When Jesus Calls Your Name

Introduction:

Jesus of Natharath was born in September 4 B.C. Lived 33 years and died in April 30 A.D.

Jesus is remembered for his spiritual teachings in the regions surrounding Jerusalem. He gained a huge following because of his miracles and claims of being the promised Messiah that would rule the Jewish people as Prophet, Priest, and King.

He centered his teaching on 12 men that he prepared, equipped, and empowered to take his message around the world.

Jesus was arrested on April 2nd because of an escalating threat under the Roman rule.

He was sentenced to death and crucified on Wednesday April 3rd and laid to rest in the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea.

In my ministry I have preached many funerals that sound just like this one.

There is a birth, a death, a eulogy, a proceeded in death, and a survived in death.

The family gathers and cries during the funeral and then gets together to swap stories about the deceased.

But no funeral that I have ever preached had an ending like this one.

After Jesus had laid in the grave through the Sabbath, early in the morning on April 7, 30 A.D. (1989 years ago) there was an earthquake.

Matthew 28:1–7 ESV

1 Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. 2 And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. 4 And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. 5 But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.”

Matthew 28:1-

In 3 out of the 4 gospels Mary Magdalene is named by name. John gives us a little more detail about this moment at the tomb.

John 20:1–10 ESV

1 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. 2 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.” 3 So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. 4 Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, 7 and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. 8 Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; 9 for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead. 10 Then the disciples went back to their homes.

John 20:

Mary is left alone.

The Lord is risen just as he said, but she doesn’t know were he is.

John 20:11–13 ESV

11 But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped 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 one at the feet. 13 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.”

John 20:11-

What good is a risen Savior that you can’t find.

John 20:14–16 ESV

14 Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. 15 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.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher).

John 20:14-

Not only had Jesus risen but now she had found him and been found by him.

John 20:17–18 ESV

17 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.’ ” 18 Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”—and that he had said these things to her.

John 20:17

“I have seen the Lord.”

The Lord that appeared to Abraham.

Jacobs Ladder: This reminds me of Jacob when he saw the angels ascending and descending on the ladder in Bethel and said. Surely the Lord is in this place and I didn’t know it.

Moses on Mt. Sini

Isiah seeing the Lord high and lifted up.

Peter, James, and John as they beheld his glory on the Mountain.