The Resurrection

John 20:1-18 ESV

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. 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.” So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who had 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 went back to their homes.  But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one 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.” Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. 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.” Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). 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.’”  Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”—and that he had said these things to her.

Rev Dwight Yoo

Reliability

John writes as an eyewitness to the resurrection. This is no metaphor. He writes this as historical fact. Most people will choose not to believe because science says that people do not resurrect. But how about people during Jesus' times? Jews believed that people would be resurrected at the end of time. The Greeks believed that the body was bad. They thought that upon death, the spirit left the body. Bodily resurrection made no sense. No one expected Jesus to come back. The disciples were confused as to what happened. Mary thought that his body had been stolen by grave robbers. And then his disciples saw the resurrected Jesus.

No one here has seen the resurrected Jesus. All we have is eyewitness accounts. The women were the first to say they saw a resurrected Jesus. Women of those times were not seen as credible. Their testimony was not admissible in court. If one were to make up a story, no one would choose them as the first witnesses. If the body was stolen, why were the burial clothes still there? And if it was stolen, why did the body not reappear with all the attempts to discredit Jesus' and his followers? Grave robbers would have made lots of money to produce the body... And not just that, but hundreds saw Jesus. A single person may be hallucinating, but group hallucinations? Not only that, but many went to grisly deaths, still testifying to a resurrected Christ.

Result

The resurrection of Jesus announced the death of death. Death is no more. All of us face death. It is the great equalizer. It does not matter whether you are rich, poor, educated, smart, or foolish. We all must face death. But the resurrection promises more than death. For those who believe in him, we are promised resurrection. In his resurrection, creation is being renewed. It is being made new. Everything will be similar to how it is now... But gloriously better. Not only that, but all the suffering in this life will bring us joy in heaven. We are not saved from suffering. But though suffering, we will find joy.

Response

Many people believe in the historical Jesus. But the resurrection requires more. The resurrection says that Jesus is God. He is more than a simple moral teacher or good person. If he is God, he can rightly call us to submit our entire lives to him. How do we know that God is trustworthy? Before God asked you to lay down his life for Him, Jesus laid down his life for you.

Jesus meets Mary.. And then sent her to announce his resurrection to the others. He sent her to proclaim the risen Christ. That is the same call we have today. May this Easter be more than a celebration, but also a proclamation: Jesus lives!