MOTHERS DAY

MARY MAGDALENE.

G.I.J.N. - WHAT A BEATIFUL DAY WE HAVE TO WORSHIP THE LORD - I WANT TO BEGIN BY WISHING ALL THE MOTHERS A HAPPY MOTHERS DAY - AND IF WE ARE NOT A MOTHER TO THINK OF OUR MOTHER AND TO THANK GOD FOR HER AND FOR HER PART IN BRINGING YOU INTO THIS WORLD THAT YOU CAN BE ENJOYING LIFE HERE THIS MORNING - AND IF YOU ARE HERE - YOU HAVE A MOTHER AND HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO RESPECT AND HONOR HER AND FOR YOU AS HUSBANDS - IF YOUR WIFE IS ONE THAT FEARS THE LORD - SHE SHALL BE PRAISED.

Proverbs 31:28+30 “Her children arise up, and call her blessed; Her husband also, and he praiseth her. Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: But a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.”

HAVE WE PRAISED OUR MOTHERS - HUSBANDS - HAVE WE PRAISED OUR WIFE FOR WHO SHE IS AND THAT SHE FEARS THE LORD AND FOR ALL THAT SHE HAS DONE FOR YOU?

AS I HAVE BEEN THINKING OF THE MESSAGE FOR THIS MORNING ON MOTHERS DAY - I WAS THINKING ALONG THE LINES OF LOOKING TO JESUS: AS HE IS OUR PERFECT EXAMPLE OF HOW TO LIVE LIFE HERE ON EARTH - SO I BEGAN TO LOOK INTO AND QUESTION : WHAT WAS THE CULTURAL RELATIONSHIP WITH HUSBANDS AND WIVES AND HOW THEY WERE TREATED AT THE TIME WHEN JESUS WAS FULFILLING HIS MINISTRY - WAS IT SIMILAR TO OUR MODERN CULTURE OR VASTLY DIFFERENT - HOW DOES JESUS TEACH TO RELATE TO WOMEN?

I LOOKED AT VARIOUS ACCOUNTS AND HISTORY REPORTS AND SO TO SUMMARIZE -

1ST - FROM A JEWISH PERSPECTIVE IN THE 1ST CENTURY - WOMEN WERE LITTLE MORE THAN SERVANTS - A COMMON PRAYER JEWISH MAN WOULD PRAY EACH MORNING - GOD, I THANK YOU THAT I AM NOT A GENTILE, SLAVE OR WOMAN. THE PROVISION FOR DIVORCE IN DEUTERONOMY 24 HAD BEEN DISTORTED TO INCLUDE VIRTUALLY ANY OFFENCE OF DISFAVOR IN THE EYES OF HUSBAND WAS ACCEPTED FOR “PUTTING AWAY OF A WOMAN” WITH WOMEN HAVING LITTLE OR NO INPUT ON THE MATTER.

2ND - IN GREEK SOCIETY THE WOMAN'S SITUATION WAS WORSE BECAUSE CONCUBINES WERE COMMON AND A WIFE'S ROLE WAS SIMPLY TO BEAR LEGITIMATE CHILDREN AND TO KEEP HOUSE. GREEK MEN HAD LITTLE REASON TO DIVORCE BECAUSE THE REASON FOR A WIFE WAS TO BEAR CHILDREN AND BE GUARDIAN OF THE HOUSE AND BOTH HUSBAND AND WIFE WERE NOT EXPECTED TO BE FAITHFUL TO THE MARRIAGE UNION WHICH LED TO WIDESPREAD PROSTITUTION - HOMOSEXUALITY AND MANY OTHER FORMS OF PERVERSIONS INCLUDING ABUSE OF CHILDREN.

3RD - IN ROMAN SOCIETY MARRIAGE WAS LITTLE MORE THAN LEGALIZED PROSTITUTION WITH DIVORCE BEING AN EASY LEGAL FORMALITY THAT COULD BE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF AS OFTEN AS DESIRED. MANY WOMAN DID NOT WANT TO HAVE CHILDREN AND FEMINISM WAS COMMON - WOMAN HAD THE DESIRE TO DO EVERYTHING MEN DID AND SO THEY BEGAN TO LORD IT OVER MEN THEIR AUTHORITY AND INCREASINGLY TOOK THE INITIATIVE IN GETTING A DIVORCE AS A SHOW OF POWER.

SO AS WE THINK OF THESE THREE CULTURES : IT SHOWS THAT IN ALL SITUATIONS WOMEN WERE TREATED UNFAIRLY AND MEN USED THEIR PRIVILEGE FOR THEIR OWN ADVANTAGE - IN THE ROMAN WORLD PARTICULARLY - WOMEN WERE GAINING SOME SOCIAL AND LEGAL FREEDOMS THAT ENCOURAGED THEM TO SHIRK THEIR FAMILY RESPONSIBILITIES IN FAVOR OF FEMINISM.

