The chapter focuses on the empty tomb and the resurrection of Jesus.
In this chapter, eye-witnesses dominates the narrative; John shared this so that we may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing we may have life in His name.
The first witness mentioned here was Mary Magdalene; she saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance of the tomb and she ran to inform Peter and John. In those days, the testimony of women was not admissible in court; yet John recorded this to honour the status of women as the first one noted to testify of the empty tomb was a woman. We are reminded that in Christ, there is neither male or female, but we are all one in Him.
The other two witnesses mentioned here were Peter and John. They saw the strips of linen lying in the tomb and the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head lying in a separate place. Recall the raising of Lazarus and he came out of the tomb with his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen and a cloth round his face; Jesus told those around to take off the grave clothes. It would be difficult for Lazarus to remove these clothes himself. Here, we are told that the linen and cloth were lying in the tomb but the body of Jesus was absent. Jesus’ resurrected body apparently passed through His grave-clothes, spices and all, in much the same way that He later appeared in a locked room where the disciples were. John recorded that when he saw the empty tomb and the grave-clothes, he believed. In Jewish law the witnesses of two men establishes credible evidence (Deut. 19:15) and Peter and John provide such credibility.
This evidence, when taken with the rest of the chapter confirms that the body seen by Mary Magdalene and the disciples was the same physical Jesus who had been dead and buried. The resurrection of Jesus was a physical, bodily resurrection, not just some kind of ‘spiritual experience’ or ‘imagining’ that the disciples were caught up with.
The theme of ‘witness leading to belief’ appears twice in this chapter (verses 8-9 and verses 29-30). Mary Magdalene remained outside the tomb crying after the two disciples left. She saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot. In the other gospels, the angels told Mary that Jesus has been resurrected; we have here the divine witness from the angels. The resurrected Jesus revealed Himself to Mary and told her to pass on the message to Jesus’ apostles that He is returning to His Father. Jesus’ message about returning to the Father would have reminded the disciples of obtaining forgiveness for His people; this was how the gate of heaven was to be opened, this was how a place would be prepared for them in heaven. Jesus promised that the apostles would see ‘heaven opened and angels ascending and descending on the Son of Man’!
In verses 19 to 23, Jesus greeted His disciples ‘Peace be with you’. He promises His disciples of peace in a world that hates Him and them too. Through His death and resurrection He has now obtained forgiveness for them; He has ‘overcome the world’ and secured their place in heaven. As they remain in Him, they will now experience the peace He has promised them, with His Holy Spirit dwelling within them.
‘Receive the Holy Spirit’ and His breathing on them are best understood as a kind of acted parable pointing forward to the full endowment still to come on the day of Pentecost and like the foot-washing which anticipated the spiritual washing achieved through the cross, Jesus’ action is symbolic.
The response of Thomas in verse 28 provides a model response for the believer to follow. Thomas’ doubt turns to belief that Jesus is Lord and God. This is what the believer should make of the resurrection. We are here reminded that real favour with God does not depend upon being able to see Him but on trusting the words of the apostles. Further signs and revelation are unnecessary; for these words alone are sufficient to bring someone to eternal life through the working of the Holy Spirit. For us, faith comes not by sight, but from what is heard (or read), and what is heard comes by the Word of Christ (Rom. 10:17).