I want us to consider the three primary players in these verses today - Mary, Peter and John.
But to set the scene consider these historical and cultural insights:
First ...
"It was the custom in Palestine to visit the tomb of a loved one for three days after the body had been laid to rest. It was believed that for three days the spirit of the dead person hovered round the tomb; but then it departed because the body had become unrecognizable through decay. Jesus' friends could not come to the tomb on the Sabbath, because to make the journey then would have been to break the law. So it was on Sunday morning that Mary came to the tomb." (William Barclay: Daily Study Bible, The Gospel of John)Second ...
Tombs in ancient times did not ordinarily have doors. There was a groove cut into the ground and in that groove a large stone was wheeled into position for closure. Matthew even tells us that the authorities had "sealed" the stone so that no one would move it. (Matthew 27:66)
Mary Magdalene:
Mary was one of the little band of women who followed Jesus all the way to the cross. We learn from the other gospel accounts that they had determined to go to the tomb on Sunday to properly anoint the body. After all, Joseph and Nicodemus had been forced to work hastily on Friday because Sabbath arrived at sundown and they certainly could not work on Sabbath. We observe Mary getting to the tomb early. In fact, the Greek word indicates the last of the 4 watches of the night which would make her early visit between 3 a.m. and 6 a.m. - early indeed! However, it is no surprise. Mary loved much. She had been forgiven much ... she had been accepted by the Lord completely ... and that translated into a deep, abiding love for Jesus. Nothing would have kept her from the sacred duty of caring for His body. When she found the tomb open ... she could not face it alone. Scripture does not tell us what was in her mind at the time, but we can know that she needed help and support ... so she runs to get it. She runs to Peter and John.
Any lessons for us? Have you been forgiven 'much'? Do you love 'much'? How do you demonstrate that love? Remember ... "We love because He first loved us." (1 John 4:19)
Peter:
Are you surprised that Peter is still an acknowledged leader of the disciples? He has failed miserably. He has run away and wept in remorse and disgrace. And yet he is the one to whom Mary runs. There is much talk and writing about Peter's failures ... his impetuousness ... his tendency to speak before thinking. But do not miss his God-given gifts of leadership. In the wake of the failure at the arrest and trial of Jesus ... it is Peter who still is perceived as the leader of the band.
Any lessons for us? God gives gifts ... spiritual gifts ... to His followers. Our failures, when confessed and repented of, do not negate the gifts. Are you refusing to use any God-given gifts because you have failed in the past? I love the movie "Apollo 13" ... and I particularly love the line from that movie when the engineers and PhDs are frantically trying to figure out a way to get the space craft back home, "Failure is not an option!" Well, my friends, failure is not an excuse either. Learn from Peter ...
John:
John outruns Peter ... a little testosterone perhaps causes John to write that into his account of the happenings! But John is the reflective one ... he pauses ... he contemplates ... he analyzes ... and he sees. The immediate assumption was most likely grave robbers ... but John does not let immediate assumptions color his mind. The grave clothes would not have been left ... the body had not been unwrapped ... it was just gone. And then John's love leads him to "believe" ... The veil is lifted and John "believes".
Lessons for us? Don't always jump to conclusions without thinking things through. Assumptions are dangerous things ... whether we are making them about people or about circumstances. Take some time ... think ... pray. Learn from John ...
My prayer for myself and for you today ...
Our Lord ... I want to love like Mary. Help me, through Your Spirit, know and exhibit that kind of love. I want to use my God-given gifts to bless others. I don't want to close myself off because of past failures. Give me, through Your Spirit, the eyes to see those gifts and the courage to use them. I want to be wise like John. Forgive me when my impulsiveness has led me to wrong conclusions and hasty actions. Give me, through Your Spirit, the wisdom to slow down and ask to see things through Your eyes. We love You LORD.
No comments:
Post a Comment