14 Now when she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus. 15 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.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to Him, “Rabboni!” (which is to say, Teacher).
20:14
Now when she had said this,
After Mary Magdalene spoke to the two angels in the tomb, she would receive the shock of her life.
she turned around and saw Jesus standing there,
The first resurrection appearance of Jesus was to Mary Magdalene from whom He had cast out seven demons (Lu 8:2). His first appearance was to a woman in a culture dominated by men (Mk 16:9).
and did not know that it was Jesus.
Mary did not expect to see a person who was dead speaking to her. Jesus was now in His resurrection body. He was not merely resuscitated like Lazarus. His body had a new construct. His appearance was somewhat different.
20:15
Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?
The use of “woman” here is not harsh; neither is it endearing. This may be a statement of empathy by Jesus. However, Mary was not aware of how unsuitable her tears were at this point.
Whom are you seeking?”
Jesus was no longer in the tomb but alive. Mary sought someone dead, but her Lord was right there, alive, talking to her (Mt 28:7; Mk 16:6; Lu 24:5). There was no corpse in the tomb. Jesus knew the answer to His own question.
She, supposing Him to be the gardener,
It may have been too dark for Mary to recognize that it was Jesus speaking to her.
said to Him, “Sir, if [assumed true] You have carried Him away, tell me where You have laid Him, and I will take Him away.”
Mary asked for a favor from this person she presumed to be the gardener. She wanted to obtain the corpse of Jesus.
20:16
Jesus said to her, “Mary! [Miriam]”
Jesus’ address to Mary had a personal element. He used her name in Aramaic, which was her native language. The one word that transformed her world was her own name.
She turned and said to Him, “Rabboni!” [Aramaic] (which is to say, Teacher).
Mary had her back to Jesus. As soon as Jesus called her name, she turned around and recognized Him immediately.
PRINCIPLE:
The believer’s resurrection body will be like our Lord’s resurrection body.
APPLICATION:
Jesus’ resurrection body could be touched (Jn 20:27; Lu 24:39), it bore marks of crucifixion (Jn 20:20, 25, 27), it shared meals (Jn 21:9,13; Lu 24:41-43), and it could walk through closed doors. That is what our resurrection body will be like (Php 3:21).
