Early in the Morning

Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb . . . — John 20:1

By Tim Thomassen

It is noteworthy that a woman had the distinction of being the first to be made acquainted with our Lord’s resurrection. It has been suggested that the feminine mind is activated more by intuitive faith than analytical faith. A case can also be made that this illustrates a woman’s tender sympathy.

Possibly Mary loved much because she had been forgiven much (Luke 7:47). Mary Magdalene was at one time possessed by evil spirits. However, once released from their control, she became a faithful and loyal follower of Jesus.

Mary went while it was still dark, in the dawn of the day. This dawning may beautifully picture the church’s resurrection time in the transition between the Gospel age and the Millennium. "God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day" (Psa 46:5). It is in this Millennial morning the saints are changed in the first resurrection (see Psa. 30:5; 1 Thess. 3:13; 4:16; 1 Cor. 15:51, 52; Rev. 20:6).

The resurrection Sunday was so dramatic and significant that the early church began to commemorate it (Acts 20:7). In time, the first day of the week came to replace the Jewish Sabbath, rooted deeply in Jewish law. The Jewish feast of Pentecost would shortly give way to the Christian Pentecost.

There are many interesting points associated with the resurrection of Jesus. One has to do with the spices. Luke’s account mentions that "the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb" (24:1).

We learn from this that Mary Magdalene was not alone, but was the first on the scene.

Since embalming was not practiced by the Jews, it would appear that the spices were brought as an act of devotion and love to anoint the body of Jesus. These concerned and compassionate followers of the Master obviously had no expectation of Jesus’ resurrection.

The women who figure prominently in the resurrection stories illustrate dramatically the love that does not end with death. They loved Jesus beyond the end. They endeavored to demonstrate the last respect that could be paid. How great is our love for our Lord?

A Great Surprise

On this journey of faithfulness they encountered a great surprise. "Faithfulness has a way of running into surprises." Sometimes the unexpected occurs. Indeed, as the hymn phrases it, "God moves in a mysterious way his wonders to perform; He plants his footsteps in the sea and rides upon the storm."

"They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus" (Luke 24:2, 3). A tomb’s entrance was ordinarily closed to keep vandals and animals from disturbing the bodies. This stone, however, had been sealed by Jewish authorities for a different reason. The chief priests and the Pharisees had petitioned Pilate to secure the tomb so that Jesus’ disciples could not steal the body and then tell the people that he had been raised from the dead and Pilate told them to set their own watch. (Matt. 27:62-64).

However God sent his angel to remove the obstacle! Should this come as a surprise? Certainly not, for "all things are possible with God" (Mark 10:27). "Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon. ‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the LORD. ‘As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts’" (Isa. 55:7-9).

Removed was the stone that man had placed. This stone can well illustrate human efforts, ignorance, superstition, unbelief, selfishness, hatred, cruelty, jealousy, pettiness, doubt, fear, bitterness, and injustice. We may sometimes view these barriers as insurmountable. Yet our wise, loving, and powerful Lord can and will abolish these hindrances in due time for the first resurrection. Let us not forget that we "must suffer the darkness of night to welcome the coming of dawn."

He Is Risen!

Luke continues the story: "while they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again’ Then they remembered his words" (24:4-8).

The two men alluded to were no doubt heavenly messengers. Just as the announcement of Jesus’ birth to the shepherds induced fear, so these women became frightened. Fear was as natural a reaction then as it is today.

The women were asked a poignant question, "Why do you seek for the living among the dead? He is not here: he is risen!" This question has as much relevance now as ever. The living Lord is not to be found embalmed in creeds and rituals, nor in pious ordinances (Col. 2:20-23). But he can be found in our most holy faith (Jude 20), in hope that does not disappoint us (Rom. 5:5), and in "sincere love" (2 Cor. 6:6).

The women were reminded of their Lord’s announcement that he would be taken by sinful men, crucified, and then raised on the third day. One wonders how they could have forgotten. But words do not always sink in until something dramatic takes place. Do we, on occasion, have to receive shock treatment before we snap and come to our senses?

The Disciples Hear the News

"When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the eleven and to all the others. Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them told this to the apostles. They did not believe the women, because their words seemed like nonsense. Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened" (Luke 24:9-12).

The majority of the disciples felt the story was nonsense, but Peter and John decided to check it out for themselves (John 20:2, 3). The net result was that Peter "went away, wondering to himself what had happened" (Luke 24:12), while the other disciple "saw and believed" (John 20:8). In John 20:9 we read that "they still did not understand from scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead." Does the voice within you ask, "How could they be so dense? What more would it take to convince them?"

The Role of the Holy Spirit

Perhaps we minimize the significance and role of the holy spirit in our lives today. Without the holy spirit’s illumination we would be just as ignorant. Praise God for the help of the holy spirit!

In conclusion, I challenge myself and you to answer a few questions. First, is the resurrection merely an interesting story or historical fact? Has its repeated reading and study become meaningless and ritualistic, like other things that we do on a continuing basis?

Looking forward to the future, are we confident of our own resurrection? . . . of the resurrection of mankind in general? Are these beliefs part of our mind set or do we have doubts or second thoughts? If we died and were resurrected "in the twinkling of an eye," would we wonder what happened or be surprised?

In John 20:30, 31, we read: "Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name." Believing is not only the precedent to the life to come, to be attained at the resurrection, but it is also a forerunner to a proper life in the present time. "We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him" (1 Thess. 4:14). "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him" (Heb. 11:6).

Christ was victorious and thus arose from the grave. If we are faithful we shall likewise "be like him, for we shall see him as he is. Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself just as he is pure" (1 John 3:2, 3).

NOTE: All scriptures used in this article are from the New International Version.