OceanSide church of Christ

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THE SAYINGS OF THE CRUCIFIXION (27)

 

Jesus Appears unto Mary Magdalene

Mark 16:9-11; John 20:11-18

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.    Two lessons ago, we learned that Jesus rose from the dead.

 

B.      The accounts of the gospels begin to split apart at that time. 

 

C.     In our last lesson, we learned about the Jews and the Roman soldiers conspiring together, saying:  “The disciples stole Jesus’ body while the soldiers slept.”  Only Matthew records that incident.

 

D.    In this morning’s lesson, we will begin a series of three lessons. 

1.      The first one will focus on John’s gospel although Mark briefly mentions it.

2.      The second one will focus on Luke’s gospel although Mark briefly mentions it.

3.      Then, we will come back to Mark’s gospel and look through his lens about the events.

 

E.      The title of this lesson is:  “The Sayings of the Crucifixion:  Jesus Appears unto Mary Magdalene” (Mark 16:9-11; John 20:11-18).

 

I.                   THE AGONY (John 20:11a)

 

A.    Mary stands

 

But Mary stood without at the sepulcher…

 

1.      According to Mark’s gospel, this is definitely Mary Magdalene (Mark 16:9).

2.      Mary was one of the women who had gone to the tomb earlier and found it empty.

3.      It was Mary who would not let Peter just sit in unbelief.  It was she who convinced him to visit the tomb.

4.      Mary appears to have followed Peter and John to the tomb.  When they returned to their homes, this left her alone at Jesus’ grave.

 

B.      Mary sobs

 

But Mary stood without at the sepulcher weeping…

 

1.      Mary manifested the natural expression of grief at this hour, weeping.  Her tears poured forth for two reasons.

a.      Her precious Lord and Master had died.

b.      Now, His body had been removed from the tomb and they did not know where it was.

2.      LESSON:  Do not apologize for tears at death. 

a.      We feel pain and do not have to suppress it.

b.      Tears are part of the healing process.

 

II.                THE ANGELS (John 20:11b-13)

 

A.    Mary sees (John 20:11b-12)

…and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulcher, and seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.

 

1.      The angels were still on their mission from God.

a.      The soldiers had seen one of them.

b.      The women had heard the message of the resurrection from them earlier.

2.      It is interesting that these two angels did not make their presence known to Peter and John.

3.      Remember, their appearance was brilliant in nature.  Luke had described their apparel as “shining garments.”

 

B.      Mary and the angels speak (John 20:13)

 

And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou?  She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.

 

1.      The angels seem concerned about Mary’s emotional state.

a.      Thus, they question her, saying:  “Why weepest thou?”

b.      It could have been that they were confused about her emotional state.  Remember, it was they who had told Mary:  “He is not here, but is risen” (Luke 24:6).

2.      Mary answers their question with these words:  “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.”

a.      Why was this her answer?

b.      She had been told Jesus was alive and would meet His disciples in Galilee.

c.       LESSON:  Belief is not always easy to obtain at first.

1)      The angels were credible messengers, but Mary still had a hard time believing.

2)      There is a likeness between the basis of Mary’s faith at this time and our faith.

a)      Mary had not seen the resurrected Lord.  She had to trust the testimony.

b)      In like manner, we have not personally seen the resurrected Christ.  We, too, have to trust the testimony of reliable messengers.

 

III.             THE APPEARANCE (John 20:14-17)

 

A.    Mary solicits (John 20:14-15)

 

And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.  Jesus saith unto her, Woman, Why weepest thou?  whom seekest thou?  She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have born him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.

 

1.      When Mary turns from the sepulcher, Jesus is standing without, but Mary does not recognize Him.  The text says she “knew not that is was Jesus.”  The question that we ask is:  “Why didn’t she recognize him?”

a.      Did she quickly look at him and then look down?

b.      Was her mind so filled with thoughts that she missed His face?

c.       Was Jesus changed in appearance in some way?

