John 20:1-2, Jesus' Body is Missing

1 Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away 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.”

It is very early on Sunday morning. Mary Magdalene, who appears in every gospel going to the tomb, discovers Jesus’ grave is open. Someone has rolled the circular stone that sealed the expensive tombs in first century Israel. The other gospels record other women accompanying Mary, but for John their presence is not important. Yet we know that they are with her because in her report to the disciples she says, “We do not know where Jesus’ body is.” Mary’s report is telling. She is not thinking of the resurrection at all. No one is. They are all concerned about where Jesus’ body is; where it has been taken. She reports her finding to Jesus’ two closest disciples, Peter and the disciple whom he loved, that is John.

There are really only two possibilities they were mulling over. Had the authorities taken the body to further humiliate Jesus and his followers? Or had grave robbers gained access to the tomb? The reason the tomb was sealed was because grave robbers were common. Some years later Emperor Claudius issued a decree that those caught removing bodies from tombs would be executed. No one was thinking of the resurrection early on Sunday morning.

Lord Jesus, as you caught your disciples by surprise and brought them great joy by your resurrection from the dead, reassure us today that you are alive indeed and reign from heaven as our Risen King. Amen.