Structural Outlines of John 20

Structural Outlines of the Fourth Gospel
by Rev. Felix Just, S.J., Ph.D.

Empty Tomb and Resurrection Appearances (20:1-29)
The Empty Tomb Narrative (vv. 1-10)
The Risen Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene on Sunday Morning (vv. 11-18)
The Risen Jesus Appears to His Disciples that Sunday Evening (vv. 19-23)
The Risen Jesus Appears to His Disciples again a Week Later (vv. 24-29)
The Gospel's First Conclusion (vv. 30-31)
[full NAB text] [see related art]

The Empty Tomb Narrative (vv. 1-10):

Narrator: Mary of Magdala finds the tomb empty, runs to tell Peter and the Beloved Disciple (vv. 1-2a)
Mary Magdalene: "They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don't know where they put him." (v. 2b)
Narrator: Peter and the Beloved Disciple run to the tomb, see the burial cloths but no corpse, return home (vv. 3-10)

The Risen Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene on Sunday Morning (vv. 11-18):

Narrator: Mary stood outside, weeping; bends to look into the tomb; sees two angels in white (vv. 11-12)
Angel: "Woman, why are you weeping?" (v. 13a)
Mary: "They have taken my Lord, and I don't know where they laid him." (v. 13b)
Narrator: (v. 14)
Jesus: "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?" (v. 15a)
Mary: "Sir, if you carried him away, tell me where you laid him, and I will take him." (v. 15b)
Jesus: "Mary!" (v. 16a)
Mary: "Rabbouni" (v. 16b)
Jesus: (v. 17)
Narrator: Mary of Magdala went and announced to the disciples... (v. 18a)
Mary: "I have seen the Lord" (v.18b)

The Risen Jesus Appears to the Disciples that Sunday Evening (vv. 19-23):

Narrator: (v. 19a)
Jesus: "Peace be with you." (v.19b)
Narrator: (v. 20)
Jesus: "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you." (v. 21)
Narrator: (v. 22a)
Jesus: (vv. 22b-23)

The Risen Jesus Appears to the Disciples Again a Week Later (vv. 24-29):

Narrator: (v. 24)
Disciples: "We have seen the Lord." (v. 25a)
Thomas: "Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nailmarks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe." (v. 25b)
Narrator: (v. 26a)
Jesus: "Peace be with you." (v. 26b)
Jesus: (v. 27)
Thomas: "My Lord and my God!" (v. 28)
Jesus: "Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed." (v. 29)

The Gospel's First Conclusion (20:30-31):

Narrator: (vv. 30-31)

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The Johannine Literature Web was created and is maintained by Felix Just, S.J.