The
first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto
the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre. (John
20:1)
We observe the resurrection of Christ in all its glory at this time – perhaps a
day early, but we should always check our road maps of Easter before we launch
out into the deep. It is not altogether inappropriate to undertake the
observance of Christ’s resurrection on Saturday as it could very well have
happened on Saturday evening as the Sabbath began to dawn toward the first day
of the week. In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first
day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.
(Matt 28:1)
I will remind the reader that the “end of the Sabbath” always occurs at
sundown on our Saturday. One thing is certain from the text: Christ did not
arise at sunrise on Sunday as some churches promote in their sunrise services.
It was yet dark when Mary Magdalene came to the tomb. But those are the
non-essentials. The essential beauty of Easter is that Jesus did rise from the
Garden Tomb.
You will note that the stone blocking the entrance to the tomb had already been
rolled away before daylight. St. Matthew records: In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the
first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the
sepulchre. And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of
the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the
door, and sat upon it. His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment
white as snow: And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead
men. (Matt
28:1-4) In the
Hebrew calendar, the Sabbath ended at sunset on the 7th day of the
week and the first day began at sundown. How long after sundown it was before
Christ arose is up to speculation, and I will not venture there. (another
non-essential) The point I would like to raise is this: Why did the Angel roll
the stone away? Apparently, when the guards awoke, there was no body in the
tomb. They fled to Pilate and did not return (because there was no reason given
the body was no longer in the tomb).
Did our Lord need someone (an Angel) to roll away the stone?[1]
I think not. There is evidence to
suggest that locked doors did not impede His entry in the Upper Room at His
post-resurrection appearance to the disciples. So if the stone was not rolled
away to allow the resurrected Christ to emerge from the tomb, why was it rolled
back? I believe it was rolled back so that the world could witness an EMPTY
TOMB!
Having lived in the Middle East for several years, my experience tells me that
the first Easter morning was brilliant with light once the sun arose. The tomb
was in a Garden near Golgotha. A garden is a place for growing flowers and
shrubs. I am sure the garden was typically bordered by tall slender cedars, and
the fragrance of roses permeated the environs thereof.
But early, while it was yet dark, the slender figure of a woman could be seen
hurrying from corner to corner of Jerusalem and out the gate toward the Garden.
It was at an hour that would not be considered safe or proper for a lone woman
to be wondering the streets. It may have been that Mary Magdalene had wondered
the streets with different intentions many times before. But this morning, her
great love of Jesus drove her from bed and into the streets and by-ways of the
city, and on to the Garden where she had last seen the body of Jesus laid in a
borrowed tomb. You will remember that only the women, and John, remained
courageously near the cross. And many women were there beholding afar off,
which followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto him: Among which was Mary
Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee's
children. (Matt 27:55-56) Yes, Mary was one of those
women! Mary never lost sight of the body of Jesus until He had been laid in the
tomb – her love was the kind that adheres to its object, and Christ her Lord
was the object of her love. And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped
it in a clean linen cloth, And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn
out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and
departed. And there was Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, sitting over
against the sepulchre. (Matt 27:59-61) She even lingered near the tomb
until the coming Sabbath requirements bid her depart.
As you will know, Jesus always kept the Sabbath, and this Sabbath was no
exception. He lay in the Garden Tomb over the Sabbath Day, and rose sometime
after the end of the Sabbath at sunset on the seventh day. For certain it is
that it was at least on the first day of the week since that day began at
sundown on the seventh day.
So Mary Magdalene is bothered in her soul about what she would do at the tomb.
She had gone to further anoint the body of Jesus, but she was worried about the
stone obstructing its entrance. There would be no man, at this hour, to roll
the stone away for her. As the good old hymn says, Mary had “come to the
Garden alone, while the dew was still on the roses.” Approaching the tomb,
her worries were greatly increased at seeing the stone already rolled away.
There was no one in sight, so how could this be? Perhaps someone had desecrated
the tomb of her beloved Lord? The following text reveals that she must have
looked inside the tomb: Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to
the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away
the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him. (John
20:2) The two men –
Peter and John – come running to investigate. The two men enter the tomb
finding it empty, but the grave clothes neatly folded. Something in the
evidence they found caused them to know that Christ had risen. Then cometh
Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen
clothes lie, And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen
clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself. Then went in also that
other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed.
