Today's text sets forth the details of the most pivotal event of the Christian faith. John's account adds to the record of the synoptists' versions by including almost completely new details. In offering his eyewitness version of events, he adds to the New Testament record which by this time is already recorded by the synoptists (accounts with which he assumes his readers are already familiar) and as well as by Paul in his first letter to the Corinthians where he not only tells the story of the Resurrection, but emphasizes its importance to the Christian faith. If Christ is not risen, there is no faith (1 Corinthians 15:13).

The resurrection record of today's pericope is part of a larger unit (20:1-31) which, after establishing the fact that the tomb is empty (vv.1-10), details the first t…