Behold Your King! (John 20)

Reformed & Expository Preaching

Mary Magdalene goes out early in the morning to show her love for Christ. We know from Luke’s gospel that she heads out with the other women to prepare Christ for burial. John records for us that she went out alone or at least he does not tell us that she is with the other women. John wants us to hear Mary’s testimony alone.

She runs to the disciples and reports to them that Jesus is not in the tomb. The assumption is that grave robbers have stolen him, which is not a far-fetched assumption considering her day. Peter and John race each other, and John reminds us that he is a better athlete because he arrives at the tomb first, but Peter is either foolish or highly confident because Peter runs right into the tomb without any regard for his safety. If grave robbers were in the tomb, that could have ended really badly for Peter. They notice something that Grave Robbers would never do, in fact, anyone who has teenagers knows this would be out of character, the grave clothes are folded and sorted. Why would a grave robber take time to do that? Why would a grave robber even bother to take off the linen wrapping, let alone fold it up? They realize that something magnificent has happened. They realize that Christ has been raised.

Mary has encountered the resurrected Christ. She thought he was the thieving gardener. However, when she realizes it is Christ, she knows that he is her rabbi, her teacher, and her Lord. She clings to him, but she must realize that while we are called to cling to Christ, our ultimate assurance is that Christ clings to us. Christ must ascend to the Father, where he goes to prepare our eternal dwelling. Ultimately, as Christ ascends to heaven, to know that his kingdom, prophetic promises, and ultimate victory is secured. Death has been definitively defeated in Christ.

The disciples might realize that Christ is risen, but it is not too long after this that we find them locked in a room. The first time Christ encounters them is on the first day of the week. He proves to him that it is Christ as they touch his hands and his side. It is 8 days later they are in the locked room once again. Thomas is there and he exclaims, “My Lord and My God!” When he realizes that Christ is raised, securing the eternal passage to glory, confirming the Lord’s promises, and is definitively our shield and defender. How often do we trust the security of the locked door and fail to recall the Lord’s protection of his people in Egypt, the Wilderness, in Exile, and even in the midst of the turmoil in Acts.

The Lord’s people never fall out of his hand, no matter what they face, even in the turmoil of martyrdom. We are one-dimensional in our view, and fail to comprehend living a life in this age while seated with Christ in the heavenly places. Praise be to God that we live in his Shalom kingdom, he is our shield and defender, and he leads us through the valley through the shadow of death. Ultimately, the turmoil we desired for ourselves in the fall, God overcame in his resurrection victory.

Truly, Peace be with you! Our Lord is risen! He has overcome! His kingdom is established.