(John
20:6-8) The two men
leave Mary alone in her heartbreak. She was weeping bitterly.
Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped
down, and looked into the sepulchre, And seeth two angels in white sitting, the
one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. And
they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? (John 20:11-13) Mary had come to find a dead
body which she still loved more than life, but she was in for a surprise. When
the angels looked at poor Mary standing without the tomb, they could see behind
her as well. They could clearly see the figure standing behind Mary. They must
have been exultant with joy! She
saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where
they have laid him. (John
20:13) The dead and
missing body of a beloved Friend and Savior is certainly cause for weeping. But
she persisted in trying to determine the body’s whereabouts – and she soon
would!
And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing,
and knew not that it was Jesus. (John 20:14) How many times have we been
troubled about being alone without Christ when He stands just before us! The
profuse tears of Mary blinded her in the same way as those of Hagar did by the
Fountain of the Wilderness. She saw Jesus, but he seemed very blurry
through the tears. She mistook Him for the Gardener! But do you know what?
Jesus IS the Gardener and Giver of Life! Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith
unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him,
and I will take him away. (John
20:15)
There was nothing in the voice to alert her to the Personage
with whom she spoke even though the words of Jesus were precisely the same as
that of the angels. The Lord may often surprise us with joy at finding Him
where we think not. But no one can call your name as Jesus does. It is sharp
and distinct and different from every other voice. Even the dead body of
Lazarus at Bethany responded to his name being called forth by Jesus. Jesus
saith unto her, Mary. She turned
herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master. (John 20:16) Once Jesus had called Mary’s
name, there was no need for further explanation. Once He calls your name, you
will know and respond, too. No one could call Mary’s name with the same love,
tenderness, and authority. Her tears of mourning turned into tears of absolute joy!
That is what Christ does for the poor sinner, and for those whom He has called.
What a blessed Easter morning was this! Mary came seeking the dead body of her
Lord, and found the risen body of her Savior! So Mary became the first
messenger to deliver the fullness of the Gospel of the risen Christ. Mary
Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he
had spoken these things unto her. (John 20:18)
Postscript
There is much ado made about Peter as the Pillar Stone of the Church. That is a
Roman fallacies. The Rock upon which the Church is built is Jesus Christ. Peter
(Petros) means ‘small stone’. Petras, by which Christ makes reference to
Himself, means large Rock. Indeed, Christ is the Rock, and Peter (and you and
I) are chips off that Rock if we belong to Christ. Peter himself makes adequate
distinction: To whom coming, as
unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,
Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood,
to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. Wherefore
also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner
stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be
confounded. Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them
which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made
the head of the corner. (1 Peter 2:4-7)
But there is a great point that I want to make about Peter. As you recall,
Peter has denied Christ three times the night of His trial. He is the only
disciple to have so egregiously done so. He has not distinguished himself by
his actions. He is bitterly pained at having done so, and having Christ turn
and look him in the face on his third denial. He wept bitterly, and must have
suffered tremendous regret over the time of the entombment of Jesus. I hope you
will consider what the angels said to the women gathered at the tomb: But go your way, tell his disciples and
Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as
he said unto you. (Mark
16:7) I hope you
noticed the particular reference to Peter when referring to the other disciples
– “and Peter.” God is no respecter of persons, and this was no
honorific in mentioning Peter’s name specifically. I believe the Lord knew what
Peter had suffered over the past hours. He knew the anguish in Peter’s heart
wondering if he had so offended and disgraced his sovereign Lord that there
could be no rapprochement with his Lord. Even at such a time, the love of
Christ for His own is evidenced in this message to Peter by name. Our
Lord takes particular regard for us, too, not because we are special human
beings in His service, but because He knows our every weakness and still loves
us dearly in spite of our warts and weaknesses. He loved us enough, not only to
die for our sins on Good Friday, but to defeat death and Hell in His Easter
resurrection for us. Do you glory in that thought, friend?
[1]
The stone was rolled
away not so that Jesus could come out, but rather that Mary and the disciples could
come in.
