Jesus Knows Your Name
Notes
Transcript
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10 Then the disciples returned to their homes.
11 But Mary stood outside the tomb weeping. And as she wept, she bent down to look into the tomb,
12 and she saw two angels in white sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and the other at the feet.
13 “Woman, why are you weeping?” they asked. “Because they have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I do not know where they have put Him.”
14 When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there; but she did not recognize that it was Jesus.
15 “Woman, why are you weeping?” Jesus asked. “Whom are you seeking?” Thinking He was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried Him off, tell me where you have put Him, and I will get Him.”
16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to Him in Hebrew, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”).
17 “Do not cling to Me,” Jesus said, “for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go and tell My brothers, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, to My God and your God.’ ”
18 Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them what He had said to her.
PRAY
Introduction: Weeping
Can you think of a time when you wept uncontrollably? When you were so sad and tears filled your eyes and you were overcome with sorrow?
Perhaps at the death of a loved one - a close family member or friend.
Perhaps at the loss of a friendship or relationship, a broken relationship with a spouse or child.
Maybe the loss of a job or some other life-altering circumstance that left you feeling empty.
Sorrow is a very human emotion and affects every one of us to some extent. We have all experienced different kinds of loss that lead to deep sadness and sometimes overwhelming grief that leads us to weep.
Even Jesus wept (John 11:35) at the death of his friend Lazarus.
I can think of many times in my life being overcome by sorrow and weeping following a loss. I’d imagine most of you can relate as well.
In this passage we come across a woman who is overcome with grief, weeping, deeply sorrowful. But her sorrow was about to turn to joy.
Jesus had told His disciples this would happen; as He prepared His disciples for His death and resurrection He said,
20 Truly, truly, I tell you, you will weep and wail while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy.
That’s exactly what happens in this story.
Before we get to that, let’s consider:
Who was Mary Magdalene?
Who was Mary Magdalene?
If you’ve read any of the Gospel accounts, you’ve come across her name. Every one of the Gospels mentions her, so clearly she was significant.
But there are many false and even blasphemous ideas out there about Mary Magdalene that we need to avoid.
There are false Gospels and false claims by books such as the recently popular DaVinci Code that say that Mary Magdalene was married to Jesus and even bore children with Him. If that is your idea of her, please get that out of your mind. Such an idea has no basis in the inspired Word of God and is false.
There are also false traditions started by the Roman Catholic church hundreds of years after Christ that identify Mary Magdalene as the sinful woman who anointed Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair in Luke 7. Some have also identified her as the sister of Martha and Lazarus, whom Jesus raised from the dead. Neither one of these claims is backed up by Scripture.
So who was she?
She is Mary from Magdala (probably a town near the Sea of Galilee in the north of Israel)
Her town is mentioned with her name probably to distinguish her from the other Marys since there are several.
Not to be confused with other Marys in Scripture:
Mary the mother of Jesus,
Mary the wife of Clopas,
Mary the sister of Martha and Lazarus,
or the sinful woman who anointed Jesus in Luke 7.
Mary Magdalene was a woman whom Jesus had rescued
Jesus had cast 7 demons out of her (Luke 8:2)
2 as well as some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out,
Mary Magdalene traveled with Jesus and ministered to him
and the disciples out of her means (Luke 8:1-3)
1 Soon afterward, Jesus traveled from one town and village to another, preaching and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with Him,
2 as well as some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out,
3 Joanna the wife of Herod’s household manager Chuza, Susanna, and many others. These women were ministering to them out of their own means.
Mary Magdalene was present at the crucifixion
with other women,
came to minister to Jesus (Matt 27:55-56; Mark 15:40; John 19:25)
55 And many women were there, watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee to minister to Him.
56 Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons.
25 Near the cross of Jesus stood His mother and her sister, as well as Mary the wife of Clopas and Mary Magdalene.
Mary Magdalene was present at Jesus’s burial (Matt 27:61; Mark 15:47)
61 Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there opposite the tomb.
47 Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joseph saw where His body was placed.
Mary Magdalene was the first to visit the tomb (Matt 28:1; Mark 16:1; especially John 20:1)
1 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.
Mary Magdalene was the first to see Jesus alive (John 20:14-16; also Mark 16:9, if legitimate)
14 When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there; but she did not recognize that it was Jesus.
Mary Magdalene was the first to proclaim the resurrection (John 20:18)
18 Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them what He had said to her.
