John 20:11-16 is the story of Mary. Mary loved Jesus and Jesus loved Mary as one of his followers. Mary had lost faith. Jesus had been killed and she just wanted to perform the proper Jewish burial rights and say her final goodbyes to Jesus. The one problem is that Jesus’ body was not in the tomb. This was very upsetting to Mary. Mary wanted to do what she felt was right. Mary wanted to do what was right according to her religious tradition. But Jesus is not about religious tradition.
When Jesus met with Nicodemus, Nicodemus could not understand the spiritual truth of being born again. His thinking was stuck in the physical world and religious tradition. When Jesus met with the woman at the well, he was talking about spiritual living water and she was looking for indoor plumbing. She was stuck in the physical world and her version of religious tradition. Nicodemus, the woman at the well and Mary all had a faith problem. They all wanted God to do things their way, which is not faith.
Many people have said that faith is “a positive response to something God said or did.” Hebrews 11 says, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” In other words faith exists in the spiritual realm. Faith functions in a relationship with God. Faith is a positive response to what God has said or done.
How does this work for Mary? Jesus told his disciples, and Mary certainly had hear this, many times that he was going to die. When the Pharisees demanded a sign, Jesus said they would only get the sign of Jonah. Many other times indicate that Jesus was going to resurrect. Mary must have heard that. She must have heard that he was called the Son of God. She must have heard all she needed to not be paralyzed with sadness at this death. However, she had no faith. Her faith was at an all time low. With no faith, there is no positive response to Jesus.
Then Mary sees angels in the tomb and seems unfazed by them. She speaks to them like they are normal grave robbers. Then something causes her to turn and see a man, whom see believes is the gardener. Why? Because Jesus is dead and Mary has no faith. Jesus even speaks to her about her weeping and asks her who she is looking for. Of course Jesus knows all this, but he is giving her a chance to respond in faith. Mary is crying so hard she does not want any of this 20 questions. She tells Jesus that she is looking for Jesus. Instead of rebuking or correcting or mocking her, Jesus simply says, “Mary.” He must have said it the way he has said it hundreds of times before, and Mary snapped out of it. Her faith went from zero to 100 and she grabbed Jesus and was never going to let him go.
When Jesus met with Nicodemus, Nicodemus could not understand the spiritual truth of being born again. His thinking was stuck in the physical world and religious tradition. When Jesus met with the woman at the well, he was talking about spiritual living water and she was looking for indoor plumbing. She was stuck in the physical world and her version of religious tradition. Nicodemus, the woman at the well and Mary all had a faith problem. They all wanted God to do things their way, which is not faith.
Many people have said that faith is “a positive response to something God said or did.” Hebrews 11 says, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” In other words faith exists in the spiritual realm. Faith functions in a relationship with God. Faith is a positive response to what God has said or done.
How does this work for Mary? Jesus told his disciples, and Mary certainly had hear this, many times that he was going to die. When the Pharisees demanded a sign, Jesus said they would only get the sign of Jonah. Many other times indicate that Jesus was going to resurrect. Mary must have heard that. She must have heard that he was called the Son of God. She must have heard all she needed to not be paralyzed with sadness at this death. However, she had no faith. Her faith was at an all time low. With no faith, there is no positive response to Jesus.
Then Mary sees angels in the tomb and seems unfazed by them. She speaks to them like they are normal grave robbers. Then something causes her to turn and see a man, whom see believes is the gardener. Why? Because Jesus is dead and Mary has no faith. Jesus even speaks to her about her weeping and asks her who she is looking for. Of course Jesus knows all this, but he is giving her a chance to respond in faith. Mary is crying so hard she does not want any of this 20 questions. She tells Jesus that she is looking for Jesus. Instead of rebuking or correcting or mocking her, Jesus simply says, “Mary.” He must have said it the way he has said it hundreds of times before, and Mary snapped out of it. Her faith went from zero to 100 and she grabbed Jesus and was never going to let him go.
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