NOTES for Joh 20:11-18
11 But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre, |
12 And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. |
13 And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him. |
14 And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus. |
15 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away. |
16 Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master. |
17 Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God. |
18 Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her. |
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Standing by the tomb, Mary does not analyze how the enormous stone could have been rolled away; even the sight of angels neither terrifies nor surprises her. All the miraculous and unusual phenomena recede into the background for her: they have no meaning without Christ. Had she become distracted by the surrounding circumstances, she might have failed to notice the Risen One, just as even His closest disciples, who had been there moments before, did not see Him. But because Mary refused to be distracted even by everything miraculous happening that morning, she was able to see Christ standing before her.
Mary recognized the Risen One after He addressed her by name. He had not spoken in vain about the good shepherd who calls his sheep by name and whose voice they know. Yet none of the shepherds on earth, even the best of them, has such unity with those who follow him as Christ does. He asks her not to touch Him, not because He does not want to commune with one of the daughters of humanity, but because the moment has come for Him to go to the Father. Once He has gone to the Father, He will remain in the closest union with His faithful who stay on earth.
Readings for 22 July 2026
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