Post Lenten Read
Easter (2)- The Witness of Mary Magdalene
Prayer
Heaven Father, we acknowledged that Jesus Christ is the Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the author and perfecter of our faith, the Resurrection and the life. We pray for clear minds and teachable spirits, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
John 20:11-18
Verses 11-13, 11 But Mary was standing outside at the tomb weeping. So as she wept, she stooped and looked into the tomb, 12 and she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head, and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. 13 They asked her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I don’t know where they have laid him.”
Reflection
After Peter and John left the tomb, Mary Magdalene stayed on and wept outside the tomb. When she looked inside the tomb, she saw two angels seated at the place where Jesus’ body was supposed to be, one at the head and one at the foot. When the angels asked her why she was crying, she replied that tomb raiders had stolen her Lord’s body.
Verses 14-16, 14 When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, and didn’t know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Who are you looking for?” She, supposing him to be the gardener, said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him, “Rabboni!” which is to say, “Teacher!”
Reflection
When Mary turned around, she saw Jesus standing beside her, but she mistook Him for the gardener. When Jesus called her by name, she recognized Jesus voice and proclaimed, Teacher!
Verses 17-18, 17 Jesus said to her, “Don’t hold me, for I haven’t yet ascended to my Father; but go to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” 18 Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had said these things to her.
Reflection
Jesus told Mary Magdalene not to cling on to Him. As the first fruit of the resurrection, Jesus had to present Himself to God as a wave offering first, before He could be touched, Numbers 5:25.
Numbers 5:25, NIV, “The priest is to take from her hands the grain offering for jealousy, wave it before the Lord and bring it to the altar.”
Jesus’ God is Mary Magdalene’s God, our God, and the God of all who believed in Jesus..
Mary Magdalene was the first person to see the Risen Christ. Jesus told her to go back and tell the disciples about what she saw.
Jesus called the disciples His brothers. Mary went back and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord.
Hebrews 2:11(NIV),“Both, the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So, Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters.”
Application
Mary Magdalene saw the Risen Christ standing beside her but still did not recognize Him. Sometimes Christ is standing right beside us and we did not recognize Him until He calls us by name in a still small voice.
We must be sensitive by raising our spiritual antennas, to listen to His still small voice. Listen and you will hear Him call you by name.
Jesus called three people by their names twice, Marta, Marta, Simon, Simon and Saul, Saul.
Jesus called four people by their names once, Peter, Lazarus, Philip, and Mary Magdalene.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, we pray for sensitive ears, eyes, spirits, hearts, and minds to hear you speak to us and call us by name. Help us to be in Your will and direct our steps, in Jesus’ name, Amen.