John the apostle wrote how, “the first day of the week came Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulcher, and saw the stone taken away from the sepulcher. Then she ran, and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and said unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulcher, and we know not where they have laid him. Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulcher. So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulcher. And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in. Then came Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulcher, and saw the linen clothes lie, And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself. Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulcher, and he saw, and believed. For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead. Then the disciples went away again unto their own home”, and in chapter twenty and verse eleven of his book John shared how, “Mary stood without at the sepulcher weeping” where we read:
But Mary stood without at the sepulcher weeping:
and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulcher,
The verse begins, “But Mary stood without at the sepulcher weeping:” John began with the words, “But Mary” which means “however, nonetheless, notwithstanding and moreover Mary whose name means their rebellion” “stood without at the sepulcher” or “was standing outside of the cenotaph, grave or tomb” “weeping” which means “mourning, lamenting and bewailing”. John shared how “Mary Magdalene” stayed at Jesus' empty tomb after “Simon Peter and John” went home, and she was crying and lamenting over the absence of His body.
The verse continues, “and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulcher,” John added the words, “and as she wept” or “and while and during the time she, Mary, mourned, lamented and bewailed”, “she stooped down” which means “she, Mary, bent down and bowed forward”, “and looked into the sepulcher” or “and carefully inspected and peered within the cenotaph, grave or tomb”. John shared how “Mary” continued to “lament and weep” but bent low to peer inside the empty tomb of Jesus.
When we think through John's words in this verse, we learn how “Mary Magdalene” stayed behind after Jesus' disciples, “Simon Peter and John”, left Jesus' empty grave. “Mary's” sorrow and bewailing continued as she pondered what she discovered, and she bowed forward to look into the empty tomb. We shall see what happens to her in our next verse, however for now let us consider the “sorrow” of “Mary” and her intense love she was displaying for her Lord Jesus. God wants to have a personal relationship with every person through His Son Jesus, and when they “love” Him in the manner of “Mary”, He will forgive their sins and grant them everlasting life. Those who are wise will carefully consider the behavior of “Mary” and yield to her “Savior and Lord” Jesus in the loving manner she displayed.
Next time John shares how Mary, “saw two angels in white sitting”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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