Scripture; John 20:11-18
What key questions and unusual observations did you note as you read the passage?
1. What was Mary’s relationship to Jesus?
2. Why was Mary there at the tomb of Jesus early on Easter morning?
3. What is the significance of the angels’ question?
4. What does Jesus command translated in the King James as “Touch me not!” mean? And why did Jesus say it?
5. Why does Mary not recognize Jesus at first? How does she recognize him?
What are their implications for understanding the passage?
1. Concerning Mary’s relationship to Jesus, there are several things we need to note.
a. One question that has been raised by contemporary skeptics partly in response to Mary’s prominence in the end-of-life narratives of Jesus is; how close was Mary Magdalene to Jesus? The fictional book, Da Vinci Code, even suggested that Jesus was married to her and some have believed that fiction. Appendix 1 is a longer treatment of this question. But for this article, let it suffice to say that the Biblical evidence is solid that Jesus was always single and that Mary Magdalene was simply one among many women who were his followers.
b. Second, it is important to note that Mary Magdalene was probably the leader of the group of women from Galilee who had been traveling with Jesus. The evidence for this is simply that she is listed first in every one of the post resurrection Gospel texts as well as in Luke 8. See appendix 2. Another possible reason why she could’ve been listed first is because of this appearance to her as described here in John 20.
c. Third, Mary, when she recognizes Jesus, uses the title “Rabboni.” According to IVP Bible Background Commentary, “”Rabboni” means “my teacher” and is more personal and less formal than the title “*Rabbi.”” The term is used in only one other place in the Gospels. That is in Mark 10:51 where the blind man replies to Jesus question, “Rabboni, I want to regain my sight! (NASB).” Most translations simply have Rabbi, teacher, or master. “In later years, the Jews recognized three levels of teachers: rab (the lowest), rabbi , and rabboni (the highest).” (from The Bible Exposition Commentary. Copyright © 1989 by Chariot Victor Publishing, and imprint of Cook Communication Ministries. All rights reserved. Used by permission.) In using this term Mary acknowledged Jesus, not just as a teacher, but possibly also as the leading teacher and definitely as the one she personally sought to follow. The term is a personal recognition of Mary’s identity as a disciple of Christ.
2. Why was Mary there at the tomb of Jesus early on Easter morning?
I think there are three answers to this question.
a. Most obvious is that she was among those women who are returning to the tomb to complete the tasks of putting spices on the body of Jesus (Luke 24:1). She and the others who had come with her from Galilee were dedicated to serving Jesus needs. This trip to the tomb was a continuation of that service.
b. The second answer to the question might be that she was simply one of the mourners. In that culture it would have been common for mourners to return to the tomb to weep. We are told in this text that Mary was at the tomb weeping when she saw the angels.
c. However the third reason I think is perhaps the most important; that is Mary’s affection for Jesus. According to Luke 8:2 Mary Magdalene’s relationship with Jesus had begun with a significant deliverance. Jesus had cast out seven demons from her life. There certainly would have been deep gratitude in Mary for this great deliverance. This relationship had grown as Mary was one of those women who had traveled with the disciples from Galilee to be with Jesus (Mk. 15:41). Her relationship to Jesus would’ve deepened as she listened to his teachings and learned more about his coming kingdom. Now her deep grief is expressed by being at the tomb early in the morning to mourn.
d. I think there’s a message here for us. It was love and loving service that placed Mary in the spot where she would meet Jesus. I think that is a spirit to principal that will hold out as we put it to the test in our own lives. Way back in Deuteronomy, Moses preached to the children of Israel on God’s behalf, “But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul”(Dt 4:29 NIV).
3. What is the significance of the angels’ question?
The angels question to Mary is simply, “Woman why are you crying?” To the angels, humans crying on the morning of the resurrection must have made absolutely no sense. They knew that it was the morning above all mornings for rejoicing. They knew that every human being should be shouting for joy. They were sitting where Jesus’ body had been. Mary could see the empty tomb and angels in Jesus place. Why was she crying? Could it be possible that she did not understand that Jesus had risen from the dead?
This question of the angels is yet another witness to the shock of the first witnesses concerning the resurrection of Jesus. It was totally unexpected. They were stunned, discombobulated, and bewildered by what was happening. Those who first came upon the empty tomb were totally mystified by what they found. Even in the face of the overwhelming evidence of angels sitting where Jesus was laid, Mary, a disciple, could not connect the dots either, just as Peter and John had not yet been able to (see verse nine).
We found in the meditation that I gave before Easter, that God often works outside the box that our human thoughts have constructed for him. I’ve been reading recently a little bit about revivals. More than one author noted that the great revivals of history all contained surprising elements; elements that stretched definitions and created discomfort among some people. Even though Jesus had predicted his resurrection, it was still an event that surprised the disciples and stretch their minds and faith.
