17 Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” 18 Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”—and that he had said these things to her.
John 20:17-18
During this Holy Week, we recall the events of Maundy Thursday, when Jesus met in the upper room with his disciples before being arrested in the garden. We recall Good Friday, when our Lord was crucified and buried. However, we do so knowing that when Easter morning comes we will celebrate our Lord’s resurrection from the dead. Not having our benefit of hindsight, Mary must have experienced those days in a sorrowful state. That is, until our Lord speaks into her mourning and distress, giving peace and assurance that despite what she had seen and experienced, he was victorious… just as he had said.
In those difficult moments, it may have been tough for Mary and the disciples to think that resurrection was possible. But Jesus had said that all these things would take place, including his resurrection.
We have the benefit of living after Easter, but as we await Jesus’ return and the final resurrection, we may find ourselves overwhelmed with distress or sorrows which make Jesus’ words of promise seem impossible. Our resurrected Lord speaks through his word and is present when we gather as the body of Christ. He speaks so that he may give us peace and assurance that, despite what we experience, he is victorious… and he will do everything he has promised.
Prayer:
During this Holy Week, we recall the events of Maundy Thursday, when Jesus met in the upper room with his disciples before being arrested in the garden. We recall Good Friday, when our Lord was crucified and buried. However, we do so knowing that when Easter morning comes we will celebrate our Lord’s resurrection from the dead. Not having our benefit of hindsight, Mary must have experienced those days in a sorrowful state. That is, until our Lord speaks into her mourning and distress, giving peace and assurance that despite what she had seen and experienced, he was victorious… just as he had said.
In those difficult moments, it may have been tough for Mary and the disciples to think that resurrection was possible. But Jesus had said that all these things would take place, including his resurrection.
We have the benefit of living after Easter, but as we await Jesus’ return and the final resurrection, we may find ourselves overwhelmed with distress or sorrows which make Jesus’ words of promise seem impossible. Our resurrected Lord speaks through his word and is present when we gather as the body of Christ. He speaks so that he may give us peace and assurance that, despite what we experience, he is victorious… and he will do everything he has promised.
Prayer:
My risen Savior,
Comfort me, and all Christians, in times of sorrow with the assurance of Your resurrection. Restore to us each day, especially in times of distress, the joy of Your salvation. Amen.
1 Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. 2 So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” 3 So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. 4 Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, 7 and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus' head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. 8 Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; 9 for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead. 10 Then the disciples went back to their homes.
11 But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. 12 And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. 13 They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” 14 Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she 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 in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). 17 Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” 18 Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”—and that he had said these things to her.
Reading Further - John 20:1-18
1 Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. 2 So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” 3 So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. 4 Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, 7 and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus' head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. 8 Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; 9 for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead. 10 Then the disciples went back to their homes.
11 But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. 12 And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. 13 They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” 14 Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she 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 in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). 17 Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” 18 Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”—and that he had said these things to her.
