Episode 1194
What Did Jesus Mean When He Told Mary 'Don't Cling'? (John 20:11-21)
The primary focus of this podcast episode revolves around the profound notion that resurrection is fundamentally a personal experience before it is a doctrinal assertion. We delve into the poignant account from the Gospel of John, wherein Mary Magdalene encounters the risen Christ, a moment marked by intimacy and recognition, as Jesus calls her by name. This narrative underscores the relational aspect of faith, suggesting that the essence of resurrection transcends mere intellectual acknowledgment and instead embodies a deep, personal connection. Moreover, we reflect on the radical implications of Mary being chosen as the first messenger of the resurrection, challenging contemporary hierarchies regarding whose voices are deemed credible within spiritual discourse. We invite our listeners to contemplate areas in their own lives where they may be clinging to outdated beliefs, encouraging a transformative journey towards a more profound understanding of their faith.
Takeaways:
- The resurrection encounter signifies a deeply personal relationship, transcending mere doctrinal understanding.
- Mary Magdalene's experience illustrates that recognition comes through personal connection, not just intellectual assent.
- Jesus' directive to Mary emphasizes the importance of sharing one's experience with others, particularly marginalized voices.
- The narrative challenges societal norms by presenting a woman as the first witness to the resurrection, subverting traditional hierarchies.
- I invite you to contemplate areas in your life where you may be clinging to outdated beliefs that hinder personal growth.
- The podcast underscores the significance of being called by name, which fosters a profound sense of belonging and identity.
Links referenced in this episode:
The "Daily Bible Refresh" is presented each day by Rev. Dr. Brad Miller who has a goal of speaking a bit of the bible into two million ears (one million people) in three years (2025-2028).
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Brad served as a local church pastor for forty years and has a background in radio and podcasting. Moreover, he is a life-long student of The Bible.
He believes in the words of Jesus that “scripture is fulfilled in your hearing” (Luke 4:21)
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Transcript
Hello my friend Dr. Brad Miller here with the Daily Bible Refresh.
Speaker A:This is your daily reading of the Bible from a progressive point of view.
Speaker A:In a bit I will read the New Testament lessons selected from the Revised Common Lectionary for this very day.
Speaker A:The reading is understandable.
Speaker A:I use the Message version relatable.
Speaker A:Please listen to the points to ponder and applicable with action steps you can take.
Speaker A:We pray and are done in less than 10 minutes.
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Speaker A: lionaires a million people by: Speaker A:You can help by saving and subscribing to the podcast and tagging your friends.
Speaker A:Here's today's reading.
Speaker B: Today from the Gospel of John: Speaker B:And as she wept, she knelt to look into the tomb and saw two angels sitting there, dressed in white, one at the head, one at the foot of where Jesus's body had been laid.
Speaker B:And they said to her, woman, why do you weep?
Speaker B:They took my master, she said, and I don't know where they put him.
Speaker B:And after she said this, she turned away and saw Jesus standing there, but she didn't recognize him.
Speaker B:And Jesus spoke to her, woman, why do you weep?
Speaker B:Who are you looking for?
Speaker B:She, thinking he was the gardener, said, sir, if you took him, tell me where you put him so I can care for him.
Speaker B:And Jesus said, mary, turning to face him, she said in Hebrew, arabani, meaning teacher.
Speaker B:And Jesus said, don't cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father.
Speaker B:Go to my brothers and tell them I ascend to my Father and your Father, my God and your God.
Speaker B:Mary Magdalene went telling the news to the disciples, I saw the Master, and she told him everything he said to her to believe.
Speaker B:Later that day the disciples had gathered together, but fearful of the Jews, and had locked all their doors in the house.
Speaker B:And Jesus entered, stood among them, and said, peace be to you.
Speaker B:Then he showed him his hands at his side.
Speaker B:The disciples, seeking the Master with their own eyes, were awestruck.
Speaker B:And Jesus repeated this greeting, peace to you, just as the Father sent me, I sent you.
Speaker B:That ends the reading.
Speaker B:I invite you now to go with me a little deeper.
Speaker B:A couple of points to ponder, so let's go.
Speaker B:Point number one is this point to ponder.
Speaker B:Number one, Resurrection is personal before it's doctrinal so that's an important thing to say.
Speaker B:As I read this passage, Mary is standing right in front of the risen Jesus and she really doesn't get it.
Speaker B:She didn't know who he is.
Speaker B:She has no idea it's him, and she thinks, maybe he's the gardener.
