Mystery of History

John 20:11-23

Mary is weeping outside the tomb. The disciples locked themselves in a room in fear of the Jews. This is the expected result when the central leader of a personality cult dies. Jesus had made it all about who he was. The seven “I am…” and the great “I AM”.

The great mystery of history is the total reversal in Mary and the disciples, from weeping and fearing to the birth of the Church. The only explanation is the appearance of the Resurrected Jesus.

Hook

What to do when the main character dies?

Going to a concert (It wasn’t really N’Sync, I promise). There was some sort of mishap and the headliner of the whole show, the band we were there to see… they didn’t show.

But the audience wasn’t upset, in fact they were happy… and we went and we just enjoyed the spirit of the music, you know? And we just recited their lyrics together, and it was really all about the lyrics anyway, wasn’t it?

No! We went home. The concert was cancelled because the show was all about seeing them in person… and they were gone.

What do you do when Jesus dies

At camp we studied the 7 “I AM”s of Jesus.

He really made it all about him.

What do the disciples do when Jesus dies? What do his followers do?

Mary and Peter and John, rushing to the tomb.

Mary is left outside, weeping.

Peter leaves the tomb… wondering.

John leaves with the beginnings of belief… but a partial and silent faith. The disciples are found, that evening, huddled in a room together, a locked room, in fear of the Jews who killed their Master.

And that makes sense. That is a rational reaction to the events.

Jesus made it all about him. And he’s gone.

But that isn’t where the story goes…. That isn’t what happens.

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.

Mary. First person to see the resurrected Jesus.

Mary doesn’t recognize Jesus. Continuity with his former body, but possibly looks different.

Absolute reversal in verse 16. Jesus speaks her name. And everything changes for Mary. She cries Rabbi and clings to Jesus. Jesus comforts her, but lets her know that his physical presence here on earth is temporary. He is going to abide within through the Holy Spirit.

Jesus enters. Everything changes.

19 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.” 20 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.

Jesus shows up… and everything changes.

The disciples were huddling in fear. Jesus shows up. Everything changes. Fear is changed to gladness.

And more than gladness…

21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”

Gladness and mission. Jesus sends them and here, promises the gift of the Holy Spirit in anticipation of what will come at Pentecost.

It isn’t just the emotion that changes. Mary’s emotion goes from sorrow to joy. But her future changes. Jesus shows up, and instead of a helpless Mary, now she is on a mission.

The disciples change, not just in their emotions, but they are trapped, the hunted afraid of the hunter.

Jesus shows up… and now the disciples are on mission. “As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you…”

Jesus shows up… and everything changes. This is the great mystery of history. What explains how a bunch of terrified men and women who lost their central leader find the boldness to reach the world? To conquer the world in many ways. Jesus showed up.

Took

Then, Jesus shows up. The answer to the mystery of history, everything about the disciples changes that day.

But Jesus isn’t done showing up. The Great Reversals continue.

What does it look like for the resurrected Jesus to show up in you? For you? Through you?

At camp, we had kids who were helpless, hurting, grieving, wounded. Afraid of the next turn in life. And it breaks our hearts… because in most cases we are helpless to help them.

But we are there, because we know that Jesus shows up… and then everything changes. And we saw Jesus show up and begin some healing. Jesus showed up and some started to seek and ask real questions.

Where are you?

Some of you are on mission for Jesus. You are in the living experience of his Spirit within you and on fire for the mission he has sent you on. Go into the world, rock on, thank you, Jesus!

Some of you aren’t there… and that’s okay, this is the right place to be.

Are you alone in the garden, unable to recognize Jesus? What have you done with my Lord? Or even: is He my Lord? Is he alive?

Are you locked in a room afraid of what others will discover about you?

I pray simply this: that Jesus would reveal himself to you… and everything would change.