INTRO TO THE GOSPEL OF JOHN, Sarah Barry
I HAVE SEEN THE LORD!
Passage: John 20:11~18  
Key verse: 18
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? (11-15)
The two disciples went back while Mary remained crying. As she wept, she looked into the tomb and saw two angels. They asked her, "Why are you crying?" Then she saw Jesus standing there asking, "Who are you looking for?" She answered that she cried because she was looking for the dead Jesus and his body was taken away. Actually, she had no reason to cry, because Jesus had risen and was just behind her. We Christians also have no reason to cry, because Jesus has risen and he is just beside us.
2. Go instead and tell them! (16-18)
Jesus then called her by name, "Mary." Then she recognized him saying, "Rabboni!" which means "Teacher!" and wanted to hold him forever. Jesus did not allow her to hold him because he had not yet ascended to the Father. Instead Jesus gave her a joyful mission to go and tell that he has risen and is going to his Father and their Father. The risen Jesus changed Mary from a sorrowful into a joyful woman, from a meaningless woman into a missionary. Her hope now was to be raised again and go and stay with God as her Father forever.
Prayer: Thank you, Jesus! You are raised from the dead. Your resurrection, ascension and command enable us to be joyful missionaries to all nations. We have hope of being with the Lord God as our Father forever in his kingdom.
One Word: Jesus has risen!