April 21, 2003
May 25
___John 20
Darkness flees before the dawn
___By John Thielepape
___Years ago as a journeyman missionary in Zambia, I discovered total darkness. In the rural parts of Central Africa far way from electricity, the nighttime darkness was a unique experience for someone who had grown up in a metropolitan area. The only light came from the stars, which seemed all the more brilliant because of the absence of artificial light.
___The contrast of absolute light and absolute darkness became evident at dawn, as the rising sun would chase the darkness of night. I became more aware of the reality that darkness exists in the absence of light and flees in the presence of light.
___The contrast between darkness and light can be seen in the resurrection story. The agony of the suffering Savior becomes absorbed in the glory of the risen Lord. The despair of death is chased by the hope of eternal life. The post-resurrection appearances of Christ validate his identity as the Son of God, the One who has brought God's kingdom to Earth and the One who alone can provide forgiveness for sin and the promise of eternal life.
___A startling discovery
___Having witnessed Jesus' hasty burial in a borrowed tomb, Mary Magdalene went there on Sunday morning only to find the massive stone rolled away from the front of the grave. The stone had been sealed by Pilate, the Roman governor, which made robbery of the grave a capital crime. Furthermore, soldiers had been assigned to guard the tomb, but they appear to have been gone when Mary arrived. Obviously, Mary was quite disturbed by what she found, so she ran to tell the apostles what had happened.
___Mary presumed Jesus' body had been moved. She does not know who moved the body, although she may have a suspicion, and she has no idea to where the body has been moved. She encounters Peter and John, who run to the grave to see for themselves what might have happened.
___Mary remained at the tomb, perhaps overwhelmed with the entire grief of the weekend now compounded with the grief of what appeared to her at least the robbery of Jesus' grave. First, she encounters two angels who are seated at the grave where Jesus' body had been. Then she encounters the resurrected Christ. Her response was undoubtedly the response of one who was being reunited with a loved one. She clung to him as if she did not intend to let him get out of her sight again.
___Jesus instructed her to stop clinging because he had a mission for her to perform. She was instructed to spread the news to the other disciples of what she had seen. In the ancient world, women were not regarded as credible witnesses, yet Jesus makes Mary the original witness to his resurrection.
___Perhaps her tremendous love for what Jesus had done for her led her to linger at the tomb because she did not know of anywhere else to go. Whether the witness was female or male mattered little to Jesus, who rewarded Mary's diligence in seeking him with the privilege of telling the good news that he was alive. "I have seen the Lord," she said. Any doubts about her credibility were surely dissolved by the enthusiasm and conviction in her voice.
___A sudden appearance
___The disciples gathered behind closed doors that first night fearing retribution from the Jewish leaders. The leaders wanted to spread news of a conspiracy by Jesus' followers to steal the body, and arresting the disciples for grave robbery could carry on the plot.
___No such arrests seem to have ever taken place, which puts to rest any kind of serious conspiracy theory. Could the disciples have really maneuvered around a company of Roman guards, moved away the massive stone, disposed of the body and maintained strict silence about such a plot? Such an accusation could not have held up.
___Suddenly Jesus appears among them and gives them instruction that he is sending them into the world in the same way the Father sent him into the world. The disciples would carry out the ministry of reconciling a lost world to the Father.
___Verses 22 and 23 create some difficulty for interpreters. Does verse 22 indicate anticipation of what they will receive at Pentecost, or is this the fulfillment of Jesus' promise to send the Holy Spirit? In light of the experience of Pentecost and in view of Jesus' commission to the disciples, it seems he intends for them to begin preparing to the receive the Holy Spirit's power. The Spirit will come in due time and with tremendous power, but they must be prepared to submit to his power if they are going to be used by him to go out into the world.
___Verse 23 speaks to the forgiveness and retention of sins. Are the disciples given the power to forgive or refuse to forgive sins? The statement must be taken in light of the commission to be sent into the world. People will find forgiveness of sin as result of the disciples' faithful preaching of the gospel. If they fail to present the gospel to the world, then people will retain the consequences of sin in their lives and remain lost. The disciples faced the task of becoming agents of reconciliation in the world as a result of their personal experience with Christ.
___Erasing doubts
___Thomas was not present with the others when Jesus appeared and looked skeptically upon their report to him. He insisted upon the same evidence they had experienced, which was the ability to see and touch his wounds. Thomas waited eight days for the opportunity, but eventually Jesus appeared again, and Thomas experienced the joy of witnessing in person the resurrected Savior.
___Thomas gets a negative reputation because of his doubt. But who can blame him? Physical resurrection has never been a common occurrence, and he might have believed the grief of his friends was so great they had imagined the visit from Jesus. Furthermore, he may not have wished to get his hopes up in light of the despair he must have felt when Jesus died. He asked for no more evidence than the other disciples had experienced, and no evidence exists to suggest the other disciples shunned him for his doubt.
___Thomas' doubt does not appear to have been cynical. He appears to doubt with the intention of believing if he can see and touch the evidence.
___Nonetheless, Jesus rewards Thomas for his belief and then offers a blessing upon all who will believe without being able to see.
___Centuries later, that blessing continues to extend to those of us who believe in Christ without witnessing his physical presence. We experience him through the witness of Scripture, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and the testimony of others whose lives have been changed by his grace.
___We also share in the mission Jesus left for his disciples, as well as the power with which that mission can be carried out. A lost world surrounds us in need of the reconciling grace Jesus offers. We carry the message of forgiveness and eternal life with the same marching order issued long ago, "As the Father has sent me, I also send you."
Questions for discussion
Have you made the commitment to trust Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior? If not, what hinders you from trusting in Christ? If yes, can you remember your thoughts and emotions at the time you made that decision?
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