Do you sometimes read or hear a familiar Scripture passage, and suddenly you see something you never noticed before? I had one of those experiences with this story about Jesus’ resurrection.
Mary was standing outside the tomb crying, and as she wept, she stooped and looked in. She saw two white-robed angels, one sitting at the head and the other at the foot of the place where the body of Jesus had been lying. “Dear woman, why are you crying?” the angels asked her. “Because they have taken away my Lord,” she replied, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” She turned to leave and saw someone standing there. It was Jesus, but she didn’t recognize him. “Dear woman, why are you crying?” Jesus asked her. “Who are you looking for?” She thought he was the gardener. “Sir,” she said, “if you have taken him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will go and get him.” “Mary!” Jesus said. She turned to him and cried out, “Rabboni!” (which is Hebrew for “Teacher”). “Don’t cling to me,” Jesus said, “for I haven’t yet ascended to the Father. But go find my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” Mary Magdalene found the disciples and told them, “I have seen the Lord!” Then she gave them his message. –John 20:11-18 (NLT)
Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early on the first day of the week while it was still dark. She was prepared to anoint and ready Jesus’ body for entombment. Mary was surprised and distraught to see Jesus’ body was missing from the tomb. In desperation to find His body, she was willing to do whatever it took to find Him. Much to her surprise, Jesus, in His resurrected state, was right in front of her. She recognized Him once He said her name. What deep love she had for Jesus.
- Jesus cast seven demons out of her. (Luke 8:2) She experienced Jesus’ life-changing power in her life.
- Mary Magdalene was a follower of Jesus and helped support His ministry. (Luke 8:3) She wanted to help spread the Good News of Jesus to others, as well as grow in her relationship with Jesus.
- She was present at the foot of the cross at Jesus’ crucifixion. (John 19:25)
- Mary saw where Jesus was laid in the tomb. (Mark 15:47)
Can you see Mary Magdalene’s fists clenched, holding on tightly to Jesus’ cloak? Mary dearly loved Jesus and did not want to let Him go. Isn’t that just like when we lose someone near and dear to us?
What are some possible reasons Jesus said this to Mary? Jesus understood Mary was scared and afraid to lose Him again, but…
- It was important for the disciples to know He was alive, just as He foretold. Mary Magdalene, the person Jesus first appeared to, was given the task of sharing the news of His resurrection with the disciples.
- He knew Mary would still have opportunities to visit with Him before His ascension into heaven.
- Death brings a change in relationships with people.
- We can’t hold on to the old. We always need to be growing and changing.
- If we have clenched fists, we can’t give or receive anything new.
- Jesus knew Mary could not rely solely on His physical presence. Once He ascended, the third person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit, would be our access.
- …sharing the Good News of “I have seen the Lord?”
- …recognizing the Holy Spirit’s presence in your life?
- …unclenching your fists to give and receive new blessings?
- …know Jesus calls us by name.
- …live in peace, knowing we are never alone. Jesus left us the Holy Spirit.
- …know we have the same Father and God that Jesus does.
And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you. –John 14:16-17 (NLT)
