Scripture
Luke 8:1-3 NIV 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, and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; Joanna the wife of Chuza, the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means.
John 20:1-18 NIV Early 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. So 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!” So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen. Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. (They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.) Then the disciples went back to where they were staying. Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot. 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.” At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus. 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.” Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”). 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.’ ” 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.
Introduction
Text
John 20:15-16 NIV 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.” Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”).
Each of us can recall moments when the sound of a familiar voice was an especially meaningful experience. It might have been a long-distance call from someone special, the voice of an old friend in a crowd of strangers, a recording of a son or daughter away who's from home, a parent you haven't talked to in a while, or words of assurance following surgery. The sound of a familiar voice is powerful medicine.
However, I doubt if any of us has experienced the feeling Mary Magdalene had when she heard the familiar voice of Jesus when she went to visit His tomb. This, of course, was not their first encounter. Jesus had spoken important words to Mary in the past. He still speaks today and waits for us to hear and respond.
I. He speaks the word of change.
A. Life in need of change.
Mary first heard the Lord speak the words of transformation. Luke and Mark record that seven demons had come out of Mary Magdalene.
Luke 8:1-3 NIV 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, and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; Joanna the wife of Chuza, the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means.
Mark 16:9 NIV When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had driven seven demons.
This woman, Mary, possessed by evil, had lived a life of torment and suffering. Although there is no scriptural evidence, tradition says she was a prostitute. That label, prostitute, may have fixed itself on her because of the extremely wicked town she came from.
Magdalene is not a surname, but identifies the place Mary came from: Magdala, a city in Galilee, located in the northernmost region of ancient Palestine (now northern Israel). The city of Magdala had a reputation for prostitution.
Prostitute or not she was obviously possessed.
We all may wonder what happened at the first meeting between Mary and Jesus—the divine Son of God face-to-face with a demon-possessed woman! Did she cry out in scorn at Jesus, as others had? Did she cower in fear in a dark corner, afraid of his power? The circumstances don't matter. What is significant is that this woman, so desperately in need of transformation, met the Master and heard the words of salvation: “Be whole!”
Is your life in need of change? If you are saved you can't be possessed because you have the Holy Spirit but you can be oppressed. Does some kind of evil spirit oppress you? The spirit of selfishness? Fear? Hate? Some other spirit?
If this is you and you long for relief, a place of refuge from oppression. There is such a place. The place where you meet Jesus. He can change your life just as he changed the life of Mary Magdalene.
B. The power of resurrection.
It is significant that Mary was the first person to see the risen Lord. Her experience when visiting Jesus tombs was one of the most dramatic riences recorded in scripture. God is telling us something here about resurrection and real transformation. Without Christ’s resurrection, there can be no change.
Paul wrote to the Philippians”
Philippians 3:10-11 NIV I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.
The resurrection power is what changes people. A dead Christ can change no one. Paul told the Corinthians,
1 Corinthians 15:17 NIV And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.
The power of sin nailed Jesus to the cross; the power of God raised him. That same power continues to work, and if you will repent of sin and trust Jesus, his power will change you.
II. The word of appreciation.
A. Involved in ministry.
After her conversion, Mary Magdalene assumed a place of service.
She and several others traveled with Jesus and the disciples and “were helping to support them out of their own means”.
Luke 8:1-3 NIV 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, and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; Joanna the wife of Chuza, the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means.
We are not told the exact nature of Mary’s ministry. She might have washed their clothes, helped prepare food, and provided funds for needs in the group. Her ministry was a result of the love she had received from Christ.
Transformation should result in committed service.
Ephesians 2:8-10 NIV For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
B. Appreciation for service.
If Mary served the Lord and His followers, because we know the character of Jesus, we can be certain that He thanked her. I can imagine that Jesus said "Thank you Mary" often. He would have shown her that He appreciated Her service to Him. If the Lord said it to Mary, he will say it to us too.
If the Lord noticed the widow’s small copper coin and offered praise for her faithfulness, he notices what we do too.
Mark 12:41-44 NIV Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”
He appreciates our ministry, whether its big or small.
Sometimes we seniors express the sentiment of feeling forgotten and unappreciated. They have faithfully served in the past but now are no longer able for whatever reason. Some of them may be forgotten by the church, but the Lord remembers. He appreciates every labor, and in eternity they will hear his word of appreciation:
Matthew 25:21 NIV “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’
Matthew 25:34-40 NIV “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
When Jesus spoke her name, and Mary realized who he was, her automatic response of joy was to reach out and embrace Him but he stopped her.
