John 20:11-18: 11 Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb 12 and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.13 They 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.’ 14 At this, she turned round and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realise that it was Jesus.
15 He asked her, ‘Woman, 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.’
16 Jesus said to her, ‘Mary.’ She turned towards him and cried out in Aramaic, ‘Rabboni!’ (which means ‘Teacher’).17 Jesus said, ‘Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, “I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.”’ 18 Mary 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.
It’s Easter Sunday, resurrection day! What does this day mean for those of us who have met Jesus? It changes everything!
Quote: “I claim to be an historian. My approach to Classics is historical. And I tell you that the evidence for the life, the death, and the resurrection of Christ is better authenticated than most of the facts of ancient history.” E. M. Blaiklock Professor of Classics Auckland University.
We have to move the resurrection from historical fact to living faith! Seeing Jesus did many things for Mary in the text. He had changed her life already but I can assure you she was never the same after encountering The Risen Lord.
- The Risen Jesus Speaks Your Name!
It’s Personal!
16: Jesus said to her, ‘Mary.”
Jesus had changed Mary’s life, He was her deliverer! He’d cast seven demons out of her, raised her brother from the dead (Lazarus) and she is mentioned more than any other woman in the gospels.
She was a devoted follower. Mary followed Jesus as He ministered. She followed Him to the Cross, she remained at the cross until after His death.
We find that Mary was the first one at the tomb. Jesus called her name here at the tomb, but He changed her life when He called her name and delivered her from her demons and called her to salvation.
With Jesus the resurrection is personal. He says your name today. He is saying to you that if you will confess your sins, turn to Him, trust in Him surrender your all to Him, He will change your life just like He did for Mary!
2. The Risen Jesus Calms Your Fears
They 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.’
Mary was distraught and fearful. She feared that someone had stolen the body of Jesus. She was overwhelmed with sorrow, sadness and fear.
People today live lives filled with fear:
o They fear death
o They fear judgment
o They fear eternity
With His resurrection, Jesus has conquered death, hell and the grave!
Because of His victory, Jesus can help you! He can calm all our fears!
Jesus has accomplished what we could not!
Jesus died so that you might live!
Jesus died so that you could be redeemed!
3. The Risen Jesus Will Soothe Your Sorrows
15: He asked her, ‘Woman, 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.’
Mary is standing outside the tomb weeping. Jesus comes up and says “Woman, why are you crying?”
She was crying because she thought someone had stolen her Master’s body. Every person here has troubles! Whatever the issue is that you are facing it is not too big for Jesus!!
You may be blinded by the sorrow that fills your life and through those tear filled eyes you fail to see God’s hand at work. Jesus is still in control.
Mary had honourable intentions but she couldn’t grasp what God had in store. God had a greater plan working in her life.
There was no need to anoint Jesus’ body because He was alive!
4. The Risen Jesus Will Dispel Your Doubt
16: Jesus said to her, ‘Mary.’ She turned towards him and cried out in Aramaic, ‘Rabboni!’ (which means ‘Teacher’).
The resurrection never crossed her grief stricken mind. She knew Jesus had promised a resurrection (John 11:24-27) She was focused on the present. All she could focus on was the fact that someone had taken Jesus’ body from the tomb.
Many times we become so focused and consumed with the problems of today that we forget about the promises of God.
- We doubt that God will meet our needs
- We doubt that God hears our prayers
- We doubt the promise of His return
- We doubt the scriptures
- We doubt the prophecies
- We doubt the assurance of our salvation
Jesus can soothe that doubt! How did He do this for Mary? He said her name! We have come full circle!
Jesus is calling your name to soothe your doubts.
Wrapping it up:
What a wonderful Saviour! What a wonderful Jesus! The resurrection becomes personal for Mary and it must be personal for us too!
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