John 20:11-18

Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene

But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”—and that he had said these things to her.

😇 Mali and I often remember historical events differently. Human nature wants to call one version right and one version wrong. This is a defeatist attitude that ensures we will never agree on the truth. The hard work is in listening to the other account and trying to integrate it with my own. It takes time, energy and a pure heart. 

The four Gospels offer four distinct accounts of the resurrection. Biblehub presents the differences this way…

• Matthew 28:1-10: Describes Mary Magdalene and the other Mary arriving at dawn, encountering an angel, and receiving instruction to tell the disciples.

• Mark 16:1-8: Portrays the women coming early to an empty tomb, seeing a young man in a white robe who announces that Jesus has risen.

• Luke 24:1-12: Relates that at early dawn women found the stone rolled away and were met by two men in garments that gleamed like lightning, calling the disciples to remember Jesus’s words about His resurrection.

• John 20:1-18: Focuses on Mary Magdalene running to tell Peter and John, then weeping by the tomb and later speaking directly with the risen Jesus, mistaking Him at first for the gardener.

All four accounts describe encountering an open tomb. John’s account is unique, in that, it involves just one woman and makes no mention of angels announcing the resurrection. The task of a believer, when faced with any textual uncertainty, is to take the time necessary to find harmony rather than dissonance. This is not intellectual dishonesty. Deconstruction is the philosophical method of finding the relationship between text and meaning (i .e., not just what the words say, but what they mean). In this case, none of these accounts are, by definition, contradictory. Together, they present a rich mosaic revealing the greatest event in human history; the resurrection of Christ. And, this is the salient point; The Gospels all bear a unified message: Jesus died, was buried, and rose again bodily on the third day, fulfilling prophecies such as Psalm 16:10 and Isaiah 53:10-11. 

Why is John’s account so distinct? I might suggest John wanted to record the first eyewitness evidence of a resurrected Christ and, that was Mary. How did this unfold? She stayed when the others left. Remember…at the sight of an open tomb, she ran back to tell Peter and John. When they returned, they surely heard the resurrection testimony from the others who heard it from the angels…but she was unconvinced. With a broken spirit, she remained in solitude, trying to make sense of the open tomb that stood before her. She was asked, twice, “why are you weeping?” First, by the angels. It was a legitimate question; they had already announced the resurrection. Next, by Jesus Himself. Like Thomas, she was unconvinced, didn’t recognize Him, and said somebody had taken Jesus. 

Have you ever heard the phrase “I can’t believe my eyes!”? Well, this was Mary. She was looking directly at Jesus and didn’t recognize Him. How could she? It would have defied all probability and logic…she had seen Him dead. Yet, when He spoke her name, she immediately recognized Him. This is where it gets real interesting; Jesus says “don’t cling to me.” We naturally interpret this as His caution to not “Touch Him,” which we genuinely might understand  as His response to her desire to hug Him…hold Him…in relief. To me this makes little sense. What would her touching Him have to do with Him ascending to His Father? He let Thomas touch Him.

I believe Jesus means “cling” as in ‘hang on to” (which the Greek text allows). Jesus doesn’t want us to “Hang on” to the memory of what has been…but of what is to come. We are to “hang on” to the Jesus who is at the right hand of God, interceding for us, as our High priest. It is this role that assures our relationship with God. 

🙏🏼 Lord, God…it’s overwhelming when I consider everything  heJesus has done. [He], existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross. And, now, He sits at Your right hand, continually interceding on my behalf. Therefore [You] exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name above all names. I bow before Him and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to Your glory. Amen. 

 John 20:1-10

The Resurrection

“Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead. Then the disciples went back to their homes.”

