I’ve Just Seen Jesus
Jn. 20:1-18
Show Video (Sunday’s Coming). Guess what?! Sunday’s here!!
Today is Resurrection Day. Because of Easter, every day is Resurrection Day.
In preparation for today, we’ve been looking at various people’s responses to their encounters with Christ.
Please turn with me again to Jn. 20. (Review Peter, Centurion, Crowds)
Today, we look at one woman’s encounter with the risen Lord – Mary Magdalene.
Prayer
I. MARY’S BACKGROUND
Mary was from the village of Magdala, near Tiberias on the coast of the Sea of Galilee.
Scripture gives us little snippets of her encounter with Christ.
Lk. 8:1-3 AFTER THIS, JESUS TRAVELED ABOUT FROM ONE TOWN AND VILLAGE TO ANOTHER, PROCLAIMING THE GOOD NEWS OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD. THE TWELVE WERE WITH HIM, 2AND ALSO SOME WOMEN WHO HAD BEEN CURED OF EVIL SPIRITS AND DISEASES: MARY (CALLED MAGDALENE) FROM WHOM SEVEN DEMONS HAD COME OUT; 3…THESE WOMEN WERE HELPING TO SUPPORT THEM OUT OF THEIR OWN MEANS.
•She became one of his primary financial supporters/“faith partner”.
Catholic tradition also says that Mary was the adulteress that Jesus delivered from stoning in Jn. 8. However, there is no biblical evidence to support this.
Modern, pagan tradition now says that she was married to Jesus and they had children. This is obviously unbiblical, unsubstantiated, blatant heresy.
•What we do know is that Mary’s first encounter with Jesus was life-changing.
•In fact, her encounter convinced her to commit her life to following/serving Him.
She was also one of His few supporters at the cross.
Jn. 19:25 NEAR THE CROSS OF JESUS STOOD HIS MOTHER, HIS MOTHER’S SISTER, MARY THE WIFE OF CLOPAS, AND MARY MAGDALENE.
One can only imagine what was going through her mind at that time.
She had been radically delivered from evil oppression.
She had dedicated her life and livelihood to serving and supporting Jesus.
And now, she had witnessed her Savior’s horrible death on the cross.
Even there, however, her service to her Savior didn’t end.
Mt. 27:57-61 AS EVENING APPROACHED, THERE CAME A RICH MAN FROM ARIMATHEA, NAMED JOSEPH, WHO HAD HIMSELF BECOME A DISCIPLE OF JESUS… 59JOSEPH TOOK THE BODY, WRAPPED IT IN A CLEAN LINEN CLOTH, 60AND PLACED IT IN HIS OWN NEW TOMB THAT HE HAD CUT OUT OF THE ROCK. HE ROLLED A BIG STONE IN FRONT OF THE ENTRANCE TO THE TOMB AND WENT AWAY. 61MARY MAGDALENE AND THE OTHER MARY WERE SITTING THERE OPPOSITE THE TOMB.
This is interesting. Only Mary and Joseph of Arimathea, and a few others were there.
Even after she helped bury Jesus, her work wasn’t over.
The Sabbath was fast approaching, which forced them to bury Jesus without properly preparing the body with spices.
•So as soon as the Sabbath was over, she went again to finish the job.
Now we come to the moment we’ve all been waiting for - the incredible miracle of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Mt. 28:1-6 AFTER THE SABBATH, AT DAWN ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK, MARY MAGDALENE AND THE OTHER MARY WENT TO LOOK AT THE TOMB. 2THERE WAS A VIOLENT EARTHQUAKE, FOR AN ANGEL OF THE LORD CAME DOWN FROM HEAVEN AND, GOING TO THE TOMB, ROLLED BACK THE STONE AND SAT ON IT. 3HIS APPEARANCE WAS LIKE LIGHTNING, AND HIS CLOTHES WERE WHITE AS SNOW. 4THE GUARDS WERE SO AFRAID OF HIM THAT THEY SHOOK AND BECAME LIKE DEAD MEN. 5THE ANGEL SAID TO THE WOMEN, “DO NOT BE AFRAID, FOR I KNOW THAT YOU ARE LOOKING FOR JESUS, WHO WAS CRUCIFIED. 6HE IS NOT HERE; HE HAS RISEN, JUST AS HE SAID. COME AND SEE THE PLACE WHERE HE LAY. 7THEN GO QUICKLY AND TELL HIS DISCIPLES: ‘HE HAS RISEN FROM THE DEAD AND IS GOING AHEAD OF YOU INTO GALILEE…”
With that backdrop, let’s look closer at Mary’s response to Jesus’ resurrection.
