Reference John 20:1- 18
Perception:
(1) the way you think about or understand someone or something
(2) the process of seeing, hearing, or becoming aware of something through the senses
(3) the state of being or the nature of becoming aware of something through the senses
Perception can be hazardous when you consider the fact that it’s unique to every person and works primarily through our senses. I don’t think I’m alone when I say my natural senses cannot always be trusted. In other words, without your mind, will, and emotions being subject to the Holy Spirit, your perception could lead you to view an opportunity as an obstacle, or a triumph as a tragedy. When it comes to perception, the key question we must ask ourselves when facing life’s circumstances and trials is, do we have the right outlook?
This comes to mind when I think about the month of April and the celebration of the Resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Of course, now we rejoice over the death and resurrection of Jesus because we understand he paid the penalty for our sins (Romans 4:25), but this was not always considered good news. When we read John 20 the verses are littered with sadness, doubt, and unbelief from Jesus’ disciples and followers. They had not yet understood that Jesus had to die, and the fact that his body was missing from the tomb was actually great news (John 20:9). I’m not here to beat up on the disciples; after all I’m sure they were experiencing a range of emotions from fear, to doubt, as well as disbelief. Remember, they had seen the most brutal execution in human history, which ultimately lead some to deny they even knew Jesus (Peter), while driving others to suicide (Judas). I’m no therapist but we can almost certainly say some of the disciples had to be suffering from depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and severe anxiety.
According to the Bible, Jesus’ crucifixion included:
• Being stripped naked (Matthew 27:28, 35)
• Being forced to carry his cross (John 19:17)
• Hair being pulled from his beard (Isaiah 50:6)
• Being beaten with countless punches to the face (Matthew 26:67), as well as a rod (Matthew 27:30), and flogging (John 19:1)
• Wearing a crown of thorns (John 19:2)
• Being mocked, ridiculed and spat upon (Matthew 27:29, 30)
• Being nailed through his wrists/hands and feet (John 20:25)
• Being left to hang and die slowly (Mark 15:25, 34)
• Being pierced in his side (John 19:34)
After witnessing all of these sufferings that Jesus had to endure, it leads me to believe that in that moment the disciples’ natural senses could not be trusted when attempting to understand what God was doing. Let’s not forget the fact that not too long before this, Peter had cut off a man’s ear thinking he was doing Jesus a favor (John 18:10).
Jesus’ followers had concluded that his arrival in Jerusalem meant a political revolution that would bring back King David’s throne (Acts 1:6) and set Israel free from their Roman oppressors. Jesus wept over Jerusalem when he realized the people did not understand what could truly bring them peace (Luke 19:41, 42). Their perception and outlook on the entire situation was skewed and it had the disciples crying, when in fact they should have been rejoicing.
In the opening verses of John 20, Mary Magdalene appeared early Sunday morning to find Jesus’ body missing from the tomb. Not understanding that Jesus had risen from the dead, she assumed his body had been taken (John 20:2). She runs and tells the disciples of Jesus’ missing body and they run to the tomb to only find strips of linen (John 20:6, 7). Here’s the key that will help us whenever we face trying times in our lives and we just can’t seem to find the immediate answer.
STAY NEAR THE TOMB
The difference between Mary Magdalene, Peter and John (the other disciple), is that while in their confusion the disciples went back home (John 20:10), Mary decided to stay near the tomb (John 20:11), where she ultimately encountered Jesus (John 20:14- 17). In the midst of all the questioning, wondering, and temporary confusion, Mary decided to stay at the tomb, and Jesus met her there. In your questioning and wondering you must also decide: “I won’t go back. I’ll stay near the tomb and wait for an encounter with Jesus”. When I say stay near the tomb, I mean we must rest in the truth that Jesus has risen from dead and has resumed his role as supreme ruler over all of the universe (Matthew 28:18). The empty tomb means Jesus satisfied God’s divine justice, and we are in right standing with God the Father. In other words, because of the empty tomb we can conclude that circumstances and difficult trials don’t come into our lives because God is mad at us, or vengeful and vindictive, but rather because he unconditionally loves us.
We may not have all the answers, but with him on our side we can rest in the truth that he loves us and he’s in complete control. Once Jesus arrived declaring he had risen, he breathed on the disciples (John 20:22), and they received the Holy Spirit, who now would live on the inside of them and lead them to all truth (John 16:13). Ask the Holy Spirit to lead you to the truth, and to give you God’s perspective. If the answer does not immediately come, trust that God has his will in mind, and when you’re in the will of God there’s no safer place!