John 20:18 kjv
Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the LORD, and that he had spoken these things unto her.
John 20:18 nkjv
Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that He had spoken these things to her.
John 20:18 niv
Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: "I have seen the Lord!" And she told them that he had said these things to her.
John 20:18 esv
Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, "I have seen the Lord" ? and that he had said these things to her.
John 20:18 nlt
Mary Magdalene found the disciples and told them, "I have seen the Lord!" Then she gave them his message.
John 20 18 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Matt 28:7 | "Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead" | Angel instructs women to announce resurrection |
| Mk 16:7 | "But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you..." | Angel commissions women to tell disciples |
| Lk 24:10 | "It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles." | Women are the first messengers to apostles |
| Lk 24:34 | "The Lord has risen indeed and has appeared to Simon!" | Reinforces the truth of resurrection |
| Matt 28:18-20 | "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them..." | The Great Commission, echoes "go and tell" |
| Acts 1:8 | "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem..." | Commissioning to be witnesses |
| John 15:27 | "And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning." | Disciples called to bear witness |
| John 4:28-29, 39 | "Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did... Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony..." | Parallel: Woman as a key messenger, bringing others to belief |
| 1 Cor 15:3-8 | "For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died... was raised... and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve." | Apostle Paul's testimony of appearances. Mary precedes these. |
| Rom 10:14-15 | "How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent?" | Emphasizes the necessity of proclamation and sending messengers |
| Psa 16:10 | "Because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, nor will you let your faithful one see decay." | OT prophecy of resurrection |
| Isa 52:7 | "How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings..." | OT prophecy about bringing good news (Gospel) |
| Lk 8:2 | "and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had come out)." | Mary Magdalene's past and gratitude |
| John 19:25 | "Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene." | Mary's steadfast devotion, present at the cross |
| John 21:7 | "Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" " | Other instances of identifying "the Lord" |
| Phil 2:11 | "and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." | Confession of Jesus as "Lord" |
| Rev 1:17 | "When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: "Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last." | Personal encounter and specific words conveyed, echoing Mary's experience |
| Heb 12:1-2 | "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus..." | Mary's testimony adds to the cloud of witnesses, foundational faith. |
| John 20:25 | "So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord!" But he said to them, "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands..." | Contrast: Disciples later tell Thomas, but he doubts; Mary had no doubt. |
| Rom 1:4 | "and who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord." | The resurrection validates Jesus' identity, which Mary proclaims. |
John 20 verses
John 20 18 Meaning
John 20:18 records Mary Magdalene's faithful and immediate declaration to the grieving disciples: she had personally encountered the resurrected Jesus, whom she identified as the Lord, and she relayed the specific instructions and words He had spoken to her. This verse marks a pivotal moment, presenting Mary as the first evangelist of the resurrection, transforming her from a mourning seeker to a joyous messenger who delivered the ultimate good news. Her personal testimony, based on a direct encounter and verbal communication from Jesus, initiated the spread of the core message of Christianity.
John 20 18 Context
John 20:18 is situated immediately following Mary Magdalene's personal encounter with the resurrected Jesus outside the empty tomb. Initially, in John 20:1-10, Mary discovers the empty tomb, alerts Peter and John, who investigate and then return home, still perplexed. Mary remains at the tomb, weeping (Jn 20:11-13). It is in this state of profound grief and confusion that she first encounters two angels, then a figure she mistakes for the gardener (Jn 20:14-15). When this figure calls her by name, "Mary," she instantly recognizes Him as Jesus, her Lord (Jn 20:16). Jesus then commissions her to go and tell "my brothers" (Jn 20:17), imparting a specific message. John 20:18 is her obedient fulfillment of this commission.
Historically, in 1st-century Jewish culture, women's testimony was generally not considered legally admissible or highly credible in public matters. However, John's Gospel consistently presents women as significant figures in Jesus' ministry and crucial witnesses to His identity and work (e.g., the Samaritan woman in John 4, Martha and Mary of Bethany in John 11, and the women at the cross in John 19). By making Mary Magdalene the very first human witness and messenger of the resurrection, Jesus directly elevates her status and challenges societal norms, highlighting the inclusive nature of His new covenant and the value He places on all His followers, regardless of societal standing. The broader context of John's Gospel emphasizes eyewitness testimony (Jn 19:35, 21:24) as foundational to belief, making Mary's "I have seen" central to the entire narrative.
