Thoughts on the Gospel of John (206) - All The Good Seed Daily Devotionals for 2025

Now when she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus. 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. Jesus said to her, Mary!
John 20:14–16

Thoughts on the Gospel of John (206)
Mary Magdalene has just spoken to the angels. She weeps because she does not find her Lord where she had expected Him to be. But He is very close to her; she just doesn’t know it. How merciful the Good Shepherd shows Himself here: He makes sure that His sheep finds comfort, but not through the angels – He wants to meet her and speak to her heart personally.

Where does Jesus suddenly come from and why doesn’t Mary recognise Him? The Risen One is not a spirit! He rose from the dead as a human being and has a body that can be touched and can eat and drink. But this resurrection body is not bound by time and space, as we will see. Obviously, He can also appear “in another form” (Luke 24:39; Mark 16:12). The very fact that Mary thinks she is dealing with the gardener proves that Jesus has indeed risen: Jesus could be taken for a “normal” person.

Mary is thinking of her Lord and assumes that the “gardener” knows who she is talking about. That’s why she doesn’t mention a name, but just says “him”: “Tell me where You have laid Him.” Now there is a ray of hope for her: perhaps the “gardener” has put Jesus’ body in another place. In any case, she wants Him back.

Looking for the one who had died, Mary finds the Risen One. Like lightning illuminating the darkness, the word of Jesus has reached her heart: “Mary!”

(to be continued next Sunday)

Today’s reading: Isaiah 17:1-18:7 · Acts 26:1-18