Easter: Mary's Transformation

Christ is risen! As Peter said, “It was impossible for death to keep its hold on him” (Acts 2:24). Death is unable to have a grip on Him.

The resurrection is a huge part of the doctrines of the Christian church. We make a big deal out of it every year. But why? What’s the big deal about the resurrection? There has got to be an if/then relationship. If Jesus rose from the dead ... then what? What are the implications of the resurrection? Of course, from a wider perspective, the resurrection has a huge implication to our salvation and future hope. As Paul eloquently wrote, “If Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith… And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins” (1 Cor 15:14, 16, NIV). However, considering the fact that 1 Corinthians 15 deals with the resurrection of the body, which will happen sometime in the future, Paul’s hopeful message seems so far away.

It could not be that the importance of the resurrection is only found in the future, when we die. It could not be that the victory of the resurrection is only for the dead. Surely, the resurrection has something to say about how I am living right now. What are the effects of the resurrection to someone like me existing now? If Jesus Christ rose from the dead, does that affect what I plan to do every time I get up in the morning? If Jesus rose from the dead, does it affect my situation at school or what’s going to happen at work tomorrow?

My interest in the here and now prompted me to ask: “What immediate transformation miracle the resurrection of Jesus had in the lives of the disciples?”

Reading the resurrection narratives, particularly those that happened early in Easter morning, one of the people in the gospels whose life was immediately transformed by the resurrection was Mary Magdalene. Her story can be read from John 20:10-18. Considering the fact that Mary Magdalene came to visit the tomb “while it was still dark” (20:1), the events in the passage may have unfolded at the same exact time when many Christians are still at church during a Sunrise Service. So what was the impact of the resurrection of Christ to His followers on Sunday early morning? We are well-aware that the disciples were disappointing in this aspect, because we read in John 20:19 that on the evening of the day of Jesus’ resurrection, even after hearing from Mary Magdalene that Jesus has already risen (20:18), the disciples remained in their fear (20:19) and doubt (Thomas, 20:24-25). Although the transforming power of the resurrection was experienced by the twelve disciples in the evening, there was still twelve to fourteen hours of lag time.

So, what transformation did Mary Magdalene experience in the light of the risen Lord? John 20:11-18 narrates Mary Magdalene’s mutation akin to a caterpillar wrapped in her own cocoon, bursting forth forth as a beautiful butterfly.

Mary the Mourner

The first portrayal of Mary Magdalene is not actually exemplary. The record says: “Then the disciples went back to their homes. But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb” (20:10-11). Basically, Mary Magdalene was portrayed as a mourner, weeping her heart out while standing outside the tomb (20:11). The disciples already left (20:10), but she remained, not to do anything grand or helpful, but only to cry (20:11). The disciples probably left her there because she was a bit hysterical and her cries have become annoying to the ears. No one was able to console her, so it was best to leave her alone.

It is obvious that Mary Magdalene loved Jesus very much. In fact, she was among the earliest followers and supporters of Jesus Christ. Luke 8:1-3 talks about women who followed Jesus in His ministry, which included Mary Magdalene: “Soon afterward [Jesus] went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with him, and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, and Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s household manager, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their means.” Mary Magdalene loved Jesus very much because she was a recipient of Jesus’ healing and deliverance (8:2). Jesus was her savior from a life of bondage, suffering, humiliation, scorn, and marginalization. Because she was demon-possessed, she was not able to live a good life. She was looked down upon. People suspected that she was a great sinner, which was why she was possessed by demons. She lived a miserable life, with no one showing attention and love to her. So when she encountered Jesus who took notice of her, and helped her, she was full of gratitude. She was used to a life with Jesus. So when Jesus died, she was absolutely devastated. She was a mourner who lost a beloved.

Mary the Muddled

Perhaps due to her emotional turmoil, Mary was not able to recognize Jesus in 20:14-15: “She turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. ¹⁵ Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?’ 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 question to Mary was profound: “Why are you weeping?” The point of the question is simple: the Lord has already risen, but she was still crying. She was still a woman of the past, still grieving because of what happened to Jesus Christ. She still did not get and understand the words of Jesus Christ when He was alive. She was not yet transformed by the resurrection. Her mind was still in disarray. She even thought of Jesus as the gardener who hid the body of Jesus Christ. For her, the only logical explanation for the missing body of Christ is because it was moved, either by friends or enemies. The possibility that Jesus has risen from the dead never crossed her mind.

