Hello 92251 List Members, IPOC Members, Family, Friends, (and others not generally on my list or blog),
Below is my Resurrection Day (Easter) posting. I said on Good Friday this posting would not be long, and it is not. Once again, this in my simple, non-scholarly, version of a commentary, this time with most of the twentieth chapter of John.
Godspeed,
Gill Rapoza
Veritas Vos Liberabit
An Empty Tomb – So You May Believe
Resurrection Day
Gill Rapoza
April 4, 2010
Ø John 20:1-2 Now the first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. Then she ran and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.”
Mary went to the tomb. She cared greatly for Him. She went to see her Lord. The heavy stone used to seal Jesus in the tomb was rolled away. Jesus’ body was not there so Mary called others that were close to Jesus, Simon-Peter and John.
Ø John 20:3-10 Peter therefore went out, and the other disciple, and were going to the tomb. So they both ran together, and the other disciple outran Peter and came to the tomb first. And he, stooping down and looking in, saw the linen cloths lying there; yet he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; and he saw the linen cloths lying there, and the handkerchief that had been around His head, not lying with the linen cloths, but folded together in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who came to the tomb first, went in also; and he saw and believed. For as yet they did not know the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead. Then the disciples went away again to their own homes.
This was amazing news that Mary brought. They RAN to the tomb to see for themselves! They saw the same as what Mary saw, the cloths Jesus was buried in, and a folded handkerchief that was previously wrapped around His head. But there was no body of Jesus. They did not understand, but Jesus told them He would rise up again on the third day. They BELIEVED, but perhaps did not know what else they should do. So they went home.
Ø John 20:11-16 But Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping, and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. Then they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.” Now when she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” She, supposing Him to be the gardener, 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, “Rabboni!” (which is to say, Teacher).
The two men went back to their homes, but not Mary. She was not done with her enquiry. Mary got a reward for her honest investigation of the empty tomb. Two angels were there where the body of Jesus was. Peter and John did not stay long enough to see this. But then came the big surprise, the same Jesus whom she was looking for stood there with her. Mary did not know right away what happened, and she still wanted to just do right and care for her Lord, and Jesus uncovered His identity to her.
Ø John 20:18 Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that He had spoken these things to her.
Mary got to be the one with whom tradition was broken. Jesus did not first appear to the disciples, but to a simple woman. And she got to be the one that SAW Him, and SPOKE with Him FIRST! A non-common event for a woman.
Ø John 20:30-31 And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.
Jesus may have given Mary the privilege of being the first, but more importantly was not the last. There are many others that Jesus appeared to, and did many other things that showed who He was (and is) for the sole reason that you can believe.
Summery
1. Jesus died on the cross, As He said He would
2. Jesus came back from the dead physically, as He said He would
3. Jesus did all the above that
a. He would pay for all of our sins, as He alone could
b. That you and I would believe and may have life in His name, as there is no other
In a nutshell, An Empty Tomb – So You May Believe!
And that is what I celebrate today.
Godspeed,
Gill Rapoza
Veritas Vos Liberabit
Notes:
All of the Bible quotes English were from the New King James Version
“Scripture taken from the New King James Version. – Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
Used by permission. All rights reserved.”
As always, if you have comments, questions, and even complaints, send them my way. I will answer what I can when I can.
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