2023-04-02 Mary's Stunning Encounter With Truth

MARY'S STUNNING ENCOUNTER WITH TRUTH (John 20:1-2, 11-18) Date: ____________________ Read John 20:1-2, 11-18 - A passenger in a taxi tapped the driver on the shoulder to ask a question. But the driver screamed, lost control and stopped inches from a passing bus. Silence reigned for a moment. Then the driver asked, "I'm so sorry, but you scared the living daylights out of me." The badly shaken passenger said, "I'm sorry; I didn't mean to startle you." The driver replied, "It's my fault. This is my first day driving a cab. I've been driving a hearse for 25 years." Finding life where he didn't expect it was shocking! I picture Mary having somewhat the same reaction that morning. If John were an ordinary biography, there'd be no chapter 20. Biographies end with the death. But not this one. In this one, we get not one but four different encounters with a risen Christ - 1) John and Peter: 2) Mary: 3) Ten apostles minus Thomas: 4) Thomas. Each encounter brings its own special message. So, here comes Mary. On Friday she'd left Jesus dead and buried. She'd come back only to honor his memory. Finding the tomb empty, her conclusion was, someone stole the body. Then - Jesus spoke her name and against all expectations, she found herself face-to-face with a living Lord. That encounter changed her life. Every encounter with the risen Christ does that as we'll see. But first, consider that Jesus' very first appearance as a resurrected Savior was made to a woman -- one from whom Jesus cast out 7 demons - one who lived most of her life as an outcast. A made-up story would never have included her. A 2nd century Greek philosopher, Celsus wrote, "How can anyone expect rational men to listen to the testimony of an hysterical female." Even the disciples didn't believe the women who first told them of the empty tomb. Lu 24:11: "1but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them." So, why'd the apostles credit the women, especially Mary, with seeing Jesus first? Why? Because it was true. That's how it really happened! So, Mary! Everything changed when she met the risen Christ. I. Mary Found a New Reality for Herself Mary has a reality problem. In her reality, Jesus is dead. Her reality informs everything she does. So, it's no surprise she sets out to find Jesus in a tomb. In her reality, He is dead. When last she saw Him, He was hanging naked on a cross, beaten so He hardly resembled a man. In her reality, Jesus was dead. BUT she was missing truth. And when you are missing truth, your reality is skewed, your actions irrational and your worldview flawed. You are out of touch with reality. Mary thought she knew Jesus; she thought she knew where to find Him; and she thought she knew how she would find Him. But she's out of touch with reality. Why? Bc she discounted the supernatural! That Jesus was dead she could believe. That He'd risen? Impossible. This is so ironic. Jesus is alive and well. Soon, He's right with her. Yet - she weeps as only a Jewish mourner can weep. The angels ask, "Woman, why are you weeping?" Shortly, Jesus asks, "Woman, why are you weeping?" She's inconsolable. Why? Out of touch with reality. She loves Jesus. He'd forgiven her much in casting out 7 demons. She loves much. Even in death she'd like to honor Him by finishing anointing His body. But to add insult to injury, He's body has been stolen. That's why she's weeping. But what she thinks is true, isn't. And what she doesn't think is true, is! Out of touch. She didn't need to be. She's not seen much til now, but she was part of Jesus' entourage. Lu 8:1-2: "Soon afterward he went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with him, 2 and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out." She must have heard what Jesus repeatedly told His disciples. Matt 16:21: "From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised." Knowing that, wouldn't you think met with an empty tomb she might go: "Huh. Friday, Saturday, Sunday - third day by Jewish reckoning. Hey! It's crazy, but . . ." But it didn't even occur to her. She didn't believe Jesus at all or she'd at least have been curious. She'd have said, "I wonder." But what does she say? "They stole the body." Tho she's been healed herself and seen countless others healed, with Jesus dead she's no room for the supernatural. The problem is, she's searching for the wrong Jesus - one who doesn't exist.. She doesn't really know Him at all. She has blinders on - blind to spiritual reality. If Jesus hadn't come to her, she'd never have found Him at all. But He did come. She didn't know Him at first. Thought He was the gardener. In a sense, He was. Where the first Adam failed as the gardener in a perfect garden, Jesus has succeeded in garden of despair. He's brought hope out to a garden of death. And He brings that hope to Mary in a beautifully moving