While It Was Still Dark (John 20:1-10)
Central to Christianity’s proclamation is the event of Jesus Christ’s rising from the dead. Paul wrote to the Corinthians: “If Christ has not been raised, then empty too is our preaching, empty too is your faith” (1Cor. 1:15:14). Due to this persuasive reason, all gospel accounts speak of a resurrection narrative. In general, they agree on the crucial details. Yet, they also highlight specific peculiarities dictated by the theological and literary necessities discerned by each author. According to this same narrative logic, one must profitably appreciate the various accounts of Jesus’ rising from the dead.
The introductory resurrection narrative of the Johannine gospel (Jn. 20:1-10) is a case in point. Though having a glimmer of hope, it ends up frustratingly. There were preliminaries about Jesus’ rising from the dead in the account. Elements of initial movements and excitement are prevalent, e.g., the empty tomb and burial clothes. However, they all conclude with the apostles returning to where they were before.
In other words, left to themselves, Jesus’ rising from the dead is beyond the apostles’ comprehension. Jesus needed to reveal himself to them, to make himself known to them as the Risen One. However, the account is not altogether negative and fruitless. It effectively details the early response given by the believing community to this significant event. Cursory, as it were, the three figures of Mary Magdalene, the beloved disciple, and Peter outline a fundamental dynamic of the Christian faith. It would be a great help to look into each of them as they emerge from that “early morning while it was still dark” (Jn. 20:1).
Mary Magdalene opens the scene of the drama. In John’s gospel, she becomes prominent as one who stood by the cross of Jesus Christ (Jn. 19:25) with Mary, the mother of Jesus, and the other mentioned women. In this section, she illustrates the community’s first response to the resurrection event, miscomprehension. She saw the stone rolled from the tomb but did not enter the tomb (Jn. 20:1).
In short, she has not gone inside into that experience of death. Unless one dies with Christ, there is no understanding of and hope in his resurrection (cf. Rom. 6:5). One may surmise that her story was deficient, and her proclamation was confused because of this lack. Her message is summarized thus: “They have taken away the Lord from the tomb, and we do not know where they put him” (Jn. 20:2).
Interestingly, one may note the first-person plural subject used in this statement. Although alone, she became a collective figure of believers who have not entered into the depths of the resurrection’s mystery to understand its dynamic and significance effectively. Rising only comes from entering the tomb, that is, into death.
Furthermore, Magdalene’s account is too filled with finger-pointing without the needed clarity. They have taken the Lord! Who are these persons who allegedly removed Jesus’ body? It is an accusation that was unverified. Truth only comes when one encounters Jesus Christ in the inner recesses of self-transcendence when one is willing to die with Christ in the tomb.
Then, there were these two disciples who received Mary Magdalene’s story. As an immediate reaction to the woman’s revelation, Peter and the beloved disciple ran towards the tomb. John’s gospel took the time to explain that they both ran together. The Greek text (trechō) seems to tell more. As it were, they were “exerting effort together” (Jn. 20:4). Running appears to be the most superficial manifestation of something more interior, which the author wishes to convey. They strove as one.
At this juncture, looking at the succeeding details is necessary. The beloved disciple arrived first, yet he did not go inside. It was the exact thing Mary Magdalene did. However, when observed closely, their actions were not similar. There is an added development in this disciple’s moving toward the tomb. He looked intently and bent down (Jn. 20:5). Perhaps, it was out of curiosity as the Greek verb parakuptō seems to intimate. However, he saw farther since he peered a bit deeper than Mary Magdalene. He saw the burial clothes. It is a further step indeed but not yet complete.
Now comes the figure of Peter. In John’s gospel, he serves as the spokesperson (Jn. 6:68) and is later commissioned to feed the sheep (Jn. 21:15-19). Without a doubt, he has a vital role in the community. Fittingly, therefore, within this narrative, he gave the most far-reaching response the community could provide at that moment when “it was still dark.” Though arriving late, Peter entered the tomb (Jn. 20:6) and discerned more extraordinary things. He saw the burial cloths, which the beloved disciples also saw.
Yet, there was something more that Peter discovered. He saw the fabric that covered the head of Jesus and detected the accompanying minute detail. It was separately placed from the burial cloths. Peter appears to be in a better position to uncover the message of the resurrection. The reason is relatively simple. He went into the tomb. However, one must admit that it was too early at this time to comprehend the message of the resurrection fully. They all needed Jesus Christ to reveal the whole thing to them.
Then comes a curious and equally enigmatic assertion of John’s gospel. “The other disciple also went in, and saw and believed; for they did not yet understand the scripture that he had to rise from the dead” (Jn. 20:8-9). The most logical question should be: what did they believe in? Was it about Jesus rising from the dead or Mary Magdalene’s story that someone took away the body of the Lord? Following the reasoning of the account, the latter appears to be more logical.
In other words, they did not yet recognize the fact of Jesus’ rising from the dead. It was too premature for them to have known it. Therefore, Jesus must be the one to reveal it to them. To this effect, the account closes with this telling statement: “Then the disciples withdrew to their own” (Jn. 20:10). They have gone back to their own version of what has happened. Understanding the resurrection is not a fruit of human wisdom and knowledge. God needs to reveal this to humanity through the very person of Jesus Christ.