IF WE UNDERSTAND THESE THREE ASPECTS OF THE CURRENT CULTURE THEN IT MAY HELP PUT INTO PERSPECTIVE HOW PAUL’S TEACHING EPHESIANS 5 21-33 IS ACTUALLY A REDEMPTIVE CORRECTIVE ACTION FOR ALL THREE SITUATIONS.

EPHESIANS 5 IS DIRECTIONS FOR CHRISTIAN LIVING AND STARTING AT VERSE 21 IS DIRECTED TO HUSBANDS AND WIVES - THE KEY TO UNDERSTANDING THESE VERSES BEGINS WITH THE FEAR OF THE LORD.

Ephesians 5:21 “Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.”

PAUL BASES HIS TEACHING THAT IT IS IN PARALLEL TO THE RELATIONSHIP OF CHRIST AND THE CHURCH - EMPHASIZING THAT AS WIVES TRUST AND FOLLOW THE HUSBAND WHO IS LOVING SACRIFICIALLY - JUST AS CHRIST LOVED THE CHURCH AND DIED FOR IT. A HUSBAND’S SACRIFICIAL LOVE IS A POWERFUL REDEMPTIVE AND CORRECTIVE RESPONSE FOR THE 1ST CENTURY CULTURE - AND A WIFE'S WILLING SUBMISSION BY TRUSTING AND FOLLOWING HER HUSBAND IS A VITAL RESPONSE TO ROMAN CONVERTS WHO WOULD WANT TO FLAUNT THERE NEW FOUND FREEDOM IN CHRIST AND SIDESTEP THE RELATIONAL COMMANDMENT THAT GOD HAS ORDAINED FOR CHRISTIAN AND FAMILY LIVING IN LOVE ACCORDING TO THE EXAMPLE OF JESUS LOVE FOR THE THE CHURCH.

PAUL ENDS THE TEACHING IN THIS CHAPTER - Ephesians 5:32–33 “This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.”

SO AS WE UNDERSTAND THE CULTURAL PRACTICE OF JESUS’S DAY THEN IT HELPS US TO UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF HOW JESUS INTERACTED AND RELATED TO THE WOMEN IN THE ACCOUNTS OF THE BIBLE - MY INITIAL IDEA WAS TO LOOK AT ALL THE WOMEN OF JESUS DAY BUT THE MORE I STUDIED THE MORE I REALIZED THAT IS MUCH TO BIG OF A TOPIC FOR ONE MESSAGE.

IN A TIME WHERE WOMEN WERE LARGELY SIDELINED IN PUBLIC, RELIGIOUS, AND CULTURAL LIFE - WE SEE JESUS TREATMENT OF WOMEN STANDING OUT AS REMARKABLY COUNTER CULTURAL - AND JESUS CONSISTENTLY BROKE SOCIAL NORMS TO UPLIFT - TEACH - HEAL - AND INCLUDE WOMEN IN HIS MINISTRY.

SOME OF THESE EXAMPLES I WAS THINKING OF THAT JESUS USED TO SHOW US THAT HIS GIFT OF LOVE AND SALVATION IS FOR ALL MANKIND INCLUDING WOMAN.

DO YOU KNOW THAT JESUS CONVERSATION WITH THE SAMARITAN WOMAN IS ONE OF THE LONGEST RECORDED CONVERSATIONS JESUS HAD WITH ANYONE.

2. JESUS AFFIRMATION OF MARY’S CHOICE TO LEARN AT HIS FEET WAS DIRECTLY OPPOSITE OF THE CURRENT CUSTOM OF TEACHING- A QUOTE FROM ONE RABBI GAVE THIS IDEA - WHOEVER TEACHES HIS DAUGHTER THE LAW IS CONSIDERED AS IF HE TAUGHT HER FOOLISHNESS. - ANOTHER RABBI’S IDEA WAS - LET THE WORDS OF THE LAW RATHER BE DESTROYED BY FIRE THAN IMPARTED TO A WOMAN.

3. JESUS BEING WILLING TO SAVE WOMEN WITH PHYSICAL OR SPIRITUAL HEALING -SHOWS HIS VALUE OF ALL HUMAN LIFE AND ESPECIALLY THOSE WHOM THE WORLD REJECTED - LUKE 7 WE HAVE THE ACCOUNT OF A SINFUL WOMAN WASHING HIS FEET WITH HER TEARS AND JESUS FORGIVES HER SINS AND PRAISES HER FAITH.

