John 20: 1a, 11-18

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…

 

Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. 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.” Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus.  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.” Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him, “Rabonni!” (which means Teacher). 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.’”

 

Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”—and that he had said these things to her.

Hers is the most poignant of all the resurrection stories. John focusses intently and personally on Mary Magdalene. She had come to the tomb to complete the burial anointing of the body of Jesus. She wanted the chance to hold him one more time. After the horror of Friday, she wanted to see him at peace now.  

 

And so the sight which greeted her was all the more bewildering. The body was gone. Oh, was it not enough to mock him, and then beat him, and finally kill him? Now they had stolen his body as well. Jesus was not allowed to be at rest, and Mary was not allowed the certainty of her grief. This tragedy never ended. They were still doing things to him.

 

Then a strange man inside the cave asked, “Woman, why are you weeping?”  She says she just wants to see him. The body, the body would be enough for her, if only they had not taken it.  

 

Then, John tells us, Mary turned around and saw Jesus. She did not recognize him. Oh just tell me where he is and I will go to him!

 

And then came the turning of the tears. Jesus spoke to her one word, “Mary.”

 

“Rabboni! My teacher!” She fell at his feet and held on to him hard. He was alive. How could it be? His voice still sounded in her mind, the voice like no other. “Mary.” She knew. Beyond hope. Beyond belief. And the rains fell again, though now she was weeping for joy. The turning of the tears.

 

We experience the wonder of resurrection when we hear Jesus call our name. It is the great mystery of Christian experience that this unique event in history can become personally accessible to us when we place our full trust in Jesus and open our hearts to him, asking him to call us by name to himself. 

I never thought I would hear your voice again.

The sounds of your agony lingered from Friday.

Barely sounding like the man I had known, 

Your cracked voice cried out your agony and faith.

And then with a great cry, you were silent.

There would be no more.

No more stories, no more laughter, no more prayers.

How I yearned to comfort you!

I wanted to climb up that cross and touch your cheek,

Put my face by yours and tell you it would be all right.

Even after as we took you down I wanted to hold you,

I wanted a moment.

But sunset was coming and we had to get you to Joseph’s tomb.

All Sabbath I waited like a caged lioness,

Waiting for first light of the new week.

I wanted that moment. Even in a burial cave.

To smooth your hair, wipe your brow, 

Wrap you tight against the cold of death.

When you weren’t there, I thought I would come undone.

But you! Oh you, you were playing with me!

All risen, you let me wait to see until you called my name.

I’m not angry. Go ahead and tease.

Just say my name! 

I follow when you call. I worship where you are.

I dance where you walk alive. 

My Rabboni. My Jesus again.