
MARY
1 Corinthians 15:3-4 says: "For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,"
So when we speak about the Easter story, we are proclaiming the gospel. Jesus died for our sin and rose again on the third day. ||||
Christmas without Easter would be useless. ||||
Phil 2: 5-9 "Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name." ||||
The danger is that we can become too familiar with the account. What impact has this Easter story upon my life? If it does not transform our whole being, we have not grasped its truths. ||||
John 20:1-18 John highlights one woman's reaction to the risen Lord.
HER PAINFUL STATE at the empty tomb. John 20: 11. Mary had watched Jesus die and she had seen Him laid in the tomb. Now she thinks that the body of her beloved Lord has been stolen. If only she knew what had really happened, her sadness would have turned to gladness. If the body of Jesus had been there, Mary would have faithfully annointed the body, but she would have gone home in grief. What good is a dead Saviour to anyone? Nominal Christians who do not know the Lord personally worship a dead historical Jesus today. To die with such a religion is tragic. We must not just know ABOUT Him but we must know Him personally. Mary is miserable because she cannot find her dead Christ and does not know that He is alive. ||||
HER PERSONAL ENCOUNTER with the risen Lord. John 20:15-16 When Jesus asked her why she was weeping, she did not recognise Jesus. Before her stood the living Christ, but she thought it was the gardener. Who do I suppose the risen Christ is? Sadly today many do not see the risen Saviour for who He is. Many speak of Him as a financial helper, an insurance agent, a healer, or some kind of benevolent friend. He is the eternal Son of God. When Jesus said to her, "Mary." That one word was enough and filled her heart with great joy. This word was so personal, so plain, and so powerful and changed her whole state of mind and heart and soul. The One who cast the seven demons out of her was alive and calling her name. Only when we hear the call of the risen saviour, He becomes our own and personal Saviour. Until then He is just the historical Saviour who is spoken about. Rom 8:30 "And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified." Like the hymn of Horatius Bonar, "I heard the voice of Jesus say, / "Come unto Me and rest;" Although this call is not heard with our physical senses, it is essential. ||||
HER POWERFUL TESTIMONY of the fact that Jesus has risen. John 20: 18. It did not matter that others may not believe. Mark 16:9-11, Luke 24:10-11. It did not matter that she was just a woman. She had to testify of the One who had transformed her life. This is the experience of believers. Acts 4:18-20 So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for lwe cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.” Like Jesus once said (Luke 19:40) in another situation, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.” If we have had an encounter with Jesus we will find it impossible to keep silent. Our faith cannot be private if it is the faith of Mary Magdalene. The faith of the New Testament made believers go everywhere, preaching and teaching and taking the good news (Acts 8:4). Mary's heart was bursting: I have seen the Lord! ||||
He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today / He walks with me and talks with me, along life's narrow way / He lives, He lives, salvation to impart. / You ask me how I know He lives? / He lives within my heart.