MARK 5 WE HAVE THE ACCOUNT OF THE WOMAN WITH THE ISSUE OF BLOOD FOR 12 YEARS - UNDER JEWISH LAW HER CONDITION MADE HER UNCLEAN - MEANING SHE WAS NOT ALLOWED IN PUBLIC - AND JESUS DID NOT REBUKE HER BUT CALLS HER DAUGHTER AND SHE IS HEALED .

TO SEE WHAT VALUE JESUS HAVE OF WOMAN - WE CAN SEE IN MATTHEW CHAPTER 1 - IN JESUS GENEALOGY THAT WE OFTEN SKIM OR SKIP OVER THERE IS 5 WOMAN MENTIONED - GENEALOGIES IN BIBLE TIME WERE A BIG DEAL AND WERE SEEN AS A RESUME (RES-SUMAY) OF SORTS - USING THEM TO SHOW HOW GOOD YOUR FAMILY LINEAGE WAS AND HOW GOOD YOU WERE - IT WAS USED TO HIGHLIGHT THE GOOD AND HIDE THE BAD PEOPLE OF YOUR FAMILY LINE -HOWEVER JESUS LINEAGE DOES THE EXACT OPPOSITE - IN HIS LINE THERE IS MENTION OF 2 NON JEWS - A PROSTITUTE AND OF DAVIDS MISTRESS - BATHSHEBA. WE SEE JESUS CAME AND ELEVATED THOSE THAT SOCIETY SAID HAD NO VALUE.

JESUS ALSO SHOWED EQUALITY IN HIS TEACHING - TEACHINGS THAT INCLUDED AND PROTECTED WOMEN AND WE ALSO SEE HOW HE BLESSED CHILDREN IN MATTHEW 19 -

A FEW OTHER INTERESTING FACTS

THE FIRST MIRACLE WAS FOR A WOMAN - HIS MOTHER.

THE FIRST SAMARITAN CONVERT WAS A WOMAN.

THE FIRST NEWS OF THE RESURRECTION WAS TO WOMEN.

WHO WAS THE FIRST PERSON THAT JESUS REVEALED HIMSELF TO AFTER THE RESURRECTION AND INSTRUCTED HER TO GO AND TELL THE OTHERS.

A QUESTION I WANT US TO THINK ABOUT - WHO WAS THE FIRST EASTER PREACHER? - WHO WAS THE ONE INSTRUCTED BY JESUS TO GO AND SHARE THE GOOD NEWS THAT JESUS WAS RISEN FROM THE DEAD AND ALIVE - JESUS SAID: GO TELL MY BRETHREN.

THIS MORNING - IN LIGHT OF MOTHERS DAY - I WANT TO LOOK AT WHAT WE CAN LEARN FROM THIS WOMAN OF JESUS DAY AND SEE HOW WE CAN BE ENCOURAGED BY HER LIFE AND HOW SHE IMPACTED THE WORLD BY HER ACTIONS.

SO WHO WAS MARY MAGDALENE?

MARY MAGDALINE WAS FROM THE TOWN OF MAGDALA -( WHO HAS BEEN TO MAGDALA OR MIGDAL) ???

THIS PLACE HAS GOTTEN A LOT OF ATTENTION SINCE 2009 WHEN A CATHOLIC PRIEST FROM SPAIN WANTED TO MAKE RELIGIOUS RETREAT CENTER ON THE ANCIENT SITE AND WHEN EXCAVATION BEGAN THEY UNEARTHED THE STONE WALLS AND PASSAGEWAYS THAT ONCE SERVED AS THE TOWNS STATE OF THE ART FISH PROCESSING FACILITY. ALSO A FEW SIGNIFICANT FINDINGS HAVE BEEN THE MIGDAL SYNAGOGUE WHERE IT IS BELIEVED JESUS WOULD HAVE TAUGHT AND ALSO MANY MOSAICS AND THE MAGDALA STONE HAS BEEN UNEARTHED OFFERING A WINDOW INTO THE PAST.

FEW MORE FACTS OF MAGDALA

LARGEST CITY AROUND THE SEA OF GALILEE - ALSO THE LARGEST JEWISH CITY - ALSO KNOW AS MIGDAL AND MAGADAN AND IS LOCATED ON THE WESTERN SHORE OF GALILEE.

THE NAME MAGDALA IN ARAMAIC AND MIGDAL IN HEBREW MEAN “TOWER”.

FISHING VILLAGE WITH THE LARGEST FISH MARKET AND HAD A BOAT HARBOR WITH A FLEET OF ESTIMATED 230 BOATS

4. AS I MENTIONED BEFORE HAS ONE OF ISRAELS OLDEST MOST WELL PRE-SERVED SYNAGOGUES - ALONG WITH A RARE STONE REPLICA OF THE TEMPLE IN JERUSALEM WITH DETAILED CARVINGS SHOWING ASPECTS OF THE TEMPLE.

