Why the empty tomb of Jesus in John 20 changes everything.
The Morning That Changed History
Before sunrise, everything still looked hopeless. Jesus had been crucified. The stone had been rolled into place. His followers were grieving. Then one faithful follower arrived at the tomb and discovered something no one expected.
The tomb was empty.
That discovery would forever change history, proving that death had been defeated and that every promise Jesus ever made could now be trusted.
The Empty Tomb is Discovered (John 20:1-2)
Bible Study Guide
(Verses 1-2) Mary Magdalene finds an empty tomb where Jesus was placed. Had Jesus risen from the dead or was He moved?
For many studying this Bible passage, the answer is clear. Jesus had risen from the dead. One of the most remarkable things about Jesus rising from the dead was that John’s gospel account isn’t even necessary to prove it.
There are over 500 witness accounts who saw Jesus after the tomb was found empty. This includes historians of Jesus’ day recording additional eye witness accounts. Christ left nothing to doubt as to the power of His Father and His resurrection.
Friday’s Disappointment is Sunday’s Empty Tomb (John 20:3-8)
In desperation of her Lord, Mary runs to tell Simon Peter and John the disciples.
(Verses 3-8) Unfortunately, the testimony of a woman in those days was not held to be as trustworthy as a man. The disciples thought they were speaking nonsense. Simon Peter and John had to see for themselves. In the same desperation as Mary, they raced toward the tomb.
John arrives first but doesn’t enter the tomb. He examines the linen inside the empty tomb from outside the entrance. This might suggest that John looked and believed that Jesus had risen even without looking closely at the evidence.
Peter arrives at the tomb after John. Like someone who had just been beat in a race, he advances beyond John and enters the tomb first. Peter examines the facts that remained where Jesus was placed. Then Peter comes to believe.
The empty tomb stands as the ultimate confirmation of the divinity of Jesus and His victory over death. You can explore the full resurrection narrative in our Book of John Bible study covering chapters 11–21.
Reflect & Apply:
What Are You Running Toward?
Peter and John ran toward the empty tomb because they desperately wanted answers.
- What are you pursuing today?
- Are you running toward Christ?
- Are you searching for truth?
- Have you personally examined the evidence for His resurrection?
Why the Empty Tomb Matters (John 20:9-10)
(Verse 9) The empty tomb is not simply proof that Jesus was no longer there. It was proof that He was the way and the truth. And He’s about to show them He’s also eternal Life.
It is God’s declaration that sin has been paid for, death has been defeated, and every promise Jesus made is true.
If the tomb is empty, then Jesus is exactly who He claimed to be.
Verse 9 hints at the fact that John’s gospel account was written at a time well after the empty tomb was found. John acknowledges that they still didn’t quite understand everything that was taking place with the risen Jesus.
Scholars place John’s gospel at around 90–100 AD. This means that Christ appeared to John around that time to reveal the events of the book of Revelation.This would coincide with estimates of when John died.
(Verse 10) They tried their best to comprehend the empty tomb of Jesus and all Jesus had told them. It’s likely their confusion mixed with their emotions of disappointment and sadness. They had so many questions swirling in their minds. They didn’t realize that answers would soon come for all those questions.
Something was about to happen that would change everything. The full measure of God’s wisdom and understanding was about to enter them.
The Risen Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene (John 20:11-13)
(Verses 11-13) Mary Magdalene is about to share the stage with heavenly beings. She’s desperate to find her Lord so she can take proper care of His body. This time the tomb is not empty.
Mary stood in anguish weeping outside the empty tomb until she looked inside once again. This time she saw two angels seated where Jesus’ body had been—one at the head and the other at the feet. Heaven itself was bearing witness that something extraordinary had taken place.
The angels were not there to explain away an empty grave. They were there to testify that the empty tomb of Jesus was part of God’s eternal plan. Throughout Scripture, angels appear at pivotal moments to announce and confirm God’s work. They proclaimed Christ’s birth, ministered to Him after His temptation, strengthened Him before the cross, and now stood as witnesses that the tomb is empty because Jesus had risen from the dead.
Their presence reminds us that the resurrection was not merely an event witnessed on earth. Heaven celebrated it. The Father had accepted the Son’s sacrifice, death had been defeated, and the victory of the risen Christ was now being revealed to the world.
The empty tomb was not only evidence for Mary—it remains God’s testimony to every generation that Jesus is alive and that every promise He has made can be trusted.
The Angel’s Reminder
Luke’s gospel account records the angels reminding them of the things Jesus spoke about.
“He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’” (Luke 24:6-7)
In this case, they’re a testimony to Christ. Their presence in the tomb testifies to the presence of heaven and the power of God.
It won’t be long before we’ll see a similar scene in Acts 1:11. The apostles, standing on the Mt. Of Olives will watch Jesus ascend into heaven to the right hand of God for the last time. Then angels will appear in a similar fashion testifying for Christ.
“They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:10-11)
Jesus Calls Mary By Name (John 20:14-16)
(Verses 14-16) Mary thought everything was lost. Then Jesus spoke one word.
“Mary.”
Everything changed. His voice was unmistakable. She knew the sound of her Lord’s voice.
The Shepherd called one of His sheep by name, and she immediately recognized His voice.
Just as Jesus promised, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.”
