word used in 1 John 1:1 . Then were the disciples ] The disciples therefore were . Their sorrow is turned into joy ( John 16:20 ), joy which at first made them doubt its reality…
Jesus shows the disciples the very wounds of his crucifixion, not just as proof he's alive, but as the source of the peace he's just declared to them. Their gladness isn't just relief; it's the profound joy of seeing their slain Savior now living and able to bring them peace.
Jesus has just appeared to his disciples, even with the doors locked, and offered them peace. To convince them that he is not a ghost but truly alive, he reveals the wounds from his crucifixion—the nail marks in his hands and the spear wound in his side. This tangible proof immediately transforms their fear and doubt into overwhelming joy as they recognize their risen Lord.
Jesus has just appeared to his disciples, even with the doors locked, and offered them peace. To convince them that he is not a ghost but truly alive, he reveals the wounds from his crucifixion—the nail marks in his hands and the spear wound in his side. This tangible proof immediately transforms their fear and doubt into overwhelming joy as they recognize their risen Lord.
"When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord." — Jesus shows the disciples the very wounds of his crucifixion, not just as proof he's alive, but as the source of the peace he's just declared to them. Their gladness isn't just relief; it's the profo…
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Last reviewed October 2026