God is in This Story

I want to invite Yarik up here on the platform with me.

Let me introduce—this is Yarik, from Ukraine. How do you say your last name?

Picture 1:

Yarik is married to his wife Kristina (there they are) been married how long?

Picture 2:

They are currently staying with Jason and Tanya Nussbaum in our church.

Picture 3:

Here is another photo of Yarik’s mom and sister—his mom is Oksana and sister Milana (who is in kindergarten at South Adams)

Picture 4:

and they are staying with Dean and Brenda DeArmond. (sorry Dean we couldn’t give you hair on your photo—couldn’t photoshop that in)

and I have just a couple questions today

Tell us a little bit where you are from and how you ended up here. Yarik, how did you and Kristina your wife, and Oksana and Milana, end up here in Berne, Indiana?

so here is a photo of Ukraine—Ukraine is in eastern Europe, right next to Russia

and you can see a zoomed in version of where Yarik and his family are from as well as his church family. (the star)

Next question - I am sure this journey has been a very tough journey for you. How have you seen God in your story even though it has been very hard?

We are here Easter Sunday, worshipping and celebrating Jesus who rose from the dead. How has Jesus made a difference in your life?

We want to take a moment and pray for Yarik—so we are going to gather up front.

(see screen for details) and as we do that—I want to invite you — Well, this Wednesday, we want to invite you to hear more from Yarik—I will be interviewing him about the war, what he has learned, more on his family, what God has taught up—that will be this Wednesday from 7-8pm. (see screen for details)

and as part of this, we are raising money for Yarik’s church back in Ukraine. They are in need of generators.

Here is a picture of Yarik’s pastor—Roman Lebedev—and his wife.

as well as a picture of the church building,

and a picture of a church service there.

Yarik and I met with Yarik’s pastor on Facebook video messenger, and I asked Roman how he was doing—and he said it was a good day—because they had power all day and there were no air alarms going off signaling the Russians were sending rockets to bomb them.

so they need generators so when the power goes out the church can keep operating and doing its ministries. They are very busy ministering to lots of people in need, taking those fleeing the war and housing them in their church.

We are hoping to raise up to $7500 to buy generators that they will use. that’s the goal. you can give online—there will be a dropdown menu for “Generators for Ukraine ” or grab an offering envelope and write a check to First Missionary Church. on the offering envelop put “ukraine generators.”

So through the difficulties that Yarik has experienced, he believes and we believe that somehow God is in this story.

HE is in the details.

Even in the broken parts—even at his weakest.

despite the suffering and chaos he has endured, God is not done. He is involved in their story; He is writing their story. Using Jesus’ story to impact their stories and our stories.

I want to continue that theme by looking at how God is in the story in some other characters in Scripture.

characters that God was involved in their story...

Earlier in the service Pastor Mike read from the beginning of John 20 — about the resurrection of Jesus.

we learned about

Peter and John...

Now Mary Magdalene...

Let’s see how God is in their story just like Yarik’s and yours...

Let’s look at the next passage: (please stand—let’s see how God is in her story…)

John 20:11–18 NIV

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 around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize 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 toward 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.

I believe...God was in her story...

how?

Look at what we learn about how God writes Himself into Mary’s story (and ours, too)

How is God in this story?

God seeks us out FIRST..

Yes, Mary is looking for Jesus, was planning on using burial spices…she runs and gets the other disciples, she looks in the tomb, but as she is looking, she turns around in vs. 14 and sees Jesus standing there. but did not realize he was there. (show vs. 14-15)

and Jesus is so tender. verse 15--”woman, why are you crying? “Who is it you are looking for?” I don’t believe Jesus is being funny or playing games—but when God asks questions—when a good counselor asks questions to their patient—they are inviting them in.

and Mary thinks it is the gardener. until Jesus says her name.

what does this teach us? If any of us are to find God and a relationship with Jesus, yes we are called to seek Him out—true, but this only happens because God seeks us out FIRST. Theologians differ on how much this works out (is it more God than us, all God, not us), but almost all Christian theologies agree that we need God to seek us out first—to write Himself into our story. if we are going to be a part of our story...

with tenderness

compassion

intentionality

Scripture says pretty honestly we need this—because all of us are sinners. There is no one righteous, not even one. no one who seeks God (Romans 3). Romans 8 says the sinful mind is hostile to God; it does not please God nor cannot it do so.

