John 20:9 Commentary and Bible Study

But then the explanation is given. Now this verse is most interesting because of course Christ had taught them he would rise from the dead. But this verse doesn’t at this stage chastise them for disbelieving or not understanding the Lord. It simply explains ‘they knew not the scripture’. So this is not a reference to the teachings of Christ in the Gospels that he would rise from the dead. It refers to the Old Testament scriptures, like Psalm 16 and Psalm 24, and the prophecies of Isaiah and Jeremiah concerning this very event. They should have thought about those prophecies as well as remembering Christ’s own frequently repeated statement that it was going to happen. But John now understands, and Peter, maybe, moments afterwards, or maybe during the walk back to their home also understood.