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John 20:1. On the very first day of the week, Mary Magdalene comes to the tomb early, when it was still dark, and sees that the stone has been rolled away from the tomb. “One of the Sabbaths” the evangelist calls that day which we call the Lord’s. For he calls the week of days “Sabbath,” and “one of the Sabbaths” the first day. In essence, every day there is one. But one, taken many times and added together, makes many. So, the first day is one, taken twice is the second, three times is the third, and so on. Such a day is an image of the future age, which is one day, not interrupted by night, not having half a day. God is his Sun, which never sets. Just as the Lord rose on this day, making His corruptible body incorruptible, so in the next century we will receive incorruptibility. So, on the first day of the week “Mary Magdalene comes.” Since the Sabbath has passed and movement is no longer prohibited by law, she sets off, wanting to find some consolation from the burial place of the Lord. John 20:2. So he runs and comes to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and says to them: They have taken the Lord away from the tomb, and we do not know where they laid Him. And, seeing the stone rolled away from the tomb, with great haste he goes to Peter and John. The Lord rose again when the stone was still in place and the seals were intact. But as someone needed to witness the resurrection and enter the tomb, the stone was rolled away by an Angel. Mary, who still knows nothing about the resurrection, calls this event abduction and translation. John 20:3. Immediately Peter and the other disciple came out and went to the tomb. Then the disciples come to the tomb and see only shrouds lying; and this was a sign of the true resurrection. For if someone had shifted the body, he would not have exposed it; and if someone stole it, he would not bother to roll up the cloth and put it separately in a special place, but would take the body as simply as possible. Therefore, the evangelist first said that the body of Christ was buried with a lot of myrrh, which glues the shrouds to the body no worse than resin, so that when we hear that the cloth was lying in a special place, we would not at all believe those who say that the body of Christ was stolen. For a thief would not be so stupid as to use so much effort unnecessarily on a task and not suspect that the longer he does it, the sooner he can be caught. At what hour the resurrection followed, no one knows, just as the time of the second coming is unknown. If the Evangelist Matthew says that the earthquake occurred in the late evening, and John says that Mary came and saw the stone rolled away in the morning, when it was still dark, then there is no disagreement. For, firstly, according to Matthew, women came late on Saturday, and John now does not mention women, when Matthew spoke about this, it would be unnecessary to talk about the same to John; but Mary Magdalene comes in the morning. The comings to the tomb are different: sometimes Mary comes with other wives, sometimes she comes alone. Hence, there seems to be a disagreement between the evangelists, that they are talking about different parishes, each about their own. So, firstly, we say that Matthew speaks about one coming - women, and John about another, about the coming of a wife - Magdalene. Then, deep evening and morning, “when it is still dark,” which others would call deep morning, coinciding at the same time, so that all this time it is the middle of the night. If you ask how Peter and John and the wives entered the tomb when there were guards there, then the answer is simple: when the Lord rose and with an earthquake an Angel appeared at the tomb, then the guards went to announce this to the Pharisees and, thus, the tomb was freed from the military guards, and the disciples could come fearlessly. John 20:4. They both ran together; but the other disciple ran faster than Peter, and came to the tomb first. John 20:5. And, bending down, he saw the linens lying; but did not enter the tomb. Note, perhaps, the humility of the evangelist with which he testifies to the thoroughness of Petrov’s research. He himself came first, saw the shrouds lying and does not investigate anything further, but waits for Peter. John 20:6. Simon Peter comes after him, and enters the tomb, and sees only the linens lying, John 20:7. And the cloth that was on His head, not lying with swaddling clothes, but especially rolled up in another place. And the fiery Peter went inside the coffin and carefully examined everything. You must understand how active and ardent Peter is, and John is perceptive and capable of understanding Divine objects. The purely contemplative one precedes with knowledge and talent, and the active one lags behind, however, with diligence and diligence he overcomes its sharpness, and the active one is the first to discern some Divine secret. Doesn't something similar happen in the sciences? And here, of the two boys, the weaker and slower one by diligence surpasses the one who is by nature faster and more capable. Likewise, in spiritual subjects, the active and unskilled in words often understands better than the contemplative. John 20:8. Then the other disciple, who had come to the tomb first, also entered, and saw and believed. Then he (John), who entered after him (Peter), saw the burial shrouds lying separately from one another, and believed, however, not that the Lord had risen, but that He had been stolen. He believed Mary's words that they had taken the Lord. John 20:9. For they did not yet know from the Scriptures that He had to rise from the dead. Why did you believe Mary and not think about the resurrection? Because they did not yet know the “Scripture that He must rise from the dead,” and they believed Mary, who suspected the abduction and transfer of the