The Joy of Easter

Listening to the Spirit

Lord, thank you for the gift of Your Word
so that all your people may know and love You more
and understand You better.

As I go about my day may I not forget
the scriptures you have opened up for me.
Help me to recognize how You want for me
to apply Your Word to my daily life.

Holy Spirit, guided by Your Word,
may You enlighten my mind
and enkindle in my heart
a greater love for You and for others
in my family and in the world.

Amen.

Listening to the Word

John 20:1–9

On the first day of the week, Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark, and saw the stone removed from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them, “They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don’t know where they put him.” So Peter and the other disciple went out and came to the tomb. They both ran, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter and arrived at the tomb first; he bent down and saw the burial cloths there, but did not go in. When Simon Peter arrived after him, he went into the tomb and saw the burial cloths there, and the cloth that had covered his head, not with the burial cloths but rolled up in a separate place. Then the other disciple also went in, the one who had arrived at the tomb first, and he saw and believed. For they did not yet understand the Scripture that he had to rise from the dead.

Reflection

By Believing We May Have Life

Happy Easter. The entire Christian faith rests on: the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. Easter, the Lord's resurrection, is at the heart of Christian Life.

The apostle Paul writes, "If Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins (1 Cor. 15:17)." This is how fundamental this 'resurrection' event is for us.

Today's Gospel narrates how it happened for us to have a glimpse of picturing the event and all the evidence the Evangelist mentions (the stone was rolled away and the tomb was empty, the burial clothes, and a separate rolled up cloth that had covered the Lord's head). These details are written for us to believe. At the end of his Gospel, John writes the purpose for writing his Gospels, what he saw concerning Jesus' resurrection, as well as all of the other miracles he reports: "… these are written so that you may continue TO BELIEVE that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may HAVE LIFE in his name." (John 20:31),

The evidence mentioned Jesus' bodily resurrection should lead us to believe in Him as Saviour and Lord. They are fundamental to our faith, for by believing, we may have Life.

However, John narrates how the witnesses 'see' and 'respond' to the evidence. None of them was expecting a resurrection. Mary Magdalene thought that someone had taken Jesus' body (John 20:2, 15). Neither 'the other disciple' nor Peter understood the Scripture that Jesus must rise again from the dead (John 20:9). All the disciples were fearful and confused. However, ultimately, all were transformed into the bold witnesses of the Book of Acts because they became convinced that Jesus rose bodily from the dead. They were so confident that the resurrection was true that many died as martyrs.

Now, let us look at a simple yet crucial detail, as John calls for attention to the other disciple of belief who saw the empty tomb and the burial clothes: "So the other disciple who had first come to the tomb then also entered, and he saw and believed" (John 20:8).

Obviously, this other disciple and the rest of Jesus' disciples had already believed in Him, as evidenced by their following Him for about three years. So what does this belief mean by John here? He believed in Jesus' resurrection from the dead. This belief may lead us to an understanding that most early witnesses believed in the resurrection after they saw Jesus alive from the dead. Still, 'the other disciple' came to such faith before seeing Jesus resurrected. He believes in Jesus there, witnessing the stone removed from the tomb, the empty tomb, and burial clothes.

What message is being delivered to us here? Some exegetes say that 'the other disciple-whom Jesus love' in the Gospel of John refers to himself. But this "the other disciple also means each one of us whom Jesus undeniably dearly loves. We should put our shoes of faith in him. Why? Because these were written for us to believe in Him so that we may have Life. How deep is your faith in Jesus? If not so deep, then your prayer should be: "Lord, help my unbelieve. Lord help me to increase my little faith."

Let us all be encouraged that the Lord does not cast us off when our faith is weak and our understanding is shallow, but He graciously leads us to a deeper faith and understanding as we seek Him.

Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early in the morning while it was still dark, the other disciple and Peter went out to the tomb running. They seek for Him. The went out, out from their fear and losing hope. Let us rise with Jesus, let us run towards him, let us seek for Him so that we may have life.

Reflection Questions

1. How does the reflection challenge your understanding of faith and belief in Jesus' resurrection?

2. In what ways can you relate to the initial disbelief and confusion experienced by the witnesses in the Gospel narrative?

3. Reflect on the significance of seeking Jesus earnestly, even in moments of fear and doubt, as exemplified by Mary Magdalene and the other disciples.