11Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb 12and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.
13They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?”
“They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” 14At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.
15He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?”
Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.”
16Jesus said to her, “Mary.”
She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”). (John 20)
Thoughts: Jesus appeared first to women. For some that made the story unreal. In the ancient world women were not respected. One of the early opponents of Christianity, a man named Cleopas, said that Christianity couldn't be true because who would listen to the testimony of women? Today, many feel that because Jesus first appeared to women alive, it made the story that much more believable. For who would design or make up a story where women were the chief first witnesses? In some sense, Jesus lifted up women as the first to experience and convey the good news- the best news- of the resurrection and thus our own hope of life beyond the grave. Jesus knew Mary. Instead of arguing with her about her gardener theory, or her theory that someone had stolen the body, He simply said her name. Mary Magdalene had been saved once from demons and mental illness. She would not forget the voice of peace. We should remember that the risen Christ knows our name and cares about our misconceptions and unbelief. But He cares more that we be comforted with the truth of His resurrection.
Prayer: Lord, thank you that you know me by name. May my life always point to your resurrected life.
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