body. John 20:10. So the disciples returned to themselves again. So, they returned to themselves, that is, on their own, without learning anything more. John 20:11. And Mary stood at the tomb and cried. And when she cried, she leaned into the coffin, Mary, due to the sensitivity and love of tears characteristic of women, stands at the tomb and cries. Not finding Jesus, he looks at the place where his beloved body was laid, and in this alone he finds consolation. For this reason he is rewarded with seeing more than the disciples. John 20:12. And he sees two Angels sitting in white robes, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus lay. She saw what they did not see, namely: two Angels. The vision of Angels was her greatest consolation. Both their bright clothing and their sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, showed that they knew something more, and, if asked, could instruct. Every soul that dominates the passions is called Mary. Purified through dispassion, she sees God and Man in Jesus. For one of the Angels, sitting at the heads, points to the Divinity, and the other, sitting at the feet, to the humble embodiment of the Word. John 20:13. And they say to her: wife! Why are you crying? And the words “why are you crying?” full of sincere participation. So that Mary does not become embarrassed, like a woman, this question calms her embarrassment. They ask with such sympathy and meekness: “Wife! Why are you crying? He says to them: They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him. She answers with fervor and love: “They took away my Lord, that’s why I cry; I don’t know where they moved Him; I would go there and anoint His body, and in this, at least, I would find some consolation.” John 20:14. Having said this, she turned back and saw Jesus standing; but did not recognize that it was Jesus. Why did Mary turn back? When she talks with the Angels, what prompted her to turn back? Probably, while she was talking with the Angels, Jesus suddenly appeared behind her, brought them into amazement, and when they saw the Lord, with their appearance, movement, and gaze, they immediately discovered that they had seen the Lord, and this woman (Mary), noticing this, turned back. John 20:15. Jesus says to her: woman! Why are you crying? who are you looking for? She, thinking that it is the gardener, says to Him: Master! if you have brought Him out, tell me where you have laid Him, and I will take Him. Perhaps He appeared to the Angels in an amazing form, but not to Mary in this way, but in a humble and ordinary form, which is why she considered Him to be the gardener, precisely of the garden in which the coffin was. That’s why she says: “Sir! if you carried Him out”, that is, if you stole Him. And he doesn’t say “Jesus,” but “Him,” he says, as if he knows what’s going on. So, if you took it away, that is, took it and stole it from here, then tell me where you laid Him, and I will take Him and move Him to another place where He will be buried magnificently. Perhaps she was afraid that the Jews would abuse the dead body, and therefore wanted it to be transferred to another place unknown to them. John 20:16. Jesus says to her: Mary! The wife's intention is full of love; but she cannot imagine anything lofty. And just as she on her own could not conceive of anything lofty, the Lord, through His voice, lets her know Himself. For He spoke only her name and thereby imparted knowledge, just as He sometimes allowed the Jews to recognize Him, and sometimes He was with them, and they did not recognize Him. So in speeches, when He wanted, He allowed Himself to be recognized. In the same way, now, when he wanted, he allowed Mary to recognize Him by his voice. Without a doubt, He had publicly said to her before: “Wife, why are you crying?” But Mary did not recognize, for this was not the will of Jesus. And when He was willing, she recognized Him by his voice. She turned and said to Him: Rabbi! - which means: Teacher! “She turned and spoke to Him.” How is this? She spoke to him and said: “Tell me where you laid Him”; and now the evangelist says that she was “converted”? It seems to me that, having said “where did you put it,” she turned to the Angels, perhaps with the intention of asking them why they were amazed. Then, Christ, calling her by name, amazed her with His voice and turned her from them to Himself, and she, recognizing Him now, said: “Teacher!” John 20:17. Jesus says to her: Do not touch Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; She wants to approach Him, treat Him as before, and perhaps hug Him like a lover. But He raises her thoughts so that she thinks of something higher and listens to Him with great reverence. “Do not touch Me,” that is, the circumstances are no longer in the same position, and I will no longer treat you in the same way. Although He did not say this in words, this is the meaning of the words “I ascend to My Father.” I'm hurrying there. And since I am in a hurry there and no longer have such a body to deal with people, then one must be more reverent towards Me, to the highest of ordinary conversation and touch, that is, treatment. Look how many thoughts the evangelist expressed briefly. The Lord said: “Do not touch Me.” Then, as if someone asked: “Why?” “Because,” he answers, “I have a body that is no longer the kind that is typical for life on earth, but the kind that is appropriate for heaven and the villages above.” Then the questioner continues: “Why do you walk on earth when you have such a body?” “Because,” he answers, “I have not yet ascended to My Father, but I will ascend.” For this is expressed in further words: “Go to My brothers and say to them: I am ascending to My Father and your Father,” although it will not ascend immediately, but after forty days. But go to My brothers and say to them: I ascend to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God. Why