Why was Mary weeping?
Why was Mary weeping?
The Repeated Question (Why was Mary weeping? v. 13 and 15)
First the angels ask in v. 13,
John 20:13 (BSB)
13 “Woman, why are you weeping?” they asked.
Then Jesus asks her the same question in v. 15, but He adds another question,
John 20:15 (BSB)
15 “Woman, why are you weeping?” Jesus asked. “Whom are you seeking?”
Her explanation (v. 13, 15)
To the angels Mary explains,
John 20:13 (BSB)
13 … “Because they have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I do not know where they have put Him.”
The body of Jesus is gone, and she assumes that someone has moved it - perhaps some of Jesus’s enemies, or perhaps grave robbers looking for something in a rich man’s tomb, or perhaps someone wanting to dishonor Jesus.
She has come bearing spices to anoint the body of Jesus and show her love and honor Him, and now she’s distraught because she can’t show Him the honor that she wanted to.
Then she turned and saw Jesus. And when He asks the same question, in response to Jesus, since she thinks he’s the gardener, she says
John 20:15 (BSB)
15 … “Sir, if you have carried Him off, tell me where you have put Him, and I will get Him.”
She assumes maybe this man is the one who has taken away the body and he can tell her where it is so she can go get it and give Jesus a proper burial and show Him honor.
Why did Mary not recognize Jesus?
Why did Mary not recognize Jesus?
14 When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there; but she did not recognize that it was Jesus.
15 “Woman, why are you weeping?” Jesus asked. “Whom are you seeking?” Thinking He was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried Him off, tell me where you have put Him, and I will get Him.”
Some possible reasons she didn’t recognize him:
she was crying and may not have been able to see straight
she wasn’t expecting to see Jesus alive
perhaps it was still somewhat dark since it was early morning
perhaps the clothing he was wearing was different from what he usually wore
Why did she think He was a gardener?
Why did she think He was a gardener?
John 20:15 (BSB)
15 … Thinking He was the gardener…
was he wearing the clothing of a “gardener” - someone who tends or guards the garden?
was he doing some gardening work - pruning, planting something, watering? Getting a head start on the new creation?
There could be a simpler explanation:
Perhaps because it was so early in the morning, the only man she expected to see in the garden was the gardener
Whatever the case, we know that God is a gardener - Gen. 2:8 tells us of that first garden that God planted in Eden. In Psalm 80 and Isaiah 5 God speaks of himself as a farmer who has planted a vineyard. Jesus also told some of his parables about God as the owner of a vineyard.
Jesus Calls Mary by Name
Jesus Calls Mary by Name
Instead of responding to her inquiry, Jesus replies to her with one word (one of my favorite interactions in all of Scripture):
John 20:16 (BSB)
16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.”
The loving, tender, gentle word of the Good Shepherd. He calls her by name.
Notice her response:
John 20:16 (BSB)
16 She turned and said to Him in Hebrew, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”).
"Teacher” here would be a sign of great respect
“Rabbi” or “Rabboni” literally means “my great one” and was a term used of well-respected teachers
In essence she is calling Jesus her Lord or Master
Have you heard Jesus call your name?
Jesus knows your name
There is nothing more precious than to be known by God. Consider His words to Moses:
17 So the LORD said to Moses, “I will do this very thing you have asked, for you have found favor in My sight, and I know you by name.”
Consider also that he has given names to all the stars and remembers them by name
26 Lift up your eyes on high: Who created all these? He leads forth the starry host by number; He calls each one by name. Because of His great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing.
Do you know how many stars there are?
NASA estimates there may be as many as 1 septillion stars (1 with 24 zeroes behind it - a trillion times a trillion); other estimates have it as low as a couple sextillion (2 with 21 zeroes behind it); it is also estimated that there are about 10,000 stars per grain of sand on earth. That’s a number way beyond our comprehension.
How long do you think it would take you to count all the stars? I calculated based on 2 per second, if we go with the lower number, that would only take you 32 trillion years. Even that’s a number probably beyond our comprehension. And that’s just to count them, not even giving them all names and remembering them all.
When we consider the vastness of the universe, we may start to think about how small and insignificant we are in comparison.
But the God who made the world and all the stars not only knows all their names; He knows your name too.
