Easter Season · Year B
Resurrection of the Lord
March 28, 2027
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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Commentary
Commentary on John 20:1-18 Working Preacher
Mainline exegesis of Mary Magdalene's dawn encounter at the empty tomb.
John 20 - The Empty Tomb and the Risen Jesus Enduring Word · David Guzik
David Guzik's verse-by-verse walk through the resurrection appearances.
John 20:1 Commentaries BibleHub
Classic commentaries (Ellicott, Barnes, Meyer) gathered verse by verse.
Dawn: SALT's Commentary for Easter Sunday SALT Project
Reads Easter morning as the break of a new era where love has the final word.
Easter Sunday of the Resurrection of the Lord Loyola Press · Sunday Connection
Catholic Sunday Connection with background and family activities for the readings.
What Is Loved Is Resurrected, Easter Day (B) Sermons That Work · Episcopal Church
Episcopal preaching resource written for Easter Day, Year B.
Something Happened: A Sermon for Easter Word on Fire · Bishop Barron
Bishop Barron on the neatly folded burial cloths as a sign that someone broke out.
Background & Word Study
Gospel of John (Background) Enter the Bible
Luther Seminary introduction to John's authorship, themes, and structure.
Overview: Gospel of John BibleProject
Animated overview mapping John's signs, glory, and resurrection arc.
John 20:1 Greek Interlinear BibleHub
Word-by-word Greek with parsing for the empty-tomb narrative.
The Church Fathers
Sermons & Reflections
Worship & Prayers
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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