Written by KJ Norris ’14 and brought to you by the Kelso Museum of Near Eastern Archaeology at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary
Scripture
John 20:1-18
1 Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. 2 So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” 3 Then Peter and the other disciple set out and went toward the tomb. 4 The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 He bent down to look in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen wrappings lying there, 7 and the cloth that had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself. 8 Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; 9 for as yet they did not understand the scripture, that he must rise from the dead. 10 Then the disciples returned to their homes.
11 But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb; 12 and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet. 13 They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” 14 When she had said this, she turned round and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? For whom are you looking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni!” (which means Teacher). 17 Jesus said to her, “Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” 18 Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”; and she told them that he had said these things to her.
Devotional
I have seen the Lord! Jesus is risen! He is risen, indeed!
Confidence that the Lord Jesus Christ has been raised from death to life permeated the early church. This confidence led believers to create monuments, buildings, and other artworks to proclaim what resided so concretely in their being. One of the earliest known baptisteries resides in an ancient house church in Syria. This archaeological site, known as Dura-Europos, includes a large mural whose central image leading up to the font appears to be a group of women walking toward a tomb, proclaiming confidence in Jesus’ resurrection and drawing them toward worship.
Brothers and Sisters, we are called to the same confidence. Today as we remember the Lord's resurrection, let us also remember our baptism. Our old lives have been put to death, and we have been raised to new life in Jesus Christ. Our Lord is risen! Let us profess this today not only with our mouths but embody it in our lives.
Prayer
Risen Lord, we give you thanks and praise that you have conquered sin and death and have been raised to new life. Enable us to live as a resurrected people, living each day in the power of your Holy Spirit. Amen.