April 11
JOHN 20
Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. 2 So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” 3 So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. 4 Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, 7 and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. 8 Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; 9 for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead. 10 Then the disciples went back to their homes. – John 20:1-10
JOHN 20 FEAR & PANIC LEADS TO FORGETTING
A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses
Imagine how the disciples felt when they lost Jesus
They were full of grief from losing their Master
Mary went to see her beloved Jesus’ body to mourn
She was panic-stricken not to find the body of her Lord.
We have witnessed that among Jesus’ disciples, Mary was the one who loved him most. In Luke 8:1-3 we learn how Jesus has freed Mary Magdalene from seven demons. Since then, she followed Jesus and was actually considered as an Apostle according to some commentaries. Though she wasn’t part of the 12 disciples, she was a very faithful follower of Jesus. She was even there when Jesus died on the cross. She faithfully served the One who freed her from her demons and gave her a new life.
In those days, it was customary to visit the tomb of a loved one within three days after the body was buried. They believed the dead’s spirit was still hovering in the tomb. When she didn’t find Jesus’ body, fear overtook her, so she ran to Peter’s house to report her discovery. All of them forgot what Scripture said about him rising from the dead.
REFLECTION
• Share some insights how and why fear and panic could make us forget things.
