How does John 20:13 reveal the disciples' understanding of Jesus' resurrection? Setting the Scene The first Easter morning finds Mary Magdalene at the tomb. She has already alerted Peter and John that the stone is rolled away (John 20:1–2). After they inspect the site and leave, Mary remains, weeping outside the tomb. The Immediate Dialogue “‘Woman, why are you weeping?’ She answered, ‘Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have put Him.’” (John 20:13) What Mary’s Words Tell Us • She assumes a human explanation: the body is missing because someone “has taken” it. • She still speaks of Jesus as “my Lord,” showing love and loyalty, yet she does not yet grasp He is alive. • Her grief is rooted in loss, not in the shock of a fulfilled promise. A resurrection would have brought wonder, not only sorrow. • The phrase “I do not know where they have put Him” underlines complete unawareness of any supernatural event. Evidence of the Disciples’ Limited Understanding • Earlier that morning, John records, “They still did not understand from the Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead” (John 20:9). • Jesus had clearly predicted His resurrection—“Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up” (John 2:19) and “after three days He will rise again” (Mark 8:31)—but those words had not yet connected with their present experience. • Luke’s account echoes the same confusion: “These words seemed like nonsense to them” when the women reported the empty tomb (Luke 24:11). Contrast with Jesus’ Promises • Jesus spoke plainly in the Upper Room: “A little while, and you will no longer see Me; and again after a little while, you will see Me” (John 16:16). • He tied His resurrection to Old Testament prophecy: “Just as Jonah was three days in the belly of the huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days in the heart of the earth” (Matthew 12:40). • Yet in the moment of crisis, emotional grief outweighed remembered doctrine. Progression in Understanding • John 20:8 shows the beloved disciple beginning to believe after seeing the grave clothes. • Mary’s perspective shifts only after Jesus personally calls her name (John 20:16). • By evening, the risen Christ appears to the gathered disciples, turning their fear into joy (John 20:19–20). The transition from doubt to certainty unfolds step by step. Key Takeaways for Today • Even devoted followers may miss God’s greatest works when expectations blur their vision. • Scripture’s promises stand true whether or not we grasp them immediately; understanding often follows obedience. • Jesus meets each disciple personally—Peter, John, Mary, then the larger group—bringing clarity in His timing. • The empty tomb alone did not convince; encounter with the living Christ completed their faith. Our assurance rests on the same reality: “Because I live, you also will live” (John 14:19). |
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