But Mary remained standing outside the tomb sobbing. As she wept, she stooped down [and looked] into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white sitting there, one at the head and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. And they said to her, Woman, why are you sobbing? She told them, “because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.” After she said this, she turned away and saw Jesus standing there. But she didn't recognize him. Jesus spoke to her, "Woman, why do you weep? Who are you looking for?" She, thinking that he was the gardener, said, "Mister, if you took him, tell me where you put him so I can care for him." Jesus said, "Mary." Turning to face him, she said in Hebrew, "Rabboni!" meaning "Teacher!" Jesus said, "Don't cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go to my brothers and tell them, "I ascend to my Father and your Father, my God and your God.'" Mary Magdalene went, telling the news to the disciples: "I saw the Master!" And she told them everything he said to her. (John 20: 11-18)
Two days before, the person responsible for Mary Magdalene’s freedom in life has been brutally crucified before her. She had been tormented by seven demons, shunned by society, an outcast. Then Jesus comes along, sets her free, and allows her to keep company with Him, the greatest teacher Israel had ever seen, possibly even the messiah. And she who was despised by men, suddenly found self worth because of this man. Then in one fell swoop; her newfound status is devastated. Her Lord is dead. Mary, heartbroken, but accepting, decides to carry on the service to her master after his death. Unlike the other disciples who have retreated in mourning, following the spectacle of Jesus’ death and his consignment to the tomb, Mary returns after the Sabbath with spices and perfume, Luke says, to prepare his body for burial.
She is dedicated to her Lord, even when it seemed unnecessary. What does that say about her personality, and can we learn from her? Firstly, Jesus Christ set Mary Magdalene free from bondage, and I believe the same can be said about almost everyone reading this newsletter. Her commitment to Him in return is the same God requires from us all. While others licked their wounds, consumed with the loss of their master, she continued to minister to Him, refusing to turn back until she had served Him to the last.
Also, when she discovered that His body no longer lay in the tomb, she didn’t throw in the towel. She stood her ground, and questioned the angels, and even though she didn’t recognise Jesus in His risen form, she was undeterred in her pursuit. Mary loved and served the Lord in life, and would do so even after His death. Nothing was about to separate her from the love of God. This dedication meant when the Lord rose from the dead, she was the first person he encountered, and the messenger of the good news of His resurrection. How do we feel about our Lord? Where would we pitch our tent if we were in Mary’s position? Hidden away, bemoaning what has been lost? Or seeking to serve Him to our very end?
Sometimes our situations seem completely dead, and we may be hanging on by the skin of our teeth, our dedication to the Lord being all we have left. Our faith is tested, the enemy of our souls is shouting defeat, but our Lord is risen from the dead! We may not feel like it, we may not know where he is, but let us be certain He is alive.
And like Mary Magdalene, tell someone about it! Whether they believe it or not, whether we see Him or not, whether our lives are a perfect reflection of His blessings or not, Jesus trounced all principalities and powers, triumphing over them in His victory. Let us rejoice in the knowledge that our God is honoured by dedication to Him, and that He has called out of darkness into His marvellous light, to show forth His praises.