John 20:1-181The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre. 2Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him. 3Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre. 4So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre. 5And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in. 6Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie, 7And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself. 8Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed. 9For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead. 10Then the disciples went away again unto their own home. 11But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre, 12And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. 13And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him. 14And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus. 15Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away. 16Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master. 17Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God. 18Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her. (John 20:1‑18)
A few women and the beloved disciple, John, were present when the Lord died. Before bowing His head and yielding up His spirit, the Lord uttered the words, "It is finished." They conveyed an infinite scope of blessing to the hearts of the disciples who were thus assured that divine love had taken pity on their state, and had provided for it at all cost. "It is finished." His work left nothing more to be done. The cross could no longer hold its victim and Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus were chosen of God to give the Savior a place with the rich in His death.
The visit of His dear followers to the sepulcher proved to their hearts the truth of His words, "It is finished." What did the sepulcher contain? What had death done with the Savior? Or, What had the Savior done with death? If the grave held Him, His work was vain, and not one of those for whom He had given Himself was acquitted or justified. Mary found the sepulcher open. Peter and John ascertained that it was empty. Peter went in and saw. The attributes of death were there, testifying by their presence that death had been unable to hold its prey, and that, without struggle or conflict, the victory over it had been peaceful. The napkin was wrapped together in a place by itself, as one does with a garment when preparing to go out. The "It is finished" was proved. The love which had undertaken the work had completed it, and the disciples, who as yet knew not the scripture, were convinced by the testimony of their eyes. They believed, and went away again unto their own home with the knowledge of a work thenceforth completed.
Two disciples saw and believed, but they found little in comparison to what a poor, ignorant woman found at the sepulcher. Mary Magdalene, a witness of the love of Christ (for He had delivered her from the seven devils), loved the Lord with an affection which sprang from the greatness of His love and which far exceeded her intelligence. While the intelligence of Peter and John could be engaged and satisfied with a work, Mary's affection could not be; she needed more; she needed the Person who was her Object. Peter had gone into the sepulcher and had seen only the linen clothes and the napkin. As she wept, Mary stooped down and saw two angels in the sepulcher. While the linen clothes sufficed for the disciples, even angels were not enough for Mary. Even in their presence, and without awaiting their answer, she turned back, for she wanted her Lord. At first her utter ignorance of what was happening hindered her from recognizing Him, but when Jesus, the good Shepherd called her by name, "Mary," she immediately recognized and responded to the Shepherd's voice.
There was a link of affection from Jesus to Mary and from Mary to Jesus. Is Mary's affection surprising when we think of the Savior who in the perfection of His Person had made her, a failing, ignorant creature, the object of His goodness and delivered her from her bondage? The most wonderful thing is not Mary's affection for Jesus, but Jesus' affection for Mary. Among thousands of thousands He knew her by name as His sheep. He remembered her who had been the most wretched. She said unto Him, "Master." He replies, not, "Go to My servants," but, "Go to My brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto My Father, and your Father; and to My God, and your God."
Mary's affection in clinging to Christ caused her to receive a revelation greater than all those which Peter had received up to this point. Love which is set on His Person becomes the depositary of further knowledge. Knowing only His work, the disciples went away again to their own home. Mary Magdalene, with love which clung to His Person, learned at the Savior's feet the most glorious results of His sacrifice. This weak woman, in all the modesty of her position, outshines the disciples. Their feet were swift, no doubt, to lead them to the sepulcher but Mary was the first to know the path which leads straight to the Father, and, retracing her steps with this marvelous revelation, to carry the message to the disciples.