way. She says, "If you took him, just tell me where and I'll claim him." To that despairing request, Jesus answers with one word. He doesn't say, "It's me, Mary. Don't you see. Take a closer look." He simply says her name - "Mary", and her world changed in an instant. Just like that she had a new reality. She'd had a stunning encounter with truth and it changed everything. There was a song I used to love as a young man. "No one says your name like Jesus. / No one says your name like He does. / There's comfort in His word, / Understanding in His voice. / No one says your name quite like Jesus." That was Mary's experience. No one ever said her name like Jesus. But, Beloved, have you heard Him call your name? Maybe you've missed Him because you've written Him off as a fine man, great teacher - but dead and gone now. Then no wonder you've missed Him. You're looking for the wrong Jesus. You've got blinders on. He's alive and well - and calling your name today. Listen closely. Look to Him. It will change everything Mary's new reality included a new identity. The word "Mary" is used 4 times in this text (vv. 1, 11, 16 and 18). But they are different. The first two are the Greek Maria. But when Jesus says her name, it is Miriam. The Maria Magdalene of v. 1 is Miriam Magdalen in v. 18. She comes as Maria; she leaves as Miriam. Perhaps the HS is telling us everything's changed for her, including her identity. She's a new creation, as is every true believer. II. Mary Found a New Relationship with Christ Now, having found Jesus, Mary grabs on for dear life, like the other women later in Matt 28:9b: "And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him." She had Him in a bear hug and was not letting go! But: 17 Jesus said to her, "Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, 'I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.' " What is that all about? Later in the day, He invites the disciples to touch Him: Lu 24:39: "See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have." Later He does the same with Thomas: Jn 20:27: "Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side." So, why prevent Mary? Actually, in Mary's case, He's not trying to prevent her touching Him. He's correcting a misunderstanding. Seeing Him in the flesh, Mary makes the natural assumption that everything is going to revert to the way it was before. Jesus will now be around again. They will all follow Him again. And who knows what comes next? She's clinging to a past that is past. It has to be past. Prior to crucifixion, Jesus lived the life of a humble servant. He willingly took whatever hardship, humiliation, suffering and death came His way-part of the divine redemptive plan. BUT THOSE DAYS ARE OVER! It's a new day. What Mary is trying to hang onto is gone forever. For Him the suffering, pain, death, shame, and humiliation are over. In fact, He won't be physically present at all. Mary is clinging to is a past that is no more. His ascension to the Father is a few short days away; everything is about to change. But that wasn't going to be bad for Mary - or any believer. It was the best thing that could happen. His ascension cleared the way for the coming of the HS. John 16:7: "Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you." Things won't be the same. Stop clinging to the old. Things will be better. Physically gone, but now spiritually present through the HS. It's a new world order for believers. Now it's not how can I cling to Christ physically, but how do I give myself to the gift of the Holy Spirit? Pastor Bruce McIver asked his surgeon, "Doc, can you fix my heart?" The doc said, "Yes." Later, in recovery, McIver asked, "I was 90% blocked when I came in. How much blood supply do I have now?" Doc replied, "All you will ever need." McIver asked, "How about my quality of life?" The doc replied, "I fixed your heart; your quality of his life is up to you." That's Jesus' point to Mary. "I've fixed your heart by my death and resurrection. By my ascension, I'm sending my Spirit to indwell you. What you do with that gift? Up to you!" So, I ask, what are you doing with that gift? Is He the forgotten gift? Or is He the guiding presence of your life? That's up to you! III. Mary Found a New Relationship with God OT saints went to heaven when they died. But they were there on credit. Sins forgiven provisionally only. Actual removal of guilt came only after Jesus' atoning death and resurrection. When that happened, salvation was secured for all believers - old and new. But now there is something else as well: 17b) "I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God." Get this! No Jewish person prior to this would ever have called God "My father." Father of the nation, yes. Personal father, No. But a whole new world has opened. Not only is God our Savior thru Christ - He is our Father - not like He is Jesus' Father. That