It Just Got Better

John 20:11–18 NLT

11 Mary was standing outside the tomb crying, and as she wept, she stooped and looked in. 12 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. 13 “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.” 14 She turned to leave and saw someone standing there. It was Jesus, but she didn’t recognize him. 15 “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.” 16 “Mary!” Jesus said. She turned to him and cried out, “Rabboni!” (which is Hebrew for “Teacher”). 17 “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.’ ” 18 Mary Magdalene found the disciples and told them, “I have seen the Lord!” Then she gave them his message.

John 20:11

Eerdmans Bible Dictionary VIA DOLOROSA

VIA DOLOROSA [vēˊə dŭ lə rōˊsə] (Lat. “way of suffering”).† The traditional route taken by Jesus through Jerusalem as he was led to his crucifixion. The Via Dolorosa begins at the traditional site of Jesus’ condemnation by Pilate and ends at the tomb of Christ within the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Along the way are fourteen devotional stations for pilgrims clearly marked on walls.

Eerdmans Bible Dictionary VIA DOLOROSA

Two stations begin the Via Dolorosa in the vicinity of the Ecce Homo arch (just inside St Stephen’s Gate), seven are found along the city street, and five are within the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Each Friday at 3 p.m. pilgrims may join the Franciscan Fathers of Jerusalem as they walk the route in memory of Jesus’ passion.

Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary Via Dolorosa

The 14 stations are: (1) Jesus is condemned to death, (2) Jesus receives the cross, (3) Jesus falls for the first time, (4) He meets His mother Mary, (5) Simon is enlisted to carry the cross, (6) Jesus’ face is wiped by Veronica, (7) Jesus falls for a second time, (8) Jesus speaks to the women of Jerusalem, (9) He falls for a third time, (10) He is stripped of His clothing, (11) Jesus is nailed to the cross, (12) Jesus dies on the cross, (13) He is taken down from the cross, (14) Jesus is placed in the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea.

John 20:11–18 NLT

11 Mary was standing outside the tomb crying, and as she wept, she stooped and looked in. 12 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. 13 “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.” 14 She turned to leave and saw someone standing there. It was Jesus, but she didn’t recognize him. 15 “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.” 16 “Mary!” Jesus said. She turned to him and cried out, “Rabboni!” (which is Hebrew for “Teacher”). 17 “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.’ ” 18 Mary Magdalene found the disciples and told them, “I have seen the Lord!” Then she gave them his message.

John 20:11-

The blessing in waiting

John 20:11–16 NLT

11 Mary was standing outside the tomb crying, and as she wept, she stooped and looked in. 12 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. 13 “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.” 14 She turned to leave and saw someone standing there. It was Jesus, but she didn’t recognize him. 15 “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.” 16 “Mary!” Jesus said. She turned to him and cried out, “Rabboni!” (which is Hebrew for “Teacher”).

John 20:11-16

Mary waited at the tomb longer than Peter and John.

Alone

weeping

No sign of Jesus

Mary experienced what Peter and John did not.

2 angels

Jesus

Mary conversed with the divine.

2 angels

Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines on the New Testament Chapter 20

The description of the angels in v. 12 reminds us of the mercy seat in the holy of holies (Ex. 25:17–19); the risen Christ is now our Mercy Seat in heaven.

The angels asked “why are you weeping?”

Resurrected Christ

Jesus asked “why are you crying?” and who are you looking for?”

The benefit of waiting

John 20:15–16 NLT

15 “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.” 16 “Mary!” Jesus said. She turned to him and cried out, “Rabboni!” (which is Hebrew for “Teacher”).

John 20:

John 20:16 NLT

“Mary!” Jesus said. She turned to him and cried out, “Rabboni!” (which is Hebrew for “Teacher”).

John 20:16

Jesus shows up to resolve their lack of understanding of the scripture.

Jesus shows up to rectify the record. ,,

“they have taken away my Lord, and I don’t know where they have put him.”

Jesus shows up to rectify the record.

Faberge organic shampoo early 80’s {Heather Locklear}

Jesus shows up to renew, reassure and recruit Mary.

Mary realizes it is Jesus when he calls her by name.

“They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength”

Jesus shows up to give Mary a new responsibility.

“go find my brothers and tell them”

Mary and the other other women were to witness to the 11 disciples.