“Mary Magdalene came and informed the disciples, ‘I have seen the Lord!’ And she told them what Jesus had said to her.” —John 20:18
Mary’s actions remind me of a wonderful Hebrew word batah often translated trust in the Old Testament. It means “to attach oneself, confide in, feel safe, be confident, secure; the basic idea signifies firmness or solidity; denotes a confident expectation” (Hebrew–Greek Key Word Study Bible Old Testament Lexical Aids).
Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” .—John 20:17
Oh the zealous love Mary had for Jesus! With all her might, she gripped Him with the fervent attempt of not ever letting Him go! She simply never again wanted Him out of her sight. The thrill of seeing her Master alive and standing before her produced within her an immense excitement and an extravagant joy. I wonder, do I love the Lord like that?
No one had loved Him more or clung to Him more tenaciously than she, and she was richly rewarded for this. It is no wonder the Lord Jesus conferred upon her such high honor.
“Singular honor is reserved for solitary faith. Mary has the first personal manifestation of Christ after His resurrection. She is the first witness of this most important and illustrious fact, and the first messenger of it to His disciples.” —Cecil
Jesus forbids Mary to dote on His bodily presence as before, leading her rather to a spiritual communion which she would enjoy with Him even after His ascension.
What perhaps reads harsh to us, Christ is lovingly pointing her to look higher than His bodily presence—further than the present state of things. The best service she can now do for Him is to go and tell others. This was the very first work that our risen Savior proposed to John as well. Jesus calls Mary to an active duty to others—to arise and be useful. He calls every believer to this high calling as well.
Mary becomes an apostle to the apostles in reward for her constancy in clinging to Christ. She was comforted by the sight of her Master and now she is sent with the good news to comfort others. When God comforts us, it is often with the purpose of comforting others:
“Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles so that we may be able to comfort those experiencing any trouble with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” —2 Corinthians 1:3–4
Become More
“Therefore, if you have been raised with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Keep thinking about things above, not things on the earth, for you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ (who is your life) appears, then you too will be revealed in glory with him.” —Colossians 3:1–4
Further Reflection
“You keep completely safe the people who maintain their faith, for they trust in you.” —Isaiah 26:3