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.
• AFTER everything, to see it all seemingly end on a Roman cross, this had to be confusing to these women, after all, wasn’t Jesus the long-awaited Messiah? Was He not the Son of God?
• Was He not sent by God? All of the signs seemed to point that direction.
• I want you to think about this for a moment, think of the tension dripping in this narrative.
• Is He or isn’t he who He said He was? They, experienced, they heard, they saw, and then they watched their hopes and dreams bleed out in the cross.
• So, Mary was a part of two groups of ladies who were going to the tomb on Sunday to properly prepare the body of Jesus.
• Mary was a part of group 1. As they are heading toward the tomb with their spices and according to Mark 16, the women were discussing how they were going to move the stone away from the tomb, so they could get in and finish preparing the body of Jesus for His permanent burial.
• As they approach the tomb, Mary sees that the stone is rolled away from the tomb and she leaves her group and heads back into town to tell Peter and John that someone had stolen of Jesus. (John 20:1-2)
• While this is happening, Mary’s Group 1 go to the tomb. Within the hour they leave the tomb, and group 2 of the ladies comes, they leave, and now Peter and John get to the tomb.
• Once they investigate, they leave and then Mary makes it back, which we will talk about in a bit.
• Can you imagine how hard it would be to believe that someone standing before you is God in the FLESH?
• Mary in her heart wanted to believe that Jesus was the Son of God, yet her eyes told her that you do not come off across alive, and you know, she is right about that.
• Mary’s message to Peter and John was not a message of hope and joy, it was one of despair.
• She had no concept that Jesus was alive, she had no hope that Jesus was alive because her eyes and logic told her that it was not a possibility.
• Mary discovered that her faith was not as strong as what she saw.
• SLIDE #4
• John 20:11–15 (CSB) — 11 But Mary stood outside the tomb, crying. As she was crying, she stooped to look into the tomb. 12 She saw two angels in white sitting where Jesus’s body had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet. 13 They said to her, “Woman, why are you crying?” “Because they’ve taken away my Lord,” she told them, “and I don’t know where they’ve put him.” 14 Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know it was Jesus. 15 “Woman,” Jesus said to her, “why are you crying? Who is it that you’re seeking?” Supposing he was the gardener, she replied, “Sir, if you’ve carried him away, tell me where you’ve put him, and I will take him away.”
• SLIDE #5
II. Mary’s moment of devotion. 11-15
• Mary tells Peter and John what she thinks happened, then she heads back toward the tomb totally unaware of what has been happening with the group of ladies she left as well as the second group of ladies.
• Mary is back at the tomb, even if Jesus was not the one whom they thought Him to be, she was going to get the body back and she was going to make sure He was properly buried.
• Even through the sea of emotions she was feeling, even though she had to be let down by the it appearing as though Jesus was not the Messiah, she was still fully devoted to Him.
• Mary is outside of the tomb thinking that His body was stolen, then she finally looks into the tomb.
• To her surprise there were two angels, one at the head and one at the place where Jesus’ feet should have been.
• She still does not get it because what she saw happen to Jesus overrode any possibility of a resurrection.
• The angels ask her why she is crying, and she goes right back to the stolen body story.
• What do you believe about Jesus and how devoted are you to Him?
• At this point, Mary cannot believe He is the Messiah, yet here she is, at the tomb, looking for the body.
• She knows she loves Jesus, and that drives her.
• What drives you? I mean Mary HAS to be disappointed that Jesus does not appear to be who He said He was or who she thought He was, yet here she is.
• How many people just turn their back on Jesus when they feel he let them down?
• For Mary, now would be a good time to walk away, yet she does not.
• How many people in the face of disappointment have simply walked away from Jesus?
• Even though she is in the presence of Angels, she still does not get it!
• It gets better!
• She turns around and Jesus is standing before her, yet she does not know it is Him.
• How can that be? Well, when you are not expecting to see someone, you may not recognize them.
• I had this happen to me a couple of weeks ago. This young man was talking to me like he knew me, I had no clue, then I found out it was Nathan Placker! I felt dumb, I had no idea he was in town.
• Well, Jesus asked her why she is crying, she thinks He is the gardener and she is pleading for the body of Jesus.
• Then something happens! Mary has not even allowed for the possibility of Jesus being alive.
• SLIDE #6
• John 20:16–18 (CSB) — 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.” Turning around, she said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!”—which means “Teacher.” 17 “Don’t cling to me,” Jesus told her, “since I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and tell them that I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.” 18 Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them what he had said to her.
• SLIDE #7
III. Mary’s moment of delight. 16-18
• TEACHER!
• She sees it is Him!
• She grabs onto Jesus and He asked her to let go.
• Mary is the first to see the resurrected Jesus!
• I cannot imagine what was going through her mind at this point, the emotions she is feeling, the issue of no longer having to simply take something on faith, Jesus is standing right in front of her!
• Jesus is who He said He was and who she thought He was!
• Jesus gives her a mission to tell others that He is going to ascend to His God and Her God!
• So, Mary now makes another trip to see the disciples to tell them the good news!
• What a story she would have to tell for the rest of her life!
• When she encountered the resurrected Jesus, her life would never be the same!
CONCLUSION
• Where are you with Jesus today?
• Even though we know Mary HAD to be disappointed, that she had to be disillusioned, she had to be extremely saddened by the crucifixion, she stuck with being devoted to Jesus.
• She received a gift we will not until He returns or when we stand before Him when we pass from this earth.
• We have the testimony of people like Mary Magdalene, as given to us by John.
• Jesus is still alive and well today and He died and defeated death, so we too can defeat death and be with Him for eternity.
• The question you have to ask yourself is are you going to gamble your eternity by rejecting Jesus?
• Mary could have, and logic probably told her to walk away, but she stayed faithful.
• My prayer is that today may be the day that you decide to at least examine the case for Jesus.
• When I gave my life to Jesus, it changed everything. God loves you no matter what, let Him give you the gift of eternal life through Jesus!
