Mary Magdalene, Overcomimg Grief and Loss

INTRODUCTION:

I was watching Dateline last night. I know, I know, don't just me. I could blame it on my wife, but she's here today so that wouldn't last long.

This was a real mystery. The detectives were hard at work to try to solve the case. What struck me was the diligence with which the detectives went about their work. They were chasing every lead. Every person involved in the case was called in and given the opportunity to share.

What struck me was the value the testimony of the eyewitness's played putting the pieces together to solve the mystery.

The same is true when we talk about the case of the empty tomb. The eyewitnesses play the pivotal role unraveling the mystery of the resurrection.

Last week we stated that that there were three responses to the resurrection.

The Religion leader of the day tried to lie and hide the resurrection

The Roman authorities defamed and killed the people who followed the "superstition" of the resurrection.

But the eyewitness were not dissuaded. They literally changed the course of history through their testimony.

The reason that debates about the historicity of Jesus finally focus on his resurrection is that this one event, this one claim to history, becomes the most objectionable. Easter claims that divine events, such as the stupendous event of Jesus’ emerging alive from the tomb, happen in history. Easter claims that such events should not only be catalogued and studied as genuine events in history, but they can be viewed as a reliable basis for belief. We believe in a God who acts in history and those activities must be taken as serious disclosures of his revelation to humankind. (Burge, Gary M. John. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 2000. Print. The NIV Application Commentary.)

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the most significant historical and spiritual event to ever take place.

The eyewitnesses of the resurrection become the people who share the message of Jesus' resurrection with the rest of the world. So much so that just 350 years after the resurrection the number of christians had reached an estimated 33 million people representing 56% of the population.

But don't think for a second that that job was easy. They each had to overcome their own obstacles and faith struggles to fully realize the power of the resurrection in their own lives and share that message with the world.

In this way, we are very similar to the. We have similar struggles that we have to overcome.

I want to introduce you to our first Eyewitness. Mary Magdeline

Primary Text:

John 20:11-18 - But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre, 12 And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. 13 And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him. 14 And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away. 16 Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master. 17 Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God. 18 Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her.

Who is Mary Magdalene?

Her name literally means Mary from Magdala. “Magdalene” implies that she was from Magdala, a town on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee. That's important because people often confuse her with Mary for Bethany who anointed the feet of Jesus with a costly perfume during Holy Week.

Mary first met Jesus when he delivered her from Demons that had takes up residence in her. Luke 8:1-3

Mary become a follower of Jesus, and was one of the woman who followed Jesus and possibly financially supported his earthly ministry. Luke 8:1-3, Matthew 27:55

Mary was an eyewitness to the cruelty of the Cross and was there when Jesus died. John 19:25

Mary came to the Garden earlier with a group of other woman to anoint the body and finalize the preparation of Jesus dead body. They saw the stone rolled away and the empty tomb. Mark 16:1

The ladies find Peter and presumably John and tell him about the empty tomb. John 20:2 Upon hearing the news, Peter and John run to the tomb and find it empty as well. John 20:3-10.

Mary lags behind at the tomb in her grief.

Mary's Grief

John 20:11-13 - But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre, 12 And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. 13 And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him.

The death of Jesus, which she had witnessed, was in itself distressing and unnerving; the disappearance of the body from the place of burial would add apprehension and mystery to her grief. She had hoped for the sad consolation of completing the burial, and even that had been taken from her. (Tenney, Merrill C. “John.” The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: John and Acts. Ed. Frank E. Gaebelein. Vol. 9. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1981. 190. Print.)

Perhaps this is one of the reasons Jesus meet with Mary First.

Mary seems to be overwhelmed with her grief.

Some have suggested that Mary help a special place in Jesus life. And certainly she was delivered from much when her life and Jesus' collided. But those claims all fall short under the scrutiny of history.

Others suggest that this encounter was societally driven. In Jesus' day woman has no rights. But Jesus was revolutionary in his treatment of woman. One relationships that needed to be transformed was the relationships between man and woman. So he chooses to herald the story of his resurrection through Mary to highlight one change that needed to take place.

And certainly the good news of Jesus speaks truth into societal norms that need to be adjusted.

But more important that the messenger is the message that Jesus wanted to communicate.

Jesus Message of Hope to Mary

Mary - Rabonni

John 20:16 - Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.

This was the sound of grief being shattered.

Jesus was not dead

Jesus was alive

Jesus has resurrected. I am sure that Mary did not know the full ramification of this fact, but here sorrow, turned to pure love.

For she falls at this feet and takes hold of his body.

I can almost fell it now. She is embraces hime as if she will never let Him go again.

