John 20 is the resurrection chapter - the empty tomb, Mary Magdalene’s encounter with the Risen Christ in the garden, and Thomas’s confession that has anchored Christian faith for two thousand years. The apostle John records four resurrection scenes that close the Gospel’s main narrative with its own purpose statement:

Full sung version coming soon.

Lyrics

Now on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene came early To the tomb, while it was still dark

And she saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb So she ran and came to Simon Peter and to the other disciple Whom Jesus loved and said to them They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb

And we don’t know where they have laid him Peter therefore went out, and the other disciple And they went toward the tomb They both ran together, and the other disciple outran Peter

And came to the tomb first, and stooping down and looking in He saw the linen cloths lying there Yet he didn’t enter in Simon Peter therefore came following him and entered into the tomb

And he saw the linen cloths lying there And the napkin that had been on his head, not lying with the linen cloths But rolled up in a place by itself So the other disciple who came first to the tomb also entered in

And he saw and believed For as yet they didn’t know the Scripture That he must rise again from the dead So the disciples went away again to their own homes

But Mary was standing outside the tomb weeping So as she wept, she stooped down and looked into the tomb And she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head And one at the feet where the body of Jesus had been lying

And they said to her, Woman, why are you weeping She said to them, Because they have taken away my Lord And I don’t know where they have laid him When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there And didn’t know that it was Jesus

Jesus said to her, Woman, why are you weeping Who are you looking for She, supposing him to be the gardener Said to him, Sir, if you have taken him away, tell me where you have laid him

Jesus said to her, Mary She turned and said to him, Rabboni Which is to say, Teacher Jesus said to her, Don’t touch me For I haven’t yet ascended to my Father But go to my brothers and say to them I am ascending to my Father and your Father To my God and your God

Listen

John 20 sung by Psalm Selah. The whole Bible, one chapter at a time.

Published 2026-05-22 · Last updated 2026-06-06
Written by Reid Wender, Editorial Director at Psalmody Press