“Living Easter Every Day”- John 20:1-31

John 20:1–31 ESV

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. 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.” So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead. Then the disciples went back to their homes. But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. 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.” Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. 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.” Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). 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.’ ” Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”—and that he had said these things to her. On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.” Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.” Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

Mary Magdalene, perhaps one of the most misunderstood among the followers. Often referred to as a prostitute mistakenly, as nowhere in Scripture is that supported. She was inhabited by 7 demons, which Jesus drove out of her. She may have a had wealthy roots and helped support Jesus’ mission financially. She was not Jesus’ lover, not his wife, these things weren’t even possible, yet mankind spreads, assumes, and often gets it wrong.

What she was, was a faithful follower of Christ, placed in some pretty important circumstances.

Mary Magdalene is walking to the tomb. Tears in her eyes, with no expectations except grief.——then everything changes. What if Easter could change your Monday mornings too?

Mary finds the tomb empty. She’s weeping, then hears her name, “Mary.”

This morning we encounter Christ and the empty tomb, and we embrace the narrative of the transformation power of the risen Lord.

John 20, 1st century Judea, under Roman rule—Jewish expectations for deliverance were high. There is tension between Jewish synagogue life and emerging christianity.

We find ourselves at a customary morning visit, in line with Jewish burial customs, following death and burial.

The shock is the stone is rolled away.

Mary is notably alarmed. Jesus is missing! So she runs to her friends with a cry for help. John reaches the tomb first, followed closely by Simon Peter. They also see the empty tomb, but John sees the uniqueness of the burial clothes. There’s no sign of struggle, only signs of deliberate order. John begins to put things together.

Jesus died, was buried in the tomb of Joseph of Arimethia. Believed to be a wealthy man by the condition of the tomb. This same man requested Jesus’ body be retrieved and placed in his personal tomb. Equipped with modern components, like a 4.5 foot round stone for completely closing the entrance, not the customary rock that formed a mere cork to wedge into the hole.

The disciples are reeling.

Then, unexpectedly in her grief, anguish, shock, Mary hears her name. Mary expects death approaching the tomb in the morning darkness. Now she hears her name.

Peter and John go back home. They must figure that once word gets out, those associated with Jesus, will be hunted down. Mary stays, perhaps in shock, confusion, or just overcome by her grief.

Every parent who’s ever had to sit and wait in an emergency room, waiting on results or the possible outcome of an accident, injury, or illness, knows that feeling of misery in your gut. So many things are racing through your mind.

This is the place we find Mary. And then, a glimmer of hope shines through.

Mary again looks in the tomb. There are now two angels one at the head and one at the feet of the stone bench Jesus was laying on. They Bible says they were sitting, why I’m not sure, but maybe to be less scary than other accounts where angels are present.

“Why are you weeping?” “Someone stole Jesus” I don’t know where he is. In that moment Mary Magdalene thinks she sees a gardener. There is suspicion, surely this man must have taken Jesus, or at least he knows who did. “Why are you weeping?” Where is he? “Who are you seeking?” Maybe she’s thinking, I don’t know who you are, but this is serious. There must have been a million thoughts in her head.

And then, she hears her name, “Mary”, and she realizes it’s no gardener at all. “Rabboni”, it’s her teacher, it’s Jesus… Oh what a shift of emotion.

“Do not cling to me”, not being mean or insensitive, Jesus makes a declaration up front, that he’s on his way to see the father. Don’t get too used to me being present, it’s not like before.

There’s no time to waste, go tell the others.

Imagine that ER, when the Doctor or Nurse comes out and says, “there going to make it, it’s going to be ok.” You’re in that department store and your young child wonders off and you search and search. You’re frantic and then you speak their name. They hear you and ring out. They’ve been found. How relieved Mary must be in that moment.

So Mary takes off for home to find the other disciples. “I have seen Jesus” and this is what he said.

So the disciples have his out. They’re fearing for their own life. John may have been piecing things together, but it’s not crystal clear that what Jesus had told them on several occasions had now come true, exactly as he said.

The door is locked in the room they are in. The religious leaders may come after them next.

And then Jesus appears in the room. We’ve all had that person walk up behind us and we didn’t know they were there and we hear a sound and turn and we are scared to death. This was one of those moments. “Peace be with you.” It’s me—-look and see, see and feel the holes in my hands and feet, touch my side. LEt’s get that out of the way.

They the emotions change. The disciples are so elated to see Jesus “Peace be with you”

“As the Father sent me—-even so I am sending you.”

I’m giving you the authority to forgive—-a glimpse of what will happen more fully at Pentecost.

V24- Thomas isn’t there with Jesus that day. So they told him what unfolded and Thomas won’t believe any of it. “When I see his hands… Until then, “I will never believe it.” There are Thomas’ closest pals.

8 days pass, the disciples are gathered again. Thomas is there. Doors are locked. Jesus appears again. “Peace be with you.” My little grandson Henry, has started going around saying “Shalom” to everyone he meets. It’s hilarious. But Jesus is a bit like that. A casual greeting, he guys, how’s it going.

Jesus is aware Thomas didn’t believe the others. So he tells Thomas to see his hands and feet, to feel his side. Now he’s a believer.

And then Jesus rips Thomas a little. It’s ok Thomas, but blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.” Because that’s what is going to have to happen, when you share me with others who don’t have the benefit of a first hand meet and greet.

The Bible says more signs occur, but here’s enough detail that you may believe Jesus is who he said he was. And if you believe, you may have life in his name.

Let’s unpack….

Here we are, Easter Sunday, 2025. We come with our own doubts, fears, lack of understanding on many fronts. Mary approaches the tomb in darkness, despair..

Imagine drowning in debt. Your bills are overwhelming. You have no idea how you are going to pay them this month. You go to your mailbox, and there’s a check. It’s unexpected but enough to pay all the bills. What relief. What shock. What lack of understanding.

The empty tomb was an unexpected gift—despair turns to hope. The neatly folded burial cloths remind us that God has everything under control, in perfect orderly triumph.

Every day we head to our personal tombs0—with our fears, our stress, our loss, our futures. But Easter invites us to seek Christ’s presence, even in the most difficult moments—especially in those most difficult moments.

What daily tomb can you entrust Jesus with today?

Are you making space to hear God’s voice in your busy life? When life feels overwhelming—pause and listen.

Jesus enters the room, the door locked. We often focus on how he got in the room as opposed to the fact that he entered the room, the how doesn’t matter. He came to offer them security and to empower them and now us with His Holy Spirit to serve.

The object lesson of Thomas doubting. This is important, because soon hope, faith and belief will have to be enough for those they will seek out in his name.

And Jesus loved, even in the midst of Thomas’ doubt. To give Thomas a chance to grow, to learn, to develop his faith, so he can help all the ones who won’t be able to see but will be asked to believe. Doubt is a part of the faith journey.

Living Easter every day means embracing the resurrection daily. The empty tomb that fills our mornings with hope. Jesus voice that calls us to intimacy in our routines. His Spirit leads us to serve as he instructed us to serve.

His grace transforms our doubts into worship.

Pray for resurrection eyes.

When Mary hears her name—-everything changes.

Listen for Christ’s call.