5. THERE IS A MASSIVE TOWER FOUNDATION FOUND THAT MAY ACCOUNT FOR ITS NAME

SO THIS TOWN THAT MARY MAGDALENE WAS FROM WAS A LARGE PROSPEROUS TOWN IN BIBLE TIMES.

WHEN STUDYING MARY IN THE NEW TESTAMENT ITS IS EASY TO BE CONFUSED BECAUSE THERE ARE AT LEAST 6 DIFFERENT MARY’S LISTED

MARY THE MOTHER OF JESUS - THE MOST KNOWN MARY SINCE SHE WAS CHOSEN BY GOD TO BEAR HIS SON.

2. MARY MAGDALENE - A DEVOTED FOLLOWER OF CHRIST

3. MARY OF BETHANY - THE SISTER OF LAZARUS - WHO HAD A SISTER MARTHA.

4. MARY THE MOTHER OF JAMES

5 MOTHER OF JOHN MARK - THE HOUSE PETER CAME TO WHEN HE WAS MIRACULOUSLY RELEASED FROM PRISON.

6. MARY A MEMBER OF THE CHURCH OF ROME - PAUL MENTIONS HER IN HIS LETTER AND DESCRIBES HER AS ONE WHO WORKED VERY HARD IN ROMANS 16:6

WHO WAS MARY MAGDALENE NOT :

THERE IS NO SCRIPTURE TO PROVE THAT MARY MAGDALENE WAS THE WOMAN IN LUKE 7:36-50 - IN AD 591 POPE GREGORY WHO WRONGFULLY COMBINED MARY MAGDALENE AS THE PROSTITUTE WHO ANOINTED JESUS FEET - FINALLY IN 1969 POPE PAUL THE 6TH MADE THE CLARIFICATION THAT MARY MAGDALENE WAS MISIDENTIFIED IS THE SINFUL WOMAN IN LUKE 7:

ALSO SHE IS NOT THE WOMAN JESUS SAVED FROM STONING AS SOME WOULD PORTRAY - THIS HAS NO BIBLICAL SUPPORT AND IS NOT LIKELY.

MARY MAGDALENE IS MENTIONED BY NAME 12 TIMES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT. SHE IS OFTEN LISTED 1ST IN THE LIST OF NAMES - WHICH WOULD SUGGEST SHE WAS LIKELY A LEADER OF THE GROUP OF WOMEN FOLLOWERS OF JESUS. SIMILAR TO JESUS INNER CIRCLE OF DISCIPLES FOR EXAMPLE - PETER, JAMES AND JOHN.

I HAVE 7 THINGS WE CAN LEARN FROM MARY MAGDALENE.

POWER OF DELIVERANCE. IN Luke 8:1–3 WE ARE INTRODUCED TO MARY MAGDALENE : And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with him, And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils, And Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto him of their substance.” WE HAVE MARY MAGDALENE AS ONE WHO WAS HEALED OF EVIL SPIRITS AND INFIRMITIES - OUT OF WHOM WENT SEVEN DEVILS. AS I THINK OF DELIVERANCE - AND THE STATE OF BONDAGE THAT SHE WAS IN BEFORE JESUS HEALED HER OF SO MANY DEVILS-

WE HAVE THE ACCOUNT IN MARK 5 WHERE JESUS HEALED THE MAN OF AN UNCLEAN SPIRIT WHOSE NAME WAS LEGION FOR THEY WERE MANY AND WHEN THEY WERE CAST OUT THEY WENT INTO THE SWINE WHICH NUMBERED ABOUT 2,000. SO IT RAISES THE QUESTION - WAS THERE 7 DEVILS OR WAS THE NUMBER SEVEN WHICH IS THE NUMBER MEANING COMPLETENESS REPRESENTING THAT MARY WAS COMPLETELY CONTROLLED BY THE EVIL.HOWEVER - WHAT IS IMPORTANT IS THAT JESUS HAS THE POWER THAT CAN COMPLETELY HEAL AND DELIVER US FROM ANYTHING THAT HAS CONTROL OF US. MARY WAS CHANGED FROM A DEMON POSSESSED WOMAN TO A WOMAN KNOWN AS MARY MAGDALENE. THAT FREEDOM AND HEALING SHE RECEIVED FROM JESUS GAVE HER LIFE BACK AND SHE THEN TURNED HER DEVOTION TO SERVING JESUS. SHE RECEIVED A NEW IDENTITY AND A TRANSFORMATION THAT I BELIEVE SHE NEVER FORGOT. SHE WAS FREED FROM BONDAGE AND WAS FREED TO LIVE A NEW LIFE - A LIFE OF PURPOSE AND SERVICE TO HER SAVIOR.

