v. 8 … He saw and believed. When “the other disciple” (John) entered the tomb, he saw the strips of linen and the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ body now laying there. There inside the empty tomb, he saw and believed. The tomb was empty, the grave clothes had been abandoned. Jesus must be alive. The stone did not roll away so Jesus could come out of the grave. The stone was removed so the world could come in and see that he was no longer there. The tomb is empty. That changes everything for us as believers. If Jesus was still there, then the story ends. There is no faith, no church, no hope beyond the grave. Jesus is alive.
v. 11 but Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb v. 12 and saw two angels in white seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot. This may be one of the most powerful uses of symbolism surrounding the tomb of Jesus. As Mary entered in, she saw the angels sitting across from each other where his body had been. I assume they are facing each other, one where his head had been and the other by his feet. This seems to be a picture of the ark of the covenant. The ark a wooden box layered in gold. On top of the ark were two golden angels on each side, facing each other with their wings spread out toward one another, over the top of the lid. This lid was called the atonement cover. The ark was placed in the OT temple, and the priest would come in and sprinkle blood on top of the ark, the atonement cover. The concept was that God would look down and see the blood on the cover of the ark. The ark as considered to be God’s throne on earth, and the lid was also called the mercy seat. God would see the sacrificial blood of an animal on the mercy seat and grant forgiveness. As Mary walks into the tomb, there are two real angels (not gold ones) facing each other in the very spot where Jesus’ body had been placed. Jesus’ blood had been shed for our sins. It as if the angels are pointing to the new mercy seat. Jesus is the mercy seat of God. His body was given, his blood was poured out. We find mercy at the feet of Jesus, hope at the empty tomb of Jesus. His resurrection ensures our forgiveness.
v. 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.” Who is the first person to whom Jesus revealed himself upon his resurrection? You might think he would have marched down to the temple and revealed himself to Caiaphas the high priest or Annas. Perhaps he would go to Pilate and show him who really had all authority and power. Jesus didn’t go reveal himself to the religious or civil authorities to prove his greatness. The first person he appeared to was a lovesick woman who simply couldn’t stand to think of life without him. Jesus came to Mary Magdalene.
v. 17 Do not hold onto me, for I have not yet returned to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, “I am returning to my Father, and your Father, to my God and your God.” Mary was clinging to Jesus like she would never let go again. Jesus told her though that he had to return to the Father. His work was not complete until He could stand before the Father with nail pierced hands – proof that He had given his life. Man’s forgiveness would be purchased. God’s wrath would be satisfied. It would be finished.
v. 18 I have seen the Lord. The first witness to testify of the resurrection was not a great apostle but a former woman of ill repute. She was the first to tell the good news.
v. 21 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” Jesus came to the disciples who were hiding behind locked doors in fear. He spoke peace to them. He settled their fearful hearts. And then he commissioned them. As the Father has sent me, I am sending you. In the same way I was sent, I am sending you. Jesus told his disciples that they were now to be his representatives. We are his hands and feet now. We are his mouthpiece. We are his representatives. Where is Jesus today in the world? He is in us. We are sent in his name.
v. 22 And with that, he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” In Genesis, God breathed his life into Adam and he became a living being. And yet sin brought death into man’s life – spiritual death. Man was alive physically but no longer alive spiritually. After giving his life on the cross for man’s sin, and raising from the dead, the resurrected Christ could breathe new life into man’s heart. He breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” It was a new act of creation, a new genesis. Just as God breathed life into man the first time, Jesus is now breathing new life into man. It is an act of re-creation.
v. 23 If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven. I do not think this means that we are the ones who have the power to forgive others. That is something only that Christ can do. And yet we are his representatives, sent by Him. People need to hear and know the words of hope and forgiveness. Through Christ, we have the ability to proclaim to others that they are forgiven in the name of Jesus Christ. We have been given the Gospel, and we declare the glory of the One who forgives. All who accept the truth of Jesus that we declare are forgiven. And those who reject Christ will not find forgiveness.