“Mary in the Garden”
The gospel of John begins with the declaration of John the Baptist upon seeing Jesus:
“Here is the Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world!” (Jn 1:29, 36).
And two disciples follow Jesus and Jesus asks them “What are you looking for?”, “What do you want?” (Jn 1:38).
Their answer is “Where are you staying?”
Jesus answer is “Come and see” (Jn 1:39).
That day it was relatively easy to do that. To go to where Jesus was staying.
A few verses later (Jn 1:43-46) – we find Philip using the exact same invitation to Nathaniel with reference to Jesus.
“Come and see”.
The spirit of this invitation runs through the Gospel of John.
The Samaritan woman (Jn 4:29) invites the townsfolk to “Come and see a man who told me everything I have ever done!”
But as the story of Jesus unfolds – it becomes increasingly difficult to “come and see”; to see where Jesus “lives” so to speak.
By John 6 – many disciples are turning away.
They cannot stay with Him. It is too difficult.
John 15 gives the vision of what is possible to those who do take up the invitation and “come and see”.
Jesus speaks of abiding with Him. The connection so close that He speaks of it in terms of a vine and branches.
It is so powerful – He talks there about love and laying one’s life down.
This is a majestic vision. This is the ultimate in responding to the invitation of “come and see”; of abiding with Christ and He with you.
The life of faith is about this kind of searching and obedience.
And so we come to the end of John’s story.
The story of the empty tomb.
We can read it smiling because we know what is unfolding there.
We know why the tomb is empty.
We know the identity of the Gardener speaking to Mary.
But it helps to feel and experience the weight of that moment for Mary.
To stay with the story in that moment – and stand with her.
…because many find themselves where she was. Still today.
But do not know how to live there.
They respond to the call to “come and see”; to go where Jesus is; to abide with Him – only to “arrive” at - what is to all intents and purposes – a grave.
A place of death.
And Jesus is not there.
The anguished cry is “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him” (Jn 20:2).
The anguish is shared with others who are equally distressed and unsure of all that was happening.
But before long – it’s just Mary left at the tomb.
Still with that anguished statement.
Alone.
Alone?
Except for the two angels.
“Woman, why are you weeping?” (Jn 20:13).
Her response.
“They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.”
All the Gospels describe the presence of angels at the tomb.
And every account of the angels includes fear and terror at their presence and the angels trying to calm them down.
Except here.
Not Mary.
No record of fear here - such is the anguish.
And then Jesus Himself (the Gardener) takes up the question of the angels and He too receives the same response.
“Jesus has been taken. Just show me where…”
Right here is the answer to the question asked at the beginning of John’s Gospel.
“Where are You staying?”
“Come and see!”
And so there she is. In a graveyard looking for a body.
This is where it has led to.
This is what it has come to.
It is the end – and Jesus is not there. As hoped for. As promised.
Take in the scene.
Take in the moment.
The sense of hopelessness; the sense of panic; the sense that there is nothing beyond this; the sense of abandonment; of terrible loneliness.
A grave.
A missing body.
And no-one being much help.
What happens when you have followed Jesus and this is where it leads to?
To a desolate place.
A barren, confusing and lonely place.
Take in this scene and hold it deep in your heart.
Whatever you face; wherever you are – because of what Easter Sunday celebrates – you are always in the presence of an Empty Tomb; angels trying to conceal their delight at what is unfolding; and what appears to be a Gardener.
You live in the age of Resurrection.
And even though you have come to such a place – seeking to find the place where Christ is - only to be overwhelmed with confusion and grief – there He is.
Even though it appears that He is absent.
Even though your heart is saying “They have taken away my Lord and I do not know where they have laid Him.”
And is it just a co-incidence that John describes how Mary mistook Jesus for a Gardener?
Given that the goal is to abide in the Vine (Jn 15)?
So there we stand.
In front of this garden tomb – having endeavoured to respond to the invitation to “Come and see”; and regardless of what it is that is afflicting us and the world; we now need to comprehend the difference the Resurrection makes.
Paul would later write about suffering and the Resurrection.
And he puts it especially well.
He doesn’t suggest for a moment that you have one or the other. But both.
"I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the sharing of his sufferings by becoming like him in his death, if somehow I may attain the resurrection from the dead." (Philippians 3:10-11).
Suffering has not become any easier in the light of the Resurrection.
It still hurts – it still overwhelms.
But it no longer “Destroys”. Not really.
But - you might protest – it does! Look at my life! Look at the wreckage!
I know.
I feel it myself at times.
But the Resurrection of Christ has changed things.
Life can no longer be extinguished. Darkness no longer prevails.
God is present.
If there is a feature of the Resurrection accounts – it is this.
Grief, pain, fear and confusion abounded – but Jesus was present yet it took time for people to recognise Him.
We still suffer – but we leave in the age of the Resurrection.
Life has a new name.
It used to be “death” – it is now “Resurrection”.
Come and see!
Presented By: Rev GM New