Interestingly, for those of us reading the account centuries later, that very stretching is a testimony to the genuineness of accounts. The eyewitnesses innocently reveal their own struggle to grapple with evidence they saw. The result is that we learn with them as they put together the pieces and come to the startling conclusion that Jesus had indeed risen from the dead.
4. What does Jesus command translated in the King James as “Touch me not!” mean? And why did Jesus say it?
The verb translated “Touch me not” (KJV) is a present imperative and is probably better translated “Stop clinging to me” (NASB). The reason she must release him is that she must go testify for him in the short time remaining in view of his coming ascension — despite the cultural opposition to sending a woman to testify to such an important event and one so impossible for unbelievers to accept. (from IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament by Craig S. Keener Copyright © 1993 by Craig S. Keener. Published by InterVarsity Press. All rights reserved.)
This is important lesson for us that our spiritual experiences are never for the purpose of spiritual experience alone; they are for the purpose of helping us to do the things that God has called us to do. God’s blessings are also purposeful. God extends his grace to us, he gives us times of refreshing, he sends unusual experiences; all for the purpose of strengthening us for the work that he has given us to do. Mary had a significant task to do. She was to take courage and return to the disciples and tell them about what she had seen. This she did.
Another excellent suggestion arose in our discussion. Looking at the NIV translation, “Do not hold on to me” and connecting it with verse 17, where Jesus talks about returning to his Father, suggests another interpretation. Perhaps Jesus was warning Mary not to hold on to the idea that now that he was risen, he would continue with them in this new form. For he did not intend to do that; He intended to return to his Father soon. In this statement to Mary, Jesus establishes the disciples’ anticipation that he would soon return to heaven, and warns them against expecting him to stay on earth.
5. Why does Mary not recognize Jesus at first? How does she recognize him?
a. It is in the fact that Mary does not recognize Jesus that we are most like her. We are not told exactly why she did not recognize him. So perhaps we can make some likely conjectures. For one Mary was unlikely focusing upon the business at hand, the fact that she had come to anoint Jesus body was spices. This seems to be the focus of the question to the presumed Gardner as to the location of the body. For if she could locate the body she would be able to complete her and upon which the woman had set out.
Why is it that we are so distracted by and focused upon the immediate errand in front of us that we cannot hear what Jesus is saying to us? Perhaps he is trying to help us to focus on something else, to notice someone in need, or to hear a gentle assurance that we need for ourselves; but we are all about business as usual. The sad result is that we too do not recognize the voice of Jesus.
b. The second possible reason that Mary did not recognize Jesus was her grief. She was weeping. She was overcome with the loss; not only the death of her Savior, but now also the possible loss of his body.
It is been my experience as a pastor that very strong emotions such as grief or anger can greatly hinder our spiritual sensitivity. Such forceful emotions keep our minds focused on their own objects. So it is harder for us to hear God’s voice.
c. A third possible reason for Mary not immediately recognizing Jesus is based upon a parallel to the experience of the two disciples on the road to Emmaus. If you recall that event described in Luke 24, those two disciples did not recognize Jesus immediately either. However Luke 24:16 points out that they were “kept from recognizing him.” Perhaps as in that event there was a reason why God did not want Mary to recognize Jesus immediately, we don’t know. Perhaps as many have said, Jesus resurrection body was easily recognized by appearance, but rather by voice and actions.
d. The way that Mary does recognize Jesus is a real inspiration to us. In verse 16 Jesus calls her by name. Then she turned toward him, and with a flash of recognition, cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni.” We are reminded Jesus own teaching about knowing the names of those who follow him. Speaking of himself as a shepherd he said, “The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice” (Jn 10:3-5 NIV). (See also Jn. 10:14; 2 Ti. 2:19).
What is the role/significance of this event/passage in the Gospel story?
Besides helping us to understand the insights that we worry talk about, there are a couple more reasons why this story is very important to the gospel narrative.
a. From the standpoint of John’s narrative, relating this story serves as the bridge from the early morning when Peter and John are at the tomb and see only the empty grave to the evening were Jesus appears in the upper room with most of the disciples present. It introduces us to the risen Christ through the eyes of one of the first witnesses, Mary Magdalene. This agrees with both the accounts of Matthew and Mark who mentioned that Jesus was seen first by women.
b. A second reason why the story is very important to us is found in the reply of Jesus to Mary. Jesus tells her to tell the disciples that he is returning to his Father and “your Father, to my God and your God” (20:17). There is much packed into these words of Jesus. Is helpful passage in understanding the Trinity, as it shows the sense of separation between Jesus the Son and God the Father. However its primary role here is to prepare us for the ascension of Jesus to heaven which John does not specifically mention in his Gospel except for this verse. It is covered in Luke 24:50 to 52; Mark 16:19 and in Acts 1:9-11. This helps us to see and help to disciples to see the Jesus in his resurrected body would not be with the disciples on earth permanently. His appearances to them were temporary. He was headed back to the presence of his father from where he had come. He had taught them repeatedly that he had come from heaven (Jn. 3:13; 6:33,38,41, 51,58) now he was preparing to return to there as he had also taught them would happen (Jn 14:2).