say this? In order to resurrect her mind and convince her that He is going to heaven, and thereby console her. Having called the disciples brothers, he adds “and to your Father.” God is our Father, but by grace, but He is the Father of the Lord by nature. Vice versa. He is God to us by nature, and God to the Lord by His humanity. For He became His God when He took upon Himself human nature. John 20:18. Mary Magdalene goes and tells her disciples that she saw the Lord and that He told her this. Mary, having received such speeches, leaves and announces this to her disciples. This is how good diligence and consistency are. Be diligent, and perhaps you will learn something higher, and from the disciples of the Word you will become a teacher. John 20:19. On the same first day of the week in the evening, when the doors of the house where His disciples were meeting were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst and said to them: Peace be with you! When Mary announced this to her disciples, it was natural that they either did not believe her, or, having believed, they regretted that they were not worthy to see Him themselves. Therefore, He appears to them on the same day, since, on the one hand, having heard from their wife that He had risen, they longed to see Him themselves, and on the other, they were afraid of the Jews and therefore even more desired to see this only consolation for them. It is “evening” so that everyone has time to get together. It appears “when the doors were locked” in order to show that He was resurrected also when the stone lay on the tomb. Others will wonder how they did not consider Him to be a ghost? But above all, the wife who preceded them produced strong faith in them. Then, He appeared to them in a meek form and with his very voice calmed their worried thoughts, saying “peace be with you,” that is, do not be embarrassed. With this He reminds them of the word that He spoke to them before suffering: “My peace I give to you” (John 14:27). It is worth finding out why He appears to the disciples not in Galilee, but in Jerusalem. For Matthew (Matt. 26:32) and Mark (Mk. 14:28) say that He promised to see them in Galilee. How does He appear in Jerusalem? Some answer: “What is it? He didn’t say that I will see you only in Galilee, and not in Jerusalem. This means that this is the wealth of love, and not a reason to complain about lies.” Then we can say that He promises to appear in Galilee to all the disciples, but in Jerusalem He appeared only to those who belonged to the twelve. So there is no disagreement here. For in Galilee He appeared to all, and in Jerusalem to the twelve. And since there were many phenomena, some evangelists described some phenomena, and others described others. Sometimes two evangelists report the same thing, but what one says in abbreviation, the other fills in. John 20:20. Having said this, He showed them His hands and feet and His ribs. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. And He also predicted this to them before suffering: “I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice” (John 16:22). John 20:21. Jesus said to them a second time: Peace be with you! And since they had an irreconcilable war with the Jews, he again says to them: “Peace.” As he said to the wives: “Rejoice” (Matthew 28:9), because their sex was in sorrow, so he gives “peace” to the disciples because of the battle that everyone had and will have with them. So, it is fitting for wives to rejoice, because they are condemned to give birth in sorrow, and for men to be peaceful because of their battle for the work of preaching. just as the Father sent Me, so I send you. Shows at the same time the good consequences of the Cross; this is the world. And since peace was acquired through the Cross, I send you to preach. As a consolation and encouragement, he says to them: “As the Father sent Me, so I send you.” You will take upon yourself My work; therefore watch, for I will be with you. Notice autocracy. He did not say, “I will ask My Father, and He will send you,” but, “I am sending you.” John 20:22. Having said this, he blew and said to them: Receive the Holy Spirit. Blows and gives them the Holy Spirit. Now He does not give them the perfect gift of the Holy Spirit, for He will give such to them at Pentecost, but He makes them capable of receiving the Spirit. For the words “receive the Holy Spirit” mean the same as being ready to receive the Spirit. John 20:23. Whose sins you forgive, they will be forgiven; On whomever you leave it, it will stay on it. It can also be said that He gave them some power and spiritual grace, not only to raise the dead and create powers, but to forgive sins. Therefore, he added: “Whose sins you forgive, they will be forgiven,” showing that He gave them this particular type of spiritual gifts - forgiveness of sins. After His ascension, the Spirit Himself descended and abundantly gave them the strength to work miracles and every other gift. Please note the dignity of priests, it is Divine. For to forgive sins is God’s work. Thus, they should be revered as God. Even if they were unworthy, what did that matter? They are ministers of Divine gifts, and grace acts through them, as it once said through Balaam’s donkey (Num. 22:28-30). So, our unworthiness does not hinder grace. And since grace is given through priests, we must honor them. John 20:24. But Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not here with them when Jesus came. Thomas was not with the disciples. He probably has not yet returned to them from his former dispersion. What does the remark mean - called Gemini? This is the meaning of the name - Thomas. For just as Cephas means stone, so Thomas means twin. The Evangelist mentions this meaning of the name Thomas, by the way, to show us that he was somehow distrustful and had such a disposition from birth, as the name itself shows. John 