Friday within the Octave of the Feast of the Resurrection of our Lord
Posted on April 5, 2024 by under
Scripture: St. John 20:11-18 (NKJV)
20:11 But Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping, and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the tomb. 12 And she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. 13 Then they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?”
She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.”
14 Now when she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?”
She, supposing Him to be the gardener, said to Him, “Sir, if You have carried Him away, tell me where You have laid Him, and I will take Him away.”
16 Jesus said to her, “Mary!”
She turned and said to Him, “Rabboni!” (which is to say, Teacher).
17 Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.’”
18 Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that He had spoken these things to her.
Devotion
“Jesus said to her, ‘Mary!’ She turned and said to Him, ‘Rabboni!’”
A grieving Mary Magdalene is standing outside the tomb of Jesus. Jesus had cast demons out of her, essentially giving her life back. Of course, that had led her to follow Him, and she doubtless heard and learned much about the salvation and eternal life He brings. Can you imagine her grief at Jesus’ death? And can you imagine the depth of the comfort of hearing Him call her name?
We too are born sinful, unclean, and by nature in league with the devil. It may not have looked as dramatic as demonic possession, but we were just as lost. Yet in Isaiah 43:1, we hear God promise, “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine.” This applies all the more to the people of God in the New Testament! In Holy Baptism we have the same comfort Mary Magdalene received. God has called us by name, and placed His Name on us. Jesus’ gifts of forgiveness and eternal life are ours, now and forever.
Collect: Almighty God, Who, through Thine Only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ, hast overcome death, and opened unto us the gate of everlasting life: We humbly beseech Thee, that, as Thou dost put into our minds good desires, so by Thy continual help we may bring the same to good effect; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
