John 20:11

vv 11-18) Mary Magdalene

This is another sweet and tender moment. This would be Jesus’ first appearance after His resurrection; and it was an appearance to a woman who had been saved from the depths of human depravity.

[11] we are not given the exact time Mary went to the tomb, in all likelihood, she would have followed behind Peter and John. She remained behind as the two apostles left.

She is weeping convulsively. It’s a bitter weeping.

What do you notice?

Perhaps seeing Peter and John enter the tomb gave her courage to finally stoop down and look in. What she was going to see and experience would revolutionize her life.

Our lives too can be revolutionized if we linger at the empty tomb of Jesus. Pondering the meaning of what Jesus has done and the ramifications of His actions.

[12-13] Mary’s first startling sight- was two angels.

What do we know about angels?

Angels are messengers of God (literally), servants sent from heaven to carry out God’s will. On this particular occasion, they were to sent to add to the spectacular significance of the resurrection and to comfort Mary in her grief. Because neither Peter or John saw them.

Matthew’s gospel adds like lightning (visible, quick, startling, striking, frightening, brilliant) and like snow (pure, glistening).

Is there something that comes to mind where the two angels are seated?

This might bring to mind a passage in Exodus. Exodus 25:22

Exodus 25:22 ESV

22 There I will meet with you, and from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim that are on the ark of the testimony, I will speak with you about all that I will give you in commandment for the people of Israel.

This Exodus passage is referring to the Ark of the Covenant. The mercy seat is the covering and it was to be made of pure gold. There is a striking comparison between Exodus and our passage in John.

The mercy seat is where God desired to meet with His people, and the blood of the spotless lamb is the only means by which that meeting is made possible.

The mercy seat of the OT, and the blood sprinkled upon it by the high priest, prefigured Christ to come.

Christ did come, and Christ did make the sacrifice, and Christ was raised from the dead. Make no mistake about it Christ is our mercy seat. There, in and through Christ, God meets us.

[14] Now we are going to see the second shocking sight. Mary is going to see Jesus Himself. At this point, something caused her to look in back of her.

It was Jesus Himself, but she did not recognize HIm. Why?

It was still early in the morning, and perhaps light had not yet dawned. She had been weeping continually, and doubtless her vision was clouded.

Also, it is completely possible God prevented her from recognizing the Lord until the proper time had come.

[15] The Lord knew the answers to these questions; but He wanted to hear them from her own lips. She supposed Him to be the gardener. The Savior of the world may be very near to men, and yet not recognized. He usually comes in lowly guise, however, and not as one of the great ones of earth.

In her answer, Mary did not name the Lord. Three times she referred to Jesus as Him. There was only one Person with whom she was concerned, and she felt it quite unnecessary to identify Him further.

I think there are a few things that we can take out from these passage.

The first is prayer. God knows what your desires are and your hearts motives too, but still wants to hear from you.

The second is we have to fix our eyes upon Jesus in confronting death. Too often, we see the dead and become so wrapped up in grief that we forget the risen Lord and the great hope He gives us.

Isaiah 25:8 ESV

8 He will swallow up death forever; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the Lord has spoken.

Revelation 21:4 ESV

4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

[16] This is neat… This is one of those dramatic moments that exceeds the ability of words to express. Only two words are spoken: “Mary” “Rabboni (Teacher)”

What sticks out to you?

Mary recognized Jesus not by sight, but by His voice and word spoken by Him. So it is with us today right? We know the Lord by His Word and His Spirit.

John 10:27–28 ESV

27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.

Mary’s, “Rabboni” is a more respectful title than just Rabbi (master or teacher) This one implies my great master or great teacher. She is acknowledging Him to be here supreme Teacher, the One who was due all her honor and respect, loyalty and allegiance.

[17-18] This is the third the crazy thing that happens to Mary, and it is a new commission.

Why does Jesus say “Do not cling to me (literally: touch me not)?”

Mary had known Jesus personally as a Man. She had seen miracles happen when He was bodily present. So she concluded that if He was not with her in a visible way, then she could have no blessing.

Jesus is correcting her thinking. What he spoke is in the present action which is why it is translated to “do not cling to me.” Do not cling to Him as a Man in the flesh only. He needed to ascend to the Father.

Why is that important?

When Jesus returned to heaven the Holy Spirit would be sent to earth. When He comes, He will reveal Jesus to us in a way that we couldn’t have known before. He would be nearer and dearer to you than was possible during His life.

The charge was to go and tell His brethren and tell them of the new order that had been ushered in. For the first time, the Lord referred to the disciple as my brethren. They were to know that His Father was their Father, and His God was their God. Not until now were believers made sons and heirs of God.

It is important to note that Jesus did not say, our Father but My Father and your Father. The reason is that God is His Father in a different sense than He is ours.

God is the Father of the Lord Jesus from all eternity. Christ is the Son always. The Son is equal with the Father. We are sons of God by adoption. It is a relationship that beings when we are saved and will never end.

As sons of God, we are not equal with God and never shall be.

[18] She obeyed her commission.

What stands out in this passage to you?

Numbers 6:24–26 ESV

24 The Lord bless you and keep you; 25 the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; 26 the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.

vv 19-23) Appearing to disciples

vv 24-29) Thomas’ confession

vv 30-31) The purpose for writing