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

John 20:1-9 or Luke 24:1-12

The Empty Tomb

April 16, 2028

Saint Peter and Saint John Run to the Sepulchre, James Tissot
Saint Peter and Saint John Run to the Sepulchre, James Tissot, 1886–1894Brooklyn Museum, New York
Peter and John race over the rocky ground toward the open tomb in the grey dawn, their cloaks streaming behind them.The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first.James TissotA French society painter who turned to religion and travelled to Palestine to paint the life of Christ where it happened.Brooklyn Museum, New YorkNew York’s second largest museum, holding a celebrated Egyptian collection and Tissot’s entire Bible series.Brooklyn Museum, New York
Roman Lectionary
GospelJohn 20:1-9Jn 20:1-9 orLuke 24:1-12Lk 24:1-12Alt. 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 ReadingPs. 118:1-2, 16-17, 22-23 (24)Ps 118:1-2, 16-17, 22-23 (24)
Responsorial PsalmActs 10:34a, 37-43

Overview & Insights

"Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed." (John 20:8)

Mary Magdalene finds the tomb open before dawn and runs to tell Peter and the beloved disciple, who race to the tomb and find it empty except for the burial cloths. John notes that at this point neither of them yet understood from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.

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Take it further: John 20:1-9 or Luke 24:1-12

Commentary

John 20 CommentaryJn 20 Commentary Enduring Word

Verse-by-verse evangelical commentary on the resurrection appearances in John 20, including the empty tomb.

John 20:1 CommentariesJn 20:1 Commentaries BibleHub

Collects classic commentaries (Gill, Barnes, Cambridge, and others) verse by verse on John 20:1.

John 20 CommentaryJn 20 Commentary Precept Austin

Devotional, word-study-heavy commentary with cross references on John 20.

Commentary on John 20:1-18Commentary on Jn 20:1-18 Working Preacher

A Lutheran seminary scholar's homiletical commentary on the resurrection narrative in John 20.

Background & Word Study

John 20:1 InterlinearJn 20:1 Interlinear BibleHub

Greek text of John 20:1 with word-by-word parsing and Strong's numbers.

John 13-21 VideoJn 13-21 Video BibleProject

An animated overview of the second half of John's Gospel, including the resurrection chapters.

The Church Fathers

John 20 CatenaJn 20 Catena Catena Bible

Compiles patristic comments, including Chrysostom and Aquinas's Catena Aurea, on John 20.

Sermons & Reflections

Hope in Despair, Easter Day (C) Sermons That Work

An Easter Day Year C sermon from the Episcopal Church's preaching library.

Noli Me Tangere: Easter Sunday Journey with Jesus

Daniel Clendenin's weekly lectionary essay reflecting on the Easter Sunday resurrection texts.

Worship & Prayers

Easter Day, Principal Service The Lectionary Page

Anglican collect and full set of propers for the Easter Day principal service, Year C.

Podcast

Sermon Brainwave #350 - Resurrection of Our Lord Working Preacher

A roundtable podcast discussion of the Easter Sunday lectionary texts from Luther Seminary faculty.

Art & Music

Easter Day, Year C - Art Index Vanderbilt

Vanderbilt's curated public-domain art gallery keyed to the Easter Day Year C readings.

Study Hub

John 20:1-18 ResourcesJn 20:1-18 Resources Textweek

A long-running aggregator of sermon illustrations, commentary links, and worship resources for John 20.

Prep at sermons.com

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