Mary Magdalene: From Sorrow to Joy

John 20:1–18 ESV

Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead. Then the disciples went back to their homes. But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). 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.’ ” Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”—and that he had said these things to her.

What a familiar, but heartbreaking story. Mary came to the tomb broken. Confused. Weeping. But Jesus didn’t scold her for that. He met her right in the middle of it.

Here’s the truth I want you to hear today:

Jesus doesn’t shame the broken—He sends them.

“Let’s look at how He does that in John 20…

A Woman Forgiven (John 20:1-10, Luke 8:2) 

Let’s start at the tomb in John 20:1-10, where Mary Magdalene steps into the story. John mentions only her, while the other Gospels—Matthew, Mark, and Luke—list other women too: Mary the mother of James, Salome, and Joanna. So why does John focus on Mary alone?  

Well, John’s Gospel loves to zoom in on personal encounters with Jesus—think Nicodemus, the woman at the well, or the blind man. He highlights how Jesus transforms one life at a time, inviting us to believe (John 20:31). Mary’s story is no different—it’s about how the risen Christ changed her forever.  

So, who is Mary Magdalene? We don’t know everything, but Scripture gives us enough. Contrary to some movies and books—no, she wasn’t the woman caught in adultery or Jesus’ secret wife. Luke 8:2 tells us she was a woman “from whom seven demons had gone out.” Now, demon-possession doesn’t always mean personal sin, but it points to a heavy past, a life in need of rescue. Whatever her story, Mary met Jesus, and He set her free.  

That encounter changed everything. Like the woman in Luke 7:36-50, who washed Jesus’ feet because she was forgiven much, Mary loved much too. Her gratitude for His grace made her a devoted disciple—a follower growing in Christ, on mission with Christ. Her love led her to the cross, and now to the tomb, ready to honor her Savior.  

Mary was a sinner, just like us, but Jesus' forgiveness changed her and she became a disciple: 

And what is a disciple? A Disciples is: A follower of Jesus, who was growing in Christ Jesus, and was on mission with Christ Jesus.

But that's just the beginning of the story.

A Woman In Mourning (John 20:11-13) 

We now move to the tomb. Mary has followed Peter and John back to the tomb, and after they leave Mary begins to mourn and when you know who she is you can understand why. 

Jesus is gone. She, along with several other women, sat at the foot of the cross and watched the death of Christ on the cross. Her friend who she had traveled with for 3 years is dead. And now she is at his tomb, and his body is gone, and this simple sentence of 15 Greek words, conveys to us the depth of her pain. Mary is looking into the tomb and weeping.

This is not the paid wailing of the professional mourners that Jews would hire to bump up the sorrow at their funerals, this was a heart-felt brokenness.

I think of the mournful song we sing at Easter, "Were you there when they crucified my Lord?" It's one of my favorites. I especially love the part of the son that say, "O, sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble." I can almost hear the wailing cries of Mary, weeping and trembling outside of the tomb, looking in at where His body had laid just hours before.

This woman who had been forgiven much, now wept deeply.

Have you ever been in the place of Mary? Grieving. Broken. Weeping. Have you ever felt hollowed out by your grief, that's the only way I can describe that kind of pain. For those who have experienced it, you know what I'm talking about. Here is Mary, a woman forgiven by Jesus, and I can imagine her soul feeling hollow.

Life has a way of doing that to you. It has a way of taking your hopes, your dreams, your desires, and crushing them under the weight of life and leaving you empty.

You can hear that pain in the next few lines. As Mary is there broken, two angels, asks her, "Woman, why are you weeping?" 

Mary in her pain cries out in almost an animalistic, pleading, "They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him!" But as Mary wept, thinking all was lost, what she did not realize was Jesus was closer than she knew. 

Mary, An Easter Woman (John 20:14-16) 

In a beautiful picture of grace, Jesus appears to Mary. He repeats the angels’ question, “Woman, why are you weeping?” Thinking He’s the gardener, Mary pleads, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” 

Her heart is still broken, still searching.  

But then, everything changes. Jesus speaks one word: “Mary.”  

Man, that is powerful.  

In that moment, Mary recognizes Him—not just because of His voice, but because He’s the Good Shepherd who calls His sheep by name (John 10:3-4). She goes from mourning to joy, from despair to hope, because Jesus isn’t dead—He’s risen! In one word, Mary’s life is forever changed.  

Church, when Jesus speaks your name, you too can go from sorrow to praise, from brokenness to joy. Just as He came for Mary, a sinner set free (Luke 5:32), He loves you even in your sin and died to save you (Romans 5:8). That’s the promise of Easter.  

Luke 5:32 ESV

I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.

Romans 5:8 ESV

but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Today, if you’re not a follower of Christ, you’re here because Jesus is calling your name. He’s inviting you to trust Him for salvation and receive the resurrection life He gave Mary that day. 

Easter is all about resurrection—God’s power to bring life to what’s dead. If you don’t have assurance of salvation because you’ve never trusted Him, you can join Mary and become a resurrection person, an Easter person.  

There’s a reality today: You’re either Christ’s, restored to God and alive in Him, or you’re still in brokenness and sin. So which one are you? And which one do you want to be?  

If you hear Jesus calling your name today, here’s how to respond.  When I was made right with God, I said a simple prayer, I told God that I was sinful and I was sorry I left his design and for the ways that I tried to get out of brokenness on my own. I told him I was ready to turn from my way and turn to Christ, and I believed that the gospel was true and that I wanted to make Jesus my Lord.

Do you want this today? Then tell Him that right now.  

That’s the first step—trusting Jesus for salvation. But there’s more. 

This joy doesn’t stay silent—it leads Mary to share the news, and it can lead you there too.  

A Woman Proclaiming (John 20:17-18)

Our story ends with a glorious truth: When Mary encounters the risen Jesus, she can’t stay silent. 

In John 20:17, Jesus commands her, “Go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” And in verse 18, Mary obeys—she runs to the disciples and proclaims, “I have seen the Lord!” 

John 20:17 ESV

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.’ ”

John 20:18 ESV

Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”—and that he had said these things to her.

Church, this is no small moment. Some call it the first gospel presentation of the early church—a woman, forgiven and filled with joy, sent by Christ to declare He’s alive.  

What drives Mary? She’s fueled by memories of her forgiveness—those seven demons cast out, her past redeemed. She’s ignited by joy at seeing Jesus, her mourning turned to praise when He called her name. And at Jesus’ command, she goes, carrying the truth of the resurrection.

Evangelism, church, is commanded by Christ and fueled by passion. Because He’s risen, we don’t just share a story—we share a living Savior.  

This is where Mary’s calling becomes ours. As a church, we hold a core value: 

Found People, Find People. 

If you’ve been found by Christ—forgiven much, loved much—you’re sent to tell others. Easter is the perfect time to proclaim what we know: Jesus is risen! He’s alive! Maybe that means inviting a neighbor to church next week. Maybe it’s sharing how Jesus changed your life with a coworker. Like Mary, let’s obey Christ’s command and let our passion for Him spill over, declaring to the world, “I have seen the Lord!”

Church, Jesus doesn’t shame the broken—He sends them. Mary’s story proves it: a sinner forgiven, a mourner restored, a disciple sent to proclaim the risen Christ.

Today, whether you’re broken by sin, weeping in grief, or ready to share His love, Jesus is calling your name.

Will you trust Him like Mary did, believing He’s alive?

Will you go and tell others, living out Found People, Find People?

Let’s pray and ask God to move us from shame to sending, for His glory.