Devotion for April 11, 2022

John 20:1-18
Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.”

Then Peter and the other disciple set out and went toward the tomb. The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent down to look in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen wrappings lying there, and the cloth that had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself.

Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not understand the scripture, that he must rise from the dead. Then the disciples returned to their homes. But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb; and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet. They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?”

She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus.

Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she 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!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni!” (which means Teacher).

Jesus said to her, “Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'”

Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”; and she told them that he had said these things to her.

 A woman finds the tomb empty first. She tells the men. The men race to the tomb, with one recording that the one most loved is also the fastest. They go in, look around and leave, confused. The woman, Mary, stays

In these next few moments, she goes from a messenger to the men in this story to the central figure, the first to see the resurrected Jesus. It is not her sight that tells her Jesus is present, it is his voice. More precisely it is his voice calling her by name. Mary’s faithful witness to Jesus it what puts her in the place to hear him and then to see him. The men left the tomb because they could not put their heads around what had happened. Mary remained at the tomb leaning into her heart. Guided by her love of Jesus, Mary just remained present, and in doing so was able to hear his voice.

This Easter may we too be faithful enough to just remain with our hearts, our love of Christ and listen for his voice calling our names.

This week’s devotion comes to you from Campbell’s Center for Church & Community.