The Resurrection c20: Part 2 vv 11-18 The appearance to Mary Magdalene
Posted on January 29th 2012 in St. John's Gospel
The departure of Peter and John from the empty tomb leaves Mary Magdalene alone outside the tomb fixated in her grief. The words and actions of Peter and John seem to have had no immediate effect. Her lament imitates that of Mary outside the tomb of Lazarus who, though accepting the theoretical possibility of the resurrection, failed to grasp that it might include Jesus’ friend Lazarus. Yet curiosity makes her enter the tomb and, far from being frightened by the angels who ask her a question, replies with the statement that betrays the worst, ‘They have taken my Lord away’.
The risen Jesus, unbeknown to her, enters into her world of grief, with the simple question that begins the Gospel as well (1:38), ‘Who are you looking for’. It was only when Jesus’ uses Mary’s name that she begins to recognise Him, a relationship modelled on that of the Good Shepherd. Jesus takes the initiative but does not do so at once. He prepares us through his unknown presence to receive the Good News. The relationship of faith needs to grow, so Mary Magdalene has to let go firstly of the physical Jesus. He is no longer just the Rabbi (Master) but the Son of God and this will only be completed when He ascends to His Father. This departure, begun with death on the Cross, will conclude with the risen Jesus imparting the gift of the Holy Spirit to the Apostles. Jesus gives a foretaste of this new relationship to Mary Magdalene when he reveals that He is ascending to ‘My Father, and your Father’. A new relationship is being established between God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit and the believer. The Christian believer will live within the orbit of the Trinity, the outpouring of love that is God. The statement in the Prologue, ‘All those who did accept Him, He empowered to become sons and daughters of God (1:12) has been realised. Thus Mary Magdalene becomes a true missionary of the Good News, and this sets the scene for the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles in the Upper Room.