Sunday, March 26, 2023
Pastor Troy Brewer, OpenDoor Church, Burleson, TX
John 20:1-18
Now the first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb.
2 Then she ran and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.”
3 Peter therefore went out, and the other disciple, and were going to the tomb. 4 So they both ran together, and the other disciple outran Peter and came to the tomb first. 5 And he, stooping down and looking in, saw the linen cloths lying there; yet he did not go in.
6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; and he saw the linen cloths lying there, 7 and the handkerchief that had been around His head, not lying with the linen cloths, but folded together in a place by itself.
8 Then the other disciple, who came to the tomb first, went in also; and he saw and believed. 9 For as yet they did not know the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead.
10 Then the disciples went away again to their own homes.
11 But Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping, and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the tomb. 12 And she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.
13 Then they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?”
She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.”
14 Now when she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus.
15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?”
She, supposing Him to be the gardener, 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, “Rabboni!” (which is to say, Teacher).
17 Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I am ascending to 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 to her.
VRS 1 – Now the first day of the week
- THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK (THE 8TH DAY)
- 8 different biblical appearances of Jesus after His resurrection
- 8 different stories of resurrection In the Bible
8 NEW THINGS GOD GIVES US
New song – New name – New heart – New Spirit
New tongue – New commandment
A new heaven – new earth
RESURRECTION POWER
The first day of the week. Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark,
MARY MAGDALENE
There are at least 6 different women in the New Testament with the name we call “Mary.”
Magdalene is not Mary’s last name. The reason she is called Mary Magdalene is because she is from Magdala, a fishing village with a beautiful synagog on the south western side of the sea of Galilee.
Luke 8:1-2
“Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. There Twelve were with him, and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out…”
Though she wasn’t listed among the 12 apostles, she certainly was a close disciple. She is mentioned 12 times in scripture – more than most of the other disciples.
Mark and Luke recorded the healing of demons from Mary’s life in their Gospel accounts. Mark and Luke were not disciples themselves but scribes for those who gave first-hand accounts: it it thought Luke recorded Mary, the mother of Jesus’ gospel and Mark recorded Peter’s.
Seven is God’s number for ‘completeness,’ and “manifest spirit” implying that her life had previously been completely dominated by demon possession and that Jesus had fully manifest His Spirit to her. Anything broken in her was now whole.
- AT THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS, GOD CHANGED THE ROLE OF WOMEN TO BE INCLUDED IN LEADERSHIP – ESPECIALLY IN EVANGELISM AND PROCLAIMING THE GOSPEL. Women in Jewish society did not typically carry important roles, which makes their involvement in Jesus’ ministry more radical than normal for the time they lived in. In every stage of His steps on earth, He modeled love for all, even the least in society. IT WAS MARY WHO WAS THE FIRST PERSON TO PREACH THAT JESUS WAS NO LONGER IN THE GRAVE. IT WAS MARY WHO FIRST PREACHED SHE HAD SEEN HIM ALIVE – THAT HE WAS RESURRECTED FROM THE DEAD!
LADIES, YOUR ROLE IN PROCLAIMING THE GOSPEL IS JUST AS IMPORTANT AS US DUDES!
John 20:1
Now the first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb.
See, Mary was the first to be at the tomb. It was still dark. Not just naturally but in every way imaginable.
Mary served Jesus when it was dark. When it wasn’t easy. When it was shameful among other people.
“Early” can be translated as “diligently.”
Proverbs 8:17
I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.
John 20:6-18
Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; and he saw the linen cloths lying there, 7 and the handkerchief that had been around His head, not lying with the linen cloths, but folded together in a place by itself.
8 Then the other disciple, who came to the tomb first, went in also; and he saw and believed. 9 For as yet they did not know the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead.
10 Then the disciples went away again to their own homes.
11 But Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping, and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the tomb. 12 And she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.
13 Then they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?”
She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.”
14 Now when she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus.
15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?”
She, supposing Him to be the gardener, 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, “Rabboni!” (which is to say, Teacher).
17 Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I am ascending to 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 to her.