Certainly Mary and the disciples were not expecting Jesus to rise from the dead. their vision of God and ours is often too small. They would have never found the Jesus that was in their expectations.

Instead, Jesus breaks those expectations. God writes himself into our story with all its brokenness by seeking us out.

if you are not a believer—here today—He might just be doing that exact same thing....

if you are a believer—don’t forget that you are only here b/c God was first seeking you out; and He hasn’t abandoned you, even in the suffering. He knows what He is doing.

He is in your story

Secondly...

How is God in this story...

#2 - the 2nd thing we learn about God writing Himself into our story is He seeks us out based on His grace.

Our life with God is based on pure grace.

grace is unearned favor…the favor of God that we cannot earn or work for.

Mary Magdalene’s story is pretty interesting...

Luke 8:1–2 NIV

1 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, 2 and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out;

we learn that she was one of the women that supported Jesus out of her means financially.

so she had 7 DEMONS cast out of her —delivered by Jesus.

we read in the Gospels—Matthew, Mark, and Luke and John just how crazy people who were oppressed by demons acted—for some it was physical illness, others more mental and insanity…for others a combo of this and certainly spiritual darkness. there was once a man talked about Luke 8 who was demon possessed and did not wear clothes or live in a house but in the tombs. everyone avoided him—village outcast!

the fact that she had 7—7 is often symbolic of completion—she was completely oppressed by the kingdom of darkness.

most people back then knew that she would have been ‘ONE OF THOSE’ people.

“one of those” people you stay away from...”

and yet—here in John 20…she is actually the very first person that Jesus picks to reveal His resurrected self to.

the very first....that’s remarkable.

Jesus chose her! Not based on her effort or works or past, but simply by His grace.

God is writing His story into Mary Magdalene’s messy story.

and the same is true of us!

I remember back on the playground days of elementary school, and we would get ready to play kickball, we would have 2 captains, and everybody would line up and they would pick teams.

it was always a little awkward for some as you waited to get your name called, and if you were the last one called, perhaps you were the slowest, perhaps you weren’t very good, perhaps you weren’t popular, you especially felt low. you could see the expression on the kid who was picked last for the team.

Jesus here, it’s like he picks the last person to be on His team that we would expect. HE picks them FIRST!

not only was she demon-possessed—a crazy past...

she was a woman, which in that day and age, women often were not allowed to testify in court, so for Jesus to say I want her to be on my team, the first pick—shows his incredible elevation of women, too!

One writer says, “Jesus could have easily arranged to make someone else the first messenger. He chose her. and that means Jesus specifically chose a woman, not a man; a reformed mental patient, not a pillar of the community; chose one of the support team, not one of the leaders, to be the first Christian and first witness

Jesus is saying, “It doesn’t matter who you are or what you have done. My salvation is not based on pedigree, it’s not based on moral attainments, raw talent, level of effort, or track record. I have come not to call those who are strong, but to call those who are weak. I am not just your teacher but your Savior.” (Keller, Encounters with Jesus, page 99)

The minute you understand that—Jesus begins to change you—He writes Himself into your story

that is what Jesus is doing here—and can do for us.

To have God w.rite into our story—doesn’t require good works or effort, but surrender. weakness. dependence on Jesus. looking to Him for everything

God was in her story—if Mary could come to faith in Christ, despite her past and past and brokenness—to be the first Christian, so can we. we are not beyond hope

So God seeks her out FIRST...

God seeks her out BASED ON HIS GRACE...

He does the same now…for us—if you are not a believer...

if you are a believer and a believer and have been struggling.

the third we see is He seeks us out PERSONALLY...

we see this with Mary—He uniquely pursues her—says her name

and Jesus comes and writes into her story…he calls her by name.

nobody said her name like Jesus.

John 20:16 NIV

16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”).

she recognized that voice—because look at John 10—Jesus is the good shepherd calling his sheep...

