Summary of passage: John and Peter depart. Mary weeps and saw 2 angels in the tomb where Jesus’ body had been. Jesus appears at the tomb but Mary does not recognize him until he calls her name. Jesus orders Mary to return to the disciples and tell them what she has seen.
Questions:
6) Part personal Question. My answer: He called her name. How amazing and powerful! I’ve never noticed this before. A name is power. When Jesus calls your name (like when your parents do when you’re in trouble), you’d better listen.
7) Jesus wants her to realize he is only risen and here temporarily. That soon the Holy Spirit will descend upon her and take his place. Not to get attached to him physically for he is leaving again. He is headed back home to His Father. He has important work for her to do.
8 ) Part personal Question. My answer: Jesus told Mary to go and tell his brothers/disciples what she has seen. It’s the same for us to spread the word about Jesus. Also, Jesus tells us our work here on this side of heaven to complete and we must obey!
Conclusions: What power in a name! Love the focus on women again and how Jesus uses Mary to spread the word. We are all equal in God’s eyes.
End Notes: Mary did not yet believe in the resurrection so she weeped. Mary was not afraid when she saw the angels. She may not have even known they were angels (Hebrews 13:2). They were seated at the head and feet like cherubim (Exodus 25:18-19). She didn’t notice the burial cloths.
Matthew has one angel (Matthew 28:2). Mark a young man (Mark 16:5). Luke has 2 men who were angels (Luke 24:4, 23).
Mary turned possibly because she heard Jesus or the angels motioned for her to turn. She didn’t recognize Jesus. Perhaps he was a bit different in appearance or her tears blurred her vision. Or perhaps Jesus intentionally blinded them to him. A number of times he was not recognized (John 21:4, Matthew 28:17, Luke 24:16, 37) Jesus asks her questions so she’ll push through her unbelief. She plans to carry Jesus’ body for burial. Likely, she is not strong enough but all she is thinking about is Jesus!
Jesus calls her by her Hebrew name. In one word, Jesus changes a life. She recognizes the voice of her shepherd as his sheep instantly. Jesus told her who she was to him not who he was to her.
Spurgeon points out how in the garden the sentence of sorrow falls heavily upon a woman. And after the resurrection the comfort and peace falls upon a woman as well. How apropos!
The presumption of verse 17 is Mary is clinging to Jesus and does not want to let him go. Jesus tells her he has important work for her to do (notify the disciples of his return) and that he will be around for a bit longer.
Jesus made a woman the first witness of His resurrection. The law courts in ancient times would not recognize the testimony of a woman, but Jesus did. This shows the historic truth of this account. If someone fabricated this story, they would not make the first witnesses to the resurrection women, who were regarded as unreliable witnesses.
Fun Fact: This is the first time Jesus calls his disciples “brothers.”
Jesus says “my Father and your Father” because his relationship with God is different than ours. By nature, Jesus. By grace, ours.
