John 20

Jesus appears first to Magdalene

11 Well Mary stood outside at the tomb, crying.*When the disciples took off running, of course Magdalene followed them back to the tomb. But she was winded, and could not keep up with them (actually, in that culture women probably seldom ran, so she would really be out of breath, but she was not about to be left out of the action, either). The Jerusalem at that time probably covered a relatively small area; it was probably no more than half a mile from the house to the tomb, if that, so she may have arrived as they were leaving; if not, they would pass her on the road. Then, while she was crying, she stooped to look into the tomb. 12 And she sees two angels*How did John know they were angels? He had just been there and knew there were no human beings around (the guards were presumably gone before the two got there). The angels were in white, but probably not shining, or Magdalene would have been shaken out of her despair. She was so locked in to her sorrow that not even seeing the wrappings collapsed without the body sank in. in white, sitting one at the head and one at the feet of where the body of Jesus had lain. 13 And they say to her, "Woman, why are you crying?" She says to them, "Because they removed my Lord, and I don’t know where they put Him." 14 And upon saying this she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, yet did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus says to her: "Woman, why are you crying? Whom are you seeking?" She, supposing that He was the gardener, says to Him, "Sir, if you carried Him away, tell me where you put Him, and I will remove Him." 16 Jesus says to her, "Mary!" Turning she says to Him, "Raboni!" (which means ‘Teacher’). 17 Jesus says to her: "Stop clinging to me,*That is what the Text says. I take it that Magdalene was an emotive person, capable of sudden ‘ups’ and ‘downs’. From the way the Lord pronounced her name she knew who it was; from deep sorrow she swings to a transport of joy and impulsively throws her arms around Him. Hey, she is not thinking of how this is going to read 2,000 years later; in fact, she is not thinking at all, just feeling. for I have not yet ascended to my Father;*The causal connection here seems difficult to us—what did His not having ascended have to do with it? Various suggestions have been offered. My guess is as follows: Magdalene had not heard the teaching in the Upper Room, more precisely, John16:7. "I am telling you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, because if I do not go away the Enabler will not come to you, but if I go I will send Him to you." She had just gotten her Master back and was not about to turn Him loose—she was feeling, not thinking. But Jesus had to ascend so He could send the Enabler, which would be better for everybody. She wants to hang on to Him, but He tells her to stop; the old relationships are gone, everything is now new. (Within a very few minutes He will allow the other women to hold His feet, so mere physical contact is not the problem; in fact, He will later invite the disciples to touch Him.) but go to my brothers*He does not just reprimand her, He gives her something to do. But just who are the "brothers"? Since the angel had told the other women to tell the disciples, I am inclined to imagine that the Lord sends her to His half brothers, although she started out with the disciples (next verse). and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father—my God and your God.’ " 18 Mary Magdalene goes to the disciples, reporting that she had seen the Lord and He had said these things to her.