John’s Gospel – Witnesses to Jesus’ Resurrection!
Understanding John’s Good News
of Christ Crucified, Risen, Ascended & Returning
Without dwelling on detail, note that:
- Jesus was crucified around the year AD 30
- The last surviving Apostle John lives until about AD 90
- John writes his Gospel to the churches in about AD 85
Some who witnessed the risen Jesus fifty years earlier still lived! Many more had confirmed the truth of Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection to their families and nearly everyone else they encountered (the beginning of the great commission – Mark 16:15).
Many of these persecuted saints insistently witnessed Christ Crucified and risen in Body and Spirit to all until their own deaths.
They too suffered and died, either by the hand of Roman rule or result of persecution by zealous leaders of Jerusalem (until Rome sacked it in AD 70), a major event which had already taken place when John wrote his Gospel, letters and the Revelation of Jesus Christ.
Today we begin John’s accounts of the Resurrection not chronologically (for the events had already taken place a half-century before), but from the witness of individuals, beginning with Mary Magdalene.
John 20:
Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came early to the tomb, while it was still dark, and saw the stone already removed from the tomb.
Recall from before the day of preparation for the Sabbath that Joseph had sealed the tomb. Matthew tells us that as Joseph walked away:
‘And there was Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, sitting over against the sepulcher.’
Now, early on the first day of the week, John and Peter first hear Mary’s alarm.
2 So she ran and came to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and said to them,
They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him.
John 20:2b KJV
Mary the mother of James and John was likely with her once again hoping to finally complete their task of embalming Jesus’ corpse.
We will forego the likely familiar account of Simon Peter and John for the moment and focus on the witness of Mary Magdalene.
10 Then the disciples went away again unto their own home.
Mary Magdalene
Μαρία Μαγδαληνὴ
Mary Magdalene is from the town of Magdala, a fishing town on the western shore of the Sea of Tiberias (Galilee). She is known by several names and sometimes confused with many other Mary’s of the Bible. Here are her common names:
- Mary of Magdala
- Miryam from Magdala
- Maria Magdalene (even Saint Mary, which is not proper)
- Μαρία ἡ Μαγδαληνὴ
- also, the “apostle to the apostles,” which inappropriately elevates these important women who followed Christ to ‘Saints.’
Jesus first encountered her during His teaching in Galilee.
Luke 7:
1 When He had completed all His discourse in the hearing of the people, He went to Capernaum.
(We know it as Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount and Capernaum became Jesus home.)
And a centurion’s slave, who was highly regarded by him, was sick and about to die. (A local Roman Centurion’s personal servant, perhaps a Jew.)
When he heard about Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders asking Him to come and save the life of his slave.
(Here is a Roman Centurion sending an envoy, a sort of ambassador sent from him to Jesus, comprising of Jewish officials of a local synagogue.) We’ll get to the local connection to Mary in a moment.
7:11 Soon afterwards He went to a city called Nain; and His disciples were going along with Him, accompanied by a large crowd. Now as He approached the gate of the city, a dead man was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow; and a sizeable crowd from the city was with her…
And He came up and touched the coffin; and the bearers came to a halt. And He said, “Young man, I say to you, arise!” The dead man sat up and began to speak. And Jesus gave him back to his mother.
Fear gripped them all, and they began glorifying God, saying,
“A great prophet has arisen among us!” and,
“God has visited His people!”
Luke 7:16 NASB – reaction of the crowds in Nain after Jesus raised a young man from death
This report concerning Him went out all over Judea and in all the surrounding district.
(Reports on into Judea, even though Nain lies in Galilee, north of Samaria, some 144 km or about 90 miles by road from Jerusalem.)
At that very time He cured many people of diseases and afflictions and evil spirits; and He gave sight to many who were blind.
Luke 7:21 NASB
From Magdala to Jerusalem
Luke 8:1-3
Soon afterwards, He began going around from one city and village to another, proclaiming and preaching the kingdom of God.
The twelve were with Him, and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and sicknesses:
Mary who was called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, and Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others who were contributing to their support out of their private means.
.. she brought an alabaster vial of perfume, and standing behind Him at His feet, weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears, and kept wiping them with the hair of her head, and kissing His feet and anointing them with the perfume.
Those who were reclining at the table with Him began to say to themselves, “Who is this man who even forgives sins?” – Luke 7:49
- Did Jesus heal her of these demons as she worshiped Him?
- Was it Mary who had entered the house of a Pharisee in the city of the Synagogue where Jesus reclined at table with this Jewish official?
- Mary was from Magdala, a major Jewish city on the Sea of Tiberias (Galilee) where a archeological remains of a synagogue were unearthed just a decade ago.
John 20:
10 So the disciples went back again to their homes.
This continuation in John 20 uses language from multiple versions or translations linked above. - RH
Jesus’ Resurrection Appearance
11 but Miryam stood outside crying. As she cried, she bent down, peered into the tomb, and saw two angels in white sitting where the body of Yeshua had been, one at the head and one at the feet.
“Why are you crying?” they asked her.
She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they put Him.” As she said this, she turned around and saw Yeshua standing there, but she didn’t know it was he.
15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?”
Supposing he was the gardener, she replied, “Sir, if you’ve carried him away, tell me where you’ve put him, and I will take him away.”
16 Jesus said to her, “Mary!”
Turning, she cried out to him in Hebrew, “Rabbani!” (that is, “Teacher!”).
17 Jesus saith unto her, “Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.”
To be continued...
