John 20: Running, Seeing and Believing II

The disciples, too, run when they hear Mary's story, but they run back towards the tomb rather than away from it. Here I must note a special emphasis that the Fourth Evangelist has in his narrative--to emphasize the role of the disciple whom Jesus loved. The struggle for authority in earliest Christianity was a daunting one; you can't read a page of Paul without realizing that someone is always trying to undercut him in his work. So it is among the communities of those who followed the Jerusalem disciples, especially Peter. Peter's primacy is stressed in Matthew, as we know. But what is fascinating about the Fourth Gospel is that the "Disciple whom Jesus Loved" or "the Beloved Disciple" plays a special role for him, even possibly slightly superior to that of Peter. For example, in John 13, when Jesus begins to deliver his five chapter intimate last discourse, the author makes a special point of saying that the beloved disciple was reclining next to Jesus (13:23). But more significant is the fact that when Peter wanted to know something from Jesus, he had to go through the beloved disciple (13:24). Thus, it isn't unusual that the beloved disciple accompanies Peter to the tomb when Mary announces that the stone has been removed. Though one might infer that the author thinks that the beloved disciple has priority to Peter, Raymond Brown observes that what is really in view is the author's emphasis on love--which the belove disciple represents (The Gospel According to John, vol. 2, p. 1003).

But the beloved disciple is important for another reason. Both he and Peter see the same thing--the linen wrappings lying there with the cloth for Jesus' head placed separately--but only the beloved disciple "believes." Our author takes pains to make sure that we don't miss this point: "Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first (i.e., the beloved disciple), also went in, and he saw and believed" (20:8). We don't know if Peter believed; the author just wants to tell us that this disciple believed.

What did he believe? Many commentators have been confused with v. 9 coming directly on the heels of the belief of v. 8. Verse 9 says: "for as yet they did not understand the scripture, that he must rise from the dead.." How do believing and not understanding the scripture relate to one another? I think the explanation is quite simple. The author is trying to say that the beloved disciple came to faith; he believed that Jesus was the Son of God, the Savior of the world. But he believed these things not because he had an Old Testament (scripture) series of proof texts to help him out (for they had not yet been developed; and Jesus did not predict his resurrection in the Gospel of John as he did in Mark 8:30ff; 9:30ff. and 10:30ff.), but because he had to infer Jesus' resurrection from the graveclothes. The fact that the beloved disciple believed even though he didn't have scriptural "help" made his confession all the more powerful and convincing. So he, now, is in the know. Thus our author points to the fact that one disciple, at least, now believes, even without the need for help from Word (scripture texts) or Sacrament. He must be a special guy indeed.

III. Back to Mary and Her "Recognition" of Jesus (11-18)

Even though the story assumes that Mary is with the other disciples, she seems not to have taken part in their dash to the tomb. But she returns to the same tomb and is overcome by grief. Finally she looks into the tomb and sees two men there, with whom she briefly talks. But her tears and confusion continue as she thinks that Jesus whom she now sees is the gardener, and she pours out her heart for an explanation from him as to what happened to the body. This is "prolonged recognition" in spades! It isn't until Jesus calls her by her name--"Mary!" that she turns and knows who he is. Her "recognition" of Jesus in this way then sets the tone for subsequent "recognitions" of Jesus by doubting Thomas (20:28) and by the beloved disciple (21:7).

These kind of recognition scenes are especially important in the structure of the Gospel of John, for only John's Gospel has the story of the Good Shepherd (ch. 10). What is characteristic of this shepherd/gatekeeper? "The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name..."(10:3). The first "sheep" Jesus calls by name is Mary. And the story of calling Mary by name is also suffused with other biblical images. Recall Is. 43, a passage that has been important to us in this Lenten season. How does it begin?

"But now thus says the Lord,/ he who created you, O Jacob,/ he who formed you, O Israel:/ Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;/ I have called you by name, you are mine" (43:1).

And would it also be too far to take Song of Solomon 3:1-3 as a deep theological background to this passage? Could the following have been Mary's experience on that long and dismal Easter Eve?

"Upon my bed at night/ I sought him whom my soul loves;/ I sought him, but found him not;/ I called him but he gave no answer./ I will arise now and go about the city,/ in the streets and in the squares;/ I will seek him whom my soul loves./ I sought him but found him not..." (3:1-3).

In any case, what is significant about this passage is that Mary's salvation comes from the Word--the shepherd calls her by name, while the beloved disciple believes even without the word. In one instance we have the revelation of the risen Christ; in one instance the inference of a loving mind. These are two ways of coming to faith, and they still apply to people today.

Conclusion

These two essays do not deal with all the fascinating issues of this passage, but they indicate the varied ways people came to faith that first Easter morn. One can infer from tousled graveclothes that Christ was the Savior of the world and their savior; another hears the very voice of Christ calling her by name. Both move from confusion or even misconstrual to faith. And that is the way that the Gospel advances. People's hearts are hard or uncomprehending, but through Word and Sacrament, through presence and even avuncular advice, the Lord is made known to us. May he be made known to you and your people this Easter morn.

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