Seven Devils. How they had plagued her. Seven months with the Master. How he had healed her. And now he was gone. The tears kept falling. She just stood there, outside the tomb that had held her dearest Rabbi and friend. What was she to do? She had seen him crucified with her very eyes. She stood with his grieving mother as he said “It is finished.” Yes, it all seemed over now.
Slowly, as she wept, she stooped down and looked into the sepulcher. Earlier that morning, when it was still dark, she had seen the giant stone rolled away from Joseph’s newly-hewn tomb. This rich Arimathean had failed to anoint her Lord’s body. She had waited till the weekly Sabbath ended, hoping to give his body it’s proper due. Mary was certain that someone had lifted Jesus’ lifeless corpse from the tomb and carried it away. She had told Peter so.
Now Mary, returned to the opened tomb, and waited to see what would become of her life without her beloved teacher. She decided to look once again at the place where they laid him. Glancing into the sepulcher, intrigued by a light shining from within, she drew in her breath. What? Who? There were two “men” dressed in white. And they were sitting in the very spot where Jesus’ body had rested. One sat where his head had been. The other, as Mary had done so often, sat at the place of Jesus’ feet.
Mary continued to weep, her tear-stained face glistening in the morning light. She was too afraid to speak to these unknown “visitors” in so strange a place. They spoke in unison, as if one messenger, with a tender question. “Why are you crying?”
Getting over her initial shock, Mary told them that her Master’s unanointed body had been taken. She knew not who or how many had done such a thing. True, the high priest and elders had bitterly and vehemently vowed to never let talk of Jesus’ “resurrection” be given any credence. They would want to parade his corpse for all to see. So, they hadn’t done this. What about the Temple guards who had stood at the tomb. Where had they gone? Could they have taken his body? Or the Romans. Would Pontius Pilate want to keep this “prize” from the Passover for himself, after killing the supposed “King of the Judeans”?
Something caught her attention behind near the entrance. A man stood there. She had no idea who this could be. Now “surrounded” by two men within and another behind her, Mary began to feel uneasy. But this new stranger seemed to quietly stare almost within her heart. He had the same question as the others.
“Woman, why are you weeping?”
Before she could respond, he had another, more penetrating question.
“Who are you looking for?”
Aha! Perhaps here was the very man who had taken her Master’s body away. He knew she was looking for someone. He spoke with a firm authority. Perhaps he was the warden, responsible for caring for this garden. Maybe he removed the corpse as part of his duties? She must ask him, despite her fear, what he had done with Jesus!
Looking into his eyes, almost in tears once again, Mary spoke.
“Sir, I beg you, if you have carried this man’s body away from the tomb, please tell me where you’ve put him. He was a dear friend to me. He was my Master and Lord. I am here to bid him my farewell. Please, please, tell me. I will fetch him from you and take this corpse for a proper burial.”
Oh, how many times had he spoken of his death? Had he not told his disciples that he would be shamefully treated by the Judean religious leaders and handed over to the Gentiles? Did he not promise that he would rise from death? But the fear, anxiety, depression, confusion, and loss had done its work. Few remembered God’s promise of raising His Son, the Messiah, from the grave.
And then it happened. As if the sky opened with a new and lasting morning. She heard a familiar sound from this strange man. One simple word. Yet, it was as if the waves roared and thunder struck. It was tender and still full of power and strength. It overflowed with compassion and recognition. It was the one word she needed to hear most.
He said, “Mary.”
Now turning fully to him, she reached out to fasten herself to the one she had so longed to see, to touch, to hold. She responded with such love and delight and amazement at her living Lord. And she spoke one word.
“Rabboni!”
This name had such depth. It meant teacher, instructor, explainer, master, lord, leader. Jesus had taken her from the thrall of demons and lifted her up to hope of a new and sorrow-free life. He had given her the truth and often explained it to her when she didn’t understand. Even though a woman, Jesus had overlooked the cultural prohibitions and spent intimate time helping her walk with the Father. And now he was back! He lived! But he was not to remain.
“Mary, my Mary. You mustn’t cling to me. I must still go up to be with my Father. This body is not like the one you remember. No longer alive by my breathing, but made of eternal spirit. So, please. Find my “brothers” whom I have loved and taught and prayed for so often. Tell them this: “I go up to my Father, Who is your Father. I will dwell with my God, the Creator Who gave me life. The God Who sent me into the world. The Father Who is now your God as well.”
And as she had done so many times before, Mary obeyed her Master. She came and told his disciples that she had seen their risen Lord. She repeated, verbatim, the message he had given her to tell. And from that moment in time, soon began the great story of Pentecost, the body of Christ, the church of those called out who believe on him. He is risen.
John 20:1,2,11-18:
The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.
Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him.
But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre,
And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.
And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him.
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.
Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.
Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.
Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her.
