But Mary stood weeping … [and] she stooped to look into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white …. 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, “Mary.”
(John 20:11-12a, 13-14, 16a ESV)
I love how Mary behaves in this story. On Easter morning, Mary discovers that Jesus’ body is missing and runs to tell the disciples. After that, she goes back to the empty tomb to cry some more. That’s no surprise.
But then see what happens. She looks inside the tomb again, and sees two angels! At any other time, she would be excited and amazed. But not now. They ask her a question, and she answers them politely, but then she turns away from them as if they didn’t matter at all … because they don’t, with Jesus missing. Who cares about angels without Jesus?
And then Jesus speaks to her. Less than a minute later, she’s got her arms wrapped around Him, overjoyed. No wonder Jesus has to say to her, “Let go!”
Mary has it right. The only One who matters is Jesus. He is the One we cling to, the One we rely on and place all our faith in. And when He sends us to tell others the good news of His death and resurrection, we go—because we love Him.
We Pray: Lord, I’m so glad You’re alive and with us forever. Amen.
Reflection Questions:
• Do you find Mary’s behavior believable?
• Why or why not?
• Why do you think Jesus chose to appear first to an ordinary woman rather than to Peter, John, or one of His family?
Lenten Devotions were written by Dr. Kari Vo.
Originally published in The Lutheran Hour on April 5, 2026
Used by permission from International Lutheran Laymen’s League, all rights reserved