Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.

They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?”

“They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.

He asked 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.” John 20:11-15

Twice in this short passage, Mary Magdalene is asked why she is crying. On the surface level it’s a somewhat strange question to ask. Jesus has just been crucified. As one of his loyal followers, I’d actually be concerned if Mary wasn’t crying.

But of course she is crying because the Lord she loves and serves is missing.

Yet she is asked by the angels, as to why she is crying, and also by Jesus himself, who she is yet to recognise.

That it itself is a point of interest. For, why didn’t she recognise him? As a loyal supporter, Mary knew exactly what Jesus looked like. For her to not recognise Jesus must mean that his resurrection body’s appearance must have been different to what he looked like before.

As to what that looked like, we can only speculate. But Mary was confused enough by Jesus’ appearance that she thought he was the gardener.

I think this is one of those moments when God lets symbolism come out to play. Jesus looked like the gardener to Mary’s eyes…. Because in many ways he is the gardener.

God is the divine gardener. And Jesus is responsible for the first fruits of the church – because he is them. I’m highly doubtful that it is a mere coincident that Mary thought that Jesus was the gardener. God is making a point – look what my garden has grown.

And this, I think is the reason why Mary gets asked twice as to why she is crying.

For humans it would be odd if Mary wasn’t crying.

For angelic beings and the risen Lord Jesus it is odd that she is.

For the first fruits are in the garden. Jesus has risen from the dead. How in heaven’s name could anyone be crying? The victory has been won.

So the angels are confused at her tears, but they’ve got a bit of a head start on the intel, unlike Mary.

The angels know what’s happened. Mary does not. In fact Mary doesn’t have a clue what’s gone on.

“Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.”

She says. To the man himself. Because He’s standing right in front of her in the garden.

She just doesn’t know it.

Yet.

Yours understanding Mary’s tears,

Alison