INTRO TO THE GOSPEL OF JOHN, Sarah Barry
JESUS APPEARS TO MARY MAGDALENE
Passage: John 20:10~18  
Key verse: 17
10 Then the disciples went back to where they were staying.
Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene
11 Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb(A) 12 and saw two angels in white,(B) seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.
13 They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?”(C)
“They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.”(D) 14 At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there,(E) but she did not realize that it was Jesus.(F)
15 He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?(G) 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.”
16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.”
She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic,(H) “Rabboni!”(I) (which means “Teacher”).
17 Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers(J) and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father(K) and your Father, to my God and your God.’”
18 Mary Magdalene(L) went to the disciples(M) with the news: “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that he had said these things to her.
Cross references
- John 20:11 : ver 5
- John 20:12 : Mt 28:2, 3; Mk 16:5; Lk 24:4; Ac 1:10; S 5:19; 10:30
- John 20:13 : ver 15
- John 20:13 : ver 2
- John 20:14 : Mk 16:9
- John 20:14 : Lk 24:16; Jn 21:4
- John 20:15 : ver 13
- John 20:16 : S Jn 5:2
- John 20:16 : S Mt 23:7
- John 20:17 : S Mt 28:10
- John 20:17 : Jn 7:33
- John 20:18 : S ver 1
- John 20:18 : Lk 24:10, 22, 23
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source:  BibleGateway
1. Woman, why are you crying? (10-13)
Mary had witnessed the crucifixion. She was too shocked and sad to cry. But when she saw that Jesus' body was gone from the tomb, the floodgates of sorrow broke. To her, the empty tomb was not good news--it represented a cruel prank. This was more than she could bear. She had sought comfort by coming to be near the dead body of Jesus. Now, it was gone. Human sorrow so blinded her spiritual eyes that she could recognize neither the angels nor Jesus.
2. I have seen the Lord (14-18)
When Jesus called her name she recognized him. She was overjoyed and wanted to touch him. But this was not the time to enjoy a reunion. It was the time for mission. Jesus sent her to his disciples with the good news of his resurrection from the dead. Soon he would return to the Father, but first he must meet his disciples.
Prayer: Lord, help me not to cling to the dead past, but to share the good news of the risen Jesus with others.
One Word: I have seen the Lord