20:25. The other disciples said to him: We have seen the Lord. But he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the marks of the nails, and put my finger into the marks of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.” When the other disciples spoke about the Lord, Thomas did not believe, not because he considered them liars, but because he considered the resurrection impossible. That is why he is accused of immoderate curiosity. For, how quickly to believe is frivolous, and to persist so much is wild and rude. Look, he didn’t say, “I don’t believe my eyes,” but he added, “unless I put my hand in.” But how did he know that there was a wound in his side? I heard this from students. John 20:26. After eight days, His disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Jesus came when the doors were locked, stood in the midst of them and said: Peace be with you! Why does the Lord appear to him not immediately, but after eight days? So that he, listening to the instructions of his fellow disciples and hearing the same thing, is inflamed with a great desire and becomes a firmer believer for the future. John 20:27. Then he says to Thomas: put your finger here and see my hands; give me your hand and place it in my side; and do not be an unbeliever, but a believer. The Lord, wanting to show that He was with them even when Thomas expressed the words of his unbelief to his fellow disciples, does not wait until he hears something like that from him, but He Himself fulfills in advance what Thomas desired and uses his own words. And look, at first He says reproachfully: “Give me your hand,” but then he admonishes: “Do not be an unbeliever, but a believer.” From here it is clear that the doubt arose from unbelief, and therefore in vain some in defense of Thomas say that he was slow to believe because of his thoroughness. For behold, the Lord calls him an infidel. How did an incorruptible body turn out to have wounds and be touched by a human hand? It was all a matter of indulgence. For the body that entered through the locked doors, and therefore thin and light, was free from all coarseness. And in order to assure him of the resurrection, the Lord shows him like this, and for this he rose again, having the signs of the cross and wounds. Also, what He ate, He did not eat out of necessity for the body, but to be assured of the resurrection. Therefore, just as before the crucifixion, walking on the waves (Mark 6:48), He had a body of no different nature, so now He shows it tangible and having wounds. However, although it is tangible and visible, it is imperishable. For this is shown for verification, and not according to necessity and the law of the body. For everything that is eaten enters the belly and changes (Matthew 15:17), which was not the case with Christ after the resurrection; but what was eaten, taken only to ascertain the resurrection, was consumed by some invisible and Divine power. Notice also how for one person - Thomas - the Lord did not refuse to descend and show a rib in order to save one unbelieving soul, so we should not despise even one, not the least. John 20:28. Thomas answered Him: My Lord and my God! See how someone who didn’t believe at first became an excellent theologian with a touch on his rib. For he preached two natures and one person in one Christ. Having said “Lord,” he confessed human nature; for “Lord” is also used about people, for example: “Lord! if you endured Him” (John 20:15). And having said “My God,” he confessed the divine being and thus confessed the One and the Same as Lord and God. John 20:29. Jesus says to him: You believed because you saw Me; Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed. The Lord, showing us that faith consists in accepting the invisible, says: “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” Here He alludes to the disciples who did not touch either the wound of the nails or the rib, but nevertheless believed, and not only to them, but also to those who will believe later. He said this not to deprive Thomas of bliss, but to console those who had not seen. For many say: “Blessed are the eyes that have seen the Lord.” He consoles such people, saying that there is greater happiness in not seeing and believing. John 20:30 . Jesus did many other miracles before His disciples that are not written in this book. What signs is the evangelist talking about here? Are they really about those that the Lord committed before His suffering? No, but about those that He created after His resurrection. For the evangelist adds: “He did it before his disciples.” Before suffering, the Lord performed miracles not in front of his disciples, but in front of everyone. Therefore, the evangelist now speaks about those miracles that were performed by the Lord after the resurrection. For, dealing with the disciples alone for forty days, He presented evidence of the resurrection. Just as before His suffering He performed miracles to confirm that He was the Son of God, so after the resurrection He performed miracles before the disciples to confirm that He was the Son of Man, that is, He bears a body, although incorruptible and most divine, and no longer subject to the laws of the flesh. John 20:31. These things are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, “So, of the many miracles performed after the resurrection, these alone are recorded, and not out of boasting, or to add glory to the Only Begotten, but,” he says, “so that you may believe.” And what is the benefit, and to whom does it apply? Not to Christ. For what profit does our faith have to Him? But it serves us ourselves. and believing, they had life in His name. For by believing that He is risen and alive, we prepare life for ourselves, for He is risen and alive for us. And whoever thinks that He is dead, and not resurrected and not alive, condemns and confirms death and destruction to himself.