😇 I’m interested in the face cloth, neatly folded and placed by itself. Why does scripture offer this seemingly insignificant vignette? Perhaps it isn’t so insignificant. commentators suggest it symbolizes the fact that urgency has passed; Jesus, or the angels, took their time before they left the tomb. No more hurry…everything had been accomplished. It could be Jesus was still exhausted by his recent ordeal and was taking His he time. At any rate, it tells us Jesus pays attention to the smallest details. This is important; we often believe our problems in life…or the daily conduct of our lives…are of little note in the grand scheme. I suggest this is untrue. Jesus loves us enough to die for us. Since this is the case, we shouldn’t be surprised that he may be interested in the details of our life. I imagine Him asking me ”Lee, how is it you decided to buy a house in South Carolina?” Not in a challenging way but in an interested way. I believe He loves to communicate with us about what’s going on…not to control our decisions, but to hear our thought processes. I believe, if we make a habit of talking with Him, we will hear him reply. Rarely with demands…most of them have already been made clear. His replies will be patient. They will often affirm our thoughts, will sometimes fine tune them, and will occasionally say “if I were you…” it’s good to hear from someone who loves us unconditionally, has nothing to gain but the joy of the relationship and is uncommonly patient and kind(1 Corinthians 13).

🙏🏼 Lord, God…thank you for wanting a relationship with me. I need you. I need your patience. I need your wisdom. I need your love. Mostly, I need someone I can trust unconditionally. Thank you for listening and give me ears to hear you speak. In Jesus’ name…amen. 

 John 19:32-37

So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first, and of the other who had been crucified with him. But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water. He who saw it has borne witness—his testimony is true, and he knows that he is telling the truth—that you also may believe. For these things took place that the Scripture might be fulfilled: “Not one of his bones will be broken.”And again another Scripture says, “They will look on him whom they have pierced.”

😇 So…here it is…we are told 28 prophecies were fulfilled on Calvary. Christianity.com reminds us…When God sent the last plague on the Egyptians, the death of the firstborn, He commanded the Israelites to sacrifice the Passover lamb and smear its blood over their doorways. In this way, the destroyer would pass over the houses of the Israelites, sparing them from death (Exodus 12). Jesus is the ultimate fulfillment of the Passover Lamb, who was sacrificed to cover the sins of the world (1 Corinthians 5:7; 1 Peter 1:19). Think about this; what took place once…in “time and space”…deliverance from death, and commemorated every year since, took place “for time and eternity” on Calvary.

Now, if you were a Hebrew father and didn’t believe blood on your doorpost had any value your firstborn would have died. Likewise, if we don’t believe the blood of Jesus has redemptive power, we will die in our sin. But, “There is now, literally, no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1).”

🙏🏼 Lord, God…my life was hanging in the balance, the Angel of Death was patiently waiting to capture my  soul when I’d die. But now, he sees only the blood of Jesus and will pass over me. What a miracle! What a blessing! I thank you for the sacrifice of your Son on my behalf. I offer myself today, to be your messenger to a lost world. Give me humility, grace and wisdom..to know when, where and to whom I might share your mercy today. In Jesus’ name, amen. 

 John 19:28-30

The Death of Jesus

“After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), “I thirst.” A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth. When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.”

😇 Two things; when Jesus said “it has been finished (Τετέλεσται), He was referring to the Old Testament system of offerings that was meant  to maintain  our relationship with God. That has been concluded. This is good; the old way existed for a thousand years and we never quite got it right. We began to believe God loved us because we constantly offered sacrifices to cover our sin. That’s over. King David said “You will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering” (Psalm 51:16, 17). 

There is nothing more we can do to appease God…no offering, no work, no sacrifice…those days are gone. Isaiah 53:5 says it all: “He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” Jesus did what we could not do for ourselves; He perfectly satisfied all of God’s demands. Jesus paid it all…

The only thing remaining is to offer a “sacrifice of praise”(Hebrews 13:15). The "sacrifice of praise" comes from a humble heart. It rises from a spirit that has chosen to honor God regardless of what life brings our way. 

The other thing…nobody actually killed Jesus…He willingly gave up His Spirit. He could have removed Himself from the cross; the agony, but He didn’t. He wanted to die so we could live. 

🙏🏼 Lord, God…I am yours.  You did what I could not do for myself; you obliterated the sin that separated me from you. Help me feel the sense of liberation that is mine. Fill my heart with gratitude. Remind me that obedience is no longer the price of salvation but is now the evidence of my salvation. May your Holy Spirit fill me with that evidence daily, amen. 

 John 19:17-22

The Crucifixion

“So they took Jesus, and he went out, bearing his own cross, to the place called The Place of a Skull, which in Aramaic is called Golgotha. There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, and Jesus between them.Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” Many of the Jews read this inscription, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and it was written in Aramaic, in Latin, and in Greek. So the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but rather, ‘This man said, I am King of the Jews.’” Pilate answered, “What I have written I have written.”

