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Why is it that Mary Magdalene did not recognize Jesus when He appeared to her?

He had not yet ascended to heaven, so wouldn't He have looked the same?

John 20:15

NKJV - 15 Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?" She, supposing Him to be the gardener, said to Him, "Sir, if You have carried Him away, tell me where You have laid Him, and I will take Him away.

Clarify Share Report Asked April 24 2016 Data Liana Cohen Supporter

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Mini Tim Maas Supporter Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U.S. Army
Although I'm not clear on the meaning of your comment about Jesus not having received His glorified body (since, to me, His resurrected body WAS His glorified body, as indicated by His ability to appear and disappear instantaneously), I think that it may have been the combined effect of Mary not having really absorbed or "processed" the idea or possibility of Him rising from the dead (as shown by her comment about His body having been taken away from His grave), as well as (perhaps) not even looking fully at Him when He first spoke to her (out of either grief or deference), until His speaking of her name prompted her recognition. (If she had looked at Him, she would have known that He was not the gardener.)

Alternatively (or in addition), although it is not stated in Scripture, there may have been a momentary veiling of her recognition of Him, as happened with the two disciples with whom the risen Christ walked on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:16).

April 24 2016 0 responses Vote Up Share Report


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1343027961 Philip Farris Supporter
One reason we won’t recognize each other by sight is that we won’t have the same body in heaven that we do on the earth.
1Cor. 15:49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.
1Cor. 15:50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
1Cor. 15:51 ¶ Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
1Cor. 15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
1Cor. 15:53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

We don’t know what the resurrection body will look like, so we won’t know each other the first time we see them.
We’ll get reacquainted with them by their spirit.
1John 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

One possible way that we may be known is by our works...
Rev. 14:13 ¶ And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.

Somehow, John saw some differences when he looked at the people who were standing before God on judgment day.
Rev. 20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

Since we don’t get old and die anymore, we won’t be known by how old we look, the color of our hair, etc.
Rev. 21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

December 16 2016 0 responses Vote Up Share Report


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Bell b final4 B H Bell Supporter
The same thing happened to the disciples when they encountered Jesus on the road after his resurrection, as recorded in Luke 24: 15-16.

15 While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. 16 But their eyes were kept from recognizing him.

I submit that the reason they did not recognize Jesus was because, in their minds, Jesus was dead and buried, so when they met a living man (Jesus), it would not have occurred to them that he could possibly be Jesus.

I think at the time, Jesus was still in his human body because, later, when he joined his disciples, they gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he ate it before them. Luke 24-42

December 16 2016 0 responses Vote Up Share Report


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Mini Mark Caplinger Supporter
I believe that when Mary had last seen Jesus hanging on the cross that he did not appear to be even human. He was scourged beyond belief and his beard hairs plucked out. Taking on all the sins of the world probably altered his appearance also. He probably had massive sores and stuff like leprosy even. The disciples did not know that Jesus would rise from the grave after 3 days and nights. It was told to them by Christ but it was also Kept from them, that they did not understand. If the disciples would have understood and believed Christ's statement about rising again, they would have probably been camped out at the tomb.

December 16 2016 0 responses Vote Up Share Report


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Mini Jeremy Lesslar Supporter
I believe Mary was not expecting to see Jesus alive at all! She thought that His body had been stolen from the tomb. She recognised Him by His voice. “My sheep hear my voice and I know them and they follow me.” (John 10:27).

February 09 2019 0 responses Vote Up Share Report


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