An Easter Week Devotion by Barbara Baker
Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” 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.” Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to Him, “Rabboni! (Which is to say, Teacher)
John 20:15-17
In the previous verses, we see that Mary went early in the morning to the tomb with Peter and John. The stone set to seal the tomb’s entrance had been rolled away, and Jesus’ body was nowhere to be found. The graveclothes, empty and formless, were still in place.
The only thing that seemed to make sense was that someone had taken the Lord’s body away. Then verse 9 explains, “For as yet they did not know the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead.” Despite the Lord’s teachings while He was with them, the idea of resurrection just hadn’t occurred to them, so the disciples went home.
Mary, not willing to give up on finding her Lord’s body, stayed. Weeping, she took another look inside the tomb and saw two angels, who asked her why she was crying. Then, Mary turns and sees the resurrected Christ.
At first, she does not recognize him. Maybe due to the darkness of the tomb or her weeping. But then, our Lord and Savior cals Mary by name: “Mary!” (John 20:16). Despite her impaired vision, Mary knew the Lord’s voice and responded quickly.
How much I envy that experience of hearing the Lord call her name and knowing without question that it was Jesus. Haven’t we all had those times when we seek God for His Presence, an answer to a pressing prayer, or just need to know that He is with us?!
Mary didn’t see Jesus but knew Him so well that she immediately recognized His voice. Right here, this
moment, I am convicted to read and study the Word in more depth with the express hope of knowing Jesus’ voice when He calls my name.
Mary, the same woman that Jesus cast seven demons out of, was chosen to be the first person to see and speak with the risen Lord (Luke 8:2). This same Mary declared “Rabboni!” (Teacher), hugged Jesus, then ran to tell the disciples.
Mary’s past didn’t cloud her relationship with the Lord or disqualify her from being a beloved part of His inner circle. How blessed she was to be the very first person to see, hear, and touch our Lord after He rose from the dead.
Our given names may not be Mary, but much like this sweet woman who dearly loved our Lord, our pasts are forgotten and, with Holy Spirit dwelling in us, we, too, can hear the voice of God and declare, “Rabboni!”
Jesus loves you! Me, too!