The resurrection suddenly became deeply personal.
Do you suppose the feelings that Mary experienced will be similar to when we are raptured? Imagine the moment, when Christians who wait with great expectation of the Christ’ return for His church. The feelings that we’ll experience to gaze upon our glorified Lord will likely be similar and even greater.
Reflect & Apply:
Has Jesus Become Personal To You?
Mary didn’t simply discover an empty tomb. She met the risen Savior.
Knowing facts about Jesus is not enough.
The question is:
- Has the risen Christ called you by name?
- Have you trusted Him as your Lord and Savior?
Christianity is not built on an empty religion. It is built on a relationship with the living Savior.
Go and Tell the Good News of the Empty Tomb and the Risen Jesus (John 20:17)
(Verse 17) Scripture does not reveal exactly what Jesus meant when he told Mary not to cling to his body because he had not yet ascended to G It likely may have had to do with his glorified body that He received upon His resurrection.
It would be dangerous to speculate and add anything else to this passage since it’s not revealed to us. In similar fashion, we’ll receive glorified bodies at the rapture or resurrection from our “sleep.” Unfortunately, we don’t have a complete grasp of how it’ll all work. Let’s leave it in God’s hands. He’s the only One we can trust with certainty.
Look carefully at the middle phrase of this verse. Jesus says, “Go instead to my brothers and tell them.” This is truly a remarkable statement coming from Jesus and spoken to Mary Magdalene.
It’s very highly unlikely that the men of Jesus’ day would’ve expected Jesus’ first encounters to have occurred with a woman. Evidence points to this in Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well. Then the disciples were taken back by Jesus interaction with the Samaritan woman.
The Empty Tomb Demands A Decision
Everyone who came to the empty tomb had to make a decision.
Was Jesus stolen? Was He moved? Or had He truly risen from the dead?
Two thousand years later, every person must answer the very same question.
The empty tomb of Jesus still calls every heart to believe.
Explore the Evidence of Jesus’ Return and the Rapture
If the empty tomb has sparked your curiosity, don’t stop here. The resurrection is the foundation for every promise Jesus ever made—including His promise to return for His Church.
Continue exploring:
A Woman Was the First
Do you notice a pattern here with these first encounters with Jesus. They’re all with a woman. Not just any woman. But a woman whom Jesus cast out seven demons. Since then Mary’s followed Jesus every step of His ministry.
This first person to gaze into the empty tomb of Jesus was Mary. She was also the first person that the risen Jesus appeared to. Remarkably there’s more. This is where the significance of Jesus’ command comes in on this passage.
The very first command to share the “good news” that Jesus has risen is given by Jesus to a woman. If you were to ever ask a man of Jesus’ day if this is what he expected would happen, he’d likely deny that it would happen to a woman. But, yes indeed! Not just any woman, but to one of Jesus’ closest followers.
Mary Was the First to Spread the Gospel of the Risen Jesus
Indeed, not only did people tell Mary Magdalene to go share the good news of the resurrection, she became the first person to spread the gospel of Christ after His death.
While Jesus and Mary are standing next to the empty tomb, Jesus says something else truly remarkable to Mary. The last part of verse 17 closes with a beautifully welcoming statement from Jesus.
Jesus says, “I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.” A wonderfully inclusive phrase indicating her acceptance by Jesus into God’s family. A position that both her and Jesus share together according to His words.
What an incredibly wonderful thing to say. How astonishingly welcoming her heart must have felt to receive those words from Christ’ lips. Perhaps her heart burned like the two disciples who encountered Jesus on the road to Emmaus in Luke’s gospel (Luke 24:13-35).
Why the Empty Tomb Still Matters Today
The empty tomb is not only proof that Jesus rose from the dead. It is also the guarantee that every prophecy He made will be fulfilled.
The same Jesus who walked out of the grave will one day return just as He promised. Because the tomb is empty, we know His promises are certain.
His promise to gather His Church, judge the nations, and establish His Kingdom…
Every one of them rests upon the reality that the empty tomb of Jesus is still empty today.
As the world grows darker and prophecy continues unfolding before our eyes, the resurrection should produce hope, urgency, and unwavering confidence. The risen Christ is coming again. Now is the time to believe, follow Him faithfully, and boldly proclaim the good news while there is still time.
The Empty Tomb Still Speaks Today
Friends, the stone was rolled away, not so Jesus could leave, but so the world could see that the tomb is empty.
If you have never placed your faith in the risen Christ, don’t wait another day.
Turn to Him while His invitation still stands. Learn how to follow Jesus today.
And if you already belong to Him, let the empty tomb fill you with courage to share the gospel. The same Savior who conquered death has promised to return for His people. Until that day, live with hope, walk in faith, and boldly tell others that the empty tomb of Jesus changed history—and it can change their eternity as well.
Closing Prayer
Heavenly Father,
Thank You for the empty tomb that proves Your Son has conquered sin and death forever. Strengthen our faith to trust every promise You have spoken—from Genesis to Revelation. As we see Your Word unfolding before our eyes, help us stand firm, live with hope, and boldly proclaim the risen Christ until the day He returns. Keep our hearts faithful, our eyes fixed on eternity, and our lives devoted to Your glory alone.
In the mighty name of our risen Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, Amen.