Speaker B:Angels didn't break through her grief, and the empty linens didn't break through.
Speaker B:Even the direct question didn't break through.
Speaker B:What broke through was her name.
Speaker B:He said the name Mary.
Speaker B:That's it.
Speaker B:That's the moment.
Speaker B:He just said her name.
Speaker B:And that changed everything.
Speaker B:So from a progressive theological standpoint, this is enormously significant.
Speaker B:So much of religious culture puts the emphasis on getting the doctrine right, reciting the correct creed, holding the proper beliefs about resurrection.
Speaker B:But John's account simply suggests something is far more intimate is happening here.
Speaker B:The resurrection encounter isn't primarily intellectual.
Speaker B:It's relational.
Speaker B:It's personal.
Speaker B:It's the difference between knowing about someone and being known by them by name.
Speaker B:Now, my granddaughters can be in a loud, chaotic room full of people, and if the moment they hear my voice calling their names, everything else falls away, they can run into me.
Speaker B:That's not theology.
Speaker B:That's this love operating in language and in voice recognition in close range.
Speaker B:I think that's exactly what John is showing us here.
Speaker B:So progressive reading the moment, ask, what if resurrection isn't primarily a doctrine we defend, but an experience of being intimately known, called by name even the middle of your deepest grief?
Speaker B:Point to consider, point to ponder.
Speaker B:Number two, don't cling.
Speaker B:Mary was the first one sent.
Speaker B:Jesus says something that sounds almost jarring in the middle of this tender moment.
Speaker B:He says, mary, don't cling to me.
Speaker B:Mary just found what she thought was lost.
Speaker B:And she, of course she wants to hold on to him.
Speaker B:But Jesus redirects her.
Speaker B:Very interesting.
Speaker B:Don't cling, but go.
Speaker B:Go and tell others.
Speaker B:And this is where this passage really becomes radical.
Speaker B:See, in the first century, a woman's testimony was not considered legally credible.
Speaker B:Women were routinely excluded from positions of religious authority and public witness.
Speaker B:And yet Jesus deliberately chose Mary Magdalene as the first person to carry the resurrection news.
Speaker B:The first preacher of the risen Christ was a woman that the religious establishment of her day would have dismissed entirely.
Speaker B:So progressive theology takes this seriously.
Speaker B:It pushes us to ask what we might be dismissing today, whose voices we are treating as less credible, less worthy, less central to the story.
Speaker B:The resurrection account itself challenges every hierarchy we construct around who gets to speak, who gets to lead, who gets and whose experience of God is considered valid.
Speaker B:I've been doing a cancer related podcast for a long time now.
Speaker B:Some of the most powerful life giving voices I've ever encountered belong to people the world might overlook.
Speaker B:People in hospital beds, people with complicated histories, medically, personally, all kinds of ways.
Speaker B:People whose names rarely show up in the speaker lineup at a big conference.
Speaker B:You Jesus apparently had a similar preference and the disciples locked their doors.
Speaker B:He showed up there too.
Speaker B:Not to scold him for being afraid, just with a simple word.
Speaker B:Peace to you.
Speaker B:Now go.
Speaker B:So here's your action step this week.
Speaker B:Think about one place in your faith or your life where you're still clinging, holding onto an old framework, an old version of God, an old story about yourself that needs to be released.
Speaker B:Write it down and ask what might I be able to do to become what I might be able to become if I stopped holding onto that old thing and started moving toward a new thing instead?
Speaker B:We're going to come back and have a prayer here in just a minute, but did want you to know that we have a great resource for you called the ABC123 Bible study method and Love for you to pick it up for free at our website voiceofgoddaily.com let's pray.
Speaker B:God who calls us each by name, break through our grief and confusion and our clinging and send us like Mary to tell what we've seen.
Speaker A:Amen my friend.
Speaker A:I am delighted you chose to join me for today's reading.
Speaker A:The Daily Bible Refresh is coming completely listener supported.
Speaker A: on years, a million people by: Speaker A:I would be so grateful if you would go to voiceofgodddaily.com and share your gift of any amount.
Speaker A:Thanks much.
Speaker A:My name is Dr. Brad Miller and I'll be right here tomorrow with your Daily Bible Refresh.
Speaker A:Please subscribe and tag your friends until tomorrow.
Speaker A:Remember, God's loyal love doesn't run out.
Speaker A:His merciful love hasn't dried up, it's created new every morning.