THE BEAUTIFUL THING OF MARY’S STORY IS HOW SHE NEVER FORGOT WHAT SHE WAS DELIVERED FROM - BUT THAT SHE DID NOT REMAIN DEFINED BY IT - INSTEAD IT WAS THE BEGINNING OF HER LIFE DISPLAYING GODS POWER.

AN ILLUSTRATION OF HOW THAT LOOKS - THINK OF A CATERPILLAR WHO EMERGES AS A BUTTERFLY DOES NOT CONTINUE TO CRAWL AROUND BUT EMBRACES ITS NEW IDENTITY COMPLETELY AND SOARS NEW HEIGHTS OF FREEDOM. MARY EMBRACED HER NEW IDENTITY AND HER GRATITUDE FUELED HER DEVOTION - SHE TURNED FROM HER PAST LIFE AND MOVED FORWARD FULLY SURRENDERED TO JESUS - SHE ENDED AS ONE OF JESUS MOST FAITHFUL FOLLOWERS.

2. SHE WAS A DEVOTED SUPPORTER -IN V1 WE SEE THAT THESE WOMEN WERE NAMED WITH THE 12 DISCIPLES WHO TRAVELED WITH JESUS - “THAT HE WENT THROUGHOUT EVERY CITY AND VILLAGE - PREACHING AND SHEWING THE GLAD TIDINGS OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD” THEN IN V3 AT THE END OF THIS VERSE IT TELLS US THAT MARY WAS NOT ONLY A FAITHFUL SUPPORTER IN TRAVELLING WITH JESUS - SHE ALSO GAVE OF HER POSSESSIONS AND PROVIDED FOR THE PHYSICAL NEEDS OF JESUS.

THE GREEK WORD MINISTERED MEANS - to be an attendant, wait upon (menially or as a host, friend, or (figuratively) teacher); technically, to act as a Christian deacon:--(ad-)minister (unto), serve, use the office of a deacon.

THE GREEK WORD FOR SUBSTANCE MEANS - things available or in hand, ones property or possessions:--goods, that which one has, things which (one) possesseth, substance, that one hast.

THE DEPTH OF MARY’S DEVOTION BECOMES MORE APPARENT WHEN WE REFLECT BACK TO THE INTRODUCTION AND THINK OF THE CULTURAL CONTEXT THIS TAKES PLACE. AS A WOMAN IN FIRST CENTURY JUDAISM, MARY RISKED CRITICISM AND SOCIAL REJECTION BY TRAVELING WITH JESUS AND HIS DISCIPLES. YET MARY WAS SOLD OUT FOR JESUS AND WAS FAITHFUL THROUGH NOT ONLY THE TRAVELS, MIRACLES, CROWDS BUT THROUGH JESUS DARKEST HOUR WHEN HIS 12 DISCIPLES FORSOOK HIM - IN John 19:25 “Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene.” MARY WAS DEVOTED TO THE LAST BREATH OF JESUS. YET IT DID NOT STOP THERE Mark 15:47 “And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses (hosayes) beheld where he was laid.”

IT SEEMS AS THOUGH NOTHING CAN DISTRACT MARY FROM BEING NEAR TO JESUS - BEING WITNESS TO THE MOST HORRIFIC EXECUTION METHOD OF HER TIME. WE FIND HER NEAR THE CROSS CLOSE ENOUGH TO HEAR JESUS FINAL WORDS AND TAKE HIS LAST BREATH. SHE CONTINUES TO MONITOR THE SITUATION SO SHE KNOWS WHERE JESUS IS BURIED AND IN Mark 16:1 “And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.” SHE IS ONE OF THE WOMAN WHO CAME TO ANOINT HIS BODY - A FINAL ACT OF LOVE AND RESPECT FOR THE ONE SHE WAS DEVOTED TO.

MARY SHOWED MORE THAN BRAVERY - THIS WAS LOVE THAT TRANSCENDED FEAR.

EVEN AFTER JESUS DEATH AND ALL HOPE SEEMED LOST - WHEN LOGIC WOULD HAVE SAID TO MOVE ON - WE SEE MARY’S DEVOTION REMAINS STEADFAST - SHE WAS NOT FOLLOWING JESUS FOR WHAT SHE COULD GET FROM HIM BUT BECAUSE OF WHAT JESUS HAD DONE FOR HER AND FOR WHO HE WAS - SHE DEVOTED TO THE END.

THIS SHOULD CHALLENGE US TO EXAMINE OUR DEVOTION - ARE WE FOLLOWING JESUS ONLY WHEN IT IS COMFORTABLE - OR CONVENIENT, OR ARE WE WILLING TO STAND FIRM EVEN THOUGH IT COULD COST US EVERYTHING.

