Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary John 20

“The first day of the week” was the day after the Sabbath. In the Jewish method of reckoning time, it began with sundown on Saturday and continued until sundown on Sunday. The text indicates that the visit of the women to the tomb occurred early on that Sunday morning. Only Mary Magdalene is mentioned by name, but others are listed in the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew 28:1; Mark 16:1). Likely Mary Magdalene, noticing that the stone had been rolled away from the door of the tomb, ran to warn the disciples while the others investigated further.

Mary hastened to find Peter and “the other disciple, the one Jesus loved” (likely John), the leaders of the Twelve, and announced that the body was missing from the tomb: “They have taken the Lord.” No identification is given for “they.” Either the word is an impersonal plural or else, as is more likely, it is an oblique reference to the Jewish hierarchy who had designed Jesus’ death. Obviously Mary thought the body had been secretly removed by Jesus’ enemies.

The quick response of Peter and John shows that the disciples were not responsible for removing the body. Had they been aware of an official removal, or had some of their own number been involved in a conspiracy, they would not have been so concerned.

Both Peter and John “ran” to the tomb (cf. the women “running” in Mt 28:6). Their running shows they were activated by a powerful emotion, possibly either consternation, as in the case of Mary, or joy, as with the women. Peter, perhaps being the older and heavier of the two, was unable to maintain as swift a pace as his companion. John arrived first but did not venture to enter the tomb. Having seen that the graveclothes were still within, he probably concluded that the body was also there and so refrained from entering. Either he felt that he should not enter the tomb out of respect for the dead, or he feared the ceremonial defilement of touching a corpse.

Both Peter and John “ran” to the tomb (cf. the women “running” in Mt 28:6). Their running shows they were activated by a powerful emotion, possibly either consternation, as in the case of Mary, or joy, as with the women. Peter, perhaps being the older and heavier of the two, was unable to maintain as swift a pace as his companion. John arrived first but did not venture to enter the tomb. Having seen that the graveclothes were still within, he probably concluded that the body was also there and so refrained from entering. Either he felt that he should not enter the tomb out of respect for the dead, or he feared the ceremonial defilement of touching a corpse.