The Gospel of John: John 20.1-31

Read and meditate on John 20.11-16.
Mary’s encounter with Jesus outside that garden tomb is fraught with significance, not just for what it meant for May, but what it means for the story of redemption.

                                                                                 ¹¹Outside
the tomb stood Mary, and she wept and cried
as she stooped down and looked into the tomb.
¹²And then she saw there, in that empty room,
two angles, dressed in white and sitting, one
where Jesus’ head had lain, the other one
where Jesus’ feet had been. ¹³To her they said,
“Why are you weeping, woman?” Mary said,
“Because they have removed my Lord, and they
have taken Him away, and now I may
not know where they have laid Him.” ¹⁴Now when she
had said these words, she turned around to see
the Lord there standing, though she did not know
that it was Jesus. ¹⁵Jesus said, “And so,
why are you weeping, woman? And whom do
you seek?” She thought He was the gardener, who
maintained the tombs, and said to Him, “O Sir,
if You have carried Him away, then Sir,
please tell Me where You laid Him, and I will
take Him away. ¹⁶Then Jesus, in a still
voice, said unto her, “Mary!” Turning, she
said to Him, “O Rabboni!” (which would be
translated, Teacher).

- John 20.11-16

Reflect
1.  We can scarcely overstate the importance of this encounter between Mary and Jesus. John did not interpret this event, but merely reported it as it occurred. But as he did in John 1.1-5, the apostle invites us to think back to the beginning so that we can rightly know the Word of God and understand the significance of His coming. Can you see any similarities between this account and what happened in the garden of Eden in Genesis 3.1-6? Complete this prayer: Father, nothing happens by chance. You work all things according to the counsel of Your will, and that includes…

2.  Mary, a sinner, came into the garden to a place of death. Eve had come into the garden without sin, but to a place – the tree of good and evil – where death was a possibility. Eve was confronted by an angelic creature, asking a question. Mary met two angels, who asked her a question. What did Eve’s ultimate response reveal about the “lord” in her life? And Mary’s response? What’s going on here? Lord, Your Word is a seamless tapestry, and all its warp and woof lead to Jesus, so help me to…

3.  With Eve in the garden was her husband, who stood by and watched everything that happened. With Mary in the garden was her Lord – the Husband of His Church – who was watching her as she wept. Eve was not able to recognize the serpent as the devil, and Mary was not able to recognize the gardener as the Lord. Why do you think Mary didn’t recognize Jesus? What would it take for her to recognize Him (v. 16)? Thank You, Lord Jesus, that I can see the glory of God in Your face as I…

4.  The word of Satan’s lie occasioned the death (spiritual, and ultimately physical) of Adam and Eve. The Word of Jesus, the living Word, brought a different result. What was the effect of Jesus’ one word on Mary? Why did He utter only that word? What should we learn about the power of the Word of God from this one word? Lord, You have called me by name, and I am Yours, and now all Your Word to me is…

5. Mary was able to recognize Jesus, but she only referred to Him as “Teacher.” What does this indicate about Mary’s faith at this point? What does this suggest as a general principle or guideline about how people come to faith? How should this guide us in working with the unbelievers in our Personal Mission Field? Bring together into one prayer the prayers you wrote from questions 1-4.

Summary
“As a woman, Mary was full of feeling and more inclined to pity. I say this in case you might wonder how it was that Mary wept bitterly at the tomb, while Peter was in no way affected. For ‘the disciples,’ it says, ‘went away to their own home.’ But she stood shedding tears. This was because hers was a tender nature, and she as yet did not have an accurate account of the resurrection. They … saw the linen clothes and believed and then left for their own homes in astonishment. And why didn’t they immediately go to Galilee as they were commanded to do before the passion? They waited for the others, perhaps, and besides they were yet at the height of their amazement. These then went their way, but she remained there.” John Chrysostom (344-407 AD)

The drama of redemption’s beginning among men harks back to the tragedy of sin’s entrance into history. Explain. Why?

Closing Prayer
Gracious is the LORD, and righteous;
Yes, our God is merciful.
The Lord preserves the simple;
I was brought low, and He saved me.
Return to your rest, O my soul,
For the LORD has dealt bountifully with you.
For You have delivered my soul from death,
My eyes from tears,
And my feet from falling.
I will walk before the LORD
In the land of the living.
I believed, therefore I spoke,
“I am greatly afflicted.”
I said in my haste,
“All men are liars.”
What shall I render to the LORD
For all His benefits toward me?
I will take up the cup of salvation,
And call upon the name of the LORD.
I will pay my vows to the LORD
Now in the presence of all His people.

Psalm 116.5-14

Psalm 116.4-14 (Mit Freuden Zart: All Praise to God Who Reigns Above)
I called to God, “O Lord, I pray, my soul redeem with favor!”
The Lord is gracious in His way, and righteous is our Savior.
His mercy to the simple flies; He lifted me up to the skies –
I rest in Him forever!

Full well the Lord has dealt with me; my soul from death He delivered.
My weeping eyes, my stumbling feet, He has redeemed forever.
Forever I before His face shall walk with those who know His grace,
And dwell with them forever.

Afflicted, I believe His Word, though lying men would undo me.
What shall I render to the Lord for all His blessings to me?
Salvation’s cup I lift above and call upon the God of love
And pay my vows most truly.

T. M. Moore

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing adapted from The Ailbe Psalter. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series IV a and b: John, edited by Joel C. Elowsky, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006. Verse translation of John by T. M. Moore.