3. COURAGE TO STAY - COURAGE TO STAND. TURN TO MATTHEW 27:55-61

AS YOU THINK OF THE SITUATION MARY FINDS HERSELF - ALL THE OTHER DISCIPLES EVEN PETER HAD FORSOOK THEIR LORD - WHILE EVERYONE ELSE SEEMS TO BE FLEEING - SOMETHING INSIDE OF MARY COMPELLED HER TO STAY. MARY DEMONSTRATED A KIND OF SUPER NATURAL COURAGE - THE COURAGE TO STAY AND REMAIN PRESENT EVEN IN MOMENTS OF DEEP PAIN AND APPARENT HOPELESSNESS. I BELIEVE IT WAS HER PAST EXPERIENCE OF HAVING LOST EVERYTHING BEFORE - WHEN SHE WAS DEMON POSSESSED AND HAD NO CONTROL OF HER LIFE. PERHAPS THIS EXPERIENCE GAVE HER THE STRENGTH TO FACE LOSS AGAIN - WHILE OTHERS SAW DEATH AND DEFEAT SHE ONLY SAW THE ONE WHO HAD GIVER HER LIFE BACK AND SHE REFUSED TO ABANDON HIM -JOHNS GOSPEL SPECIFICALLY MENTIONS HER STANDING NEAR THE CROSS - A DETAIL THAT SPEAKS VOLUMES ABOUT HER CHARACTER. LETS READ MATTHEWS ACCOUNT IN 27:55-61 And many women were there beholding afar off, which followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto him:

56 Among which was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee's children.

57 ¶ When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus' disciple:

58 He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered.

59 And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth,

60 And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed.

61 And there was Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, sitting over against the sepulchre.

MARY’S COURAGE DID NOT END AT THE CROSS - SHE WAS PRESENT AND WATCHING AS JESUS WAS BURIED - MEMORIZING THE LOCATION OF THE TOMB - WHY - SO SHE COULD RETURN. LETS CONTINUE READING IN MATTHEW CHAPTER 28: 1-6 ¶ In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.

2 And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.

3 His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow:

4 And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.

5 And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.

6 He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.

THINK ABOUT THIS- THESE WOMEN ARE WALKING TO A GRAVE IN THE DARK - DURING A TIME OF POLITICAL TENSION, WHEN THEIR TEACHER AND LEADER HAD JUST BEEN EXECUTED - WOULD YOU NOT THINK THAT NOW IS A GOOD TIME TO STAY HOME- INSIDE - WHERE IT IS SAFE? THIS GOES TO SHOW THAT THIS WAS MORE THAN JUST BRAVERY BUT LOVE DRIVEN COURAGE FOR THE ONE WHO HAD GIVEN HER LIFE AND THE FREEDOM TO SERVE HIM.

4. 1ST WITNESS TO THE RESURRECTION.

MARY WAS REWARDED FOR HER COURAGE - TURN YET TO John 20:1

V6 OF MATTHEW 28: THE ANGEL INVITED THE WOMEN TO SEE THE EMPTY TOMB - MARY MAGDALENE WAS THE 1ST WITNESS TO JESUS RESURRECTION AND ALSO THE 1ST TO SEE HER RISEN LORD.

LETS READ V1 OF JOHN 20:“The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.”

DROP DOWN TO VERSE 11 ¶ 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

IMAGINE BEING THE 1ST PERSON IN HUMAN HISTORY TO WITNESS SOMETHING THAT WOULD CHANGE THE WORLD FOREVER - WHAT IS INTERESTING IS THAT IN MARY’S DEVOTION TO HER LORD - SHE JUST WANTS TO MAKE SURE HIS BODY IS TAKEN CARE - SHE IS SO FOCUSED ON SERVING HER LORD THAT SHE IS NOT GRASPING WHAT THE ANGELS MEAN - AND THROUGH HER TEARS DOES NOT RECOGNIZE JESUS.

WHAT MAKES THIS ACCOUNT SO TOUCHING AND WHY I BELIEVE MARY WAS CHOSEN TO BE THE 1ST TO MEET JESUS - AND SHOWS US THE LEVEL OF LOVE MARY HAD FOR JESUS AND THE LOVE HE HAS FOR HIS CHILDREN. WHEN JESUS CALLS HER NAME SHE RECOGNIZED HER LORD. THE ONE WHO DELIVERED HER FROM HER DEMONS CALLS HER BY NAME IN HIS RESURRECTED FORM.

