Rabboni

John 20:15,16
Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.
Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.


In the day of Jesus, the term Rabbi was common as a reference to individuals of respect and authority who were teachers of the law. In Hebrew the word is “Ravi” (pronounced Rahbee) and the Greek form is Hrabbi. They both mean “my Master” or “my Teacher”.

There were three levels of this terminology. Rabbi is actually a term of intermediate level used much as the degree levels in America for an education: Bachelor, Master, and Doctor. The terms were developed about 30A.D. and Gamaliel was the first in history to own this title.

The first level of title is Rav (Rab) meaning “Master”. Derived form Babylonian custom, This was bestowed upon a man who had been anointed by the laying on of hands in the rabbinic school.

The next level bestowed was from Palestinian custom: The teacher was sat upon a high stool above the people and then through elaborate ceremony, given a scroll, and a key that was worn about the neck that was also buried with the teacher upon death. The key represented the authority of the Master teacher, and the scroll represented his devotion and ability in his studies. The teacher was now called “Rabbi”.

The third an highest level was the Title “Rabboni”(Rabonee)which means “My Great Master”. The difference between the two highest titles was with respect to Disciples: a Rabbi was expected to have Disciples who followed him. These Disciples were expected to help recruit other Disciples. A Rabbi who had seen the second Generation of his Disciples was called Rabboni “My great Master”.

In the passage above Jesus was speaking to a woman who had no good reputation among the people, even among the Disciples of Jesus she was treated poorly. She was looked down upon by other women, and scorned for her lifestyle. She was woman who was vilified for her low social status.

Jesus received this woman without the negative treatment given her by all others. He placed upon her a special status. It was this woman who was given the part of seeing Jesus first after His ascension. It was this woman who discovered the missing body, was spoken to by the Angel, and then spoke to Jesus first. It was this woman who received the truth of the newly resurrected Lord, and therefore forever superseded the privilege of all of the women and Disciples in that it was her lot to know before all humanity what had happened to Jesus who had given her life, and whom she loved.

It was this woman who referred to Jesus as “Rabboni”, a form of honor and respect that went beyond the title used by all others. She was claiming the place of a second generation Disciple, the hallmark of which would be love, adoration and highest respect and honor along with special privilege. She worshiped the Lord out of the love and acceptance that drove her to follow Him.

Just like Mary Magdalene, when we “discover” the Great Teacher we are made a part of that second generation of Disciples. We become a worshiper, a lover of the Lord because He saved us and gave us a special status that we did not deserve.

Herein is the source of our love of the Lord, that while we were yet in our sins He loved us (read IJohn 4:19)