Easter I: Encounter with Mary Magdalene John 20:1-18

One of the remarkable things about the Easter accounts is how much they vary. In John's account, as has been the case throughout his gospel, the appearances happen mainly for the benefit of certain individuals: Mary Magdalene, Thomas and Peter.

Mary comes to the garden tomb and sees that the stone has been moved away, but she evidently doesn't go in (perhaps she only saw it from a distance and ran for help). She immediately gets Peter and John to come see and they go inside. The relationship of Peter and John at the end of this gospel is interesting. He is with him at the denial. They are together at the empty tomb. They are also together in the early ministry after Pentecost (Acts 3-4). We know that Peter, Andrew, James and John were associates in the fishing business. But Andrew and James seem to fade at this point of the story. John mentions that he is the first to walk to the empty tomb, because he outran Peter (he would have been 20-30 years younger than old Pete), but he only looks in. As we might expect, Peter walks right in. The scene is eerie, with the shell of perfumed linens now empty and the facecloth folded neatly. John then goes in and sees for himself. The body of Christ has been removed, and the disciples fear the worst. To add insult to injury, someone has stolen the Master's body - and they will be blamed for it. Who removed it? Certainly, not the soldiers. But what about those who set up the whole plot? Had they set this all up so the disciples would be implicated, arrested, and executed, too? They return to tell the other disciples.

Mary stays behind. But she sees something in addition, two angels. They ask why she is crying, and then a "gardener" from behind her asks the same thing. She doesn't recognize that the gardner is Jesus until he calls her by name. Did Jesus look that different that she doesn't recognize him? Or was she so consumed with grief that she cannot see him for who he is? What a moment that must have been when she realizes she is seeing Jesus back from the dead! But he already clues her in that his time with her and anybody else will be limited. He will be going to the Father.

Two songs come to mind that try to capture the moment. Both are available for your viewing on youtube.com: "He's Alive" by Don Francisco (either by him or by Dolly Parton are great renditions) and "I've Just Seen Jesus" (duet with Sandi Patti and Larnelle Harris). Mary goes to the disciples to share the news, but they are not sure that they buy it. They will have to see for themselves...and so they shall.