“Don’t cling to Me,” Jesus told her, “for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to My brothers and tell them that 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 she told them what He had said to her. John 20:17-18 HCSB
I volunteered at the Senior PGA Championship when it was held at Valhalla Country Club in Louisville, Kentucky. My assignment was to record the scores on the giant score board near the practice area for every player for each hole. When I was not doing my job, I had the opportunity to watch the professional golfers. During the practice rounds I was able to request autographs. I was excited to be able to actually see many professional golfers I had watched on television while growing up.
Mary was not expecting to actually see Jesus alive. Imagine the excitement she must have felt as she actually recognized that Jesus was alive and then hugged Him. Jesus was a real person. This verse confirms the bodily resurrection of Jesus. He was a physical person. Jesus gave her the assignment of going and telling His disciples that He was alive. She probably ran to where the disciples were to tell them the good news that she had actually seen the Lord.
Challenge: Mary’s assignment is the same assignment that every believer has been given – to testify to others the Resurrected Lord. To whom can you proclaim that Jesus is alive and lives today?