On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’” Then they remembered his words.

Luke 24:1-8 NIV

No record exists of Jesus showing himself specifically to Mary after his resurrection, but since “he presented himself to [the disciples] and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive” (Acts 1:3), I have no doubt that Mary saw her son in the flesh again! Perhaps she was part of the delegation of women who ran to the tomb early in the morning. Perhaps she was with John because it was now his responsibility to care for her. We don’t know if she had private words with him but we know enough.

Her son was alive! God had fulfilled the promise given to her by the angel. Her treasured memories and pondered thoughts finally made sense! The one born to save his people from their sins, saved her, his own mother. What joy! Her soul that had been pierced over and over was now healed by her Savior’s piercing!

As Mary was with Jesus through his whole life and death, she was there witnessing the power of the resurrection and the birth of the new church (Acts 1:14). Tradition suggests she ultimately ended up in Ephesus with John, serving the church there.

Mary is the Favored One. Because of God’s grace alone, she was chosen to bring the Savior into the world and raise him.

Mary is the Blessed One. She surrendered from the start to God’s will and believed that what he said would come to pass. She was blessed because she obeyed and became a member of the Kingdom of God.

And Mary is the Pierced One. She felt every prick of anxiety, rejection, and pain that Jesus felt. And as a result, she found the joy of salvation.

With grace came blessing and pain. But Mary endured and set a high bar for us of how to be a disciple—Surrender, Believe, Treasure and Ponder.

Can you say with Mary, “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant” (Luke 1:46-48)?

REFLECTION AND DISCUSSION

What about Mary’s life and example do you most relate to?

What is God telling you that you need to follow and obey in the days ahead?

How does knowing that Jesus was pierced for you bring you healing?

How can you model your life after Mary?

PRAYER

Savior God, thank you for demonstrating your power over evil and death in your resurrection. Thank you that your wounds healed Mary and that they heal me. Give me your power to testify of this to the world and to become a true disciple as Mary was.

For an edited version of this, please purchase Favored Blessed Pierced: A Fresh Look at Mary of Nazareth, available on Amazon.