John 20:2 Meaning: Why Mary Missed the Angels' News
Therefore she ran and came to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have laid him!”
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.
She runneth therefore, 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 tomb, and we know not where they have laid him.
she runneth, therefore, and cometh unto Simon Peter, and unto the other disciple whom Jesus was loving, and saith to them, `They took away the Lord out of the tomb, and we have not known where they laid him.'
She runs therefore and comes to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, to whom Jesus was attached, and says to them, They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we know not where they have laid him.
Meaning in one sentence
Mary Magdalene ran to Peter and John with a mistaken report, not yet understanding the resurrection.
Context
John’s gospel records the resurrection morning through the eyes of Mary Magdalene. She had come to the tomb while it was still dark, found the stone rolled away, and immediately drew one conclusion: someone had taken the body. Without waiting to investigate, she ran to find Simon Peter and John. The other gospels tell us that angels had already spoken to the women, but John focuses on Mary’s first reaction. Her report is honest but incomplete. She speaks what she sees, an empty tomb, and not yet what she will soon learn: that Jesus is risen. This verse captures the moment between discovery and understanding.
Key Words
The Greek verb behind ‘she runs’ (trechei) carries urgency and raw energy. Mary does not walk or gather her thoughts. She sprints, still breathless with shock, to the two disciples she trusts most. That word sets the whole scene in motion.
The phrase ‘whom Jesus loved’ uses the verb ephilei, a warm word for personal affection and friendship, not the same word John often uses for divine love (agapao). Here the emphasis is on closeness, the kind of bond that makes grief hit hardest. John describes himself this way, but the word also reminds us that Jesus loved Peter just as personally, even after Peter’s failure.
Then comes ‘we know’ (oidamen), a word for knowledge gained by seeing with your own eyes. But Mary says ‘we do not know.’ Her eyes have seen the open tomb, but she still cannot see what God is doing. The knowledge she needs has not yet dawned.
How Christians Read This Verse
Several commentators note that Mary does not even mention the angels’ message. Adam Clarke suggests she was so flustered and anxious that the vision of angels seemed like an illusion, not something to report. The Cambridge Bible points out that she does not try to say who took the body, friend or enemy, she has no idea. Lange observes that the plural ‘we know not’ likely includes other women who were with her, as the other gospels describe. Each of these readings highlights the same point: the resurrection was not obvious at first glance. Even faithful witnesses needed time and further revelation to grasp what had happened.
A common misunderstanding
Some readers assume Mary Magdalene came to the tomb already expecting Jesus to rise. In fact, she came to anoint a dead body. When she saw the stone rolled away, her mind went straight to theft, not miracle. The other gospels confirm she had not understood Jesus’ predictions about rising. Her confusion was real, not a lack of faith.
Living This Out
This week, you might face a situation that looks like loss, a closed door, a silence, an empty place. Your first instinct may be to assume the worst and run to tell someone. That is not failure. It is human. The disciples ran too. But the verse invites you to hold your conclusions lightly. What if the empty space is not an ending but a beginning you cannot yet see? You can bring your confusion to trusted friends, just as Mary did. Honest questions are welcome on the road to faith.
Main takeaway: Grief can make us see only the empty tomb, but God is already working the resurrection we have not yet understood.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
Mary went to Jesus’ tomb and it was empty. She was sad and confused, so she ran to tell Peter and John. She didn’t know yet that Jesus was alive again.
For ages 9, 12
Mary Magdalene was one of Jesus’ closest friends. When she saw the empty tomb, she didn’t think, “He is risen!” Instead, she thought someone had taken His body. That’s why she ran so fast to Peter and John. Her mistake helps us see that even Jesus’ closest followers didn’t understand the resurrection at first. It took time, and it took Jesus meeting them, for the truth to sink in. Sometimes we need time too, and that’s okay.
Questions People Ask
Why did Mary think Jesus' body had been taken?
She came to the tomb expecting to find a dead body, not a risen Lord. The empty tomb, without explanation, looked like theft. She was grieving and confused, so her mind went to the most logical explanation.
Why does John call himself 'the disciple whom Jesus loved'?
John uses this phrase to emphasize the close, personal relationship Jesus had with each disciple. The Greek word here, phileo, suggests deep friendship, not just divine love. It reminds us that Jesus loves us personally.
Why did Mary run to Peter and John first?
Peter and John were leaders among the disciples and were probably staying near each other. Mary went to the ones she trusted most with disturbing news. The next verses show they immediately ran to the tomb to see for themselves.
What does 'we know not' imply about other women?
The plural 'we' suggests Mary was not alone. The other gospels mention several women at the tomb, including Mary the mother of James and Salome. Mary Magdalene speaks for the group, and her honesty about not knowing is a mark of real grief.
Did the disciples believe Mary's report?
Not at first. Peter and John ran to the tomb to check for themselves. John 20:9 says they still did not understand the Scripture that Jesus must rise from the dead. Belief came gradually, through seeing the empty tomb and later encountering the risen Christ.
For pastors & researchers
Greek interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study