Joy Comes In The Morning

Title: From Weeping to Joy

Theme: To show how Mary Magdalene went from weeping in her life to joy.

Text: John 20:1 – 18

Note: Part of the idea for this message came from Unshakable Hope by Max Lucado ch. 11

John 20:1-18 Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. (2) Then she ran and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and said to them, "They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him." (3) Peter therefore went out, and the other disciple, and were going to the tomb. (4) So they both ran together, and the other disciple outran Peter and came to the tomb first. (5) And he, stooping down and looking in, saw the linen cloths lying there; yet he did not go in. (6) Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; and he saw the linen cloths lying there, (7) and the handkerchief that had been around His head, not lying with the linen cloths, but folded together in a place by itself. (8) Then the other disciple, who came to the tomb first, went in also; and he saw and believed. (9) For as yet they did not know the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead. (10) Then the disciples went away again to their own homes. (11) But Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping, and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the tomb.

Retell the story.

Early Sunday morning Mary finds herself headed to the tomb to anoint the body of Jesus. This was a common custom in her day. She expected to find the one whom she had just seen die on a cross a few days before. She is shocked and dismayed when she arrives and the tomb, not only to find it open but empty.

So she runs back to tell the disciples. They show up and find the same thing. An empty tomb. They run to tell the others but Mary stays back and the Bible says she is “weeping”.

Why?

Well you got to understand, she was here to care for the body of Jesus who had earlier cared for her. This is the same Mary who according to Luke

Luke 8:2-3 “had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities - out of whom had come seven demons, (3) and Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others who provided for Him from their substance.

She had had seven demons in her. What did Jesus do? He delivered her from the demons. Seven demons. She was a prisoner of seven afflictions. These demons had her bound. Every time she felt like she would move forward an ugly demon would pop its head up the pull her back down into a dark pit.

I wondered what these demons must have looked like. I would venture to say it is not much different than what we deal with today.

- Demon of insecurity

- Demon of abuse

- Demon of rejection

- Demon of depression

- Demon of loneliness

- Demon of addiction (alcoholism and drugs)

- Demon of shame

- Demon of fear

Her life was a wreck and full of confusion until Jesus stepped in. “He spoke and the demons fled. For the first time in a long time, the oppressive forces were gone. Banished. Evicted. Mary Magdalene could sleep well, eat enough, and smile again. The face in the mirror was no anguish. Jesus restored her life.”

Note: He can do the same for you today. He can deliver you from the demons that you face.

There are times in our life in which we are fighting demons. But God is the one who will help us overcome.

Mary became a follower of his. From “contributing their own resources to support Jesus” to helping them organize and.

Wherever Jesus went she followed Him. She saw him perform miracles and she did what she could so the ministry could go on.

We even find her at the crucifixion, “near the cross” (John 19:25). Watching him die. Waiting for the sabbath to pass. Rushing to the tomb to anoint His body.

This is why she wept. She wept because of how much she had put into the work.

You could be weeping today. Weeping in dismay of God’s plan. Wondering where He is at. Why doesn’t he do something?

But I like what Psalms 30:5 says, “Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning.”

It will not be like this forever.