II. MARY’S RESPONSE
A. She went early.
1EARLY ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK, WHILE IT WAS STILL DARK, MARY MAGDALENE WENT TO THE TOMB AND SAW THAT THE STONE HAD BEEN REMOVED FROM THE ENTRANCE.
She got up at O dark thirty just to go to the tomb.
She had waited agonizingly through the whole Sabbath to finish what she had started.
Even Jesus’ death didn’t deter her from serving and caring for Him.
Mt. tells us she was met at the tomb by an angel who told her Jesus had risen.
Apparently, in her anguish, the angel’s words hadn’t sunk in yet.
John tells us she ran to the disciples, but with a different message.
B. She ran for help.
2SO SHE CAME RUNNING TO SIMON PETER AND THE OTHER DISCIPLE, THE ONE JESUS LOVED, AND SAID, “THEY HAVE TAKEN THE LORD OUT OF THE TOMB, AND WE DON’T KNOW WHERE THEY HAVE PUT HIM!”
Mary was facing a crisis. She couldn’t find Jesus.
•So she ran to the first person who could help.
Our passage tells us that Peter and John came running, they saw the empty tomb and they believed. Apparently, Mary didn’t – yet.
C. She grieved.
10THEN THE DISCIPLES WENT BACK TO THEIR HOMES, 11BUT MARY STOOD OUTSIDE THE TOMB CRYING.
These weren’t tears of joy. They were tears of grief and sorrow and confusion.
•She loved Jesus deeply and couldn’t imagine what had happened to Him.
•On top of her grief, now she had to deal with His apparent abduction.
She didn’t know what else to do, so she lingered at the tomb. Good thing for her.
11…AS SHE WEPT, SHE BENT OVER TO LOOK INTO THE TOMB 12AND SAW TWO ANGELS IN WHITE… 13THEY ASKED HER, “WOMAN, WHY ARE YOU CRYING?” “THEY HAVE TAKEN MY LORD AWAY,” SHE SAID, “AND I DON’T KNOW WHERE THEY HAVE PUT HIM.”
She is so deep in grief, she doesn’t realize she’s in the presence of angels – and of God!
14AT THIS, SHE TURNED AROUND AND SAW JESUS STANDING THERE, BUT SHE DID NOT REALIZE THAT IT WAS JESUS. 15“WOMAN,” HE SAID, “WHY ARE YOU CRYING? WHO IS IT YOU ARE LOOKING FOR?” THINKING HE WAS THE GARDENER, SHE SAID, “SIR, IF YOU HAVE CARRIED HIM AWAY, TELL ME WHERE YOU HAVE PUT HIM, AND I WILL GET HIM.”
I love her boldness here. How was she going to carry a dead body?
But then the incredible reunion arrives.
•She encounters Jesus once more, and once again it’s a miraculous encounter.
16JESUS SAID TO HER, “MARY.” SHE TURNED TOWARD HIM AND CRIED OUT IN ARAMAIC, “RABBONI!” (WHICH MEANS TEACHER).
D. She worshiped.
In an instant, her sorrow turned to joy.
Mt. 28:9 … THEY CAME TO HIM, CLASPED HIS FEET AND WORSHIPED HIM.
Can you imagine that incredible moment?!
Illus. We’ve all seen movies of two people running toward each other on the beach, embracing in a powerful, romantic moment.
•Can you imagine doing that with your loved one who has just risen from the dead?!?