😇 Will we see Pilate in Heaven? Time will tell; scripture says “not everyone who says ‘Lord, Lord’ will enter the kingdom of Heaven, but only those who do the will of my Father who is in Heaven” (Matthew 7:21). It seems possible to make a statement and lack any conviction regarding its meaning. For example, we have no knowledge of why Pilate put this phrase on the cross. It may have been simply to needle the Jewish leaders who were irritating him. Pilate made no assertion that Jesus was dying to wash away his sin. And, we don’t know that Pilate ever believed Jesus was God, who rose from the tomb on the third day. The point is, when we hear people make claims about Jesus, we need to get some clarity before we buy their claim…for their good as well as our own. 

🙏🏼 Lord, God…today I renew my conviction that Jesus is your Son, He is God. He came to redeem me from sin by dying in my place. He rose from the grave to conquer death on my behalf. I no longer lay claim to my life…Jesus bought and paid for it. I am now His property. Give my the humility to bow before Him; my Lord and King. In His blessed name I pray, amen. 

John 19:12-16

“From then on Pilate sought to release him, but the Jews cried out, “If you release this man, you are not Caesar’s friend. Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar.” So when Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judgment seat at a place called The Stone Pavement, and in Aramaic, Gabbatha. Now it was the day of Preparation of the Passover. It was about the sixth hour. He said to the Jews, “Behold your King!” They cried out, “Away with him, away with him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.” So he delivered him over to them to be crucified.”

😇 Who’s your God? It’s not a trick question; Yahweh had been the God of Israel for nearly 2,000 years yet, in a moment of self-induced passion, they said “Caesar is our God!” (Remember, Caesar was regarded as a god). This is sobering.  We can get so intent on achieving our own goals that we turn our back on the God of Abraham. Even so, the Jews were convinced they were doing this in devotion to Yahweh. Clearly, they had constructed an erroneous understanding of God. This didn’t happen suddenly, when Jesus arrived. This was a slow drift from truth, incrementally imperceptible so they couldn’t even recognize it. 

🙏🏼 Lord, God…God of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, I know my human heart gravitates toward my own desires, not Yours. Today I proclaim anew, you are my God and King. I recommit myself to obedience and worship. Lead me in paths of righteousness, in Jesus’ name, amen.  

 John 19:1-11

Jesus Delivered to Be Crucified

Then Pilate took Jesus and flogged him. And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head and arrayed him in a purple robe. They came up to him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and struck him with their hands. Pilate went out again and said to them, “See, I am bringing him out to you that you may know that I find no guilt in him.” So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, “Behold the man!” When the chief priests and the officers saw him, they cried out, “Crucify him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and crucify him, for I find no guilt in him.” The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die because he has made himself the Son of God.” When Pilate heard this statement, he was even more afraid. He entered his headquarters again and said to Jesus, “Where are you from?” But Jesus gave him no answer. So Pilate said to him, “You will not speak to me? Do you not know that I have authority to release you and authority to crucify you?” Jesus answered him, “You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above. Therefore he who delivered me over to you has the greater sin.”

😇 Some sins are not as bad as others. Pilate “thought” he had a decision to make but he could not have given Jesus up to be crucified unless God allowed it. You and I know, this was God’s plan all along. So, is there really no free will?” Jesus gives us a clue. He basically tells Pilate “you have to make a decision here but this isn’t your fault.” He wasn’t so kind toward the Jewish leaders who refused to recognize Him as the Messiah…even though he fulfilled 324 messianic prophesies. This was willful disobedience. 

For believers, the test is simple; when we are confronted with a hard choice, our responsibility is to seek God’s word to see if He has made a judgment. For example, we know we are guilty if we tell a lie, for any reason. However, God doesn’t directly address which job we should take or who we should marry. In those cases, a wrong choice is not defiance. It may, however, have consequences that haunt us. Psalm 1 is a good rule of thumb; “you are on the right path if you meditate on God’s word rather than seeking advice from ungodly sinners and cynics. You will prosper in all you do." 

🙏🏼 Father, God…keep my head and my heart in your word. Fill my spirit with prayers to you. I don’t always know the path to take but you do. Help me to listen. In Jesus name, amen.