DOES JESUS MEAN ALL THE WORLD TO ME - AM I SO IN TUNE WITH MY MASTER THAT WHEN HE CALLS MY NAME THAT I RECOGNIZE AND LIKE MARY HAD THE OVERPOWERING EMBRACE TO HOLD ONTO HER LORD - AND JESUS HAD TO TELL HER - DO NOT ATTACH YOURSELF TO ME - FOR I MUST GO AND BE WITH MY FATHER WHO IS YOUR FATHER AND GOD.

5. MESSENGER OF SALVATION.

WHEN DID MARY BECOME THE MESSENGER OF SALVATION - WAS IT JUST THEN AT THE EMPTY TOMB? -NO -I BELIEVER HER TRANSFORMATION FROM A RECEIVER OF SALVATION TO THE MESSENGER OF SALVATION BEGAN THE MOMENT WHEN JESUS DELIVERED HER FROM HER DEMON POSSESSION. THE DEFINING MOMENT BEGAN WHEN SHE WAS FREED FROM BONDAGE - AND CHOSE TO LIVE FOR HER MASTER - THIS IS HOW SHE WENT FROM SOMEONE WHO WAS PROBABLY AVOIDED TO THE ONE WHO JESUS REVEALS HIMSELF TO AND TELLS HER TO GO AND TELL THE GOOD NEWS. V18 - SHE WAS NOT JUST REPORTING FACTS BUT WAS SHARING HER DIRECT EXPERIENCE - EVEN WHEN THE DISCIPLES BELIEVED NOT - I DOUBT MARY STOPPED TELLING AND BELIEVING THE GOOD NEWS.

MARK16:9 ¶ Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.

10 And she went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept.

11 And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not.

12 After that he appeared in another form unto two of them, as they walked, and went into the country.

13 And they went and told it unto the residue: neither believed they them.

14 Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.

15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

I WANT TO POINT OUT IN VERSE 14 - JESUS REBUKED THE ELEVEN FOR THEIR UNBELIEF. I BELIEVE WE SEE THE POWER AND IMPORTANCE OF OUR TESTIMONY - WHEN WE HAVE A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP AND AN ENCOUNTER WITH THE RISEN CHRIST THEN IT SHOULD BE LIKE A SPRING OVERFLOWING WITH WATER THE GOES OUT TO TOUCH AND BLESS THOSE WE COME IN CONTACT WITH.

6. COUNTER CULTURAL JOURNEY.

SO MANY TIMES GOD USES THOSE WHOM OTHERS REJECT TO FULFILLS HIS PLAN THROUGH UNLIKELY CHANNELS. MY QUESTION TO MYSELF - AM I OK WITH THAT - OR DOES THE ACCEPTED PRACTICE AND THOUGHTS AND OPINIONS OF OTHERS DICTATE HOW I LIVE OR WHAT I DO?

HOW OFTEN AM I CHOOSING BETWEEN FOLLOWING GODS CALLING OR MEETING SOCIETY'S EXPECTATIONS. MARY FACED THIS CONSTANTLY - IN A CULTURE WHERE WOMAN WERE TO STAY IN THE BACKGROUND- SHE STEPPED FORWARD TO SUPPORT JESUS MINISTRY.

MARY TRAVELED WITH JESUS AND HIS DISCIPLES -

MARY SUPPORTED JESUS FINANCIALLY

MARY WAS TRAVELING WITH A RELIGIOUS TEACHER -

YET MARY DEFIED THESE CULTURAL BARRIERS WITH BOTH COURAGE AND GRACE - NOT FOR THE SAKE OF REBELLION OR CONTROVERSY - SHE WAS SIMPLY LIVING OUT HER CALLING WITH AN AUTHENTIC DEVOTIONS AND LOVE FOR FOLLOWING JESUS.

WHEN MOST MEN FLED MARY HAD THE COURAGE TO STAY - SEE WHERE JESUS BODY WAS TAKEN AND COME BACK TO CARE FOR HIS BODY - ALL OF THESE ACTIONS CHALLENGED SOCIAL NORMS.

JESUS ALSO IN HIS MINISTRY WAS COUNTER CULTURAL WHEN HE CHOSE MARY TO THE FIRST WITNESS OF HIS RESURRECTION - IN A LEGAL SYSTEM WHERE WOMAN'S TESTIMONY WAS CONSIDERED UNRELIABLE AND OF NO ACCOUNT. GOD ENTRUSTED THE MOST IMPORTANT MESSAGE IN HISTORY TO WOMEN. THIS WAS NOT TO CHALLENGE SOCIAL NORMS BUT WAS A DIVINE STATEMENT ABOUT HUMAN WORTH TRANSCENDING CULTURAL LIMITATIONS. WE SEE THIS TIME AND TIME AGAIN HOW GOD MOVES AND WORKS TO FULFILL HIS DIVINE WILL.

WHO AM I SERVING - WHO IS CONTROLLING MY LIFE - IS THE LOVE OF THE MASTER MY GUIDE AS IT WAS FOR MARY MAGDALENE?