is a forever Trinitarian relationship. But now, by adoption, God is our Father as well - a whole new relationship. And that is what Jesus is saying to Mary here. Welcome to the family of God! In Ben Hur a Jewish prince, Judah Ben Hur is falsely accused of a crime by a childhood friend and consigned to a lifetime of rowing in the galley of a warship. When the ship is sunk in battle Ben Hur rescues a Roman consul trying to commit suicide. The man adopts Ben Hur who becomes known as Quintus Arias. From that moment he wears a ring given by his new father, is a citizen of Rome and his father's heir. From the hopeless slavery to untold wealth and power. So it is to be adopted into God's family. One moment lost in slavery to sin; the next an honored child and heir of God. All bc Jesus lives. IV. Mary Found a New Mission Toward Others The resurrection gives her purpose. She came to the tomb without purpose. She left with the most exalted purpose possible. 17 Jesus said to her, "Do not cling to me . . . but go to my brothers and say to them, 'I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.' " "Let them know I'm alive; that we're part of the same family, and I will lead the way home." Mary is to stop keeping Jesus to herself and share Him far and wide. Are you sharing Christ with others - or do you hang onto to Him in silence and secrecy? Jesus didn't save us so we could hang on a little longer, getting all we can out of this life! We all have a mission - to share Christ. We're gifted to do it in different ways, from different jobs and lifestyles and in different ways. But at the heart of it all is a mission to share Christ. We can't be like the new busboy who was all enthusiasm on day one. But next day he failed to show. Two hours later he rushed in, red-faced and breathless saying, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I forgot I had a job." Have you forgotten you have a job? Have the comforts of life seduced you to the point of uselessness. A week before he died, C. S. Lewis told his brother how empty life had been before Christ. But after Christ he found purpose as a defender of the faith. With death near he said, "I have done all that I was sent into the world to do; I am ready to go." Will you be able to say that when your time is up? Conc - As Mary headed for Jesus' tomb that morning, she thought she had a handle on truth. Jesus was dead; she wanted only to honor Him. But shortly she came face-to-face with a new reality. Jesus wasn't dead; He was alive, and that changed her own life and her relationships with God and Christ. Perhaps you are here this morning thinking you know truth - that Jesus was a nice guy who got Himself killed by helping the disenfranchised. But the reality is, He rose again and lives even now. Grasping that truth will change your life like it did Mary's. But you must put your faith wholly in Him. A newspaper writer was pleading for a little more time to develop a political trend story. The editor would have none of it: "We better move on it today. It might not be true tomorrow." That's the world we live in, right? No True Truth. No solid ground. What's true today is a lie tomorrow. Not with God. He promised a resurrection; He delivered a resurrection, and He transforms the lives of those who trust in Him. So, come to the cross. See the Savior who died in your place. But then come to the empty tomb. And ask the living Savior to call your name and change your life. He'll do just that. Let's pray. DONE Now, having found Jesus, Mary grabs on for dear life, like the other women later in Matt 28:9b: "And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him." Whether she held His feet, or had Him in a bear hug, she was not going to let Him go! But: 17 Jesus said to her, "Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, 'I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.' " What is that all about? Later in the day, He invites the disciples to touch Him: Lu 24:39: "See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have." Later He does the same with Thomas: Jn 20:27: "Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side." So, why prevent Mary. Now some have suggested that Jesus actually ascended to heaven right after this and then returned to earth periodically over the next 40 days. But I think that is a hard case to make. Two passages speak of His ascension as a singular event. Lu 24:51: "While he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven." And Acts 1:9: "And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10 And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, 11 and said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven." The ascension was a singular event that occurred 7 weeks after the resurrection. It was the event Jesus had pointed to many times in His ministry. In a sense He was reporting back in - Mission accomplished! 7