People who have not yet heard the story of the resurrection are still mourning and muddled. Mary Magdalene was both grieving and confused. This is also the story of people who have no faith in Jesus Christ and in His resurrection. They are trapped in their sorrow over death and are still full of questions. Without knowing the resurrection, our lives remain unchanged by its reality.

Mary the Magnet

Like a sudden twist in a movie, the story says that Mary Magdalene finally recognized Jesus: “Jesus said to her, ‘Mary.’ She turned and said to him in Aramaic, ‘Rabboni!’ (which means Teacher)” (20:16). This part of the story is a major turning point. Her knowledge that Jesus has risen from the dead immediately changed her. She was no longer weeping. She was no longer muddled. There was such clarity and confidence in calling Jesus, “Rabbi!” Her first response was not a confused, “Who are you? Why do you know my name?” It is amazing that Mary knew with absolute certainty that it was Jesus who called her. This is a story that is in stark contrast to the story of the calling of Samuel (1 Samuel 3:1-9). It took three times for the priest Eli to recognize that it was God who was speaking to Samuel (3:5, 6, 8). Mary Magdalene, on the other hand, immediately knew it was Jesus in the first instance.

Big change: Mary was no longer muddled. But what happened next? Apparently, Mary was so excited about the resurrection of Jesus that she held on to Him. This is why 19:17 says: “Jesus said to her, ‘Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father’” (20:17). For Mary to cling to Jesus is quite understandable. In fact, since she met Jesus Christ, she has been clinging to Him. For several years, she followed Jesus Christ and had never left His side (Luke 8:1-3). Even when Jesus was at the cross, when the disciples were nowhere to be seen, Mary Magdalene was among the women who were around Jesus: “standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene” (John 19:25). Mary was a clinger! She was a very needy person. When she lost Jesus Christ in His death, it was hard for her, so when she realized that Jesus was alive, she literally clung to Him. She was a magnet who attached herself to Christ.

Mary the Missionary

Mary’s plan was to never let go of Jesus again. However, Jesus had another plan. The story continues: “Jesus said to her, ‘Do not cling to me, for 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 that he had said these things to her” (20:17-18). Mary’s plan was to remain with Jesus; but Jesus’ plan was to send her. The resurrection turns Christians into missionaries, not magnets. There is a time to be Mary, but the resurrection calls us to be Marthas (Luke 10:38-42). This was precisely what Mary Magdalene did. It was probably with great difficulty, but she still left the presence of Jesus Christ and announced the good news to the disciples (20:18).

If we look at the gospel narratives, that Jesus sends people out from His presence to become witnesses is a part of His grand design for those who encounter Him. Throughout the gospels, Jesus did not gather a lot of people to Himself. Instead, He sent people away. He sent the man He healed of leprosy away: “Go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift Moses commanded, as a testimony to them” (Matt 8:4, NIV; Luke 11:14). He sent the healed paralytica man away: “I say to you, rise, pick up your bed, and go home” (Mark 2:11). He sent the forgiven adulterous woman away: “Go, and from now on sin no more” (John 8:11). In all these passages, Jesus did not want the people to cling to Him. Instead, He sent them away as a testimony to Himself. Even the Samaritan woman at the well was not invited to follow Jesus Christ. She left the company of Jesus in order to tell others about Him (John 4:28-30).

Conclusions

We can be petrified in our sorrows. We can be muddled because of our circumstances. But we can be transformed by the resurrection of Christ and become missionaries. We are not called to stay in or around the tomb. We are not called just to stay with Jesus Christ. We are called to be sent to tell others the good news of Jesus Christ. This is an important resurrection transformation. The problem with us is that we can become clingy, emphasizing our daily devotions and alone time with God. But let us not forget that the first resurrection miracle of transformation resulted in a follower of Jesus Christ turning into a missionary.