Insightful Musings on the Scriptures

by

Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67

We did our typical routine this morning—with Becki and the dogs joining me for a walk/jog up the hill and back. For some reason the dogs seem to be particularly pumped with excitement when Becki participates in the outing along with the ball-tossing. Back at the house I put together a trip to Wood-Mizer Portland to pick up sawmill blades that had been resharpened. The dogs came along for that excursion too. I don’t know why, but they are just excited to go anywhere with me. I guess that’s one reason K-9 companions are so popular. It was tempting to include Mt. Hood Timberline on the itinerary to allow a little play time in the snow. The mountain is getting a pretty good dump of snow now lately…and a couple lifts are now operating. That will have to wait.

I’m choosing to give some attention to Jesus’ words to the very distraught Mary Magdalene within this reading. First, I note that He initially addresses her by the impersonal name for a mature human female—“Woman” (v.15). That made it appear that she was a stranger to Him. He not only allowed that implication, I think He intended it.

Then He asks two questions:

1. “Why are you crying?”
   Of course Jesus knew exactly why she was crying. But He raises the question to help her objectively examine for herself the real cause for her subjective anguish.


2. “Who is it you are looking for?”
   Again, Jesus knew full well who she was looking for. But I think He was helping her to focus on the WHO part of the question. Was she just looking for a dead man?—a man she had previously hoped and trusted to be the Messiah?—but now represented huge disappointment, having allowed himself to be so shamefully murdered? Did she have any recollection of Jesus’ promise made to Martha back in chapter 11—a statement that Mary Magdalene very likely heard for herself? “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26).

Mary doesn’t even try to answer those questions—she’s much too consumed by her dismal circumstances and emotional stress to be thinking very clear—UNTIL Jesus speaks again. All He said was, “Mary.” He spoke her name—HER name! Suddenly lights came on. This IS Jesus! Jesus IS alive! He IS NOT dead! He KNOWS me! He knows ME! He KNOWS my past, my struggle, my pain, my shame, my present, my future—He knows it all! And He knows that HE IS MY ONLY HOPE!

Here’s what I believe Jesus wants to say to you as much as to me—He wants to say, “_____________.” (Fill in your own name.) He desires to be a PERSONAL Savior and Lord to you.