THE RISEN LORD

She stood there weeping. She would not be comforted. The disciples had witnessed an empty tomb and went home. But Mary Magdalene, stayed on, lingering, and longing to see her Lord, even if it was just His body. Oh how would she cry over Him.

The events of the past days had been harrowing, to see her Lord and Teacher being nailed to a cross, hit her. She had hoped that someone He wouldn’t breath His last, He was the Messiah after all, one who was to save, one who healed and raised the dead, could He not have… prevented all this.

‘Woman, Why are you crying?’ Two angels asked her.

“They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” 

She turns around, and there is Jesus, but she doesn’t recognise Him. He definitely did not look like He was three days ago.

 He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?”

Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.”

Jesus said to her, “Mary.”

She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”).

Don’t hold on to me He says, but go to my brothers….

(Paraphrased from John 20:1-18, John’s account of Jesus resurrection and encounter with Mary Magdalene)

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Oh how tenderly our Risen Lord treats the ones He love.

In times of distress, in times of tears and pain, He comes, hardly recognisable and asks – why are you crying?

He doesn’t belittle our brokenness and pain but gently acknowledges it.

When our grief overwhelms us and we can’t seem to see Him, He comes as the Risen Lord but tenderly, almost as a gardener.

And yet He does not stop there. He cannot! He cries out our names! Mary! James! Lisa! Sarah! Ann!

He causes us to remember our history with Him.

Mary the one I cast out seven demons from. Mary, who served me and the disciples. Mary, who anointed me with oil mixed with tears. Mary, whom I have forgiven, who I love. Mary, my chosen one.

And we remember! Rabboni! Teacher! The one who saved me from the darkness of demonic oppression. Rabboni, the one who taught and did not despise me although I was a woman. Robboni, the one who received my act of worship. Rabboni, the one whom I love, the one who forgave me.

And then He sends her out.

I wonder what you remember when He calls your name today.

I wonder when was the last time He called you, where were you.

Today, the Risen Christ wants to meet you. In your brokenness, in your pain, He sees and acknowledges. But He doesnt stop there, He calls you, the one He created by name, and longs that you know Him by name.

What will your response be?