John 20:14-15, Easter and the Garden Tomb

And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.

John’s Gospel alone indicates that the tomb was in a garden. This is an important theological note: John begins and ends his Gospel with the Genesis story. Mary spies Jesus (whom we now understand, after twenty chapters, is God) and thinks him to be the gardener. Here stands God, once again tending his garden, like in the days of Eden. God has come back, and the world begins anew, in the same manner it started, with a new Eden. 

The human Christ is often portrayed as the second Adam, the first of the new beginning. Perhaps Paul was the first to note this connection: For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.—1 Corinthians 15:22. Augustine compared the opening of the Lord’s side on the cross to the opening of Adam’s side to create his “bride,” the body of his believers. It’s impossible to overstate the impact of the empty tomb, but perhaps Paul says it best:

Behold, all things are become new. –2 Corinthians 5:17