Dissecting part of Easter

Today is Easter Sunday. In Sunday School today, we read from the Gospel of John about the resurrection. Specifically, John, Chapter 20.

In Chapter 20, John relates his observations of the time of the resurrection. At one point, Mary Magdalene finds herself at Jesus' tomb. Jesus is there, but she doesn't recognize him - she thinks he is a gardener. This makes sense as the tomb actually belonged to Joseph of Arimathea, who was quite wealthy. It is very common for the wealthy to employ gardeners.

There is a short dialog between Mary and Jesus. She still does not recognize him. But then Jesus said: "Mary."

She responded: "Rabboni." (Hebrew for "Teacher" or "Master," according to most literary sources)

Here's where the research helps. Rabboni doesn't just mean "Teacher" or "Master" as some literary sources suggest. I'd learned this long ago, though I've forgotten when and where. I'd learned that Rabboni was a rarely-used term of great honor.

Today, the textbook, as read by Right Minded, suggested that the term Rabboni suggested a more personal relationship to the master or teacher than just the normal term of the day, "Rabbi."

I got to wondering, who was right? What I'd been told, or this text?

Turns out, both were right. 

The term "Rabboni" is a very rarely used term. There were three levels of teachers:
(a) Rab, or "master" - the lowest degree of honor.
(b) Rabbi, "my master" - a title of higher dignity.
(c) Rabboni, "my great master" - the most honorable of all.

Only seven persons in recorded Jewish history were ever called Rabboni.  This gives you an idea of how rare and meaningful it was for Mary Magdalene to call her Savior by this term. Because Jesus commissioned Mary (and several other women there, at least two of them also bearing the name "Mary") to be the first to tell the Good News - this to those who would soon be the Apostles - then the term Rabboni certainly does bear the implication of "Teacher of Teachers."

And as Christ was the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, then why is he not also the Teacher of Teachers? Makes sense to me. And it is of relevant note that Jesus warned his followers not to let themselves be referred to as "Rabbi," as that old (Jewish) tradition ends with HIM. Henceforth, Apostles of Christ were to be known as "mathetai," or disciples (from the Greek). A new tradition has begun.