Justin Houtz

Jeremiah 26, 35-36; John 20

DateVersionReading Plan
August 18, 2026ESV (2016)ESV Life Journal Plan – 2026

John 20

Observation & Interpretation

This chapter provides an account of Jesus’ resurrection, His appearance to Mary Magdelene and the disciples as well as a short summary of the purpose of the Book. A couple of features were of particular note in today’s reading. First, when Mary was at the tomb, Jesus addressed her by reference of “Woman”, but she thought He was a gardener. Mary requested that she be told where Jesus’ body was laid in order that she take Him away. To this, Jesus replied by saying, “Mary”, and she recognized that it was Jesus. “Jesus had already spoken to her. It was when she heard her own name from his lips that she knew who it was.” (CSB Notes)

The other notable element was when Jesus told Mary to not cling to Him but to go to “my brothers” and tell them that He is ascending to His Father and their Father, to His God and their God. The Bible Believers Commentary unpacks the significance of these words:

For the first time, the Lord referred to the disciples as “My brethren.” They were to know that His Father was their Father, and His God was their God. Not until now were believers made “sons” and “heirs of God.”

The Lord Jesus did not say, “Our Father,” but “My Father and your Father.” The reason is that God is His Father in a different sense than He is ours. God is the Father of the Lord Jesus from all eternity. Christ is the Son by eternal generation. The Son is equal with the Father. We are sons of God by adoption. It is a relationship that begins when we are saved and will never end. As sons of God, we are not equal with God and never shall be.

Application

The theme of relational language in this chapter is profound. Mary realized that she was speaking with Jesus when He called her by name. It is a grace of God that He knows and calls His children by name, that His sheep would know Him and respond to the Shepherd’s voice. Moreover, that by the sacrificial work of Jesus on the cross, we have been made brothers with Him, siblings and co-heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with Him in order that we may also be glorified with Him. May these truths be a sweet savor to us, that despite our rebellion against Him, God pours our His grace by gathering us to Himself, granting us intimacy with Him.

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