Mary of Magdala and the Risen Lord

"Mary stood by the tomb outside and wept ... Jesus said to him : Woman, why are you weeping ?" John 20: 11-15

Mary Magdalene was liberated by Jesus of the seven demons who possessed her (Mark 16: 9). This explains his profound attachment to the Lord. After her death, she is crushed by pain, blinded by her suffering. His first gesture, the Sabbath finished, is to go to the tomb (John 20: 1). She wants to pay a last tribute to the one who is buried there. It is the only consolation left to him.

What a pain when she discovers the rolled stone and the empty tomb! This adds to his trouble. Even the presence of two angels does not deprive her of the thought of this separation which despairs her. She has only one explanation before the empty tomb : "We have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where he was put" (John 20:13). Only one thing can console her: to find her Lord. It is the experience that she will live.

Attentive to this suffering, Jesus is in a hurry to reply : "Jesus first appeared to Mary of Magdala" (Mark 16: 9). For what touches the heart of the Lord is the love of Mary for him. Having lost his Savior, he has nothing left in the world. Her grief at this empty tomb is immense and she does not want to get away from it. Jesus comes to this place to meet her, comfort her and teach her.

Mary Magdalene is the first person to meet the Lord after her resurrection. He then teaches her how to live this new spiritual relationship with a risen Christ, a relationship different from that she had in accompanying him during his ministry. This explains his remark : "Do not touch me, for I have not yet ascended to my Father" (John 20:17). She enjoys her presence as her disciples will do according to the Lord's promise : "Behold, I am with you every day, even unto the end of the age" (Matt.28: 20).

This circumstance, reported by the apostle John, is encouraging to us. It shows us the Lord's care for his people in the time of his absence. We see in it the value which the Lord attaches to a redeemed who loves him and who seeks his presence and fellowship.

Source (To pleasing the Lord)