The only appropriate response for Mary was to worship her risen Lord.
It was a moment she wished could last forever – but it couldn’t.
17JESUS SAID, “DO NOT HOLD ON TO ME, FOR I HAVE NOT YET RETURNED TO THE FATHER.
I’m sure if Jesus hadn’t said that, she would still be there.
GO INSTEAD TO MY BROTHERS AND TELL THEM, ‘I AM RETURNING TO MY FATHER AND YOUR FATHER, TO MY GOD AND YOUR GOD.’”
E. She proclaimed.
18MARY MAGDALENE WENT TO THE DISCIPLES WITH THE NEWS: “I HAVE SEEN THE LORD!” AND SHE TOLD THEM THAT HE HAD SAID THESE THINGS TO HER.
Mary couldn’t wait to tell somebody. Her Savior was alive! Her hope was restored!
•Her life was again forever changed! “I’ve just seen Jesus.”
I wonder how we would have responded to that incredible, history-changing moment.
Better yet, how do we respond today?
III. OUR RESPONSE
A. Have we encountered Jesus?
That’s the most important question you will ever answer!
Have you come to Christ, confessed your sin to Him, cried out to Him to save you and change you and make you His own?
Is your life any different as a result of your encounter?
•Remember, there were many people who “encountered” Jesus and still walked away.
•There are people who profess to know Christ, but there is no change in their lives.
•Has knowing Jesus Christ personally changed your life?
B. Are we serving Jesus?
Mary backed up her changed life by serving Jesus in His earthly ministry.
As a result of His resurrection, she served Him even more passionately/fervently.
How about us? Are we eager to follow/serve Him?
•Are we grateful enough because of His death for us to give our life to Him?
After seeing what He’s done for us, how can we not give our all for Him?
C. Do we run to Jesus?
When Mary didn’t know what to do, she ran for help to the only place she knew.
We now know that Jesus is alive and we can and must run to Him for help.
When you face uncertainty and confusion and trouble, do you run to Jesus first?
D. Do we weep with Jesus?
Mary grieved deeply for her Lord. She lingered at the cross and at the tomb.
She felt the pain He endured. Do we? Do we linger at the cross?
Illus. Last week, several of us saw “The Passion of the Christ.”
I hate seeing that movie because it’s so graphic. And yet, I must see it again and again.
We need to grieve and hurt and ache over what we did to Him.
More than that, we need to weep with Jesus over the plight of His Creation.
•Over the countless people who are dying daily without knowing Him.
If we truly love Him, we will weep with Him.
And yet, today is not a day for weeping. It’s a day for rejoicing. He is risen!!!
E. Do we worship Jesus?
When Mary saw Jesus face to face, her instinct was to worship.
Worship isn’t just gathering and singing praises Sunday mornings.
•It’s not something we do when it’s convenient or a special holiday.
True worship is loving Jesus with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, 24/7.
If you’ve encountered Christ and He has changed your life, you can’t help but worship.
Some day, like Mary, we will see Him face to face.
•That incredible hope and expectation should cause us to worship Him even more!
Can you imagine that incredible moment when we see Jesus?!
But until that moment comes, like Mary, we too have work to do.
F. Do we proclaim Jesus?
Mary couldn’t wait to tell somebody about her incredible encounter.
The best evangelist is the person who’s just met Jesus.
Are we excited about knowing Jesus or have we become embarrassed or indifferent?
Listen. Sunday’s here. Jesus is alive! We serve a risen Savior! He lives!
Have you truly encountered Jesus? Most of here would say we have.
•So has His encounter changed your life? Are we serving Him? Running to Him? Weeping with Him? Worshiping Him? Proclaiming Him?
Mary saw Jesus and she was never the same. Can we say the same?
•If we’ve seen Jesus, we certainly can’t stay the same.
The Bottom Line: Have you seen Jesus?
Prayer/Invitation
Play "I’ve Just Seen Jesus"
Reflect on your encounter/Renew your commitment.
Hymn 368 He Lives
Sermon Outline and Power Point are available by emailing the author.
