The Unknown “They”
(Amplified) John 20:1 “NOW ON the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been removed from (lifted out of the groove across the entrance of) the tomb.”
That tomb had been unsealed. The request of the Jewish leaders for the tomb to be sealed had been granted by Pilate. (See Matthew 27:62-66)
Sealing the tomb was for the purpose of keeping Jesus”™ disciples from stealing His body and saying He was resurrected.
Mary looked at the open tomb and saw the absence of Jesus”™ body. How upsetting to not find the Lord”™s body ““ her Master whom she loved. Then she turned and ran. She ran to Simon Peter and John:
(NASB) John 20:2 “So she ran and came to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “˜They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.”™”
How Mary”™s mind must have raced faster than her running feet.
The unknown “they” are always suspect”¦whoever “they” are.
Had the soldiers and/or the religious leaders taken the body? These groups would have had no reason to steal the body. What about the disciples of Jesus? These men were in hiding, fearful and distressed.
Where do you place the blame for those events over which you have no control? Do you assign responsibility to the unknown “they”?
Mary ran to people who she thought could help her and the One Who found her was even better.
To whom do you run for understanding and help?