There is so much happening in the Easter Gospel that we have to journey through it carefully. If we rush, we might miss the quiet, wonderful messages tucked within the folds of the story.

The opening line of John’s Gospel sets the stage: “Early on the first day while it was still dark…”

The Miracle in the Shadows

I wonder, does it seem strange to you that God chose to perform His most amazing, world-changing work in the dark? Before the first light of day. Before anyone could see anything, let alone witness the resurrection. Before any human hand or faith could claim involvement.

In a world obsessed with the "photo op" and the "media opportunity," God went about this world-shattering work in the quiet and the dark. Somewhere on the edge of a sleeping city, in a garden with a tomb, the heavy stone was rolled away.

The tomb was empty. And it was just waiting for someone to discover it.

Clues in the Linen

When the disciples arrived, they found the linen grave wrappings and the cloth that had covered Jesus’ face. To the casual observer, it might look like a mess left behind. But the details are incredible:

• The Unblemished Lamb: In Jewish custom, a lamb for sacrifice was wrapped to protect it from blemish. Think back to Christmas, Jesus was wrapped in cloths in a manger. Think of Good Friday, Pilate said, "I find no fault with this man." Jesus is the unblemished sacrificial lamb, and the grave clothes remind us of His purity.

• The Folded Napkin: The cloth from Jesus' face was folded neatly in a separate place. In Jewish custom, if a master at a meal screwed up his napkin, he was finished. But if he folded it, it meant he was not finished and would return.

The message was hidden in plain sight: Jesus is not finished. He will return.

The Power of "Turning"

The act of "turning" is the key action in this story, and the key to all Christian discipleship. Mary Magdalene turns three times in this passage, and each turn brings her closer to the truth.

Initially, Mary assumes the body has been stolen. She is weeping, exhausted, and traumatised. When she turns away from the tomb, she sees a man she believes to be the gardener. There is a deep irony here. In one sense, she was right.

Think about the imagery John is using:

• They are in a Garden (Recalling the Garden of Eden).

• It is the morning of the first day (Recalling Genesis and Creation).

• Jesus is the New Adam, the Gardener of a New Creation.

Just as the first Adam named the animals, Jesus begins this new creation by naming His: "Mary." With that one word, she turns for a third time in joyful recognition.

Our Own Journey

Like Mary, we all have a journey to make. We must come to this place, bend down, and look into the place of death only to find it empty and defeated.

As Christians, we believe death has no hold over us. But the looking isn't enough; we must also turn. We turn towards Jesus as a new beginning. This is the heart of our faith and the core of our baptismal vows:

"I turn to Christ."

The wonderful thing is this: when we finally make that turn, we realise He is already there, waiting to greet us.

He is risen indeed. Alleluia!

Fr Martin