I Have Seen the Lord

Jesus Calls Us Experiencing the Resurrection Disciples Come to Believe the Resurrection Live in the light of God (Isaiah 2:5 John 20:11-18 New International Version Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene 11 Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb 12 and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot. 13 They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?” “They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” 14 At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus. 15 He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?” Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”). 17 Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” 18 Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that he had said these things to her. For Reflection Mary does not expect Jesus to be resurrected. "On the other hand, the angels know Jesus has been resurrected and they immediately ask her why she is crying. When Jesus appears to her, he asks her the same question. The readers know, but the Christians in the story are unknowing. When Jesus speaks to Mary, she does not recognize him because she is not looking for him. She does not expect him to be alive. By repeating the question the angels asked, Jesus reinforces for the readers that the joy that should be experienced is absent here. Often in life, good things come our way, but we do not recognize them because we do not expect them or we are looking for something else." Thomas B/ Sater, Professor of New Testament Language & Literature, McAfee School of Theology, Mercer University, Atlanta, Ga.  https://www.workingpreacher.org/commentaries/narrative-lectionary/resurrection/commentary-on-john-201-18-4  Pray Pray so that you will recognize Jesus. Pray that you will expect the Holy Spirit even when looking for something else. Forward to a friend Sign up for our mailing list!