John 20 1

John 20:1 kjv

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 nkjv

Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb.

John 20:1 niv

Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance.

John 20:1 esv

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.

John 20:1 nlt

Early on Sunday morning, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance.

John 20 verses

John 20 1 Meaning

John 20:1 initiates the pivotal narrative of Christ's resurrection. It describes Mary Magdalene's pre-dawn arrival at Jesus' tomb on the first day of the week, where she discovers the large stone sealing the entrance had already been removed. This immediate observation signifies that something profound and unexpected has occurred, setting the stage for the revelation of the empty tomb and Jesus' resurrection.

John 20 1 Context

John 20:1 immediately follows the account of Jesus' crucifixion, death, and burial in John 19. Jesus' body had been hastily prepared and laid in a new tomb by Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus before the Sabbath began. The atmosphere surrounding the disciples and followers was one of deep grief, loss, and confusion, believing their Lord was truly dead and their hopes crushed. This verse marks the very beginning of the climactic third day, traditionally Sunday, following the Sabbath, and is set against the backdrop of Jewish customs for tending to the deceased.

John 20 1 Word analysis

• Now on the first day of the week (τῇ δὲ μιᾷ τῶν σαββάτων - tē de mia tōn sabbatōn):

  • "Mia" (one) implies "first" when referring to days after a primary day like the Sabbath.
  • "Sabbaton" (Sabbath) is often used here in the plural (Sabbaths) to refer to the "week" that follows the Sabbath.
  • This phrase marks a pivotal moment, signaling not just a new calendar day, but the inauguration of a new spiritual creation, mirroring the first day of God's original creation (Gen 1:3-5). It establishes the day that would become central to Christian worship.

• Mary Magdalene (Μαρία ἡ Μαγδαληνή - Maria hē Magdalēnē):

  • A faithful follower from whom Jesus had cast out seven demons (Lk 8:2).
  • Her inclusion highlights her profound devotion to Jesus, remaining at His cross and now His tomb.
  • Her role as the first to discover the empty tomb and later the first witness of the resurrected Christ is significant, demonstrating God's valuing of individual faithfulness irrespective of societal standing concerning legal testimony.

• came early to the tomb (ἔρχεται πρωῒ εἰς τὸ μνημεῖον - erchetai prōi eis to mnēmeion):

  • "Prōi" means "very early," typically before dawn. This indicates her zeal and desire to perform final rites (though John doesn't mention spices here as other Gospels do, the devotion is clear).
  • "Mnemeeion" (tomb) refers to the sepulchre, likely a cave or a rock-cut chamber, which would have been sealed.

• while it was still dark (σκοτίας ἔτι οὔσης - skotias eti ousēs):

  • Describes the literal pre-dawn hour.
  • Symbolically, this "darkness" also reflects the spiritual and emotional state of those who grieved Jesus' death—a time of sorrow, fear, and profound unknowing, preceding the illuminating light of the resurrection.

• and saw the stone already taken away from the tomb (καὶ βλέπει τὸν λίθον ἠρμένον ἐκ τοῦ μνημείου - kai blepei ton lithon ērmenon ek tou mnēmeiou):

  • "Blepei" (sees) conveys an immediate and direct observation, an instantaneous perception of something remarkable.
  • "Lithos" (stone) refers to the very large, heavy stone rolled to seal the tomb's entrance (Matt 27:60).
  • "Ērmenon" (taken away/lifted) is a perfect passive participle, indicating a completed action done by an external, unspecified agent. It strongly implies divine, not human, intervention (as later revealed, by an angel, Matt 28:2). This miraculous removal signals a greater power at work.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "Now on the first day of the week...while it was still dark": This grouping masterfully establishes the exact time and atmosphere. The "first day" heralds a new beginning, a new creation epoch inaugurated by the resurrection, distinct from the old Sabbath. The lingering "darkness" heightens the drama, setting the stage for the dramatic break of spiritual dawn and highlighting the hidden, unseen divine act.
  • "Mary Magdalene came early to the tomb": This emphasizes Mary's unwavering devotion and proactive role. Her deep love for Jesus compels her to be present at this crucial moment, making her the prime eyewitness to the dawn of redemption. Her singular pursuit underscores a faithful heart seeking Christ even in apparent defeat.
  • "and saw the stone already taken away from the tomb": This phrase captures the sudden and unexpected discovery. The sight of the massive stone moved signals an extraordinary, possibly divine, event that challenges all natural assumptions. It serves as the immediate physical proof of an alteration to Jesus' burial state, compelling a shift from sorrowful expectation to puzzled inquiry.

John 20 1 Bonus section

• Theology of Absence: The verse immediately presents an absence (of the stone, then later the body), which paradoxically becomes the first sign of profound presence and victory. This theological strategy builds anticipation.
• Juxtaposition: The contrast between "still dark" and the "first day" serves as a literary device, symbolizing the transition from the old covenant of shadows to the new covenant of light and life.
• Implicitness of Divine Power: While an angel rolls the stone in other Gospel accounts (Matt 28:2), John's phrasing "taken away" (passive voice) subtly yet powerfully implies that a superhuman or divine agent was responsible, maintaining focus on the effect rather than the mechanics, preserving an air of mystery and awe.

John 20 1 Commentary

John 20:1 is a meticulously crafted opening to the resurrection narrative, setting a tone of urgent discovery and dawning hope amidst profound grief. Mary Magdalene's solitary arrival in the pre-dawn darkness on "the first day of the week" carries deep symbolic and theological weight. The literal darkness accentuates the human despair and confusion, yet the "first day" points to the beginning of a new creation, where Christ's resurrection brings forth a new order of light and life. The removed stone is the initial, tangible evidence of God's overturning of death's dominion, signaling a divinely orchestrated event rather than a human one. This single verse effectively transitions the reader from the solemnity of burial to the breathtaking anticipation of an unprecedented miracle, prioritizing eyewitness testimony through a devout female follower, which was counter-cultural at the time but aligned with Jesus' valuing of women. The simple, declarative statement of Mary's discovery underscores its undeniable reality, preparing the way for deeper understanding in subsequent verses.