John 20:1-18 CSB
On the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark. She saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb.
[2] So she went running to Simon Peter and to the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said to them, “They’ve taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they’ve put him!”
[3] At that, Peter and the other disciple went out, heading for the tomb.
[4] The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and got to the tomb first.
[5] Stooping down, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in.
[6] Then, following him, Simon Peter also came. He entered the tomb and saw the linen cloths lying there.
[7] The wrapping that had been on his head was not lying with the linen cloths but was folded up in a separate place by itself.
[8] The other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, then also went in, saw, and believed.
[9] For they did not yet understand the Scripture that he must rise from the dead.
[10] Then the disciples returned to the place where they were staying.
[11] But Mary stood outside the tomb, crying. As she was crying, she stooped to look into the tomb.
[12] She saw two angels in white sitting where Jesus’s body had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet. [13] They said to her, “Woman, why are you crying?” “Because they’ve taken away my Lord,” she told them, “and I don’t know where they’ve put him.”
[14] Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know it was Jesus.
[15] “Woman,” Jesus said to her, “why are you crying? Who is it that you’re seeking?” Supposing he was the gardener, she replied, “Sir, if you’ve carried him away, tell me where you’ve put him, and I will take him away.”
[16] Jesus said to her, “Mary.” Turning around, she said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!”—which means “Teacher.”
[17] “Don’t cling to me,” Jesus told her, “since I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and tell them that I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.”
[18] Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them what he had said to her.

You know that feeling of waiting in line and thinking “oh, this is taking too long” and you change lines for another, only for the former to move faster than the one you’ve just changed to. I believe this may be that feeling for the disciples when they learnt that Mary saw the risen Christ.
Mary Magdalene, coming early to the sepulchre, finds it empty and runs to tell Peter and the others who couldn’t wait in line for Christ. Peter and John run to the tomb and finds all as Mary had reported. Mary’s patience waiting in line paid off, Jesus appeared to her and sends her message to the disciples.
Sometimes we get distracted by our immediate situation, that we fail to see the glorious answer and solution of God right before our eyes. We magnify a situation to the point where think that the word of God is too small to deal with and change the situation when all we need to do is call out to Rabbonni.
Outwaiting a storm always brings its reward…Mary was at the tomb before anyone else, waited even when others left and were desperate and ready to do something for what she perceived was a problem in verses 11-15.
Verse 10 is the most emphatic show of indifference, nonchalance and disinterest in the plight of others we could ever witness… “then the disciples went home again”. Really! Where is the passion, the zeal and fire instilled in them by the Master? Just like a lot of us today: they shrugged their shoulders, well, his body is not there, what’s our business, what can we do, why should we bother.
They seemed to have completely forgotten His promise of dying and rising back to life as stated in Matthew 16:21. The same way so many Christians seem to have forgotten all His promises, that they’d rather suffer than cry out to “Rabbonni.”
Mary’s diligence paid off in verses16 and 17. She not only SAW the risen Christ and two Angels, but she was also actually the one to announce His resurrection. What a privilege!
Mary didn’t allow the attitude and indifference of the others to affect her passion and zeal for the master she followed whilst He was alive, she believes what He taught her and gave her the faith, hope and strength to wait for His resurrection.
She believed Romans 8:31-39 to be true, nothing, not even death could separate her from her master, and she was willing to wait at the graveside to prove that not only to herself but to the entire world that her “Rabbonni” is Lord and Master overall. How long and how far are we willing to go and wait to see the manifestation of the promises of God? He promised He will never fail, He is too faithful to fail, and Hid word in Isaiah 55:10-11 and Joshua 21:45 should fill us with confident assurance to call out to Rabbonni in time of need, difficulties and confusion.
There is an Evangelist Mary, a woman of diligence, desperation and zeal inside every one of us. Let her out, so she too can be rewarded when she cries out “Rabbonni”.
Keep searching, keep crying and keep calling for the Master. He will answer.
Shalom