- 1The 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.
- 2Then 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.
- 3Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre.
- 4So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre.
- 5And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in.
- 6Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie,
- 7And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself.
- 8Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed.
- 9For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead.
- 10Then the disciples went away again unto their own home.
- 11 But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre,
- 12And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.
- 13And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him.
- 14And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.
- 15Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.
- 16Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.
- 17Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.
- 18Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her.
- 19 Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.
- 20And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord.
- 21Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.
- 22And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:
- 23Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.
- 24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.
- 25The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.
- 26 And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.
- 27Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.
- 28And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.
- 29Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.
- 30 And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book:
- 31But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.
KING JAMES VERSION
JOHN 20
Read the chapter, follow a linked verse, and continue into related Watchman 33 teaching.
CHAPTER VISUAL
John 20 — I Have Seen the Lord gathers the chapter’s central movement as Jesus’s identity, authority, mercy, and saving mission are revealed.
About this illustration
The illustration centers the risen Jesus speaks to Mary Magdalene beside the open tomb and folded grave cloths. Other events and teachings remain in the chapter text rather than being crowded into one scene.
Scripture basis: John 20:1–31King James Version · Standardized 1769 text with Strong’s numbering · Public domain outside the United Kingdom
EXPLORE THE MESSAGE
Related Watchman 33 Resources
Archaeological Evidence
ARCHAEOLOGY EVIDENCEManuscript
Approximately AD 200, with proposals extending into the third or early fourth century
Bodmer Papyrus II (P66)
P66 preserves most of John's Gospel in an early papyrus codex whose corrections, omissions, and reconstructed quire structure reveal both substantial textual continuity and the working practices of a fallible ancient scribe.
John 1:1–51 · John 20:1–31
ARCHAEOLOGY EVIDENCEInscription
Third century AD
Megiddo Christian Prayer-Hall Mosaic
A securely excavated third-century mosaic at Kefar Othnay names donors, a centurion, women, and “God Jesus Christ,” documenting a pre-Constantinian Christian gathering place while leaving the room's precise architectural and liturgical classification open.
John 1:1–18 · John 20:28 · Philippians 2:5–11
ARCHAEOLOGY EVIDENCEArchitecture
Approximately AD 232–256
Dura-Europos Christian Building and Baptistery
A remodeled building buried before Dura-Europos fell in AD 256 preserves a font and early Christian paintings shaped around baptism and Gospel interpretation, even as scholars reconsider the familiar label “house church.”
Matthew 14:22–33 · John 10:1–18 · John 20:11–18
ARCHAEOLOGY EVIDENCEManuscript
AD 586
The Rabbula Gospels
The Rabbula Gospels securely dates a Syriac Peshitta Gospel text to AD 586, while physical analysis shows that its celebrated miniatures were repainted and may have entered the present composite volume through a more complicated history than the colophon alone implies.
Matthew 28:1–20 · John 20:1–31 · Acts 1:1–26
ARCHAEOLOGY EVIDENCEManuscript
3rd Century
Papyrus P5: John 1:23–31 in a Greek Witness
Papyrus P5 is a third-century Oxyrhynchus Gospel codex fragment whose separated pieces preserve portions of John 1, 16, and 20, materially linking the Baptist's witness with Jesus' farewell and resurrection appearances.
John 1:23–40 · John 16:14–30 · John 20:11–17
ARCHAEOLOGY EVIDENCEManuscript
9th century
Codex Cyprius (GA 017)
Codex Cyprius (GA 017) is a 9th century Greek parchment codex preserving the four Gospels, with canon tables and other paratext.
Matthew 28:16–20 · Mark 16:1–20 · Luke 24:36–53
View all 13 archaeology resources
- Codex Fuldensis: The Dated Latin New Testament Harmony
- Codex Seidelianus I (GA 011)
- Codex Tischendorfianus IV (GA 036)
- Uncial 050: A Dispersed Catena Manuscript of John
- The Muratorian Fragment and an Early New Testament Book List
- P.Oxy. L 3525: Greek Fragment of the Gospel of Mary
- Folium Vindobonense (VL 25): An Old Latin Passion and Resurrection Leaf
Sermons
Passports
In “Passports,” Pastor Dean Odle sets aside a planned teaching for a ministry-centered service focused on encountering Jesus Christ, repentance, prayer, healing, and the gifts of the Holy Spirit. After extended worship, he recounts his childhood encounter with Christ and the conversion of an Australian atheist at the Garden Tomb, arguing that biblical truth and the manifest presence of God belong together. Using Thomas’s doubt and Elisha’s prayer for his servant in 2 Kings 6, Odle urges young people and other hearers to take a deliberate step toward Christ so their spiritual eyes may be opened.
Doctrine and DiscernmentChristian LivingBible ProphecyHoly Spirit and Spiritual Gifts
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In “Skyfall 2024 - A Numeric Anomaly of Biblical Proportions by Jordan Winsor,” Jordan Winsor presents a Scripture-centered message about the authority of Scripture, biblical creation, holiness. Drawing especially from Revelation 17:1, 1 John 5:7, Acts 17, Romans 1, the teaching emphasizes that Scripture is presented as the standard for doctrine, discernment, and daily obedience. Winsor connects that foundation with the conviction that the creation account is defended as foundational to biblical authority and the meaning of the created order.
Spiritual WarfareScripture AloneBiblical CreationChristian Living
View sermon Little Pot of Oil
In “Little Pot of Oil,” Pastor Dean Odle presents a Scripture-centered message about holiness, the Holy Spirit, freedom from fear. Drawing especially from Romans 8, Acts 1, Mark 16:15, Matthew 24, the teaching emphasizes that God calls believers to reject compromise and pursue practical holiness. Odle connects that foundation with the conviction that the Holy Spirit leads, equips, corrects, and strengthens believers who yield to God.
Doctrine and DiscernmentSalvation and the GospelChristian LivingHoly Spirit and Spiritual Gifts
View sermon Showing 1–3 of 6 sermons