Knowing The Word: Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene and the Disciples, John 20:11-23

John believed; Mary did not. Alone, she wails in agony. Not only did they beat and crucify her Master, but now his body is gone—the last humiliation and inhumane act by evil men. Sometimes I wonder why Peter and John left her alone. Were they simply uncaring, or did she ask them to let her stay? We simply do not know, but as all the gospels attest, the first person to see the resurrected Jesus is Mary Magdalene. Her love for Jesus is undeniable and unconditional. She who is forgiven a lot loves a lot.

If there is one word that cannot be taken out of Easter, it is “joy”. To say “the disciples were glad when they saw” Jesus is clear understatement! They were overjoyed. Somehow Jesus has just miraculously passed through the walls or the locked door of the room they hid in for fear their lives would be taken as Jesus’ was. He arrives in the most dramatic fashion and declares in Hebrew, “Shalom.” Shalom cannot simply be translated into English as “peace be with you” but has a much deeper and profound meaning. Shalom is the full blessing of being in the kingdom of God. Shalom is life at its best, and now that Jesus is alive and has returned to this band of brothers, life is at its best. Jesus has just confirmed that God’s kingdom is ruling the world in which they live.

11 But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. 12 And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. 13 They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” 14 Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.”16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic,“Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). 17 Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” 18 Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”—and that he had said these things to her.

19 On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 20 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.”22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”

This joyous day, most glorious Lord of Life, with joy begin;

And grant that we, for whom you did die,

Being with your dear blood washed clean from our sins,

May live for ever in felicity.