“Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early [and found Jesus’ body gone]. … 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 in Aramaic, ‘Rabboni!’ (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.”‘”
(John 20:1a, 14b-17 ESV)
Mary was the first to see Jesus alive again, even if she did mistake Him for the gardener! But when she recognized His voice, it sounds like she grabbed Him and would not let Him go. Well, wouldn’t you behave the same way if someone you love was alive again all unexpectedly?
But He said to her, “Don’t cling to Me!” This wasn’t the time for clinging—it was the time for running! For there were so many people who had to hear the good news that God had raised Jesus from the dead.
The time for us to cling to Jesus would come later—now that He has already ascended and sits at the right hand of the Father. Now we can cling to Him with full trust and great joy, knowing that He always lives to intercede for us with the Father.
We Pray: Lord, help me to cling to You in faith and also go and tell Your good news. Amen.
Reflection Questions:
* How would you behave in Mary’s shoes?
* Did the disciples believe her story?
* Who could you tell about Jesus? Pray for that person.
Lenten Devotions were written by Dr. Kari Vo
Originally published in The Lutheran Hour on March 31, 2024
Used by permission from International Lutheran Laymen’s League, all rights