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NASB | John 20:11 ¶ But Mary was standing outside the tomb weeping; and so, as she wept, she stooped and looked into the tomb; |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | John 20:11 ¶ But Mary [who had returned] was standing outside the tomb sobbing; and so, as she wept, she stooped down and looked into the tomb; |
Bible Question:
John 20:11-16 Why do you suppose Mary recognized Jesus when He called her name? |
Bible Answer: Great question. Jesus was not recognized immediately in 2 other instances: "But when the day was now breaking, Jesus stood on the beach; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus." (John 21:4). And on the road to Emmaus, "But their eyes were prevented from recognizing Him." (Luke 24:16) Why should Jesus not be, or want to be instantly recognized? Initially, Mary Magdalene thinks Jesus is a gardener, indicating that the physical evidence of His ordeal was either limited in scope, healed entirely, or veiled from her sight. Recognition comes upon hearing Him speak her name, as though a wall of sight had first to be breached for her heart to hear her master’s voice. This kind of sensory and cognitive circuit jamming is vintage Jesus, but it also causes His listener to deploy her heart antennae to catch a signal from the divine. Jesus has always been the infinite master of this kind of drama. Jesus takes similarly dramatic license on the road to Emmaus when, “…beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.” And later in the town itself, “When He had reclined at the table with them, He took the bread and blessed it, and breaking it, He began giving it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him; and He vanished from their sight.” (Luke 24:27, 30-31) Could you find a jazzier exit in Shakespeare? It’s not clear whether Jesus opened their eyes or whether something about Him, His new physical nature perhaps, required that they be brought to some breaking point of insight. This breaking point also seems to follow physical exertion, as in John 21.4, where Jesus’ identity is concealed until after the Apostles heed His advice and land a huge catch after a long day of fishless fishing: “Jesus said to them, ‘Come and have breakfast.’ None of the disciples ventured to question Him, ‘Who are You?’ knowing that it was the Lord.” (Joh 21:12) In each of the 3 scenes the cast shared an intense longing for our Lord which He exploited (almost comically) to maximize the effect and teaching of His individualized, custom-tailored revelation. In each case Jesus had a specific lesson to impart with a mode of delivery uniquely geared to the scene and characters in question. For Mary He was revealed after hearing; in Emmaus after meditating on His word; by the Sea of Tiberias, after physically performing His command. Jesus was revealed through hearing, meditating and doing. It sounds familiar, so maybe there’s a lesson here. Other than that, it’s a mystery to me. And that Thomas, what a pip! He had to see, hear and touch, all at once. I love Jesus’ reply, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.” Hope this helps. Colin |
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Questions and/or Subjects for John 20:11 | Author | ||
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shael | ||
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Emmaus | ||
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flinkywood |