While thinking about the Resurrection, I had a thought. If ever I think my life is intense, how would it compare to the week/end the disciples had? And that’s without even trying to see Christ’s perspective of His life, particularly that week. I do believe that that week was genuinely an emotional roller coaster for the disciples. Consider Today’s Holy Nougat, and see what you would say.
John 20:19 CEB
[19] It was still the first day of the week. That evening, while the disciples were behind closed doors because they were afraid of the Jewish authorities, Jesus came and stood among them. He said, “Peace be with you.”
It was still the First Day
We don’t know exactly when the act of the Resurrection of Y’shua took place. What we know is that it occurred sometime between the beginning of the Third Day after His death, and ‘early in the morning’ (see John 20:1, where John explains that the women went to the tomb early in the morning of the first day of the week). John’s comment ‘it was still the first day of the week seems then to underscore the fact that several things occurred and what he would have been recounting next was included among the events. I suspect that John desired that everyone understood that all this happened on the same day.
Self-Check
Do you believe all that happened on that fateful First Day?
Application
So what exactly did John wish us to recall? Yes, I know, we have to read all that happened up to the moment in focus. I’ll try to highlight a few
Prior to Mary’s arrival at the tomb
Y’shua Jesus is Risen
(Matthew suggests it was accompanied by a violent earthquake, when the angel rolled back the stone (see Mt 28:2)
Early morning: While it was Still Dark
Mary Magdalene (and possibly other women) went to the tomb
At Y’shua’s Tomb-side
The stone is visibly removed, and the tomb is EMPTY!
Mary races to update Peter;
he and the other disciple go to investigate.
The other disciple confirms this fact for himself – there are only the burial linens
Peter enters the tomb (in disbelief!!!!), the fact remains the same – no body, dead or alive, just the linen. The face cloth is folded and set aside
The other disciple enters AFTER Peter, and believed
BUT
neither of them understood (v.9)
The disciples return to where they were all staying
Afterwards, Outside the Tomb
Mary is still distraught – she looks inside the tomb again
Two angels are now seated in the tomb where Jesus’ body should have been (she must have been shocked and a bit fearful)
The angels question her about her tears
Mary explains that Y’shua Jesus’ body has been taken (by whom??), and she doesn’t know where He has been placed
Before recapping what happened next, I am left to ponder, when the disciples returned to where all the others would have been, did they agree to send out a search party, did they get to praying, or were their loins girt about with fear? Coud that have explained Thomas’ absence?
Something causes Mary to turn (perhaps she didn’t want to cry anymore before the angel)
Mary turned
Jesus is standing before her, but she doesn’t recognize Him
After Seeing Jesus
Y’shua also asks her why she cried
Mary assumed Y’shua was the gardener, or someone who might offer information, and asks afte Y’shua Jesus’ whereabouts
Y’shua called her name
When Mary’s Name was Called
Immediately, she recognized the One Who knew her name.
Mary called His name and attempted to worship
Y’shua advised that He couldn’t yet be touched, as He hadn’t yet reported to duty before God in Heaven
He instructed her to share the news with His intimate circle
In obedience, Mary returned to the disciples to share the Good News
Later That Evening
The disciples still didn’t believe Mary, or if they did, they were still afraid of the Jewish authorities. They remained behind closed doors.
Siblings, that’s a lot!
If one considers darkness in Genesis 1 as a metaphor for uncertainty and fear, then it was truly a First Day of Creation moment. For the light of Y’shua was absent in the moment, and so the disciples could not see.
As we think about our own lives, our own lonnnnnnnnnnnng weekend seasons, where are we in the course of the third day/First Day of our new week/new life? Have we yet seen Christ? Do we recognize Him when He calls us by name? Can we believe the reports of others? What will we do now?
Point to Ponder
Wherever we are in our grief process, I pray we are able to recall that the resurrection promise includes the reminder that Joy comes in the morning …
Selah
—
May all we seek be found in Christ
