According to St. John, the Easter event occurs while it is still dark (John 20:1). That is when Mary of Magdala and other women approach the tomb. However, in Mark’s Gospel, this visit happens “very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen. John’s Gospel uses the words “dark” and “darkness” several times, to speak of spiritual darkness. Mary Peter and the ‘beloved disciple’ are all in the dark. Darkness represents their lack of understanding. It is amidst the darkness of despair and pain that the Lord reveals his glory.
But with Mary’s arrival at the empty tomb, the scene shifts from the gloomy silence of death and darkness to a chain reaction of runnings, doubts and jubilation. Life explodes in all its force. Caught in a sudden thrill, they are shaken from their slumber and begin to run! “Mary runs to Simon Peter, and he rushes out with the other disciple … They run together, but the other disciple outruns him …” (Vv. 2-4). Gradually the message gets registered: Their Master’s body is missing.
Once at the tomb, the disciples get a closer look into the tomb. The tomb is empty. “Who took the Master’s body?” Mary was right – somebody took the corpse from the tomb! Simon Peter saw the empty tomb. But the Beloved disciple did something more: he saw and believed! He believed that it was not an act of someone removing his Master’s body, but he had moved out on his own.
John mentioned on several occasions about the presence of a “disciple whom Jesus loved.” He represents the authentic and ideal disciple who meets Jesus and believes in him. He follows him even to the foot of the Cross. He has no name because we are invited to name ourselves in his slot.
The reality of the resurrection is the heart of our faith. The Lord’s Resurrection changed the world. Death was defeated when he accepted death; pain and suffering were conquered when he freely chose to suffer; sin was destroyed when he bore it on his shoulders. They are no longer able to defeat us because Jesus has defeated all of them. The Risen Lord comes back to his disciples not to rebuke them for betraying or abandoning him but to comfort and encourage them.
Throughout his gospel, John frequently uses a lack of understanding by those who encountered Jesus as a tool for Jesus to offer a further explanation of his identity. The story of Nicodemus, the woman’s accounts at the well, the man born blind, and even Martha and Mary were all examples of moving from a lack of understanding to the conviction. Mary’s lack of understanding at the tomb is also a way to conviction in Jesus’ resurrection.
When St. John wrote his letter, he began with a moving description of the mission of the Church: “What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we looked upon and touched with our hands concerns the Word of life … what we have seen and heard we proclaim now to you” (1 John 1:1-3). His is an enviable experience, but it cannot be repeated!
Father Josekutty
Mathew CMF
