January 17, 2008 John 20:1

01/17/2008

John 20:1 - 2 (HCSB)

¹On the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark. She saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. ²So she ran to Simon Peter and to the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put Him!”

John 20:11 - 16 (HCSB)

¹¹But Mary stood outside facing the tomb, crying. As she was crying, she stooped to look into the tomb. ¹²She saw two angels in white sitting there, one at the head and one at the feet, where Jesus’ body had been lying. ¹³They said to her, “Woman, why are you crying?” “Because they’ve taken away my Lord,” she told them, “and I don’t know where they’ve put Him.” ¹⁴Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, though she did not know it was Jesus.

¹⁵“Woman,” Jesus said to her, “why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?”

Supposing He was the gardener, she replied, “Sir, if you’ve removed Him, tell me where you’ve put Him, and I will take Him away.”

¹⁶Jesus said, “Mary.” Turning around, she said to Him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni!”—which means “Teacher.”

Just outside the old city of Jerusalem, there is a bizarre rock formation with two deep pits resembling a skull. In just a short walking distance is a garden and a tomb hewn in the side of the solid rock. I had the privilege of visiting these sites in 1998, ironically, during Ramadan. While my group of companions and I observed the skull shaped rock, a cannon sounded, signaling nightfall and the end of the Ramadan daily fast.

In front of the skull shaped rock, there is a parking-lot for a business. And while that seems odd, we must remember that Roman-style executions were intended to be public spectacles – a deterrent to future criminals. The crucifixion would necessarily have been in an open and public place.

The garden on the other hand was very lush and beautiful; and the tomb somewhat secluded.

These two places are now identified as Golgotha and tomb of Jesus – for they match the Biblical descriptions and location. (The church of the Holy Sepulcher was identified by the Knights Templar – during the crusades – as the sepulcher of Christ, but it is now believed to have been prematurely identified as such by over-zealous crusaders.)

Nonetheless, the third morning after the crucifixion, Mary comes to the tomb to attend to the body of Jesus. She finds the tomb open and empty, and like any one of us, she immediately forms a logical, natural explanation – the body must have been stolen.

All too often, as humans, we fall into this trend of wanting to explain everything in terms of what we understand. We fail to view things from the supernatural. Although Mary had seen Jesus do many miracles, even raise several people from the dead: when she sees the empty tomb, she doesn’t think to the supernatural, but the natural.

Then Jesus himself confronts her. Later, Jesus also appears to the apostles and then to as many as 500 people.

The act of faith is to anticipate the supernatural rather than the natural. It is natural to believe we must save ourselves – it is supernatural to believe in a God who has extended salvation to us. It is natural to believe that humanity must create the solutions to the worlds needs – it is supernatural to trust in God to deliver us. It is natural to believe that a jealous priesthood would steal a dead body – it is supernatural to believe that our Lord has the power to overcome death – even His own.

As you go throughout your day, look for the supernatural; exercise your faith.

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