John 20

Good morning.  Today’s passage is John 20.  Here, we see that Jesus has been raised from the dead and the tomb is empty.  While it was still dark on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that it was empty with the stone rolled away.  She goes to tell Peter and John that Jesus’ body was taken away.  They all saw that empty tomb with the strips of linen & head cloth inside but they did not understand what had happened.  Then the disciples left the tomb while Mary stayed behind.  The rest of the passage details Jesus’ encounter with Mary & the disciples. 

Mary is still at the tomb weeping over His lost body.  She did not know where it was and did not know that He was resurrected.  When she looked inside, she saw two angels sitting where Jesus’ body was laid and asked her why she was crying.  Her answer reveals that she thought that some people had entered the tomb and had taken His body away.  Immediately, Jesus appears to her, but she does not recognize Him at first.  It is only when He calls her by name (instead of woman) that she is able to recognize Him and believe that He rose from the dead.  Afterwards, after finally letting go of Him despite her immense joy and comfort, she runs off to the disciples to tell them what she had seen and heard. 

Later that day, the disciples were together behind locked doors when Jesus suddenly appeared to them and offered peace.  He showed them evidence of His resurrection by showing them His hands and side.  As a result, they believed and were filled with joy.  Later, Thomas, who was not there when Jesus appeared to the disciples, was told by the other disciples that Jesus rose from the dead.  But he refused to believe unless he saw proof of it.  A week later, Jesus appeared to Thomas and the other disciples to proclaim peace again & to provide the evidence to Thomas that he sought in order to believe. 

These examples of Jesus’ appearances to Mary and the disciples highlight His willingness to meet people where they are to strengthen their faith instead of requiring them to come to Him in a specific manner.  For Mary, He offered her comfort in her sadness by speaking her name, gave her the honor of being the first to see Him in His resurrected state, and the purpose of telling the disciples what He had told her.  For the disciples, He offered them peace in their fear, gave them the evidence that they needed to believe, and a renewed purpose (v. 21).   We can be encouraged because He knows where we are and is willing to give us what we need as long as we remain open to His work in our lives.