Mary's Moments At The Tomb Series

INTRODUCTION

• VIDEO CLIP

• SLIDE #1

• EASTER SUNDAY! CELEBRATE THE RESURRECTION OF OUR LORD!

• In our Spring into Life series, we have been examining some of the lives Jesus touched during His ministry to see how those lives were never the same!

• Today we take you to an interesting woman who was prominent in the ministry of Jesus.

• Mary Magdalene was a woman of which we do not have a ton of information.

• The first time Mary is mentioned by name in the New Testament is in Luke 8:2 where we are told that Jesus had cast seven demons from her.

• Then we also see that she may have been a woman of means because, in verse 3 of Luke 8, it is implied that she was one of many who were supporting the ministry of Jesus with their possessions.

• Mary Magdalene was present at the crucifixion, watching as many of the disciples were running away, denying Jesus and hiding.

• Mary, of course, will be the first one to see the resurrected Jesus!

• One thing we need to shed some light on concerning Mary. Some scholars think she is the woman who was tagged as a sinner, a woman who was possibly a lady of the evening, that poured expensive perfume on the feet of Jesus and wiped it off with her hair in Luke 7:36-50.

• In modern movies she is depicted as a prostitute, in the movie Risen, her character was besmirched in such manner.

• Now it is POSSIBLE that she was that woman; however, there is zero evidence that she was such a woman.

• The only thin thread is the fact that Luke 7:36-50 takes place before Luke 8:1-3.

• But in Luke 8, this takes place when Jesus left the town from which the perfume event happened.

• Now if Mary is specifically mentioned my name, and all four gospels make it a point to mention Mary as being at the tomb, she must have been an important part of the ministry of Jesus.

• Also, add to the mix that she was the first recorded contact with the resurrected Jesus, we have someone who knew Jesus well.

• We know that Mary followed Jesus, but her story is not unlike that of many of us, we may walk with Him, but do we know Him?

• Even though Mary experienced a miracle from Jesus and most likely supported His work financially, she had more faith in what she saw during the crucifixion than the words Jesus spoke during His ministry.

• We too can fall into the trap of following Jesus, but not allowing ourselves to fully trust and believe His words.

• Let’s turn to John 20 together!

• SLIDE #2

• John 20:1–10 (CSB) — 1 On the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark. She saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. 2 So she went running to Simon Peter and to the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said to them, “They’ve taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they’ve put him!” 3 At that, Peter and the other disciple went out, heading for the tomb. 4 The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and got to the tomb first. 5 Stooping down, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. 6 Then, following him, Simon Peter also came. He entered the tomb and saw the linen cloths lying there. 7 The wrapping that had been on his head was not lying with the linen cloths but was folded up in a separate place by itself. 8 The other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, then also went in, saw, and believed. 9 For they did not yet understand the Scripture that he must rise from the dead. 10 Then the disciples returned to the place where they were staying.

• SLIDE #3

SERMON

I. Mary’s moment of discovery. 1-10

• The crucifixion of Jesus was a trying time to say the least for the followers of Jesus. I cannot imagine the emotional roller coaster people like Mary Magdalene must have experienced while watching Jesus die.

• Mark 16:1-ff tells us that Mary and Mary the mother of James, as well as Salome who was the mother of the sons of Zebedee, were watching Jesus dying on the cross.

• This group of women were some of the most prominent female followers of Jesus. These women, experienced, saw and heard so many wonderful things from Jesus.

• Yet here they are, watching the Romans kill him with the blessing of the Jewish leaders.