John 10:3–4 (NIV)

3 He (Jesus) calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.

4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.

Look at Thomas

God is in another story, too…Thomas...

John 20:24–29 NIV

24 Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” 26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” 28 Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

I don’t have nearly as much time to talk about Thomas—but poor guy gets a bad rap. known as doubting Thomas for centuries now.

but he simply was not with the disciples the first time Jesus showed up. I think we would have similar reactions.

and here with Thomas, though very different background than Mary, very different personality than Mary—

Jesus writes himself into Thomas’ story now—

He seeks out Thomas first, based on his grace, and—personally—just like Mary. for Thomas to have saving trust and faith—He pursues Thomas. and it’s different than Mary’s —he lets Thomas touch him. but he gives Thomas exactly what he needs.

this is my 3rd point....reminder that God pursues us personally, intimately, people; God encounters people differently, based on what they need. no 2 encounters are the same. He pursued Mary Magdalene one way—Thomas another—but it was exactly what they needed.

and its based on his grace. Jesus could have rebuked Thomas big time—but no, he says, touch, feel, see, believe. Thomas didn’t earn it—he didn’t have to. Jesus did.

and this causes Thomas to respond “My Lord and My God!” This statement is the climax of the entire book of John.

He saw Jesus for who He really was—just like Mary did.

some of us can relate to Mary Magdalene—some of us to Thomas as doubters and skeptics—and Jesus uses both of their stories to impact us today.

some of us may feel like we have nothing to offer, horrible pasts and presents, and hopeless futures—Jesus comes to us like Mary Magdalene and offers a chance for a new story—for Him to write into our story. the great thing about people like Mary is that when they adimt they are a sinner, put their trust and hope in Jesus Christ and what He has done on the cross, they become some of the best followers!

b/c only those who admit they need help, admit they need a Savior to save them from their sin, God can use. and she would become the first Christian messenger and witness—who better to reach people than someone like Mary who can understand people?

God can use people like that—people like you—you often have an advantage to really understanding God’s grace, more than Pharisees and religious people do.

Scripture says “He who has been forgiven much, loves much!” people like Mary get it—God wants them on His team.

People who say “I have sinned. I have messed up. I am putting my trust in Jesus’ life and death on the cross to save me in my place. I am committing my life to Him!”

People like Thomas who have been utterly convinced about Jesus-- look at Jesus and say “My Lord and My God.

we see others in this chapter that Jesus writes into their story

Peter and John earlier…there stories are interesting too

b/c John in verse 8—says he just saw and believed. He examined the grave clothes—reasoned, and believed.

Peter—Peter had denied Jesus 3x—he had failed Jesus—and yet in chapter 21—Jesus will restore Him and send him out with a big mission. the grace of Jesus.

God is in this story..with Yarik..with Mary, Thomas, Peter, John..others in Scripture…the disciples, the Apostle Paul…so many others.

Do you believe that?

if you are not a Christian, we are so glad you are here—is it possible that God wants to pursue you, and like Mary—wants to have a relationship with you; like Thomas wants to reveal Himself to you? like Peter—restore you?

admit your need for Him, trust in Him to save you today—we’d love to talk more with you about this.

if you are a Christian—is it possible that even in your suffering and hard times, God is still pursuing you? God is in your story—somehow—even the broken parts? if you have turned from God, and came here today, is it possible this is happening to you? that God can us His story to impact your story, so you can impact other’s stories.

I want to invite the worship team forward.

Jesus told Mary strangely...

John 20:17 NIV

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.’ ”

and later he allowed Thomas to touch him. why?

one writer says, we can imagine, terrified that she would lose Jesus again!

but Jesus says you won’t lose me. when he would ascend up to be with His Father forever, He would pour out His Spirit. through the Holy Spirit living in us—we can know Jesus now intimately in our hearts. The Spirit inside us is better than the Jesus beside us.

if you want that same experience of the Spirit—of Jesus—allow Him to write into your story.

a couple ways you can respond:

pray during this

on the back of the chair is a QR code—take a picture, and it will take you to a brief form if you want to reach out to the church for prayer or want to get together

final plug— Yarik on Wednesday.

pray with us up front...