When I wrote yesterday about Mary Magdalene’s post-resurrection encounter with Jesus and the hymn “In the Garden,” I didn’t tell the whole story of Mary or the hymn.

I didn’t quote, nor did Elvis Presley sing, the third stanza, which I believe reads like this:

Some versions have the third line as “through the voice of woe,” but I believe it’s “to the voice of woe.” Jesus sends Mary to the other disciples (“the voice of woe”).

Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”—and that he had said these things to her. (John 20.17, 18, ESV, emphasis mine)

The lesson for us is clear. We don’t get to keep our time with Jesus and knowledge of Jesus to ourselves. It’s our joyful responsibility to share the good news with others.

And when these lepers came to the edge of the camp, they went into a tent and ate and drank, and they carried off silver and gold and clothing and went and hid them. Then they came back and entered another tent and carried off things from it and went and hid them. Then they said to one another, “We are not doing right. This day is a day of good news. If we are silent and wait until the morning light, punishment will overtake us. Now therefore come; let us go and tell the king’s household.” (2 Kings 7.8, 9, ESV, emphasis mine. Read the whole story here.)

Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” (John 20.21, ESV)