7. LIVING IN GRATITUDE.

MARY WAS LIVING LIFE SO THANKFUL FOR JESUS SETTING HER FREE FROM DEMON POSSESSION THAT IT COMPLETELY CHANGED HOW SHE LIVED.

HER LIFE AFTER DELIVERANCE BECAME A LIVING TESTIMONY OF GRATITUDE - WE SAW HOW THAT AFTER JESUS FREED HER SHE DID NOT JUST SAY “THANK YOU JESUS” AND MOVE ON - BUT DEDICATED HER LIFE TO SUPPORTING HIS MINISTRY OUT OF HER OWN MEANS.

MARY GRATITUDE WAS NOT JUST A FEELING - BUT IT WAS A LIFE CHANGE OF ACTION.

NOT SERVING OUT OF OBLIGATION BUT FROM OVERWHELMING THANKFULNESS - ONCE SHE WAS IN BONDAGE AND NOW WITH HER FREEDOM SHE SERVED HER SAVIOR WITH HER RESOURCES.

LIKE SOMEONE CURED OF A TERMINAL ILLNESS - WHO DEDICATES THEIR LIFE SUPPORTING THE HOSPITAL THAT SAVED THEM - JESUS HAS THE POWER TO HEAL BOTH PHYSICALLY AND SPIRITUALLY - ARE WE DEDICATING OUR LIFE FOR HIM AND THE WORK HIS KINGDOM.

LIKE MARY - DO WE HAVE SO DEEP A LOVE - EVEN AFTER JESUS DEATH SHE STAYED NEAR - PREPARED SPICES - RETURNED TO CARE FOR THE BODY- WAS SHE SHEDDING TEARS OF SORROW OR TEARS OF LOVE - LOVE FROM HER PROFOUND GRATITUDE THAT CAUSED TO STILL SEEK HIM EVEN AFTER HE WAS CRUCIFIED - JESUS FOUND HER - STILL THERE AT THE TOMB - STILL SEEKING HIM - STILL GRATEFUL.

MARY’S LIFE TEACHES US THAT TRUE GRATITUDE ISN'T A ONE TIME RESPONSE - BUT A LIFESTYLE THAT SHAPES OUR CHOICES, OUR PRIORITIES AND OUR DEVOTION.

I TRUST THAT AS WE LOOKED AT THE LIFE OF MARY MAGDALENE WE WERE INSPIRED TO RENEW OUR DEVOTION TO JESUS CHRIST AS OUR MASTER. AND TO NOT ALLOW THE SOCIAL - CULTURAL AND EVEN RELIGIOUS EXPECTATIONS TO DICTATE OUR LIFE OF LOVE FOR JESUS CHRIST.

MAY MARY MAGDALENE’S STORY GIVE US COURAGE TO STAND FOR TRUTH AND THAT GOD CAN USE ANYONE REGARDLESS OF THEIR HISTORY TO CARRY THE MOST IMPORTANT MESSAGE TO THE WORLD THAT JESUS LIVES!

PRAYER:

THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORD - WE CAN STUDY - FOR SEND YOUR SON JESUS TO LIVE ON EARTH AND BE AN EXAMPLE TO US - THANK YOU AND PRAISE YOU THAT YOU THOUGHTS AND PLANS ARE HIGHER THAN US - HELP US TO HAVE THE DEVOTION TO SERVE THAT MARY MAGDALENE SHOWED - MAY WE BE READY AND WILING TO BE TESTIMONY OF YOUR LOVE TO US TO THOSE AROUND US. LORD AS WE THINK OF ALL THE EXPECTATIONS WE HAVE IN THIS LIFE HELP US TO HAVE THE DESIRE TO BE LIVE ACCORDING TO YOUR PLAN - LORD WE ASK YOU TO LEAD GUIDE AND DIRECT EACH ONE HERE AS THEY GO FROM HERE AND SERVE YOU FAITHFULLY TILL YOU COME. AMEN

AS I STUDIED MARY MAGDALENE - JESUS WORDS IN Matthew 6:33 KEPT GOING THROUGH MY MIND . “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” I BELIEVE THAT MARY HAD AN ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE THAT CAUSED HER TO LIVE A LIFE DEVOTED TO THE KINGDOM OF GOD.

THANK EACH ONE FOR COMING - FOR EACH ONE WHO HAD PART IN THE SERVICE - TO EACH MOTHER - HAPPY MOTHERS DAY! MAY GOD BLESS YOU AS YOU SERVE HIM IN THE ROLE GOD HAS ENTRUSTED TO YOU.

GOD BLESS EACH OF YOU FOR BEING HERE

Ephesians 3:20–21

“Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.”