“Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, why are you weeping? For whom are you looking?’ Supposing him to be the gardener…” (John 20v15). Many of us in the last few weeks will have heard or read these words. But how many will have paused to ponder this significance of Mary’s supposition?
What is it about Jesus’ resurrection body that the first witness takes Him for “the gardener”? Why not the caretaker or security guard or a passerby? One might speculate. Perhaps Jesus had been tending a budding vine. Or, His hands in the soil, a sprouting mustard seed. Or, among the trees, a fruiting orange. Perhaps, perhaps not.
But either way, why would John mention it at all? That should give us pause. This is after all John’s Gospel, renowned both for eyewitness detail not found elsewhere and for rich theological reflection. Nothing is included by accident.
Setting the record straight on climate 'alarmism'
"Peace, peace," they say, when there is no peace. [1]"Don’t worry, everything’s fine, carry on as you are" – …