I Have Seen The Lord
John 20:1-18

Christ is Risen! (Christ is risen indeed! ) We are here this morning to proclaim the risen Christ. But in our Easter joy we neglect to remember that the first reaction to the empty tomb was not joy. The first reaction was “They have taken our Lord out of the tomb and I do not know where they have laid him.”

After the crucifixion, the disciples were consumed with grief. And the empty tomb completely knocks them down. The empty tomb and stealing of the body is simply one final indignity worked upon crucified Jesus and his grieving followers. They had completely given in to the power of the death.

When Mary reported the stolen body to the disciples, Peter and the disciple referred to as ‘the one whom Jesus loved’, ran inside of the tomb and saw only the burial cloths. The text says that the one whom Jesus loved “believed”. But what he believes is not necessarily belief in Jesus’ resurrection. The next line says, “for they had not yet understood the scripture, that he must rise from the dead.” So while the text does not say so directly, it is most likely that they believed that body has stolen.

The two disciples who witnessed the empty tomb returned to their homes. One can imagine that they might try to return to their lives prior to meeting Jesus. It is as if they were waking from a three year long dream of life with Jesus’ healing, teaching, preaching, eating, sleeping and playing together. It might have seemed necessary to go back to normal since the power of the authorities is so strong….Death has the final say.

But Mary’s response to the empty was different from the other followers. She was the one who dared to come to see Jesus and anoint his body while it was still dark—dark outside and dark in her grief. She lingered and stay in front of the tomb and weeping, bending over to the tomb.

There she saw a vision, two angels in white; one stood at the head and the other at the feet where Jesus was laid. The typical act of angels in the scripture has been to come to and proclaimed good news or bad news to the people. But these angels were different. What they did was just ask a question. “Woman why are you weeping?”

Mary in grief with a one purpose answered. “Someone stole my Lord’s body and I do not know where they laid him.”
As she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing outside of the tomb, who too was asking, “Woman, why are you weeping?”

Thinking that he was the gardener, Mary said, “If you have taken my Lord’s body, sir, let me know where you laid him and I will take him away.”

Next minute, the man whom Mary thought was a gardener called, “Mary!” Mary with shock responded “Rabounni!” which means teacher, the dearest term for Mary.” And that moment Mary recognized Jesus; She saw, heard and recognized.

The disciples saw the empty tomb and were misled, but here the spirit come down dwelled in her flesh, and the gift of Spirit in her recognized . (seeing become recognizing.)
(Mary saw, heard and recognized……the Risen Christ…

Still more to go….though.

Mary out of surprise, a mixture of grief and joy…instinctively wanted to hold onto her beloved..

“Do not hold unto me.” What a surprising word again…

“I have not yet ascended to my father… rather go tell your brothers and sisters, and tell them I am going to my father and your father, to your God and my God….”

What a tough love…not able to hold onto the one whom she thought was dead, but alive and standing in front of her. But he is bigger than whom she can hold unto, restrain, limit….He is no longer a Rabbouni, the historical Jesus whom I touched, but the Risen Christ.

My beloved is beloved of all, my Lord is lord of all, need to move from one to the other who needs…whom he cares….the whole earth..

But I am sharing the mission of my beloved…. no longer lingering in front of the tomb, holding onto the tangible death –grief yet comforting……I too must move…..so go to the disciples, the unbelieving church, the ones who is in grief, who give in themselves to the power of death…There I went, said, “I saw the Lord whom you thought was defeated by the power and authority of the world, the death power. He is risen! Risen indeed” “And he told me to say all these things to you.” Amen.


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