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”).
17Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’ ”
18Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that he had said these things to her. (John 20:11-18)
Thoughts: This is the first recorded appearance of Jesus. It is to a woman. The women were the first to go to the disciples to spread the news that the tomb was empty. But here it is also clear the women saw Jesus first. Let us explore this a bit.
Mary was brave and caring to come to the tomb at all. She saw the stone rolled away and then saw two angels at the tomb with the body of Jesus gone. She was convinced someone had stolen the body. When Jesus approached her, she did not recognize Him.
Mary was brave and caring to come to the tomb at all. She saw the stone rolled away and then saw two angels at the tomb with the body of Jesus gone. She was convinced someone had stolen the body. When Jesus approached her, she did not recognize Him.
Maybe she did not recognize Him because of his flogging and wounds. While Jesus was healed the scars in his hands, side, and marks on his face were still there. Maybe her tears blinded her. Maybe she was not expecting Jesus to be there so she did not recognize Him.
When Jesus called her name, she recognized His voice, His call, His love and responded. Mary who anointed Jesus' feet with oil, now hugged Jesus with all her might. Jesus wanted her to know he would not stay on earth forever, but would ascend to heaven. So holding on to Him would not keep Him here.
Mary's response was to tell the disciples boldly. She was not worried that they might think she had lost her mind. Instead she was concerned that they hear the good news. Our attitude should be the same. We need to tell others the good news no matter what they might think of us- the messengers.
Mary's response was to tell the disciples boldly. She was not worried that they might think she had lost her mind. Instead she was concerned that they hear the good news. Our attitude should be the same. We need to tell others the good news no matter what they might think of us- the messengers.
Prayer: Help me to speak forth your hope and good news, O Lord.
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