2.      Jesus speaks to her with two questions.

a.      “Why weepest thou?  whom seekest thou?”

b.      Mary had been with Jesus for several years during His ministry.  She had heard him teach and speak many times. 

c.       Still, she did not recognize His voice at this time.

3.      In her mind, Mary believes that she is speaking to the gardner.  She does not answer His question, but responds with a request.  “Sir, if thou have born him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.”

a.      It is interesting that the Lord’s resurrection has not taken root in her mind.  She still believes Jesus is dead and His body has been removed the tomb.

b.      She told the man:  “I will take Him away.”  Can you imagine Mary carrying the dead body of Jesus to the apostles?

4.      LESSON:  Think of the depth of Mary’s unbelief.

a.      Jesus had taught that He would rise from the grave.

The grave was empty on the third day.

Mary had seen the empty tomb.

Mary had heard the announcement from the angels. 

She was standing and speaking to Jesus at this moment.

b.      Sometimes the veil of unbelief is difficult to remove even for the most passionate and dedicated child of God.

 

B.      Mary sees (John 20:16-17)

1.      Mary comprehends (John 20:16)

 

Jesus saith unto her, Mary.  She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.

 

a.      We have our question answered about why she did not recognize Jesus.  She had not been looking at Him with a full gaze.

b.      When Jesus addressed her personally by name, she turned, and cried, Rabboni.”

1.      She knew it was Jesus.

2.      Wouldn’t you love to have heard this word proceed from her lips?

Wouldn’t you love to have felt the feelings that filled her body?

Wouldn’t you love to experience the joy she must have felt?

3.      Her desire would have been to immediately wrap her arms around Him.

4.      LESSON:  She addressed Jesus was reverence and with regard to her place before Him.                     

a.      This is the only time in the Bible Jesus is called Rabboni.

b.      The name means “master.”

c.       Jesus was Mary’s Master, and she was His servant.

2.      Jesus commands (John 20:17)

 

Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father:  but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.

 

a.      Command #1:  Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father.

1)      This command has cause much debate in the religious world. 

2)      Some have said that Jesus could not be touched after He was resurrected from the dead.  Answer:  This is not true.

a)      There was some who did touch Jesus after the resurrection (Matt. 28:9).

b)      Jesus invited people to touch Him on two occasions (Luke 24:39; John 20:27).

3)      Mary recognized Jesus.  She probably wanted to hold Him immediately.  However, Jesus forbids her from doing so right now.  There would be time for this in the future because He had not yet ascended to His heavenly Father.

b.      Command #2:  Go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father.

1)      Right now it was imperative that the message of the resurrection be believed by Jesus disciples.

2)      Thus, Mary needed to go and tell them that His ascension would be soon.  He only had 40 more days on the earth.

3)      There were still things they needed to be taught before He left the earth.

 

IV.             THE ANNOUNCMENT (John 20:18)

 

Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her.

 

A.    Mary was well known to the disciples.  She was a reliable witness.  She should have been believed by all the disciples.

 

B.      Mark 16:10-11

 

And she went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept.  And they, when they heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not.

 

1.      These men also rejected reliable testimony.

They did not remember the words Jesus had spoken unto them.

They failed to comprehend the power the Lord had over death and the grave.

2.      Thus, they did not believe.

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.    It is interesting that Mary was the first to whom Jesus appeared as a witness to the resurrection (Mark 16:9).

1.      When Paul lists some of the resurrection appearances of the Christ, he does not mention His appearance to Mary (See I Cor. 15:5-8).

2.      The testimony of women at that time was not appreciated.

3.      However, the disciples knew Mary.  They should have believed her to be a credible witness.

4.      Mary had to have been deeply frustrated by the unbelief of the apostles.

 

B.      How would these men be convinced of the truth?

1.      Jesus was alive, and they were still mourning.

2.      Jesus had a mission for them, and they were still cooped up in unbelief.

 

C.     The disciples are showing us just how human they really were.  They were great men, but there were times when doubt prevailed over faith.