Appendix 1
The book Da Vinci Code was infamous partly for its suggestion that Jesus may have been married and the person usually suggested is Mary Magdalene. This article came to me from Pastor Doug Bullock of Eastern Hills Bible Church. A professor at Dallas Seminary has written an article specifically addressing these issues. It is a quick read, but puts this issue to rest. Enjoy the read!
Da Vinci Code response: Was Jesus married? by Darrell Bock
Jesus had a singular focus on preaching the Kingdom of God, and his choice to be single underscored that calling.
It has long been believed that Jesus was single. Every detail of Scripture indicates this. When he was in ministry, there is no mention of a wife. When he was tried and crucified, there is no mention of him having a wife. After his death, there is no mention of a wife.
Whenever Jesus’ family is referred to, it is his brothers and sisters who are mentioned – never a wife. Nor is there any indication that he was widowed.
Attempts to suggest that any of the many women associated with his ministry were, in fact, his wife are empty speculation. This includes the woman with the alabaster container who anointed Jesus (read Luke 7:36-50). This woman’s act was shocking and would not have been nearly so surprising had she been his wife.
We can contrast Jesus to the rest of the apostles, Peter, and the brothers of the Lord, all of whom are said to have had wives. (1 Cor.
9:5) This passage shows that the Church was not embarrassed to reveal that its leaders were married – or to suggest that they had the right to be. The same would have been true of Jesus, if he had been married.
Paul teaches in 1 Corinthians 7 that a person may choose not to be married so they can be singularly dedicated to their ministry to God.
This is what Jesus did.
What evidence do people bring forth to argue that Jesus was married?
Only two texts out of thousands are ever used to make the case that he was married. They come from the Gospel of Phillip and the Gospel of Mary Magdalene. These second and third century texts say that Jesus loved Mary more than the 12 disciples. In Philip, it says Jesus kissed Mary (but the text has a gap at the point where we are told where he kissed her). There is also a debate over a Coptic term that means companion in the Philip text.
Even the historicity of these texts are questionable. Many do not think they tell us anything substantive about the real Jesus. And the conclusion that they teach Jesus was married is an inference at best.
In contrast to these two texts to which The Da Vinci Code alludes, there are thousands of texts that do not discuss Jesus as married in the midst of describing him and the impact of his ministry. How large a collection of texts am I talking about? I have a library series of texts from the first 500 years of Christianity covering orthodox, fringe, and heretical texts.
This series has 36 volumes of hundreds of pages each, in a small single-spaced font on double columned pages. Out of all this material only two texts even can suggest – and they are inferred in historically questionable texts – that Jesus may have been married.
I’ll close with a personal anecdote. When The Da Vinci Code first was released, Beliefnet.com asked me and John Dominic Crossan, a well-known liberal and Jesus seminar scholar, to write pieces on the question about whether Jesus was married. I represented the conservative side. We both agreed that Jesus was not. Crossan simply used a proverb that went something like this, “If it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, acts like a duck, it must be a camel!” His point was that all the evidence says that Jesus was single, but some people want to insist that he was married. Crossan was clear in his agreement on the point. I tell my New Testament classes when you can get a conservative and a liberal to agree about something related to the historical Jesus, it is probably true.
So Jesus was single. His lack of marital status was one dimension of his dedication to God. At least that is how many Jews would have understood it.
As Jesus faced rejection, it was of benefit that he did not have a wife or children. These are likely some of the concerns Paul alluded to in speaking of “worry for earthly things” in 1 Corinthians 7. Jesus had a singular focus on preaching the Kingdom of God, and his choice to be single underscored that calling. This is one fact out of many about which The Da Vinci Code is simply wrong, despite the publicly stated claims of the author when the book was originally published that the theories he was presenting were true and that if he were writing non-fiction he would not change a thing. The Da Vinci Code is a good yarn, but it is fiction. Do not get your history from fiction.
Appendix 2
| Reference | Who is listed as present | Helps in understanding |
| Matt. 28:1 | Mary Magdalene and the other Mary | 27:56 refers to Mary Magdalene, Mary, the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons |
| Mark 16:1 | Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Salome | Mark 15:40,41 identify these as the women who followed form Galilee |
| Luke 24:10 | Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, the others with them | Lu. 23:55 the women who followed Jesus from Galilee |
| John 20:1 | Mary Magdalene |
See also Luke 8:1-3. Much earlier in Jesus ministry, this passage lists the women traveling with the disciples as: “Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; 3 Joanna the wife of Cuza, the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means.”
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