Mary Stayed
“Then the disciples went back to their homes. But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet.”
During our Easter Son-rise service yesterday morning, the pastor read John 2:1-18 about how Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early on the first day of the week to prepare Jesus’ body for burial. When she saw the stone rolled away, she ran to Peter and John to tell them the devastating news. The two men raced each other to the tomb. I imagine some competitiveness existed between the two. In his gospel, John doesn’t even use his own name, but calls himself “the one whom Jesus loved” (v 2). I picture the two men pushing each other into bushes and tripping each other in their individual attempts to be the first to the tomb. John outran Peter, but I speculate that he ran so fast that he had to stop at the entrance to catch his breath giving Peter the opportunity to step inside first even though he was second to the site. Then John entered. Seeing that the body of Jesus was gone, what did the men do? According to verse 10, they went back to their homes!! Were they scared? John writes that when he went in, he “saw and believed.” So, were they going home to wrap their heads around what just happened? Why did they just go “back to their homes”?
My husband (the aforementioned pastor) continued with this focus which made for a beautiful Resurrection lesson for us to apply to our lives. He asked the parishioners in attendance…. “When we are done here today, will you just go home?” He encouraged and even challenged the people to do more. To go into the world and share the Good News… that He is alive!! Death is conquered!! Hallelujah! Amen!!
But that was where he stopped, and where I want to pick up with you. In the very next verse, we see who stayed… Mary Magdalene! Indisputably, the most sinful (if we were to rate sin by levels) of the three people looking at the empty tomb. She stayed…. standing outside of the tomb sobbing…. asking why!! Was it not enough that they beat Him, mocked Him, humiliated Him, and killed Him?? Then they have to steal His body, too?!?!?! I have to wonder if she was crying because of grief or because of anger. You know when I have reached the height of my anger, I start crying. Are you that way?
Finally, Mary collected herself enough to peer inside the carved out stone cave to not see an empty tomb, but two angels waiting for her inside. They told her the incredible Good News that Jesus was not there because He had risen from the dead. In her excitement, she leaves the tomb in a hurry to tell others and nearly runs over Jesus, Himself. Only when He spoke her name….. “Mary” (v 16a)…. did she recognize who He was. I bet she felt weak at the knees, don’t you? She could probably barely speak her reply…. “Rabboni” (v 16b).
After He gave her some instructions, she ran back to the disciples again, only this time, she wasn’t crying over a stone that was moved away. This time, she was “announcing” something spectacular! She wasn’t just sharing or telling, but announcing which means to “bring news, be a messenger.” Mary Magdalene, a sinner turned servant, stayed until she found out the truth, was the first person to see the resurrected Jesus, heard the Word, then was the messenger to share the Good News for the first time ever. What a blessing!! Peter and John saw an empty tomb and went home. But, Mary saw so much more because she stayed.
I encourage you to turn your Bible to John 20 to read the full story…. verses 1-18. If you read further, Jesus’ appearance to the disciples later that day unfolds as well as Thomas’ doubtfulness even as he stands only inches away from the risen Lord. Try to picture the scenes in your mind as the men grapple with each other to be the first one to the tomb, but Mary is blessed to be the first one to see the resurrected Jesus and be the first messenger of the Good News because…
Mary stayed.
