John 20:1-31
Key Verse: 20:17b

“Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”

1. On which of the women does John focus? Where had she been during the crucifixion and burial? (19:25; Lk 23:55) What did Mary discover when she arrived at the tomb? What did it mean to her that it was empty?

2. How did Peter and John react? What does this show about each? What was in the tomb? What did these things mean? What did John believe? Why didn’t they understand what they saw? What is the meaning of the empty tomb?

3. Read verses 10-13. What did Mary do? What did she see and hear? Why was she crying? (13) Read verses 14,15. When Jesus spoke to her, how did she answer? When did she recognize him? (16) What does this reveal about Jesus? Mary?

4. Read verses 17-18.What did Mary do? What holy mission did Jesus give her? How did the disciples respond to Mary? Read verses 19-20. What was their spiritual condition when Jesus visited them? When and why did they become joyful

5. Read verses 21-22. What was Jesus’ mission? How is the disciples’ mission similar? How could such fearful men become men of mission? Read verse 23. How is forgiveness related to their mission? Why must we be people of mission?

6. Read verses 24-29. What was Thomas’ spiritual problem? (See also 11:16b; 14:1-6) How did Jesus help him? What was Thomas’ confession?

7. What blessing does Jesus give to us who have not seen Jesus with physical eyes, but have read the book and believed in Jesus? (30-31)