Knowing The Word: The Resurrection, John 20:1-10

Having looked at the resurrection appearances in Matthew, Mark, and Luke last week, we turn exclusively to the Gospel of John. Mary Magdalene, who appears in every gospel going to the tomb, discovers Jesus’ grave is open. Someone has rolled the circular stone that sealed the expensive tombs in first century Israel. The other gospels record other women accompanying Mary, but for John their presence is not important. Yet we know that they are with her because in her report to the disciples she says, “We do not know where Jesus’ body is.” Mary’s report is telling. She is not thinking of the resurrection at all. No one is. They are all concerned about where Jesus’ body is; where it has been taken. She reports her finding to Jesus’ two closest disciples, Peter and the disciple whom he loved, that is John.

There are really only two possibilities they were mulling over. Had the authorities taken the body to further humiliate Jesus and his followers? Or had grave robbers gained access to the tomb? The reason the tomb was sealed was because grave robbers were common. Some years later Emperor Claudius issued a decree that those caught removing bodies from tombs would be executed. No one was thinking of the resurrection early on Sunday morning.

1 Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. 2 So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” 3 So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. 4 Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, 7 and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus'head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. 8 Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; 9 for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead. 10 Then the disciples went back to their homes.

O God, who for our redemption gave your only-begotten Son to the death of the cross, and by his glorious resurrection delivered us from the power of our enemy: Grant us so to die daily to sin, that we may evermore live with him in the joy of his resurrection.