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Thoughts from the Lectionary: Easter Day

From the Gospel Lesson: St. John 20:1-10

John’s record of the resurrection of Christ revolves primarily around the accounts of three people. Mary Magdalene, Simon Peter, and John himself. Others were there, but John centers his narrative on these three. Mary comes to the tomb and seeing it empty runs quickly and tells the disciples what she has seen. She says that they have taken the Lord and doesn’t seem to understand yet that Christ is risen from the dead. Then Peter and John run to the grave. John outrunning Peter peers briefly into the tomb but doesn’t enter. Peter enters the grave and John then follows. They see the grave clothes lying neatly and no doubt are likely confused. Yet the passage mentions that at least John believed something miraculous had occurred. Then the two disciples leave the scene.

Now Mary must have followed them back because once we leave the listed passage the Scriptures mention that she remained standing at the grave weeping and wondering where the body of Christ had been taken. Then Jesus appears and Mary believing him to be a grounds keeper asked where the body has been taken. Jesus then reveals himself to her causing her to rejoice. He tells her not to delay Him but to go and tell the disciples that He was risen and soon to be exalted.

Christ chose Mary to be the bearer of the good news of His resurrection to the rest of the disciples. She tarried. She “stuck around” to find out where He was. The two disciples she accompanied did not but returned home. Had they stayed they too would have seen Him but they were not there and Christ revealed Himself fully to them later on.

Christ is risen from the dead. He appeared to Mary and then others. He comes to us in His resurrection power to save. Will you, like Mary, “stick around”?

Blessings,

Fr. Duane+