John 20:13 Meaning: Why Mary Wept at the Empty Tomb
They asked her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I don’t know where they have laid him.”
And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him.
And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him.
And they say to her, `Woman, why dost thou weep?' she saith to them, `Because they took away my Lord, and I have not known where they laid him;'
And they say to her, Woman, why dost thou weep? She says to them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him.
Meaning in one sentence
Why did Mary weep at the empty tomb even when angels asked? John 20:13 shows grief that has not yet recognized the resurrection.
Context
Mary Magdalene had watched Jesus die. She saw where they laid Him. Now, early on the first day of the week, she came to the tomb and found the stone rolled away. She ran to tell Peter and John, then followed them back. After they left, she stayed. Alone. Still weeping.
She stooped to look inside. Two angels sat where the body had been, one at the head, one at the feet. They asked her a question she could not answer yet: “Woman, why are you weeping?”
Her reply came from a heart still anchored to Friday. She did not say, “He is risen.” She said, “They have taken away my Lord, and I don’t know where they have laid him.” The empty tomb did not mean resurrection to her. It meant another loss.
Key Words
Two Greek words carry the weight of Mary’s sorrow. The verb for weeping (klaiō) means more than quiet tears. It describes loud, open lament, the kind of crying that happens at a grave. Mary was not composed. Her grief was raw and unrestrained.
The verb for taken away (airō) means to lift up and carry off. She thought someone had moved the body, perhaps the gardener or the authorities. The word suggests an act of removal, not of resurrection.
And then the word Lord (kurios). But she did not say “the Lord.” She said “my Lord.” This was personal. She belonged to Him. His loss was her loss. The Cambridge Bible notes that in speaking to strangers, Mary represented the relationship as deeply personal. These words together show a grief that is both fierce and intimate.
How Christians Read This Verse
Across traditions, commentators note the same thing: Mary’s love was deep, but her understanding was clouded. Matthew Henry called it “the constancy and fervency of Mary Magdalene’s affection.” Calvin saw the angels’ question as a gentle reproof, mingled with comfort, they asked why she wept, hinting that tears were no longer needed. Gill observed that the angels intended to rebuke her grief and point her toward joy. The Cambridge Bible adds that Mary’s words express the burden of her thoughts since she first saw the stone moved. No tradition scolds her. They see a woman so devoted to her Lord that she cannot yet grasp what He had promised.
A common misunderstanding
Some assume Mary’s weeping shows a failure to believe Jesus would rise again. In fact, the Gospel says plainly that the disciples “didn’t know the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead” (John 20:9). Mary was not doubting a promise she knew. She simply did not expect the resurrection. Her tears came from love, not from weak faith. She thought the body was stolen, and that was the last thing she could bear.
Living This Out
Maybe this week you are weeping over something that feels final. A relationship ended. A hope that died. A door that closed and you cannot see what comes next. You keep going back to the place where you last saw it, but it is empty.
Mary could not see past her loss. But while she was still looking for a dead body, the living Lord was standing behind her. He did not scold her for not seeing sooner. He asked a question and then He called her name.
This week, if you are stuck in grief, keep bringing it to God. The emptiness of the tomb is not the end. He is nearer than you think.
Main takeaway: Your deepest grief does not keep Jesus from drawing near; He comes even before you recognize Him.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
Mary was very sad because she thought someone had taken Jesus’ body away. But Jesus was alive! He was right behind her. Sometimes we feel sad and don’t see that God is with us.
For ages 9, 12
Mary Magdalene stayed at the tomb when everyone else left. She was so upset that even when she saw angels, she kept crying. She thought she had lost Jesus forever. But Jesus was standing right there, waiting to show her He was alive. Sometimes we get so focused on our problems that we miss what God is doing. Mary teaches us that it is okay to cry, but also to keep our eyes open for Jesus.
Questions People Ask
Why did Mary not recognize the angels in the tomb?
Mary was so absorbed in her grief that she did not stop to consider who they were. The Bible does not say she was afraid of them, which is unusual. Her love and sorrow made her focus only on finding Jesus’ body, not on the supernatural messengers before her.
Why does Mary say 'my Lord' instead of 'the Lord'?
The Cambridge Bible explains that in speaking to strangers, Mary refers to the relationship as personal. She had experienced Jesus’ love and forgiveness, so His loss felt like her own. The pronouns reveal how deeply she loved Him.
What does the Greek word for 'weep' tell us about Mary's state?
The word klaiō means loud, public lament, the kind of crying associated with mourning the dead. Mary was not quietly emotional; she was undone. This shows the depth of her attachment to Jesus and the raw honesty of her grief.
Did the angels tell Mary that Jesus had risen?
Not directly in John’s account. They asked a question that gently challenged her tears. The answer came moments later when Jesus Himself appeared. The angels’ role was to prepare her for what was coming, not to give her the full news.
How does this verse connect to the resurrection hope?
This verse captures the turning point. Mary is stuck in the sorrow of Good Friday while Easter morning has already begun. The question 'Why are you weeping?' invites her, and us, to look up. The resurrection does not erase grief, but it gives it a new context.
For pastors & researchers
Greek interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study