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Easter Season · Easter Sunday of the Resurrection of the Lord · Year B

John 20:1-9 or Luke 24:13-35

The Empty Tomb

March 28, 2027

The Two Disciples at the Tomb, Henry Ossawa Tanner
The Two Disciples at the Tomb, Henry Ossawa Tanner, c. 1906Art Institute of Chicago
Peter and John stand at the mouth of the tomb in the dawn light: the young John leans forward, lit full in the face, and the older Peter holds a hand to his chest behind him.Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not understand the scripture, that he must rise from the dead.Henry Ossawa TannerAn American painter, son of a bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, who settled in France and painted biblical subjects in a quiet, inward light.Art Institute of ChicagoThe Art Institute of Chicago, one of the oldest and largest art museums in the United States.Art Institute of Chicago
Roman Lectionary
GospelJohn 20:1-9Jn 20:1-9 orLuke 24:13-35Lk 24:13-35Alt. GospelAfternoon orevening Mass: Luke 24:13-35evening Mass: Lk 24:13-35
Second ReadingCol. 3:1-4Col 3:1-4 or1 Cor. 5:6b-81 Cor 5:6b-8Alt. 2nd ReadingSequence: Victimae Paschali Laudes
First ReadingActs 10:34a, 37-43
Responsorial PsalmPs. 118:1-2, 16-17, 22-23 (24)Ps 118:1-2, 16-17, 22-23 (24)

Overview & Insights

“I have seen the Lord.” (John 20:18)

The story of the empty tomb is Mary Magdalene’s story. To this point in the Gospel, Mary has been mentioned only once, with no further identification (19:25), probably because she is presumed to be well known to the Gospel’s readers. In Mark, Matthew, and Luke she is mentioned first among the women who came to the tomb on Sunday morning, but here she seems to come alone. Only her statement that we [plural] don’t know the whereabouts of Jesus’ body (v. 2) betrays a consciousness of others present with her at the tomb (contrast I don’t know in v. 13).

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Take it further: John 20:1-9 or Luke 24:13-35

Commentary

John 20 - An Empty Tomb and A Risen JesusJn 20 - An Empty Tomb and A Risen Jesus Enduring Word · David Guzik

David Guzik walks the whole resurrection chapter verse by verse, ideal for the empty-tomb scene in verses 1-9.

John 20:1 CommentariesJn 20:1 Commentaries BibleHub

Stacks classic commentators (Ellicott, Meyer, Barnes, Pulpit) on the opening verses of Easter morning.

John 20 CommentaryJn 20 Commentary Precept Austin

A deep verse-by-verse study hub gathering multiple scholars and word notes on John 20.

John 20:1-18 CommentaryJn 20:1-18 Commentary Center for Excellence in Preaching

Scott Hoezee's Reformed reading of the understated Easter narrative and the disciples' dawning belief.

He Saw the Cloths and Believed Word on Fire · Bishop Barron

Bishop Barron's reflection on John 20:1-9 and why the burial cloths convinced the beloved disciple.

Easter Sunday: Sunday Connection Loyola Press · Sunday Connection

Catholic catechetical reflection and discussion questions on the empty-tomb Gospel.

Background & Word Study

Meeting the risen Jesus by the empty tomb in John 20Meeting the risen Jesus by the empty tomb in Jn 20 Psephizo · Ian Paul

Ian Paul's Anglican exegesis of the running disciples, the grave cloths, and Mary as apostle to the apostles.

Enter the Bible: John 20Enter the Bible: Jn 20 Enter the Bible

Luther Seminary background notes on the setting and structure of John's resurrection chapter.

The Gospel of John OverviewThe Gospel of Jn Overview BibleProject

Animated overview of John's design and theology to frame the resurrection climax.

John 20:1 InterlinearJn 20:1 Interlinear BibleHub

Greek word-by-word text with parsing and Strong's numbers for the opening verses.

The Church Fathers

Catena: John 20Catena: Jn 20 Catena

Patristic and medieval comment gathered verse by verse across the resurrection chapter.

Sermons & Reflections

Rising Journey with Jesus

An Easter lectionary essay on the bodily resurrection as the heart of Christian hope.

Worship & Prayers

Easter Day, Year B (RCL) The Lectionary Page

The Collect and appointed prayers for Easter Day to shape the liturgy.

Art & Music

Disciples John and Peter on their way to the tomb on Easter morningDisciples Jn and Peter on their way to the tomb on Easter morning Vanderbilt

Burnand's painting of the two disciples running to the tomb, matched exactly to verses 3-4.

Questions preachers ask

What happens at the empty tomb in John?

Mary Magdalene finds the stone rolled away, and the risen Jesus calls her by name; she runs to tell the disciples, I have seen the Lord.

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