Seeing Is Believing - Easter Sunday, John 20:1-18

It appears that there are two stories within this one reading for the day, or at least two significant themes. One is the episode of Peter and the “Beloved” disciple racing to the cemetery after Mary’s discovery of the empty tomb (vv. 1-10). The “Beloved” arrives first but doesn’t enter. Peter arrives, enters, and inspects the findings. His companion follows him inside and believes. They turn and leave with no mention of the impact on Peter. Fred Craddock points out concerning the different responses of these two disciples that “miracles and faith that understands are not as closely joined as some might suppose” (Preaching: Year A, 246).

The other episode in this passage focuses upon the experience of Mary Magdalene at the empty tomb (vv. 12-18). She returns to the tomb and stands outside weeping. At this point she begins seeing. In John, seeing equates to faith. In Mary’s episode, she first sees the messengers from God. Then, she sees the gardener, and finally she sees Christ. After each, she enters into conversation – first with the messengers, then the gardener, and then Christ. I wonder why Mary doesn't recognize Jesus from the start? Perhaps it is because of some intended progression in Mary’s encounters. As with Peter, the empty tomb does not create faith. Still, it seems that the progressive steps of each encounter represent some significance.

Mary comes to faith when she hears Christ call her name and takes us back to John 10:3-4 which declares Jesus as the shepherd who knows his own. She comes to faith at hearing the word. How does a contemporary proclamation of the word continue to do this for the community and those outside the community? As most commentators remind us, the encounter between the resurrected Jesus and Mary is not a return to pre-crucifixion time but reflects a new kind of relationship. “Easter opens up a new future.” Maybe that's the reason Jesus says, “Do not hold on to me…” (v. 17).

It is also interesting to note how the passage opens, “Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark…” (NRSV). I wonder if there might be a connection with Gen 1:1 where darkness covers the deep, the Spirit moves, then there is light, and we have the first day. Here there is darkness, the light comes, and there is a new day and a new way of "seeing."