Read
Jesus Appears
(Mark 16.9-11)
11Mary Magdalene stood crying outside the tomb. She was still weeping, when she stooped down 12and saw two angels inside. They were dressed in white and were sitting where Jesus' body had been. One was at the head and the other was at the foot. 13The angels asked Mary, “Why are you crying?”
She answered, “They have taken away my Lord's body! I don't know where they have put him.”
14As soon as Mary said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there. But she did not know who he was. 15Jesus asked her, “Why are you crying? Who are you looking for?”
She thought he was the gardener and said, “Sir, if you have taken his body away, please tell me, so I can go and get him.”
16Then Jesus said to her, “Mary!”
She turned and said to him, “Rabboni.” The Aramaic word “Rabboni” means “Teacher.”
17Jesus told her, “Don't hold on to me! I have not yet gone to the Father. But tell my disciples I am going to the one who is my Father and my God, as well as your Father and your God.” 18Mary Magdalene then went and told the disciples she had seen the Lord. She also told them what he had said to her.
Reflect
Weeping is part of life, common to all of us. We shed tears when a loved one or friend passes away. We may cry when we take our youngest child to kindergarten on the first day of school. We feel sad when we say farewell to a close friend that we will not see again for some time. Weeping is often an appropriate response to the difficulties and separations we experience in life. But sometimes we weep when we misinterpret what is happening in our lives, and this is what happens in these verses.
Mary has come to the empty tomb and concludes that the body of Jesus has been stolen and so she weeps. Twice she is asked, “Why are you crying” (11,15).She thinks it is the gardener talking. Her sorrow turns to joy when she realizes that it is the risen Christ and that Jesus is still with her. We may feel abandoned by God or experience “the dark night of the soul” and sadness fills our lives. When we gain an eternal perspective on what is happening our sorrow can be transformed into joy.
Jesus still cautions her and tells her not to cling to him because he is going to the Father (17).The relationship will be different because in a few days he will no longer be physically present on earth. Mary has assumed that everything will be the same as before. But she is wrong, because Jesus’ physical presence will be in heaven even though spiritually he will still be with his followers. We too may assume that our spiritual relationship with Christ will be the same in the future as in the past. The reality is that every day our walk with the risen Christ will be new.
Respond
Lord God, I confess that I often misinterpret what you are doing in my life and experience. Give me faith to trust you when I do not understand what is happening and may I experience Mary’s joy when you give me a true picture of what is really taking place. Amen
Roy Matheson
Roy Matheson holds the Th.M. and Th.D. degrees from Dallas Theological Seminary, and completed post doctoral studies at Wycliffe College and St Michael’s College, University of Toronto. Since 1970, he has taught at Tyndale University and Seminary, and presently is Professor Emeritus of New Testament. Since 1979, he has been Teaching Pastor at Chartwell Baptist Church in Oakville Ontario, and is presently Pastor Emeritus. Roy has taught in numerous settings within Canada as well as other countries: Colombia, Kenya, Malawi, France, Kazakhstan, India, China, Indonesia, Philippines, Malaysia and Mongolia. He is married to Joy and they have three married children and seven grandchildren. Publications: Loving God’s Family: A Commentary on First John (Victor Books) along with a number of articles in Moody Monthly, Faith Today etc. Recently, Songs of the Servant: A Lenten Devotional on the Servant Songs of Isaiah (self published).