The Resurrection
John 20:1-18
1. Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came early to the tomb, while it was still dark, and saw the stone already taken away from the tomb. 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.” 3. So Peter and the other disciple went forth, and they were going to the tomb. 4. The two were running together; and the other disciple ran ahead faster than Peter and came to the tomb first; 5. and stooping and looking in, he saw the linen wrappings lying there; but he did not go in. 6. And so Simon Peter also came, following him, and entered the tomb; and he saw the linen wrappings lying there, 7. and the face-cloth which had been on His head, not lying with the linen wrappings, but rolled up in a place by itself. 8. So the other disciple who had first come to the tomb then also entered, and he saw and believed. 9. For as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead. 10. So the disciples went away again to their own homes.11. But Mary was standing outside the tomb weeping; and so, as she wept, she stooped and looked into the tomb; 12. and she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had been lying. 13. And they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.” 14. When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus. 15. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing Him to be the gardener, she said to Him, “Sir, if you have carried Him away, tell me where you have laid Him, and I will take Him away.” 16. Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to Him in Hebrew, “Rabboni!” (which means, Teacher). 17. Jesus said to her, “Do not touch Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I ascend to My Father and your Father, and My God and your God.’” 18. Mary Magdalene came, announcing to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord,” and that He had said these things to her.
The Resurrection of Jesus occurring at the “Place of the Skull” (John 19:17 and 19:41) is associated with the Sahasrara chakra of the Indian tradition located at the top of the cranium.
The Raising of Lazarus and the Resurrection of Jesus
The Raising of Lazarus narrative parallels the Resurrection narrative:
1. Lazarus is laid down in a tomb with a stone as a door – John 11:38
2. Jesus ask to remove the stone – John 11:39
3. Jesus ask to remove the wrappings and napkin of Lazarus – John 11:44
4. Lazarus is called by his name by Jesus – John 11:43
5. The body of Lazarus starts to decay and is smelling – John 11:39
6. Lazarus is being touched during the removal of the wrappings – John 11:44
7. Lazarus remains who he is – John 12:2
8. Lazarus continues his life – John 12:2
9. Jesus weeps – John 11:35
10. Lazarus is resurrected after 4 days – John 11:39
1. Jesus is laid down in a tomb with a stone as a door – John 20:1
2. The stone is already taken away – John 20:1
3. The wrappings and napkin of Jesus are found in the tomb – John 20:6-7
4. Jesus is called by Mary Magdalene but not by his real name – John 20:16
5. The body of Jesus is not smelling
6. Jesus ask not to be touched – John 20:17
7. Jesus is not being recognized for who he is – John 20:14
8. Jesus is about to leave this world and ascend to his father – John 20:17
9. Mary Magdalene weeps – John 20:11
10. Jesus is resurrected after 3 days – John 19:31, 20:1 and 2:19-21
The Raising of Lazarus corresponds to the state of Jivanmukta, liberation while in the body. After liberation, the Jivanmukta regains full awareness of the world and the use of his 5 senses: smell, taste, form, touch and sound. The Resurrection of Jesus corresponds to the state of Videha mukti, “liberation without the body” referring to the “liberation” attained by a person after death. After Videha Mukti what remains is soundless, odorless, touchless, formless. The person is eternal and deathless.
Soundless: Jesus is not called by his name by Mary Magdalene.
Odorless: The body of Jesus is not smelling.
Touchless: Jesus asks not to be touched by Mary Magdalene.
Formless: Mary Magdalene does not recognize Jesus, she believes him to be the gardener.
Eternal and Deathless: Jesus is about to ascend to his Father.
Yoga Kundalini Upanishad 33, 34, 35
The one who contemplates thus till sleep and till death is to be known as a Jivanmukta. And having given up (even) the state of a Jivanmukta, he attains Videhamukta (emancipation in a disembodied state), after his body wears off. He attains the state, as if of moving in the air. Then That alone remains which is soundless, touchless, formless and deathless, which is the Rasa (essence), eternal, and odorless, which has neither beginning nor end, which is greater than the great and which is permanent, stainless and decayless.