In John’s Gospel, Chapters 13 through 21 are
devoted to an account of the events that happened at the end of Christ’s
earthly ministry. These passages contain
some of the most stirring descriptions in the Holy Bible. One particular occurrence is so poignant that
it almost always brings tears to my eyes when I read it.
Mary Magdalene was so distraught. They had taken her Lord, and she did not know
where they put Him. Then she encountered Him outside the tomb. At first, she did not recognize Him. When Jesus called her name, she knew who He
was. Then she exclaimed, “Rabboni!” With one simple word she acknowledged Him as
her resurrected, living Lord. May God remind
us daily of what Mary experienced then.
Now
on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it
was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb.
So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus
loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do
not know where they have laid him.” So Peter went out with the other
disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. Both of them were running
together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first.
And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go
in. Then Simon Peter came, following
him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, and the
face cloth, which had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen cloths
but folded up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who had
reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet
they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead. Then
the disciples went back to their homes.
But Mary stood weeping outside
the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. And she saw
two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head
and one at the feet. They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She
said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have
laid him.” Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing,
but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir,
if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take
him away.” Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said
to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). Jesus said to
her, “Do not cling to me, for I
have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I
am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I
have seen the Lord”—and that he had said these things to her. (John
20:1-18 ESV) [
