When the disciples learned that the stone had been rolled away from the tomb that was supposed to contain Jesus they ran to investigate. The writer of John wants us to be sure that we know he outran Peter. Instead of seeing a body wrapped in cloth they just saw the linens neatly folded. Knowing the whole story, it’s easy for us to point at the folly of the disciples. Jesus told them he would return several times. But if you looked closely at any time Jesus taught the disciples, you would see that he needed to also explain what he meant multiple times. We laugh at the disciple’s history of not getting it, until we remember all the times we have missed things that should have been obvious.

One of the people near the tomb was Mary Magdalene. As she stood there confused and weeping two angels appeared to her, and asked her why she was crying. This is what we find in John 20:13-16

She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” 14 Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher).

Mary, so lost in her confusion and grief, couldn’t recognize that the one she was looking for was standing right in front of her. How often does this happen to us? We get so worked up that we can’t recognize a solution that is right in front of our faces. Once Mary recognized that Jesus was there with her, her entire countenance changes. In verse 18 she announces to the other disciples, “I have seen the Lord!”

There are times when we need to slow down from the frenetic pace of life and realize that Jesus is standing right there with us.