John 20 18 Word analysis
- Mary Magdalene (Μαρία ἡ Μαγδαληνή - Maria hē Magdalēnē): Her consistent presence at the cross (Jn 19:25) and tomb highlights her deep devotion. Mentioned in Lk 8:2 as one from whom seven demons were cast out, she represents profound transformation and unwavering loyalty. Being chosen as the first human witness and messenger of the resurrection bestows upon her a uniquely significant role in Christian history, often referred to by early Church Fathers as the "apostle to the apostles."
- went (ἔρχεται - erchetai): The use of the present tense ("she comes" or "she goes") emphasizes the immediacy, urgency, and decisive nature of her action. It's a vivid depiction, making the event feel current and impactful. Her immediate obedience to Jesus' command (Jn 20:17) is noteworthy.
- announced (ἀγγέλλουσα - aggellousa): This participle means "announcing" or "reporting." The root is angelos, meaning "messenger" or "angel." Mary is thus portrayed as a divine messenger, conveying supernaturally given news. She is the first human evangelist of the resurrection, fulfilling the command given by Jesus.
- the disciples (τοῖς μαθηταῖς - tois mathētais): These are the followers of Jesus, those who had journeyed with Him, though many were scattered and disheartened at this point. They are the immediate recipients of the good news, meant to become the foundation of the burgeoning church.
- "I have seen" (Ἑώρακα - Heōraka): This is a perfect tense verb, conveying an enduring reality from a past action. It implies not just a momentary glance, but a direct, complete, and presently existing sight and experience. It carries weight and authority; her testimony is based on personal, undeniable truth, not hearsay. This perfect tense confirms the objective reality of the resurrection, as her seeing persists in its effect on her.
- "the Lord" (τὸν Κύριον - ton Kyrion): This title signifies Mary's recognition of Jesus' divine authority and resurrected identity. It's a confession of faith. In the Septuagint, Kyrios is often used for God's divine name (YHWH). Mary's usage here marks a profound theological shift, identifying the resurrected Jesus as sovereign and divine.
- "and that he had said these things to her": This phrase is crucial. Mary is not just reporting a vision, but conveying a direct verbal message from the resurrected Jesus. Her witness is complete; she has seen Him and heard His words. This adds authority and content to her evangelism, turning her into a bearer of both presence and message, forming the complete kerygma (proclamation). The "these things" refers to Jesus' command to tell His "brothers" that He was ascending to "my Father and your Father, to my God and your God" (Jn 20:17), which speaks to their restored relationship through Him.
John 20 18 Bonus section
The epithet "Apostle to the Apostles" is often ascribed to Mary Magdalene in early Christian tradition and modern scholarship. This title emphasizes her unique role as the first to announce the resurrection not only to individual believers but directly to those who would later become the official apostles. Her faith and mission are exemplary, demonstrating that God uses those who are devoted, regardless of societal standing, to deliver His most vital messages. Her immediate and obedient response contrasts sharply with the initial disbelief and fear found among some of the disciples. Her experience establishes a pattern for the Christian life: an intimate encounter with the Lord leads to being commissioned to proclaim His truth and glory. The inclusion of the "things he had said to her" underscores the importance of the content of the Gospel, not just the mere appearance.
John 20 18 Commentary
John 20:18 encapsulates the heart of the resurrection message. Mary Magdalene's personal encounter with the resurrected Jesus transforms her sorrow into triumphant joy and equips her to be the inaugural herald of the new covenant's greatest victory. Her swift obedience and clear proclamation to the dispirited disciples affirm the historical reality of Jesus' physical resurrection through credible eyewitness testimony. Jesus' choice of Mary, a woman, as His first resurrection messenger, radically overturned the cultural prejudices of the day concerning female testimony, signaling a new order where all believers are commissioned to share the Gospel. Her message comprises two critical elements: the fact of His appearance ("I have seen the Lord") and the content of His commission ("and that he had said these things to her"). This dual aspect underscores that the Gospel involves both the undeniable event of Jesus' resurrection and the authoritative words and mission He entrusts to His followers. Mary's witness serves as the initial spark that ignites the disciples' faith and sends them forth to become the global evangelists. This pattern – personal encounter leading to compelled witness – remains foundational for sharing faith today.