John 20:17 NIV 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.’ ”
It was not a time of worship. The resurrection is not a doctrine to hold on to selfishly but an experience to share selflessly. We are not to hold on to it but give it away.
Jesus says Go tell my disciples Mary. Don’t keep this to yourself.
Mary Magdalene obviously understood, because
John 20:18 NIV 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.
A newspaper had this interesting editorial about Easter: “Easter is usually a quiet occasion. . . . Millions of Americans make a special effort to go to church on Easter Sunday. Easter is a wholesome kind of holiday. It gives all of us an opportunity to recuperate in a small measure from the harassment of daily life.”
But that is not what the Lord intended. The resurrection is the impetus to enter the harassments of life and change the world. It is ironic that for Christians, Easter events take place inside the church building. We dress up and go to church where we enjoy our programs and flowers and decorations. But Jesus wants the big event on the resurrection to be outside the church. Go tell that Christ is risen from the dead.
B. Every disciple telling.
Mary’s commission illustrates the Lord’s desire to use every disciple to share the resurrection news. The Lord’s appearance to Mary—a woman with a scandalous past—sent a shock wave throughout His followers. The eleven disciples probably thought that Jesus should have appeared to them first. Isn’t that just like Jesus to use the person others consider unlikely? The ingredient that makes the difference is love. He will use any of us to tell the good news.
These are Jesus’ instructions:
Matthew 28:16-20 NIV Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
This is the assignment for everybody in God's family. We are to pass on the Good News to the world, near and far.
Conclusion
The true meaning of Easter: the resurrection of Jesus Christ is that over two thousand years ago, a man died on a cross, was buried, and three days later rose to life again. This fact—that a dead man came to life again and lives evermore—is why we celebrate Easter. The meaning of Easter is that the Son of God paid the price for our sins and rose again to reconcile us to God.
Romans 4:25 NIV He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.
Easter means that our greatest enemy, death, has been conquered. Easter means that our sins are forgiven and we are made right with God. Easter means that Christ is truly the King
Ephesians 1:18-21 NIV I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.
The meaning of Easter is that Jesus is the Lord of new beginnings, new days, and new lives.
Easter means that the incomprehensibly great power of God was on full display at the Garden Tomb where Christ lay.
That same great power that raised Christ from the dead now works in us who believe. The meaning of Easter is that God can move mountains, split seas, restore life, and roll the stone away.
Easter means the poor in spirit will possess the kingdom of heaven, the mourners will be comforted, the meek will inherit the earth, the seekers of righteousness will be filled, the merciful will find mercy, and the pure in heart will see God. The things Jesus preached about in His Sermon on the Mount. The meaning of Easter is that the promises of God come true in Christ.
Good news is meant to share.
He is Risen and is alive forever more. Hallelujah!!!
Death does not have the final say.
Darkness does not have the final say.
Our mistakes and mess-ups - even the wrongs we willfully dive into - do not have the final say.
The worst thing we’ve ever done does not have the final say.
Evil does not win.
The darkest day is redeemable.
Light overcomes darkness.
Life overcomes death.
Jesus rose and lives and gives us life in abundance, now and forever — abundant life rooted in love and joy and goodness and peace and kindness.
Easter means that love is stronger than death. Easter means there is hope for us, after all. As Jesus said, “Because I live, you also will live” (John 14:19).
Prayer
Living God, we confess the weakness of our faith. While we have heard the news that, “He is risen,” we have kept it to ourselves. In church, in the presence of the Believing, we have professed Christ’s victory, but in our daily lives, we have lived as if it had no real effect. We have stared into the face of our own mortality and that of others as if we were people with no hope. Forgive us for living a life of futility. For, as Paul proclaimed to those not unlike us, “If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.” Raise in our hearts and minds this day the knowledge of the crucified, dead, and buried One who overcame sin and its sting so that we might live today, tomorrow, and forever with him.
Jesus still speaks. His voice can be heard today.
Revelation 3:20 NIV Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.
Are you listening?
If you have been listening and haven't opened the door do it today. Ask God to forgive your sins and claim the sacrifice that Jesus made on your behalf and receive the salvation that is the free gift of God.
Romans 10:9-10 NIV says If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.
Listen to the voice of Jesus today.
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