What’s more,
Jesus is the Good Shepherd, and…
The Good Shepherd calls His sheep by name (v. 16; 10:2-3, 14-15, 27; Isaiah 43:1; 40:26; Exodus 33:17)
1 “Truly, truly, I tell you, whoever does not enter the sheepfold by the gate, but climbs in some other way, is a thief and a robber.
2 But the one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep.
3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen for his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
14 I am the good shepherd. I know My sheep and My sheep know Me,
15 just as the Father knows Me and I know the Father. And I lay down My life for the sheep.
27 My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me.
1 Now this is what the LORD says— He who created you, O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine!
His sheep hear his voice (John 18:37
37 “Then You are a king!” Pilate said. “You say that I am a king,” Jesus answered. “For this reason I was born and have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to My voice.”
Why did Jesus say, “Do not cling to me”?
Why did Jesus say, “Do not cling to me”?
John 20:17 (BSB)
17 “Do not cling to Me,” Jesus said, “for I have not yet ascended to the Father…
Many different ideas and interpretations
Most likely 2 things:
Mary is holding onto Jesus because she’s afraid he’s going to leave right away. Jesus is assuring her that he will be around a little longer. “Don’t cling to me because I’m not going to go and die again.”
But Jesus is also letting Mary know that He will not be on earth permanently yet. “Don’t cling to me because you won’t have me here with you in person forever.” He had promised that he would leave and send the Holy Spirit to take His place.
Jesus Commissions Mary
Jesus Commissions Mary
John 20:17 (BSB)
17 … But go and tell My brothers, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, to My God and your God.’ ”
Go and tell “my brothers” - referring to the disciples, Jesus calls them brothers; because of the death and resurrection of Christ, believers are now part of His spiritual family
I am ascending - Jesus was preparing to ascend to the right hand of the Father where He would sit on His throne and reign as King. But first He would spend about 40 days appearing to His disciples many more times to convince them He is alive.
Why did Jesus choose Mary?
Why did Jesus choose Mary?
to be the first person to see Him and testify about Him after the resurrection?
Why not Peter or John or one of the other disciples?
Jesus could have chosen someone else as the first witness of the resurrection. But he chose Mary.
What does this say about Jesus?
God often does what you least expect. He chooses people we wouldn’t choose.
-His choice of younger Jacob over Esau
-His choice of Leah, the unloved wife, to be in the Messiah’s line
-His choice of Judah, the 4th son, rather than Reuben
-His choice of Rahab to be in the Messiah’s line
-His choice of Ruth ...
-His choice of David, the youngest son
And now, Mary Magdalene, a woman, who had formerly been demon-possessed.
This is significant because women were not allowed to testify in a Jewish court. A woman’s testimony was not considered valid in the court of law. This detail has proved to be for many one of the strongest evidences of the resurrection. No Jewish writer at that time would claim that a woman was the first witness, unless that’s exactly what happened. Such was their attitude toward women sadly. But this turns out to be a strong proof of the resurrection - every Gospel admits that the women were the first witnesses, which strengthens the case for the reality of the resurrection.
What does this say about Mary?
If you think back through the list of unexpected people that God chose and used in incredible ways, I think in the case of many of them, humanly speaking, we can see that as a rule these people that God chose were humble, and they trusted God and loved Him. Not that they were perfect, of course. But I think there’s a principle there. The kind of people God chooses to use are humble people who trust Him and His promises and love Him.
15 For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in a high and holy place, and with the oppressed and humble in spirit, to restore the spirit of the lowly and revive the heart of the contrite.
Isaiah 66:2
“This is the one I will esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, who trembles at My word.
Do you want to be the kind of person that God can use to do extraordinary things?
Humble yourself before God, trust His promises, and respond to His love by loving Him in return.
Application:
Have YOU heard the voice of Jesus calling your name?
He speaks to you in his Word - as you hear it here at church on Sunday, as you read it at home, as you listen to it in the car, as you meditate on it during the night when you wake up - He speaks to you through His inspired word - do you hear His voice?
Have you responded in love and worship?
Psalm 95:7–8 (BSB)
7 … Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts…
Rather,
Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; let us shout to the Rock of our salvation! Let us enter His presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to Him in song.
For the LORD is a great God, a great King above all gods. In His hand are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to Him. The sea is His, for He made it, and His hands formed the dry land.
O come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD our Maker. For He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture, the sheep under His care. (Psalm 95:1-7)
