11 ¶But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre,
12 And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.
13 And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him.
14 And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.
15 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.
16 Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master. (John 20:11-16)
Mary’s weeping at the tomb is a situation of both pathos and absurdity. When I read it, I feel for Mary’s grief and loss, but I also can’t help grinning. There is something oddly humorous about how she doesn’t recognize Christ and tells her loss to Him without knowing that she no longer has reason to cry.
This leads to the question—why does Jesus take such a curious way of revealing himself? Why doesn’t He tap her on the shoulder and say, “Here I am! Ta-da!” Perhaps such a method would have elicited anger and disbelief.. So instead, He goes at it indirectly, asking why she is crying, hearing her explanation, and then calling her attention with her name so that she will look up and recognize Him.
It seems Jesus knows how to treat a grieving woman—listen to her troubles first, sympathize, and then solve the problem.
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