Wednesday of Easter Week
Rabboni. – John 20:16.
Mary Magdalene stood without, at the sepulcher, weeping, and, as she wept, she stooped down and looked into the sepulcher, and saw two angels in white sitting, the one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. And they said to her: “Woman, why weepest thou?” (John 20:11-13). She said to them: “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid Him” (v. 13b). And when she had said this, she turned back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her: “Woman, why weepest thou? Whom seekest thou?” (vv. 14-15a). She, supposing Him to be the gardener, said to Him: “Sir, if thou have borne Him hence, tell me where thou hast laid Him, and I will take Him away” (v. 15b). Jesus said to her: “Mary” (v, 16a)! She turned and said unto Him, “Rabboni, which is to say: Master” (v. 16b)! Jesus said unto her: “Touch Me not, for I am not yet ascended to My Father, but go to My brethren and say unto them, I ascend unto My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God” (v. 17).
Thus did the Savior, when He had risen early on the first day of the week, Easter Sunday. Mary Magdalene, from whom Jesus “had cast [out] seven devils” (Mark 16:9), was the first to see the risen Savior. And highly enraptured, she said: “Rabboni!” He told her that there was no need for her to hold on to Him, since He was not yet ascended into heaven. After His ascension, after removing His visible presence from His disciples, He would be more intimately, and more closely united with them. By His Holy Spirit, working through His Word, He would enlighten them truly to know and appreciate their blessed union with Him, and with God the Father. And this grace we all possess. Knowing the risen and ascended Lord through His Word, and knowing Him to be present, rich in mercy, we, too, may say in rapture: “Rabboni!”
PRAYER. – Rabboni! Lord Jesus, Thou livest and art with me, full of grace. Thou hast procured salvation for me. Thy Father is my Father, Thy God is my God. I am blessed. Grant me Thy continued grace, O Lord, to keep loving Thee and to keep rejoicing in Thee. With Thy kind, saving hand, keep leading me through death to where I may see Thee in Thy resurrected and glorified body, and where, in never-ending rapture, I may again and again exclaim: “Rabboni!” Amen.
He lives to bless me with His love,
He lives to plead for me above;
He lives my hungry soul to feed,
He lives to help in time of need.
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He lives to grant me rich supply,
He lives to guide me with His eye;
He lives to comfort me when faint,
He lives to hear my soul’s complaint.
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He lives and grants me daily breath,
He lives, and I shall conquer death;
He lives my mansion to prepare,
He lives to bring me safely there.
(Hymn 200, st. 3, 4, and 7; TLH)
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