ヨハネによる福音書20:11-18 John 20:11-18

Jesus was a sinless person, but he was crucified as a sinner and put to death. This was on a Friday, when the Passover festival was being held in the l Jewish country. On the third day, which was a Sunday morning, the women who believed in Jesus went to his tomb. They wanted to anoint Jesus’ dead body with spices and ointments. At that time in the Jewish country, the bodies of the dead were placed directly into the tomb. The tomb was like a cave dug into the rock, and the entrance was blocked by a large round stone like a disc. When the women went to Jesus’ tomb, the stone covering the entrance was open. To their surprise, Jesus’ dead body was gone. What on earth had happened? The women were confused and frightened. They went to see Jesus’ disciples and told them about the strange events they had seen.

A woman called Mary Magdalene went back to the tomb again. Mary Magdalene had been saved from evil spirits by Jesus, and she must have loved him very much. She was sad that Jesus’ body was gone, and she was weeping outside the tomb. Then, two angels asked her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” Mary said, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him,” and she turned around. Then, there was another person standing there. He also asked her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Mary thought this person was the gardener, so she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” Then the man said, “Mary.” When Mary Magdalene heard this, she understood. The love contained in the word “Mary” was conveyed to her. This person was Jesus, who had been resurrected!

Mary Magdalene, who had met the resurrected Jesus, was so happy that she called out to him, “Teacher,” and tried to cling to him. But Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father.” What does this mean? It sounds a bit too logical and difficult. Why didn’t Jesus just embrace Mary Magdalene and say, “I have been resurrected!”? I think that Jesus was trying to make Mary Magdalene understand that he had not returned to the way he was before he was crucified. The resurrection of Jesus is not just about a dead person coming back to life. It is about being resurrected into a body of eternal life that will never die.

After this, the resurrected Jesus will ascend to heaven, where God the Father is. Then, he will rule over the whole world and the whole universe as the King, while interceding for our salvation as the Priest in heaven. Jesus, who became a servant for our sins and was crucified, has risen from the dead and ascended to heaven, where he rules over the whole world and the whole universe as the King. From heaven, he watches over those who believe in him, and sends the Holy Spirit to guide the history of salvation to its completion.