"Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been,
one at the head and the other at the foot.
They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?”
“They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus. 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)."
My first instinct is to laugh at Mary for thinking Jesus was the gardener. Was her eyesight that bad? Then I am moved to such compassion as I try to imagine the grief she was going through. I'm sure Jesus looked pretty bad as well. The disciples must have felt complete abandonment the day after Jesus was crucified. All the hope they'd put into believing Jesus was their Messiah....lost.
How beautiful that Mary did not recognize Jesus until he said her name. She spoke with him and looked him straight in the eyes. However, it wasn't until he said, "Mary," that she knew who he was. He must have said it to her countless times, so she recognized it immediately.
I have read this passage many, many times but will never read it the same again. I am so moved by our Savior's desire to say our name when we are hurting. No other words are necessary, but to hear his voice and know he cares for us. In his power, he is able to love us as if we are the only person in the world. What other god can do this?
