John 20:10

John 20:10, in plain English

Peter and John head home, leaving Mary at the tomb. They've seen the evidence, but the full picture is still unfolding.

Why it's here

The disciples go home to process. But Mary stays. And because she stays, she's about to have the most extraordinary encounter of her life.

Who's speaking

John transitions the story back to Mary.

Where it sits in the story

The men go home. Mary stays at the tomb, weeping. She doesn't know it yet, but her refusal to leave is about to be rewarded with the first resurrection appearance.

The scholarly reading

Peter and the beloved disciple return to their homes, leaving Mary Magdalene at the tomb as the narrative focus shifts back to her.

Language and setting

The disciples' departure sets the stage for Mary's encounter with the risen Christ. Their return home suggests that even the beloved disciple's belief has not yet fully processed what has occurred.

Voice

The narrator transitions back to Mary Magdalene.

Significance

The two disciples depart, perhaps processing what they've seen in stunned silence. The narrative camera now returns to Mary Magdalene, who will become the first to encounter the risen Lord.

8Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in. And he saw and believed.

9For they still did not understand from the Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.

10Then the disciples returned to their homes.

11But Mary stood outside the tomb weeping. And as she wept, she bent down to look into the tomb,

12and she saw two angels in white sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and the other at the feet.

Read all of John 20 — Mary weeping in a garden hears her name spoken by a voice she thought she'd lost forever. Then Jesus walks into a locked room: peace.