As I re-read the resurrection accounts, I am fascinated by them – how they are all similar and yet all different. They all involve women being the first witnesses, which for me has always lent to their authenticity as no one making up a story in the 1st century would ever choose women to be the 1st witnesses as women were seen to be unreliable. The number of angels and when and how they appear all seem to be different, but this doesn’t surprise me as it seems anytime humans encounter angels they are almost always told to not be afraid. So these heavenly hosts must be quite intimidating, and when we are intimidated or fearful we tend to not recollect things perfectly because we are in shock.
But I have always been drawn to the Resurrection account in the book of John (John 20:1-23) especially the scene between Jesus and Mary Magdalene. I partly love it because it is the perfect conclusion to the Gospel of John that has been showing us Jesus’s true identity through the 7 “I Am” statements, 7 miraculous signs, and through meetings with individuals. John is very different that Matthew, Mark, and Luke. Seven is the number of perfect completion, and John uses this number to tell us that Jesus is completely Yahweh.
The seventh miraculous sign is not Jesus’ own resurrection however - but Lazarus’s. So what are we to make of Jesus’s resurrection? How does it fit in? It is the first miracle of a new order – of a new kingdom – a new beginning that begins on the first day of the week. And at this new beginning John ties it to the first beginning in the Garden of Eden (similar to the beginning of his Gospel). We are told that Mary Magdalene mistakes Jesus for the gardener, and that’s who Adam was - he was the first gardener. Adam was meant to be the keeper of God’s holy place, but he failed. However, God did not abandon his good creation, and Jesus as the second Adam succeeded though he suffered greatly to redeem God’s creation.
As amazing as all this is, it’s not why I love John’s Resurrection account. I love it because it is when Jesus speaks Mary’s name that she can recognize who he truly is. Before this she has been crying and confused and let’s face it - just a mess! But Jesus comes along and turns her darkness into morning with just one word, “Mary.” That’s our Yahweh – not someone who came with chariots and weapons - instruments of war and death, but someone who willing dies and defeats death and walks in a garden and knows our names. Right now in isolation - even if you can’t meet with anyone else – you can meet with Jesus. Jesus knows your name, and he can handle your tears and confusion. Take a walk in a garden. Maybe you will find him there calling your name.
--------
The image above is from a “Salt of the Earth” Christian season calendar.
But I have always been drawn to the Resurrection account in the book of John (John 20:1-23) especially the scene between Jesus and Mary Magdalene. I partly love it because it is the perfect conclusion to the Gospel of John that has been showing us Jesus’s true identity through the 7 “I Am” statements, 7 miraculous signs, and through meetings with individuals. John is very different that Matthew, Mark, and Luke. Seven is the number of perfect completion, and John uses this number to tell us that Jesus is completely Yahweh.
The seventh miraculous sign is not Jesus’ own resurrection however - but Lazarus’s. So what are we to make of Jesus’s resurrection? How does it fit in? It is the first miracle of a new order – of a new kingdom – a new beginning that begins on the first day of the week. And at this new beginning John ties it to the first beginning in the Garden of Eden (similar to the beginning of his Gospel). We are told that Mary Magdalene mistakes Jesus for the gardener, and that’s who Adam was - he was the first gardener. Adam was meant to be the keeper of God’s holy place, but he failed. However, God did not abandon his good creation, and Jesus as the second Adam succeeded though he suffered greatly to redeem God’s creation.
As amazing as all this is, it’s not why I love John’s Resurrection account. I love it because it is when Jesus speaks Mary’s name that she can recognize who he truly is. Before this she has been crying and confused and let’s face it - just a mess! But Jesus comes along and turns her darkness into morning with just one word, “Mary.” That’s our Yahweh – not someone who came with chariots and weapons - instruments of war and death, but someone who willing dies and defeats death and walks in a garden and knows our names. Right now in isolation - even if you can’t meet with anyone else – you can meet with Jesus. Jesus knows your name, and he can handle your tears and confusion. Take a walk in a garden. Maybe you will find him there calling your name.
--------
The image above is from a “Salt of the Earth” Christian season calendar.