Easter Sunday (Year A)

Of the resurrection narratives, the synoptic gospels tell us that the women reported to the apostles that the tomb was empty, that they met angels or even the risen Lord etc. Only John gives us a glimpse of what was inside the empty tomb.

Unlike the other synoptic gospels, John mentions only Mary Magdalene of her visiting the tomb. She came early in the morning while it was still dark. She saw that the rock had been moved away from the tomb (John 20:1). John does not name other women nor does he mention whether Mary Magdalene entered the tomb. Most likely not, because it was dark and you won't be able to see better even if you dare enough to enter the tomb. Mary Magdalene ran and reported to Simon Peter.
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." (John 20:2)

It was dark. How could Mary Magdalene, without entering the tomb, conclude that the tomb was empty? Only the rock was removed. From this, she concluded that the body of Jesus was removed as well. There was a pre-conceived idea floating in the air. Jesus' body would be stolen so that the disciples would claim that he had risen from dead.

Consider the next curious point. Who were 'they' whom Mary Magdalene referred to? Did she mean the Jewish authority who handed Jesus over to the Roman procurator? But why would they bother to remove the corpse of Jesus. As reported by Matthew, the more sensible action was to tighten the security by posting guards at the tomb. Would they be other factions of Jesus' disciples more inclined to create a myth which the Jewish authority feared most? You can dismiss it as a wild imagination.
Moreover, it was curious that she reported that 'we' knew not where they had laid Jesus. Were there other women or people visiting the tomb with Mary Magdalene, like the tradition of the other gospels, and John did not mention them in the first verse? Did Mary Magdalene embellish her report so that she was not the sole witness and therefore her report was trustworthy? Or shall we put the blame on the sloppy Greek grammar of the author of John? I am posing more question than sharing my prayer.

Hearing her report, Peter and the disciple whom Jesus loved ran to the tomb to investigate. John reported that the other disciples outran Peter (John 20:4). He outran Peter, most likely because he was younger, or he loved Jesus more and therefore more anxious to find out what had actually happened.

and stooping to look in, he (the disciple whom Jesus loved) saw the linen cloths τὰ ὀθόνια lying there, but he did not go in (John 20:5). I suppose it was no longer dark and there was enough light for the disciple to see what was inside the empty tomb. He saw the linen cloths, which is plural! Can this deny the authenticity of the Turin Shroud? I do not know much about the Jewish burial customs and remember, Jesus was buried in a hurry. There must be a piece of linen cloth touching his corpse. Then more linen cloths might be used to wrap up the corpse. Therefore, the plurality of linen cloths is unable to deny the authenticity of the Turin Shroud.

This disciple was prudent. He only looked in without entering the tomb. He waited for Peter to enter first.
Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; he saw the linen cloths lying,
and the napkin, which had been on his head, not lying with the linen cloths but rolled up in a place by itself ἀλλὰ χωρὶς ἐντετυλιγμένον εἰς ἕνα τόπον.[but, by itself, wrapped up in one place] (John 20:6-7). The napkin could not have wrapped up by itself. There must have been some human activities going on inside the tomb! On the other hand, if I were a tomb raider to remove the corpse of Jesus, would I carry it away, wrapped in linen cloths or would I take the trouble to remove the linen cloths, carry it naked, half decaying?

Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; (John 20:8) John does not say whether Peter believed after seeing the scene. Very likely, Peter remained cautious, until he saw the risen Lord himself. After all, John could not read Peter's mind. But the linen cloths inside the empty tomb were enough to convince the other disciple. This other disciple must have some previous experience which enabled him to believe that Jesus had indeed risen from the dead. That is why some scholars speculate that this beloved disciple of Jesus was not John, but Lazarus.

Truly, it is not easy to believe in the Resurrection of Jesus with just an empty tomb, some linen cloths and a napkin. We cannot blame modern men for their skepticism. Even the disciples themselves found it difficult to believe, in view of the traumatic experience on the previous Friday. Only someone who already has some faith in Jesus would believe it. They can only believe it. They cannot prove it. If his resurrection can be proved beyond doubt, we don't have to believe in him, to put our hope in him. Pure water boils at 100^o C . We don't have to believe in it, or to hope that it boils at 100^o C. Modern, convenient life has deprived us of a lot of opportunities to exercise our faith. We are a pretty faithless people.

My sweet Jesus, I know that You have overcome death and won us a decisive victory. I have no proof available for my students. But they may not be interested in the evidence I could offer either. So, help me lead a more Christian life to bear witness to Your resurrection and new life. Amen.