John 20:11-16
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).
Mary was the first to visit the garden tomb…and the first to see Jesus. Given the context of first century life for women in Jerusalem, it was a shocking role reversal. In ancient Israel, women participated in every aspect of community life except in the Temple priesthood, but by the time of Jesus, the role of women had drastically changed for the worse. Women were not allowed to testify in court, relegating them to the lowest of the low in Hebrew culture. Customarily, even a woman of stature could not engage in commerce and would rarely be seen outside her home. In terms of worship, they could not venture any further than the Women’s Court and were not allowed to participate in public prayer.
Yet, Mary was first to the tomb…and the first to see the risen Jesus.
She had gotten to the tomb before sunrise, but why was she there? She has not anticipated anything other than to find a sealed tomb, so perhaps she was just there to mourn. Whatever the reason, her desire to be near the Lord was evident and forever noted in the Word of God. It is a powerful reminder—and challenge—to take an inventory of what means the most to us and how that impacts our priorities. Do you ever rise early to meet with the Lord in a few quiet moments of personal worship and fellowship? Mary certainly received a blessing for doing so, and we will to.
After seeing that the stone covering the entrance had been rolled away, she ran back to tell the disciples. Despite having been delivered from a deeply troubling past, Mary had not been disqualified from being the first herald of Jesus’ resurrection! It’s an important reminder for all of us that no matter what mistakes we have made, that is where they stay from Jesus’ perspective if you have been born again. He has removed them as far as the east is from the west and he remembers them no more (Psalm 103:12, Isaiah 43:25).
“Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?”
Jesus did not immediately reveal Himself to Mary. It wasn’t to play some trick on her; it was to break through her unbelief and forgetfulness of Jesus’ promise of resurrection (Enduring Word commentary). It was a loving jog of her memory. Spurgeon noted that, “Jesus can preach a perfect sermon in one word,” and what a sermon it was. Put yourself in Mary’s place for a moment but transfer the location of your reunion to Heaven. Life leaves your sight but in the blink of an eye you come face-to-face with Christ. He looks deeply into your eyes, smiles, and says your name. I can hardly contain the tears just imagining it. Fully known…and fully loved.
Amen.
