St. Matthew's Church

Transcription

1 St. Matthew's Church New York City MARY MAGDALENE: COMMITTED LOVE John 20:1-18 Introduction: The Bible tells us that Mary had been the object of Christ s grace. We will never understand the account of Christ s appearance to Mary at the tomb unless we recognize that it was love, and only love, that brought her to the tomb. Only love caused her to seek the body and held her close to the tomb. At the tomb of Jesus, she stands alone, uninformed and weeping. More accurately, she was sobbing and wailing, the word used in verse 11 is the same word used to describe the mourners at Lazarus grave. This was the traditional eastern death wail, and it came from the depths of her broken heart. Jesus had cast seven devils from Mary. She had sinned much, she had been forgiven much, and she loved much. Her heart was in indescribable anguish. Mary Magdalene lived in Magdala, it is now called El Mejdel, located south of the Plain of Gennesaret on the shores of the Sea of Galilee and about three miles from Capernaum. Dye works and textile added to the wealth of the community. Some writers think she was connected with this industry enabling her to serve the Lord with her substance. She suffered from demon possession, but then on a given day Mary met Jesus face to face, an encounter that changed her life. Jesus cast from Mary the seven evil demonic spirits that had ruled and ruined her life. In the Gospels demon possession was distinguished from other diseases. In the New Testament describes its symptoms as; speechlessness, violence, blindness, convulsions, and foaming at the mouth. Mary s demonic possession may have been physical, mental or spiritual illness or immorality (though there is no textual evidence for prostitution on her part). After Mary s deliverance-healing she became a devoted follower of Christ. She was committed and faithful and was counted among the small group of women who, at their own expense, served Jesus and His disciples as they preached and ministered to the people. Mary became an important leader among the ministering women. She proved to be a passionate follower who gave her time, energy and wealth to the Lord s work. She faithfully followed Jesus, even when nearly everyone fled with fear after Christ s

2 arrest, Mary remained all the way to the Cross and witnessed His death, yet she remained faithful to Jesus along after the others had given up hope. After the Jewish Sabbath ended, in the predawn darkness she made her way to the tomb carrying spices to prepare the Lord s body for burial. Mary was rewarded for her faithfulness, when she arrived at the tomb the heavy stone slab that sealed the three-foot entrance had been removed. Mary, to horror, found the tomb empty, but immediately her grief turned to joy when she came face to face with Jesus, the risen Lord. God chose a faithful woman by His incredible grace to tell the world the glorious lifechanging news of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. In her excitement she shouted with enthusiasm I have seen the Lord! Mary Magdalene personifies the many women for whom Christ has demonstrated His depth of mercy and forgiveness. Mary Magdalene: In Bondage to Satan: Although created by God she was strangled by Satan. There is only one devil, but here are legions of demons, fallen angels, who possessed men and women. The seven demons controlled and dominated her and the pain was severe. With her peace of mind and control of will destroyed she must have been revolting, with a distorted face and wild eyes. Her demon possession did not affect her morals, only her mind; the derangement of her mental faculties. We are not told what weakness Mary may have had that made her susceptible for the demons to enter into her. What we do know is this; when these demons met their Master, the One who came to destroy the works of the devil, Mary was free. Mary Magdalene: Set Free By Jesus: After Jesus commanded the seven demons to leave Mary, everything about her changed. Her spirit became free and her muscles relaxed and she had use of all limbs. Her eyes became clear and serene. A miracle had taken place in her life and full extent of what had happen in her life would never be able to fully be explained. The experience was too great to tell. Now clothed and in her right mind, she became a disciple of Jesus. The healing-miracle experience was too great to tell, but wanted to stay with Jesus who fully understood her. She became one of the most devoted woman disciples of Jesus, whom she owed so much. Mary Magdalene stayed close to Jesus, for she knew from experience that she could not minimize the power of Satan. She stayed close to the Lord for He had power over the devil and without Him she would have no defense against Satan s attacks. She never wanted the evil one to posses her again. If that should happen, her end would be worse than before. When Christ

3 saved and delivered her, He set-free the highest virtues of sacrifice, fortitude and courage. Mary Magdalene: On The Gospel-Road With Jesus: Mary followed Jesus out of love and gratitude. She had once walked in darkness and demon possession, but now has a passionate love for Jesus Christ, who has taken hold of her heart and turned her from darkness to light, from the power of Satan to God. The change had so affected her life and from now on she would follow Jesus. Along with the many other women who had been healed and delivered she accompanied Jesus and the disciple on their missionary activities. After leaving her home in Magdala she was constantly on the road with Jesus and His disciples. Much of the needed support for Jesus and disciples missionary ministry came from Mary and other women like her who had been so richly blessed of the Lord. She had chosen to follow Jesus whatever the cost, till the end. Mary helped Jesus to evangelize as she willing gave to help meet the needs of Jesus. Her personal presence was needed and appreciated and we are sure meant a great deal to Jesus. Mary Magdalene: At The Crucifixion Cross: Mary was one of the group of women who had been in Jerusalem at the time of the crucifixion and who had therefore witnessed the Lord s agonies. We read on three separate occasions that she was among those women who saw the crucifixion (Matthew 27:55-56; Mark 15:40; John 19:25). No doubt she witnessed the other events as well, the roar of the crowd as, goaded by the priests, they shouted, Take Him away! Crucify Him! Crucify Him! the judgment of Pilate; the procession to Calvary, during which time Christ fell under the weight of the cross and had to be relieved of it by Simon of Cyrene in order that the death march might proceed; the driving of the nails; the terrible cries ( I thirst and My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? ). And then there is the darkness; the earthquake; and at last death. In the renowned picture gallery in the Louvre, there is a painting of desolation, despair and love. The artist has depicted the night of the crucifixion. The world is wrapped in shadow; the stars are dead; and yet in the darkness is seen a kneeling form. It is Mary Magdalene with loving lips and hands pressing against the bleeding feet of Christ. What keeps her there? Not curiosity, certainly. Not faith. Not hope in a miracle. Mary is there only because she loves Jesus and consequently will not leave until the