Touch me not...Do not hold to me.

John 20:17 - Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.

Scholars have debated the meaning of this statement for centuries. And I am not sure that we have concluded the debating.

But what is certain, is that Mary's Joy over the resurrected Jesus causes her to want to embrace, or outright embrace Jesus himself in such a way to to say, I am never letting you go again.

Jesus response to here is...You must let me go! I will ascent.

Jesus is highlighting a New Relationship between him and his follower.

Quote from Scholar:

John’s endearing story about Mary is a correction to those disciples (like Mary) who think that the resurrection points to a resumption of Jesus’ physical presence with them. On the contrary, Jesus is being glorified; his presence with his followers must change. Mary cannot “hold on” to the way Jesus has lived and worked with them but must instead rethink the nature of intimacy with Jesus. (Burge, Gary M. John. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 2000. Print. The NIV Application Commentary.)

Actually Jesus has already spoken at length about this new relationship.

John 14:12-17 - Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. 13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. If ye love me, keep my commandments. 16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

You see Jesus was actually pointing to the truth that he had to leave them physically so that he could live in them permanently.

John 14:17-18 - 17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. 18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.

Here is Jesus greatest message of Hope to Mary.

I cannot stay with you physically. I must go to the father. But I will not leave you comfortless. I will come and live in you.

Here is Jesus message of Hope to Mary. I can not stay with you, but I can live in you.

The Power to overcome Mary's loss was the power of Christ in us.

The presence and power of the resurrected Jesus in us will comfort us in our time of need and loss.

How is this possible? It's because the cross changes everything. Notice what Jesus says to Mary...

My Father, Your Father; My God, your God

John 20:17 - Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.

A New Relationships with our Heavenly Father

Quote from Scholar:

The use of the word “brothers” includes more than the members of his immediate family. It placed the disciples on a new plane of relationship with himself (Tenney, Merrill C. “John.” The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: John and Acts. Ed. Frank E. Gaebelein. Vol. 9. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1981. 191. Print.)

Quote from Scholar:

The way Jesus stated his destination is illuminating: “I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.” Nowhere in the Gospels did Jesus himself address God as “our Father” or “our God.” One seeming exception is the prayer Jesus taught his disciples, which is commonly referred to as the Lord’s Prayer (Matt 6:9–13; Luke 11:2–4). But in that prayer Jesus was teaching the disciples to address God and was not necessarily including himself in the petition. (Tenney, Merrill C. “John.” The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: John and Acts. Ed. Frank E. Gaebelein. Vol. 9. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1981. 191. Print.)

This is the best news yet in This message of hope.

God can be our Father!

This is the very reason for Jesus, Birth, Life, Death and Resurrection

God loved humanity so much that he was unwilling to allow them to stay in their sins. So he died for them so that he could forgive their sins

He ascended so that he could live in us and show us how to live.

Jesus' Father can be our Father too!

Here is how that is possible: (The Gospel)

I must Believe:

I must believe that I am a sinner and therefore guilty before God

I must believe that God loved me so much that he died for my sins

I must believe that if I asked him he will will forgive me.

I must confess

I have to ask God to forgive me.

Confession is when I ask God to forgive my sins and show me how to live.

I Must Repent

Repentance means that I am willing to turn away from my sin

Repentance means that I am willing to turn to God and allow him to lead my life.

Go and Tell...

John 20:17 - Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.

Learn of Me

For 3 years the primary role of the disciples has been that of a learner.

Yes they had

Speak of Me

CONCLUSION:

Mary's message of Hope is for us too! Oh, we may not be experiencing the same type of grief that she experienced that day. But I pray that there would be a grief and remorse over our sinfulness. The god would truly bring us to see how unrighteous we are and how in need of forgiveness we are. So much so that we would be willing to cry out to God for forgiveness. And in doing so we could become a child of God.

I also pray that we would be brought to Grief from our own disobedience to the way of Jesus. That we would understand that as followers of Jesus there is a way to live and that when we live in a way contrary to his way that we grieve the heart of God who is within us. And instead of comfort that Mary received on this day we experience conflict at the very core of who we are. Oh we may not see it, we may have silence the conflict with her. But it's still there in spirit of God is still bringing conviction and inviting us back to walking in unity with God who is within us.

I also pray that we would be brought to Grief for the plight of those who surround us. Those whose lives are being lived far from God. That God has invited us to go and tell. I pray that has Mary returned to the disciples to deliver the good news of Jesus resurrection, so we two would be ready and willing to move out to our friends and coworkers and relatives and neighbors and share with them the good news that Jesus is alive and he wants to live in them.