Holy Week Devotional: Day 8
Sunday, April 20, 2025
by Ryan Brown
John 20:1-16 ESV
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.” 3 So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. 4 Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, 7 and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. 8 Then the other disciple, who had 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 went back to their homes.
11 But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. 12 And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one 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 Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” 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 Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). 17 Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for 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 that he had said these things to her.
You know the story, right? We walk through the memory every year. We know that after the cross comes the resurrection. We look forward to the Easter sunrise with an eager and hopeful joy. We know how all the pieces fall into place because we’ve heard the story. But Mary, Peter, and John had to wrestle with the facts laid out before them. Verses 8 and 9 say something interesting, “they saw and believed; for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead.” They saw and believed, but did they understand what they believed?
Mary saw, too. She saw exactly what Peter and John saw and she started weeping. She saw and she understood exactly what had happened. Grave robbers. How could this weekend possibly have gotten any worse? She sobs. She just wanted to finish the embalming process… and her grieving… but even this is stolen from her.
When she looked in the tomb she saw two angels. ANGELS! Remember, that’s not normal for anyone, even in the first century. Mary is unfazed. They ask why she’s weeping, and she tells them about the body of Jesus being stolen. The facts are the facts. When people die, they are dead. What other possibility could there be? She’s weeping because she lost Jesus and now, they’ve stolen His body.
Then the kind gardener steps up to Mary and asks the same question about her weeping. And likely in exasperation, she gives the same answer she gave to the angels. Don’t these people get it? She’s here to grieve. Things have gone from bad to worse. Why are they asking her why she’s crying? Well, maybe the gardener will have some more facts to help with her investigation, so, probably without looking up, she asks if he saw who did it.
Then He says her name. All of the pieces fall into place. She saw an empty tomb, she saw two angels, but now in unimaginable surprise and joy she sees Him. The facts of an empty tomb could have only meant one thing until it meant something different. Somehow, He is here, and He is alive! Death could not hold Him, and her entire view of the world—of reality, of life and death, of God Himself—is forever changed because something new has happened; something she had no category for.
Did she understand that this meant that the penalty for her sins had been paid, and death had been defeated for all those we believe in Christ? Perhaps not yet, but now, like Peter and John, she saw and believed. She saw Him, and she believed.
Having seen and believed, she goes to her friends, the disciples, and announces the greatest news in the history of the universe, “I have seen the Lord!”
1 Peter 1:3–9 ESV
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, 9 obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
Related Resources:
- Listen to our worship music playlist to help prepare your heart this Easter.
- Attend our Easter Sunrise Service from 7-8 am near the outdoor chapel. Bring a blanket or chair.
- Attend or stream one of our Easter Sunday services at 9 & 11 am, in the Sanctuary.
