Stewards of Grace JOHN FREEDMAN
North Pacific Union president
I WAS READING John 20 recently. Some scholars say the church’s mission first appears here when Jesus gave Mary Magdalene the first commission after His resurrection. Three things stood out to me this time, three things that have become uncomfortably familiar to us during 2020. I noticed the familiar themes of sorrow and tears, fear and closed doors, and finally doubt and unbelief. Early in the morning on the third day, Mary Magdalene was weeping in the garden outside an empty tomb (John 20:1–18). Jesus met her there, spoke to her and sent her to tell the disciples He was alive. Jesus was about to be enthroned as the Lord of the world, but the disciples were, at that time, hiding behind closed doors, afraid for their lives. That same evening, the disciples were still hiding behind closed doors (John 20:19–23). They were naturally afraid those who put Jesus to death would soon be looking for them. In spite of the locked door, Jesus went to them. He stood with them, shared a meal and gave them a commission: “As the father
