In John’s gospel that first Easter Sunday was filled not with rejoicing and relief among Jesus’ disciples, but with confusion, confinement, and concern. Despite “apostle to the apostles” Mary Magdelene’s prompt reporting of her experience of the risen Jesus at the tomb, those she tells do not seem to grasp the meaning of an empty tomb. Instead of running to see the tomb themselves or even going out to search for this risen Jesus Mary claims to have seen and spoken with, in John’s text the disciples keep that news quiet and themselves locked down throughout the day.

It is not until ”evening,” that is, after sunset (i.e. officially after Easter Sunday had concluded), that the disciples’ world is transformed. They had remained behind locked doors all day “for fear of the Jews.” As recognized…