4 end. Mary Magdalene and Mary the wife of Cleophas, assisting Joseph and Nicodemus in receiving he battered body from the cross, prepared it for burial, then placing the precious remains in the tomb in the garden. Mary Magdalene remained setting over against the sepulcher and beholding until Joseph had laid the Lord s body away (Matthew 27:61; Mark 15:47; Luke 23:55). When everyone had gone home, except Mary the mother of James and Joseph, Mary Magdalene placed herself near the grave. She didn t leave the gravesite till Jewish law ordered her to do so when the Sabbath began. Mary Magdalene: The First to Arrive At the Garden Tomb on Sunday Morning: Mary wishes to do something for Jesus, her love and commitment lived on for Him. Mary and the other women were determined to buy spices, so they made a quick decision to make the purchase before the shops closed for the Passover Sabbath. The first was the Passover Sabbath, which during that year, probably fell on a Friday and then the regular Saturday Sabbath. It was on the following Sunday morning that Mary and the other women made their way to the tomb to perform their last service. About the time the women arrived, the sun had risen. As they approached the tomb, they help their breath and thought perhaps their eyes were deceiving them; the grave was open and the stone had been rolled away. They paused for a few minutes and asked themselves what they should do after seeing that the tomb was open. The immediately decided that the disciples, peter and John, should be told. So, Mary volunteered to go and tell them and while she was gone the remaining women went forward, saw and heard the angels, and then rushed off in amazement to convey the angels message: He is not her. He is risen, just as He said (Matthew 28:6). Mary had given the message to Peter and John and they raced to the tomb leaving her behind. It quite naturally for her set out for the tomb once more. I wonder if you can identify with the strain this woman was under. Mary could not leave the last spot where the body of her Lord had been placed. She remained outside the tomb, tears flowing freely down her cheeks. She had seen the person she loved most in the entire world taken from her and brutally executed. She is alone, totally deserted and it is beyond her emotional capacity. She burst out weeping. Undoubtedly she had wept before, at the crucifixion. The day of the Sabbath had been filled with weeping. It is therefore with tear-filled eyes that she looks into the

5 sepulcher and sees the angels. The Angels ask her: Woman, why are you crying? She answers, They have taken my Lord away, and I don t know where they have put him. Mary is not startled by the angels, as the women who preceded her were. Perhaps she did not even recognize that they were angels. We read that, at this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there (John 20:14). Mary was not seeing clearly, and she certainly did not expect the resurrection. Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for? It was the voice of Jesus, but Mary did not recognize it. She imagined that the One speaking to her was the gardener. Mary answered in what is surely one of the most touching sentences in all human literature. Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him. She offered to carry away the full weight of the body of a man, plus the hundred pound weight of myrrh and aloes wrapped in the liner which enshrouded the body of Jesus (John 19:39). Mary did not think of this for she loved the Lord Jesus Christ, and though her faith and hope were dead, her love was strong. Here is one of the greatest character portrayals in all of literature, human or divine. Here is the heart of a good woman. Here is love, offering to do the impossible as love always does. She was not interested in the gardener, her heart was still true to the Lord, and she turned back to the tomb where she had seen His body last. Then she heard His voice: Mary! Only one person ever pronounced her name in that way. Rabboni (Master)! Was all Mary could utter as she responded to His pronunciation of her name she turned back to Christ again. So, she recognized Him and responded joyfully, Master! In that moment Mary Magdalene became the first witness of Jesus resurrection. Faith had died, but now it came leaping from its tomb. Hope had evaporated, but now it gathered again around the person of the Lord. Jesus prevented her inclination to hold His feet. Don t touch Me, for I haven t yet ascended to My Father, he said but go find My brothers and tell them that I ascend to My Father and your Father, My God and your God, With that commission, the Lord made Mary the first on to announce His resurrection. Jesus reserved this great honor for Mary of Magdala, the woman who led the way in following Christ. Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: I have seen the Lord! And she told them that had said these things to her.

6 Mary Magdalene is mentioned in all four Gospels and name occurs 14 times. Each of the evangelists also writes that Jesus was first seen by Mary Magdalene after His resurrection. And the Bible story concerning Mary sheds light of Jesus Christ, for it shows His love for a person and His power over Satan. Mary s story illustrates the fact that God does indeed reserve wonderful opportunities for the woman who gives herself out of love to Him. Faith, hope, and love! Three great virtues! But the greatest of these is love (I Corinthians 13:13). Questions: 1. Read Mark 5:1-13 and 9: How did demon possessed people behave? 2. What dangers does a person face who has been healed from demon possession? (Luke 11:24-26) Which spirit should therefore occupy the heart of a person (I Corinthians 6:19-20). 3. What exceptional privileges did Mary receive? 4. How did Mary Magdalene s attitude change after she met Christ? 5. Do you have any areas of your life that needs to be cleansed by Christ? What are they?