John 20:1-18
Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. 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.” Then Peter and the other disciple set out and went toward the tomb. The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent down to look in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen wrappings lying there, and the cloth that had been on Jesus’s head, not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed, for as yet they did not understand the scripture, that he must rise from the dead. Then the disciples returned to their homes. But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb, and she saw two angels in white sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet. 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.” When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” 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.” Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni!” (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, “Do not touch me, because 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.’ ”Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord,” and she told them that he had said these things to her. John 20:1-18 (NRSVUE)
Here we are. Lent season is over. Easter has arrived. Our reading for today takes us to his resurrection. What a range of emotions for Mary Magdalene, the other women with her, and the disciples.
They had seen their leader and their friend, Jesus, crucified and die just two days before. Then early on the first day of the week, they went to the tomb and found that Jesus’ body was not in the grave as they had thought. First, horror at his death, then dismay at his body not where they had believed it to be, finally their wonder when Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene.
They had heard Jesus tell them what was going to happen, what he would have to go through. He had also told them that he would be going back to his Father. How could anyone understand all that? Maybe they couldn’t. They remembered all that Jesus told them and what he taught them. Maybe we can’t understand it either. We remember what we have been taught and we believe. Praise be to God! Alleluia!
Question for Reflection:
- What are two or three ways that you will respond to God and your neighbors, as a beloved Child of God this year? (I cannot tell a lie. This question was in the Nebraska Synod E-News.)
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank you for this beautiful season of Easter and for giving us your Son. Amen.
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