In John's gospel the relationship of seeing to believing has frequently arisen. The Pharisees see Jesus but do not believe in him. The blind beggar believes in Jesus before he can see him. Seeing physically does not necessarily result in believing. In modern life with its scientific emphasis on observable proof as the basis of truth, the problem which John's gospel recognizes is important for Christians today. Knowing that Jesus of Nazareth lived and died is not the same as believing that he is the Son of God, the Saviour of the world. What John wants his readers to understand is that the disciples believed, when they met the risen Christ; when they saw him they knew without a doubt that he was the Son of God, their Lord and Saviour.

When Mary Magdalene saw that the tomb was open and empty, she was not yet able to believe that it meant more than the removal of Jesus' body, perhaps by his enemies (20: 1-2).

When Peter and the disciple whom Jesus loved ran to the tomb, even Peter did not yet understand what had taken place. Only the unnamed disciple believed that something unbelievable had happened, 20:8.