Jesus said, “Mary.” Turning to face him, she said in Hebrew, “Rabboni!” meaning “Teacher!”
What a wide range of emotions Mary Magdalene experiences in this week’s scripture! (see attached map, John 20:1-18)
Deep Grief and Sorrow: weeping and mourning Jesus’ brutal death
Darkness and Despair: loneliness, heartbreak, and hopelessness
Panic and Fear: fearing that someone has stolen Jesus’ body
Confusion and Shock: unable to comprehend what has happened
Longing and Determination: persisting in her search for answers
Awe and Overwhelming Joy: the moment Jesus speaks her name, her emotions instantly transform into recognition, intense love, and ecstatic joy
Most of the pictures we see of Mary at the tomb portray her as weeping. If I look carefully at her face in this picture, I see joy, not weeping. This is the moment I choose to focus on today - awe and joy as she recognizes Jesus. For He is alive - truly.
Even in our darkest moments we can trust that even death doesn't have the final say. Jesus meets us there, in those moments, and calls us by name.
Let's meet together this Sunday in GivingThanks for this!
Image: a 1973 painting of the JESUS MAFA project, a response to New Testament readings from the Lectionary by a Christian community in Cameroon, Africa.
From Art in the Christian Tradition , a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN.
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