“Woman,” he said, “why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?” Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.”

When the full story of Mary in the Garden was read aloud in worship this morning, I was moved to tears by this simple verse. It had never struck me this way before.

Mary, no matter what it took, would have brought Jesus’ body back to the tomb. Even if she had to do it herself – since Peter and John and the other women had left the scene.

‘I will get him,’ she said.

It was one of those moments of amusing spiritual irony – she was speaking to Jesus, but couldn’t recognize Him – made all the more poignant by her simple spunk and deep affection for Him.

And I asked myself: Would I go and get Him?

With the seal on the tomb broken and the governor’s authority breached and the lynch mob still passionate from their victory in executing Him, would I go by myself and get Him?

Do I “get” Him today?

Do I really, fully comprehend who He is; what motivates Him; how humanity balances divinity in His nature?

Of course not.

How many times have I encountered Him, thinking He was just the gardener; not recognizing Him as the planter of Eden?

No, I may not “get” Him today or tomorrow or even in this life.

But some day I will.