The Gospel of John: John 20.1-31

Read and meditate on John 20.17, 18.
The account of Mary’s encounter with Jesus concludes, and with rich and redemptive implications.

                                         ¹⁷Jesus said to her,
“Do not cling to Me; do not hold Me, for
I have not as of yet ascended to
My Father. To My brethren I want you
to go, and say to them that I ascend
unto My Father and your Father, and
My God and your God.” ¹⁸Mary Magdalene
came to the Lord’s disciples, to explain
that she had seen the Lord, and to report
what He had said.

- John 20.17, 18

Reflect
1.  What was Mary’s response to recognizing Jesus? Why? Would you say that you long to cling to Jesus like this? Explain. Complete this prayer: Lord, now is the time to cling to You, and so I…

2.  Jesus instructed Mary not to cling to Him, not yet. He must first ascend to His Father. Meditate on Psalm 110. What did Jesus’ ascension to the Father entail? To what does it lead? How does one cling to Him now? I cling to You, Lord, by meditating on You, exalted in glory, looking to You in prayer, and…

3.  Jesus sent Mary to the disciples. Mary is, in effect, the first apostle, which means sent one. Let’s think about this. What was Mary sent to tell them? How, based on what we saw in John 14-16, would the disciples have understood this message? Mary would not have been privy to that conversation, so she would have to wait to learn about the significance of Jesus’ ascension. All she knew was what Jesus told her, and she carried the message faithfully. Jesus has sent us to the world with a message as well. We may not understand it fully, but we must report it faithfully. How would you summarize our message to the world? Thank You, Lord, for sending me to the world, so that…

4. Wait a second: Peter and John were just there at the tomb, as Mary lingered outside. Why didn’t Jesus just tell them the message He gave to Mary? Why was it important that Mary should be the first to bring the Good News of Christ’s ascension to the world? Can you see that Mary is a kind of second Eve? Explain. Eve’s disobedience brought sin and death to the world. What did Mary’s obedience bring? Father, help me always to remember that the Word about Jesus is…

5.  Mary fulfilled her mandate, and now mention of her disappears from the record. She is doubtless included among “the women” mentioned in Acts 1.14, but not by name. She was chosen for a high and holy task and calling, but she did not become a celebrity because of it. Is there a lesson in this for us? Bring together into one prayer the prayers you wrote for questions 1-4.

Summary
“See how the sin of the human race was removed where it began. In paradise a woman was the cause of death for a man; coming from the sepulcher a woman proclaimed life to men. Mary related the words of the one who restored her to life; Eve had related the words of the serpent who brought death.” Gregory the Great (540-604 AD)

Mary Magdalene is a study in the power of redemption and the nature of mission. Explain.

Closing Prayer
But You, O LORD, do not be far from Me;
O My Strength, hasten to help Me!
Deliver Me from the sword,
My precious life from the power of the dog.
Save Me from the lion’s mouth
And from the horns of the wild oxen!
You have answered Me.
I will declare Your name to My brethren;
In the midst of the assembly I will praise You.
You who fear the LORD, praise Him!
All you descendants of Jacob, glorify Him,
And fear Him, all you offspring of Israel!

Psalm 22.19-23

Psalm 22.23 (Darwall: Rejoice, the Lord is King)
All you who fear the Lord, now praise His holy Name!
You children of His glorious Word, declare His fame!
We stand in awe of our eternal God, and on His mercy call.

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.