MARY IN MOURNING (JOHN 20:1-18)
REFLECTION
“Mary in mourning” is the theme for our reflection. Mourning is the deepest expression of sorrow for the departed, usually reserved for those with whom we share an unbreakable bond. Mary and the other followers of Jesus were already engulfed in grief following the crucifixion, but Mary wept uncontrollably when she discovered that the lifeless body of Jesus was missing from the tomb. Her tears were not merely a sign of loss; they were a testament to her profound love and unshakeable faithfulness. A faithful follower of Jesus offers total commitment, loyalty, and support in every season of life. Today, we shall consider two transformative truths about what it means to be a faithful follower of Jesus Christ:
- A faithful follower remains fearless and steadfast in loyalty to Jesus Christ, even in the darkest hours of mourning.
- A faithful follower experiences the glory of the Lord as a divine reward, even in times of deep sorrow.
Firstly, Mary’s faithfulness was defined by an unmatched courage. While the male disciples remained hidden behind locked doors, Mary proved that she was a fearless and steadfast follower. In John 20:1, we are told, “Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance.” Dear friend, it takes a rare kind of devotion to walk alone in the shadows of the night just to be near Jesus.
When the male disciples were informed of the missing body, they visited the tomb and promptly returned home, perhaps resigned to their loss. Mary, however, stayed. Physically vulnerable and emotionally spent, she fearlessly remained to search for the Master. It was this desperate faithfulness that moved the Lord to encounter her. “Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?’ Thinking he was the gardener, she said, ‘Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.’ Jesus said to her, ‘Mary.’ She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, ‘Rabboni!’ (which means ‘Teacher’)” (John 20:15-16).
How often do we give up when the “body is missing”—when we cannot feel God’s presence or when our prayers seem unanswered? Jesus understands your sorrow and is standing right beside you in your vulnerability. If you remain faithful, you will hear His comforting voice of hope, for He has promised: “…surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20).
Beloved, Mary’s commitment is worthy of our emulation. She was not even looking for a risen Saviour; she was looking for a corpse! She was willing to risk her life to honour a dead man. If she could be that loyal to a body she thought was lifeless, how much more should we be committed to our Living King? In our modern dispensation, many follow Jesus only when it is convenient. We offer excuses instead of sacrifice. We find it “impossible” to attend Bible study programmes or dedicate time to prayer, yet this woman walked through the darkness of a graveyard to find Him. What excuse can we possibly hold up against her example? Paul invites us to this higher standard: “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” (Romans 12:1).
Secondly, we must recognise the glorious reward of such faithfulness. Mary sought a dead body, but because she was steadfast, she found the Living Lord! The glory of God was revealed to her first, proving that Jesus has absolute power over death. “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.” (John 20:17-18).
Jesus honours those who seek Him with all their heart. He promised: “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.” (Matthew 7:7-8). The Psalmist reinforces this: “The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfils the desire of those who fear him; he also hears their cry and saves them.” (Psalms 145:18-19).
The glory of the Lord is not a distant concept; it is a present reality for those who refuse to leave the “tomb” until they find Him. Like Job, who in his greatest affliction declared, “And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God, whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another” (Job 19:26-27), we must hunger for the presence of God.
SUMMARY AND CALL TO ACTION
We have reflected on “Mary in mourning” and seen that true faithfulness is born out of love and expressed through steadfastness and courage. Mary moved from the darkness of the tomb to the light of the Resurrection because she refused to give up.
Call to Action: I challenge you today to move beyond a “convenient” faith. Identify one area of your spiritual life where you have been making excuses—be it prayer, Bible study, or service—and commit to showing up this week, even if it feels “dark” or “lonely.” Like Mary, stay at the feet of Jesus until you hear Him call your name.
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, we thank You for the witness of Mary Magdalene, whose love for You overcame her fear of the dark. Grant us a heart like hers—a heart that seeks You when You seem distant and remains loyal when the world retreats. Forgive us for the times we have followed You only when it was easy. Fill us with the Holy Spirit so that we may be steadfast and fearless, always looking for Your glory even in our moments of mourning. May we, like Mary, be messengers of the Good News that You are risen and You are with us always. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.
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