Believing the Truth
John 20:1-18
“Why are you crying?” That is an unusual question to ask at a graveside. Yet, that is the question Mary was asked twice on Resurrection Sunday morning. Mary did not believe Jesus was going to rise from the dead. Peter and John and the other disciples did not believe Jesus was going to rise from the dead. They were convinced of His resurrection by the things they saw at the tomb.
Consider what Mary and the disciples saw that morning.
Mary saw the Stone. The stone had been rolled away from the tomb (v. 1). However, she assumed Jesus came out of the tomb dead. She reported to the disciples that someone had stolen His body.
The disciples saw the Shroud. After receiving the report from Mary that Jesus’ body had been stolen, Peter and John raced to the tomb. Inside, they discovered the grave clothes that had wrapped Jesus lifeless body. In verse 8, John states that after actually going into the tomb and examining the grave clothes more closely, he was convinced.
Mary saw the Strangers. When Mary braved looking into the tomb herself, she saw two angels. The angels asked her why she was crying. Her answer reveals the fact that she was still looking for a dead body.
Mary saw the Savior. When Mary turned away from the entrance to the tomb, she came face to face with Jesus. However, she “did not know that it was Jesus” (v. 14). Verse 15 states she mistook Jesus for the keeper of the garden. She was still looking for the body.
Consider what Mary said that morning.
First, she agonized over Jesus’ body. When she discovered the stone rolled away she ran to the disciples and exclaimed, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him” (v. 2).
Second, she addressed Jesus, saying, “Rabboni!” (v. 16).
Third, she announced Jesus’ resurrection. She came to the other disciples, saying, “I have seen the Lord!” (v. 18). After realizing that Jesus’ body had not been stolen, but that He had risen, Mary did not hesitate to announce the news of His resurrection. Why had she not announced this news before? Because before, she did not believe He had risen. Instead of rejoicing, she wept. It is apparent that those who believe will share and those who do not believe will not.
The urgency of the message is evidenced in the fact that all three of the disciples in John 20 were running. Mary ran to tell the disciples, and Peter and John ran to the tomb. Sharing with others the resurrection of Jesus is urgent. Someone once asked the Southern Baptist missionary, Bertha Smith, why she was walking so fast. She retorted, “You can’t win the world walking slow!”
Melton– Lessons by Frankie Melton, pastor of Heath Springs Baptist Church, Heath Springs. He has a B.A. degree from Charleston Southern University, and a Ph.D. and M.Div. from Southern Seminary.