Untitled Sermon (18)

Discoveries at empty tombs

B. Event 2: The Great Recognition—Jesus Appears to Mary, 20:11–18

(20:11–18) Introduction: this is one of the most precious events in history. It was our Lord’s first appearance after His resurrection; it was an appearance to a woman who had been saved from the depths of human depravity. It was the appearance to Mary Magdalene, one who loved Jesus with the deepest of loves because of what He had done for her.

1. Mary returned to the tomb (v.11).

2. The first startling sight: two angels (vv.12–13).

3. The second startling sight: Jesus Himself (vv.14–16).

4. The third startling sight: the new commission (vv.17–18).

1 (20:11) Jesus Christ, Resurrection—Mary Magdalene: Mary returned to the tomb. Just when is not known, but she probably followed immediately behind Peter and John as they ran to the tomb. When they left, she remained behind. She was weeping convulsively. Seeing Peter and John enter the tomb gave her courage to finally stoop down and look in. What Mary began to experience would revolutionize her life. She could not ask for more.

Thought 1. Two things can revolutionize a man’s life.

(1) Lingering at the empty tomb of Jesus. Too many rush by His tomb, never thinking, never giving any thought to its meaning.

(2) Seeking the truth of the empty tomb, what it means to life and to the world in all its corruption and need.

2 (20:12–13) Jesus Christ, Resurrection—Angels: Mary’s first startling sight—she saw two angels. Note two points. (See Deeper Study # 1, Angels—.)

a. The two angels were sitting right where Jesus’ body had been lying. Angels are messengers of God; they are the ministering spirits of God, servants sent from heaven to carry out His will. On this particular occasion, they were sent to add to the spectacular significance of the resurrection and to comfort Mary in her grief. They had been sent to her in particular, for they had not been in the tomb when Peter and John looked in. They were clothed in white. Matthew added …

• like lightning (visible, quick, startling, striking, frightening, brilliant)

• like snow (white, pure, glistening)

The fact that they were dressed in white apparently symbolizes the holiness and purity of God from whose presence they had come.

“Exalt the Lord our God, and worship at his holy hill; for the Lord our God is holy” ().

“And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory” ().

“Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity” ().

“Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God” ().

“Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord” ().

“Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy” ().

“Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation [behavior] and godliness” ().

b. Mary’s loving devotion and confession should touch the heart and life of every believer. (See note, Mary Magdalene, pt.4— for discussion.)

“For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God” ().

“Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity” ().

“Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory” ().

“Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life” ().

“And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might” ().

“Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven” ().

“Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God” ().

Deeper Study # 1

(20:12) Jesus Christ, Resurrection—Linen Clothes: the two angels were sitting, one where the head of Jesus had lain and the other where his feet had lain. Now note a question. How did Mary know where the feet and head had lain? There were two possible ways.

1. She was possibly one of the women who had followed Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus when they buried Jesus ().

2. She could see the linen clothes lying “in their fold” just as they had been when they were wrapped around Jesus (see note—).

3 (20:14–16) Jesus Christ, Resurrection: the second startling sight. Mary saw Jesus Himself. Note four significant events.

a. There was a startling sense. While Mary was still speaking to the angels, she sensed another presence behind her. She immediately turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus.

b. There was a startling question: “Why weepest thou? Whom seekest thou?” Now note: a graveyard is where one weeps and seeks for a grave.

The point is this: Mary was seeking a dead Savior, a Savior who was as all other men are, frail and powerless to do anything about life and death, eternity and heaven. Her whole being was focused upon a grave where her dead Savior was lying. Mary was living as the world lives, as a “stranger from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world” ().

“But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope” ().

“O my God, my soul is cast down within me” ().

“I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing: I am come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me” ().

“When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me” ().

“As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child: even so thou knowest not the works of God who maketh all” ().

c. There was the false identity. Mary thought the man was the gardener and that perhaps he had removed the body for some reason. Note why she had not yet recognized Jesus.

⇒ Mary’s eyes were full of tears and her head was bowed low in the normal shyness that arises in such scenes.

⇒ Mary was facing in the wrong direction—into the grave. She had turned back around to face where the body had been lying (v.14, see v.16).

Thought 1. There is a message here for everyone. We need to fix our eyes upon Jesus in confronting death. Too often, we see the dead and become so wrapped up in grief that we forget the risen Lord and the great hope He gives us (; ; ). There is no question about Jesus’ emphasis here. This is the message He was wishing to convey to Mary. There was no need for such convulsive weeping. Weep and grieve, yes, but there is a limit. Mary could have and should have seen Him sooner.

“He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the Lord hath spoken it” ().

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life” ().

“So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory” ().

“[God’s purpose and grace] is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel” ().

“And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away” ().

d. There was the great recognition. This was one of those dramatic moments that exceeds the ability of words to express. Only two words were spoken:

⇒ “Mary”

⇒ “Rabboni”

Note three points.

1) Mary recognized Jesus not by sight, but by His voice and the word spoken by Him. So it is with us today: we know the Lord by His Word and His Spirit.

“Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice” (; see ).

“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me” ().

“But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit” ().

“Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts” (; see ).

“For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father” (; see ).

“Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit” ().

2) Jesus called Mary by name; she was one of His sheep. He knows His sheep by name and His sheep know the sound of His voice (His Word).

“And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice” ().

“I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine” ().

“And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd” ().

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me” ().

“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me” ().

3) Mary called Jesus “Rabboni,” My Master, not “Rabbi” (Master or Teacher). Rabboni (Rabbounei), My Master, was a title of more respect and honor than just Rabbi. She was acknowledging Him to be her supreme Teacher, the One who was due all her honor and respect, loyalty and allegiance. She was acknowledging that He was her Master and she was His humble follower (disciple).

“Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ” ().

“Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins” ().

“God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord” ().

“But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him” ().

4 (20:17–18) Commission—Witnessing: the third startling sight was Mary’s new commission. Apparently, Mary was so full of joy and excitement that she reached out to embrace Jesus. Immediately, Jesus fired the command: Touch me not (me mou haptou).

The words are present action: do not cling to me. Mary wanted to revel in her love for the Lord and in the fellowship that that love brought her. She was reaching out to clutch Christ’s body (physically), but in doing so she was missing the point: His cross and resurrection had created a totally new relationship. He was no longer just her Rabboni, her Master. He was her Lord and God (see ). He was soon to ascend back to the Father, so she must not waste time clinging to Him. She must run and tell her great discovery. The Master was now her Lord and God, for He had created a new spiritual relationship with men.

“Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yea now henceforth know we him no more. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” ().

“To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him” ().[1]

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[1] Leadership Ministries Worldwide, The Gospel according to John, The Preacher’s Outline & Sermon Bible (Chattanooga, TN: Leadership Ministries Worldwide, 2004), 377–382.