When we are relentless when we seek Jesus, we will find him.
I recently read the resurrection account found in John, chapter 20. I’ve read it before, but Mary Magdalene’s part in it really spoke to me this time. First of all, the Bible provides us with very little background on her. Luke 8:2 tells us that Jesus had cast seven demons out of her.
We don’t know what her life was like before her encounter with Jesus. In other demonic cases in the Gospels, people had seizures, foamed at the mouth, were regularly thrown on the ground by the spirits or were physically sick in some way.
If she had seven demons, then her life was likely miserable and tumultuous to say the least. After her healing, she became a follower of Jesus, which makes perfect sense. I can’t imagine how dramatically her healing changed her life.
The Gospel of John depicts her as such a devoted follower that she followed Jesus to the cross and remained there until he died. I find the thought of her helplessness and devastation on that Friday, gut wrenching, but she stayed until the end.
At dawn on Sunday morning, John tells us that Mary Magdalene went to the tomb. She would have likely had spices prepared for Jesus’ body. When she arrived, she found the large stone that was covering the entrance, rolled away. Peter and John must have been trailing a good ways behind her because she ran and told them that the body had been moved.
She apparently didn’t even consider resurrection at this point. She assumed foul play was involved. The two men went running to the tomb to see for themselves. John 20:8 says that when, John reached the empty tomb and checked it out, (I’m paraphrasing), he believed. Verse 10 tells us; “the disciples went back to their homes.”
But, Mary Magdalene stayed, crying. Again, this woman was devastated. Jesus had healed her. He had changed her life forever. She followed him all the way to the cross and now she needed to see him, needed to pay her respects. She was still seeking him, even after his death and her persistence was rewarded.
“But 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.” John 20:11-12
The angels weren’t there earlier. John didn’t mention them, so God must have sent them. “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.” John 20:13 Usually, we find that angels are frightening when they appear, because they often say, “Fear not.” Maybe they appeared in a different form or maybe her love of Jesus who she thought was lost forever to her, overshadowed all other emotions. The text doesn’t say.
The text simply says she turned around and Jesus was standing there, but she didn’t recognize him. Jesus said to her, “Woman,” he said, “why are you crying?” “Who is it you are looking for?” 20:15
Mary thought he was a gardener. She asked where he had put the body. She told him she would go and get him. Amazing, this grieving woman, fearless and relentless, she meant to see Jesus no matter what.
Then Jesus changed everything, with one word. “Mary” and she knew.
I can get teary when I replay this scene in my mind. Mary is hysterical with grief, pain and confusion and Jesus calls her name and her heart is healed. All is well with her soul.
I love this story because it still speaks to us today. The risen Jesus calls us each by name. When we listen and reach for him, we too are healed and all is well with our souls. Mary reminds us to be fearless and relentless in our pursuit of Jesus, for the resulting peace that passeth all understanding when we find him, will definitely be worth it.
Have an awesome day!
Wendy 🙂