John 20:11-18
"But Mary stood without at the sepulcher weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulcher, And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him," John 20:11-13. Mary came expecting a dead body. The stone has been rolled away, and the body of Jesus is not there. The words Jesus spake about His resurrection has not come to her remembrance. She is weeping, and she wants to do her best in anointing the dead body of Christ. Aren't you glad things do not always go our way?
Mary is weeping, constantly. This weeping is out loud. It means to wail aloud. Her broken heart is on display for all to see; and she is grieving so bad she doesn't see all the good around her. Two angels just spoke to her, and she doesn't know it. These angels were in the form of men, as they always are. They did not have wings, nor did they have a halo over their heads. They looked like ordinary men. I also want to add this here: Mary was not concerned with finding angels, she was looking for her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
"And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away," John 20:14-15. She did not recognize Jesus standing because she was looking for a dead body.
Mary figured Jesus was the gardener. She was overcome with grief. She just wanted the body of Jesus. She wanted closure. She wanted to give her best to the One who set her free from a life of sin and misery. This is the mind set of all whom Christ has saved. We desire to present our bodies as a living sacrifice, and we do this knowing that without Christ we are nothing. We know that we were once dead in trespasses and sins. Those whom Christ saves understands what we deserve; therefore, we love Him who loved us when we were unlovable. Though we are frail and fallible, we give Him our all, for He is worthy. Though there was much Mary did not understand, we cannot ever doubt her love for her Saviour. Mary was still learning, and she was also overcome with grief. Mary truly loved Jesus Christ. Oh, if she could just see Jesus one more time! To hear His voice and be comforted by His teaching.
"Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master. Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God," John 20:16-17. Jesus called her by name. His first words to her were a gentle loving rebuke. He first called her "woman" speaking as Creator to His creation. Now He calls her Mary, speaking as Saviour to one He has redeemed. How wonderful it is to know that you belong to the Redeemer! How wonderful is it for God to tell you that you belong to Him! He does this through His Word. "These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God," I John 5:13. He also calls us by name. Whether God is saving souls like on the day of Pentecost adding three thousand souls, or whether God saves one soul in a remote place, or on a church pew, He calls all whom He saves by name. He is our personal Saviour.
Can you picture Mary turning herself quickly, now overflowing with joy instead of grief? He who she was looking for is there, and He is not a dead body, but a living Savior. Obviously she fell down at His feet embracing Him. She went from weeping for Christ to worshipping Christ. This transition was immediate. Being in the presence of Christ took all of her sorrow, pain, and agony away. "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world," John 16:33.
What a day that will be, when my Jesus I shall see. Mary's attention was on the tomb, but upon hearing her name spoken by her Savior, she turns her back on the tomb and worship's her Savior. She never went back to the tomb. She never looked back at the tomb. There was no need to. Nor would she fear going to her own tomb, death was swallowed up in victory.
In verse 17 Jesus tells her she must let Him go. "Touch me not" means to stop clinging to me. Do you think she wanted to let Him go? No. She would have to learn to follow Christ, and love Christ by faith. Christ would soon take up His place at the right hand of the Father, where He ever-lives to intercede for all who belong to Him. There was much Mary did not know nor understand. One thing we all know is that she loved Christ. We must be instructed by the Scriptures. We must go on to know Christ. No matter how much we know or do not know, our affection must be on things above, not on the things of this earth.
Christ tells Mary to go to His brethren. This is the first time Christ calls His disciples brethren. He has called them slaves, friends, and now He calls them brethren. This is not in the sense of mother, sister, or brothers as He spake in Mark 3. We are joint-heirs with Christ. Heaven is our home. Christ has prepared for us a place in the Father's house. We whom Christ has saved are adopted children. We inherit heaven.
Christ sends her with a message. It is interesting that Christ did not say to tell them He was risen, but that He will "Ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God." Christ's message for them is that He is going back to heaven. He did not rise from the grave to remain here on earth with them. No, He told them He had to go away. "Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you," John 16:7. There is more that Christ says to them when He discloses Himself to them.
"Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her," John 20:18. She went and delivered the message as Christ commanded her. I picture her running with joy. If she had tears they were tears of joy. She went to the tomb that morning expecting to find a dead body. Her plans were to finish anointing that dead body. God really messed her plans up, and we, like her, are glad He did. Christ is alive. He is risen. Presently He is at the right hand of the Father interceding for all who have been given to Him. One day He is coming back. O glorious day.
Until Christ returns, we have also been given a commission by Christ. We have the gospel message to proclaim to this lost and dying world. We also have the responsibility to comfort the disciples of Christ until His return. No one is to be a rogue Christian. Thank the Lord for the local church. Thank God for His Word. We are also thankful for the Comforter who came on the day of Pentecost, and He takes up residence in everyone whom Christ saves, teaching us, instructing us, and sealing us unto the day of redemption. We aren't looking for a dead body; no, we are looking for the return of Christ. To God be the glory.
