Easter Sunday – 12th April 2019 — Gospel: John 20,1-9
Enthusiastic search
Mary came to the tomb while it was still dark, perhaps she simply couldn’t wait until daylight. When she saw the stone rolled away she didn’t shout, “Christ is risen!” She didn’t assume resurrection. Rather than looking into the tomb, she ran away from it (20,2). In fact when Mary found the stone had been removed she jumped to conclusions. Assuming Jesus’ body has been stolen, she seeks help from the two disciples. Her perception is contrary to what has happened. Nevertheless, she told the two disciples what she believed in her heart. Does Mary know what Peter did in the courtyard (18,15-27)? Why did she run to Peter first? She knows that the beloved disciple stood by Jesus even as he hung on the cross (19,25-27). Simon Peter saw all these details, but gave no response. When the other disciple went in, “he saw and believed.” Nevertheless, both disciples returned home. There’s no indication that they ran to tell anybody.
Mary’s desire for comfort from these two disciples, however, will leave her empty. Both men eventually look into the tomb and see that Jesus’ body is gone. The three disciples see the clothes neatly folded in the grave. In Peter’s silence, there is no indication that he believes anything or offers comfort. Even the beloved disciple who comforted her at the foot of the cross, who believed in the empty tomb, offers no words of hope to Mary. What did the beloved disciple believe then? It could be that he believed Mary was correct – someone had stolen the body of Jesus. Or did he believe what Jesus had said at the last supper, i.e., Jesus had “conquered the world!” (Jn 16,33). After their personal experience in the empty tomb, all three disciples are scattered. The men “returned to their homes”, while Mary remains outside the tomb weeping. In her search for truth she remains alone. John pictures this scene leaving the conclusion to each one of us – there is one who sees and believes, another who sees and leaves uncertain, and another waits to hear her own name.
