Partnership in Easter Faith: The Role of Mary Magdalene and Thomas in John 20

Abstract

This article examines the narrative of John 20 and, in particular, the characterization of Mary Magdalene and Thomas. It argues that the two stories function in a literary partnership that encircles the giving of the Spirit. In parallel episodes, Mary Magdalene and Thomas engage in the struggle for understanding and come to Easter faith. Magdalene is not a weak, helpless woman moving blindly from one misapprehension to another, nor is Thomas a pessimistic character prone to existential doubt. Just as Magdalene is a witness to the resurrection and announces its meaning, so Thomas brings that faith to a climax and acts as a bridge for future believers. Their faith-struggle involves misunderstanding that is to be read in positive rather than negative terms. The implied reader identifies with the struggle and, through the centripetal force of the narrative, is drawn into the presence of the Spirit.