One-Year Bible Reading Plan  : Seekers & New Believers | January 20 | John Chapter 20: Surprise of the Empty Tomb, Mary's Tears, and "Peace Be Unto You" 

🌸 Opening Today’s Reading 

Dear Brothers, Sisters, and Friends, Peace in the Lord!

Welcome to Day 20 of our Bible reading journey! Today is January 20th, and we are so glad to continue walking together.

Yesterday in John Chapter 19, we witnessed the most sacred and tragic moment at Golgotha, hearing Jesus declare "It is finished!" for our redemption. Today, we step into the garden tomb at the break of dawn to witness the greatest turnaround and miracle in human history.

Here we find the pulse-pounding surprise of the empty tomb, a tearful encounter made sweet by a single word—"Mary"—the resurrected Lord standing among frightened disciples with the declaration "Peace be unto you," and Thomas' awe-struck surrender: "My Lord and my God!"

Let us enter today's reading with expectant and reverent hearts!

📖 Context Snapshot: Dawn at the Empty Tomb, A Voice in the Garden, and Peace Through Locked Doors  

1. What Happened Before: From a Silent Grave to Easter Light

Yesterday in Chapter 19, Jesus yielded His life on the cross, completing redemption before being laid inside a sealed stone tomb. Silence seemed to swallow every hope. In Chapter 20, on the first day of the week while it was still dark, light breaks through the gloom as a world-shaking miracle unfolds.

2. Today's Thread: A Rolled-Away Stone, A Mysterious Gardener, and A Sudden Presence

Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene hurried to the tomb in deep grief—only to find the massive stone rolled away and the tomb empty!

Disciples raced to the scene, peering inside to see neat graveclothes folded aside, but no body to be found.

After others left in confusion, Mary stayed outside the tomb weeping. Suddenly, a voice spoke behind her: "Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou?" Supposing Him to be the gardener, she begged through her tears for news of her Master's body.

In that fleeting moment, the figure turned and called her by name! Mary gasped as tears filled her eyes...

Later that evening, the disciples huddled behind tightly locked doors out of fear. Suddenly, a familiar presence stood right in their midst, speaking words that transformed their terror into joy!

Who was the stranger standing in the garden? How did He enter that locked room? And what convinced doubting Thomas to fall on his knees?

The answers await you in today's chapter. We invite you to open your Bible and discover the truth!

💡 Questions to keep in mind while reading today:

• On "Mary!": What does Jesus calling Mary by name reveal about His personal relationship with each of His followers?

• On "Peace Be Unto You": How did Jesus' greeting transform the disciples' fear into joy and purpose?

• On "Blessed Are They That Have Not Seen": What timeless promise does Jesus offer to us today who have not physically seen Him?

💡 Today’s Scripture Verse  - John 20

20 The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.

2 Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him.

3 Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre.

4 So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre.

5 And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in.

6 Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie,

7 And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself.

8 Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed.

9 For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead.

10 Then the disciples went away again unto their own home.

11 But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre,

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

13 And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him.

14 And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.

15 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.

16 Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.

17 Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.

18 Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her.

19 Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.

20 And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord.

21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.

22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:

23 Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.

24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.

25 The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.

26 And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.

27 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.

28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.

29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.

30 And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book:

31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

🌟Daily Heart-Check: Hearing His Personal Call, Receiving Unshakable Peace, and Living by Unseen Faith 

Synchronized with the core questions from our reading guide:

• Hear the Risen Savior Call Your Name:
  Mary failed to recognize Jesus through her tears until He called her name personally. The risen Lord knows you intimately; He understands your grief and calls you into His loving presence.

• Receive the Peace That Pierces Every Fear:
  Though doors were locked tightly in fear, Jesus entered to speak peace and impart the Holy Spirit. His resurrection power overcomes every wall of anxiety and fills us with divine courage.

• Embrace the Blessing of Believing Without Seeing:
  While Thomas required physical proof, Jesus pronounces a special blessing upon those who believe without seeing. True faith rests securely upon His word and the witness of His Spirit within us.

💭 Reflection & Micro-Action

Connecting with Today's Questions:
Are you hiding behind "locked doors" of fear, anxiety, or doubt today? Are you willing to open your heart and receive the risen Lord's greeting: "Peace be unto you"?

A Micro-Step Today:
Take two simple practical steps today:

1. A Prayer to Receive Peace: Whenever fear or anxiety presses on you today, pause, read John 20:19 slowly, and pray: "Risen Lord Jesus, step into my heart and speak Your peace into my fear today."

2. A Confession of Personal Faith: Speak a quiet prayer of surrender to Him today, echoing Thomas' words: "My Lord and my God, I trust in You!"

🎵 Response Song :  The Lord Is Risen 

🙏 Closing Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank You for showing us in John Chapter 20 the glorious reality and power of Lord Jesus' resurrection.

Risen Lord Jesus, thank You for calling us by name in our moments of sorrow and confusion. Thank You for stepping through the locked doors of our fears to speak Your peace into our hearts. Grant us unwavering faith to believe in You even when we do not see, resting securely in Your resurrection power.

Bless every moment of our day today, and let us walk in Your joy, peace, and victory.

In Jesus' name we pray, Amen!