The First Easter Morning part 2 - Christ Appears to Mary

If you would take your Bible and turn back with me to John chapter 20. As I said earlier, we will be dividing verses 11 through 18. John chapter 20 verses 11 through 18. Now last week I stated that chapter 20 begins what Bible scholars or Bible commentators call the resurrection narrative. Now in our language we might simply say the resurrection story. This morning's message is a continuation of that story. Simply this is a part two. Last week I titled verses 1 to 10 the first Easter morning and this morning I will title verses 1 to 18 the first Easter morning part two.

Well I'll add to that title and I'll add to that by saying Christ appears to Mary. Now actually this is one big story, one big story of the resurrection but because of time we're dividing it up into a part one, a part two and so on. Now I want to restate something that I said in last week's introduction and I also want to build on what I said. We must see that the resurrection is the climax, if I could use another word, the pinnacle of the gospel story. Without the resurrection the gospel would be a hoax. It really would be a great hoax imposed upon mankind. It would be a lie, it would be an empty promise.

When God raised Jesus from the dead, God was shouting from the rooftops that Jesus was the atoning sacrifice for sin. God was declaring throughout the halls of history that he had accepted Christ's sacrifice on the cross as a full payment for sin. For satisfying the righteous demands of his righteous perfect law. The resurrection was a victory parade. Now I don't know if you know what a victory parade is but when a military comes back home from a campaign in victory they have a parade celebrating that victory. That's what we have here. The resurrection was a victory parade declaring that Christ had defeated Satan, sin, death and the grave.

It proved Christ was God in the flesh, the promised Messiah of the Old Testament. Now I want to give you a warning here. Every now and then when I'm preaching I'll pause and give you these pastoral warnings. Any people who would de-emphasize the resurrection, you run. I'm telling you I don't care how big of a celebrity status they may have, you run because in de-emphasizing the resurrection they are gutting the gospel, they are rendering the gospel powerless. And if one would de-emphasize the resurrection they are flirting with heresy or running headlong into heresy. So you run from any teacher who would ever de-emphasize the resurrection.

As we progress through the resurrection story we are simply seeing this story unfold. Now as the story unfolds we will begin to see Christ reveal himself to certain individuals. Last week I pointed out that we have two parallel narratives or two parallel stories. First we have the story of the actual resurrection. This is the historical event and the spiritual event of the resurrection. And then second we have the story of all of those different peoples who are involved. So we have the story of God's people within the resurrection story. But the greater story above and beyond the story of the different peoples is the resurrection of Jesus.

Now here I want to point out the fact that there are many peoples who are caught up in this resurrection story. To make this observation we must go to the other gospels and the other places in the scripture. Truthfully I ran across a couple of lists this week. John MacArthur gives a list and the old Bible commentator A.W. Pint gives a longer list. I just took what was given to me from them and I kind of made it my own. But notice this list of the different peoples who were caught up in this resurrection story. First we have Jesus appearing to Mary Magdalene right here in the verses before us this morning.

Second Jesus appeared to certain women when they are returning from the tomb that's recorded in Matthew 28 starting in verse 9. Third Jesus appeared to Peter in Luke chapter 24 verse 34. Fourth Jesus appeared to two disciples there on the road to Emmaus in Luke 24 verse 13. Fifth Jesus appeared to 10 disciples in the upper room in John chapter 20 verse 19. Of course Thomas was not there. In verse 26 Jesus appeared to the 11 disciples in the upper room in John 20 starting in verse 26. This time Thomas was there. And then seventh Jesus appeared to the 7 disciples fishing there in the Sea of Tiberius over in John 21.

And then eighth Jesus appeared to more than 500 believers at one time. This is mentioned by Paul over in 1 Corinthians 15 verse 7. Then ninth Jesus appeared to James. This is also mentioned in 1 Corinthians 15 and then tenth at the actual ascension Jesus appears to me. That is in Acts chapter 1 starting in verse 3. And then there's this bonus. I call it the bonus revelation of the risen Christ to an individual. And that is when the Lord Jesus appeared to Saul on the road to Damascus in chapter 19. Now it is obvious this morning we will continue with the study of the resurrection and those who are involved.

We will be examining how Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene there on that first Easter morning. Now I've already given us the title of the message but I will list it before us. We have the first Easter morning part 2. We have Christ appears to Mary. Now you see how we will divide these verses there are three major truths. They're very simple. They just flow out of the verses that are before us. We have Mary who is at the tomb verses 11 to 13. Then we have Christ reveals himself to Mary and that is verses 14 to 16. And actually I'll cheat. I'll go over into the first part of verse 17. And then Christ calls Mary to give a report.

And that is in verse 17 through 18. Let's read our verses together and then we'll begin to divide these verses through the outline that is before us. Go back to verse 11. Verse 11. "But Mary, Mary Magdalene, she was standing outside the tomb weeping or crying. And so as she wept she stooped and she looked into the tomb. Then she beheld two angels in white, sitting one at the head and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had been lying.

And 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.' And when she had said this, she turned around and beheld Jesus standing there and did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, 'Woman, why are you weeping? Woman, 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.' Jesus said to her, 'Mary.' She turned and she said to Him, 'This was in Hebrew, 'Rabbi-ni,' or this is a variation of Rabbi.' And Jesus said to her, 'Stop clinging to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father, but go to my brethren and say to them, 'I ascend to my Father and your Father and my God and your God.'" And then verse 18, "Mary did what she was commanded.

Mary Magdalene came announcing to the disciples, 'I have seen the Lord and that He has said these things to her.'" Now, you see how we'll divide these verses as always. We take our notes here when we're studying God's Word because we want to be good students of what He has put before us. So let's look at our first major truth in our outline. Mary is at the tomb. We see this in verses 11 through 13. Mary is at the tomb. Go back to the verses. "But Mary was standing outside the tomb weeping. And so as she wept, she stooped, she looked into the tomb.

She beheld or saw two angels in white, sitting one at the head and one at the feet where the body of Jesus had been laying. And 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.'" Before we examine what took place with Mary at the tomb, we need to see that verse 11 is connected with verse 10. This little word "but" here helps us with this information. If we remember our English, we know that this is a conjunction and it has a purpose. It serves to connect the two sentences here, but it also serves to give us or show us a big contrast.

Now, question, what is the contrast? In verse 10, this tells us that the disciples went to their homes. While in verse 11, it tells us that Mary went back to the empty tomb. Now, I will speak more about the contrast as we continue. Now there are four observations I want to make here out of these verses. First notice Mary's condition. Notice Mary's condition in verse 11. "Mary was standing outside of the tomb weeping." Here we see that Mary, she's there at the tomb, she is broken, she's in tears, she is weeping. Now here I want to go back to the contrast. The disciples, they were in their homes and I say they were in their homes in fear.

If we look ahead in chapter 20, over into verse 19, we see that they had a tendency to react in fear. But Mary here, she is reacting in her emotions. This is her condition. She is broken, she is emotional, she is in tears, she is weeping at the tomb. And I will speak more on this contrast as we continue. So we see Mary's condition. Second notice, notice what Mary sees. Verse 12, "And she beheld two angels in white sitting one at the head and one at the feet of where the body of Jesus had been laid." Now the end of verse 11 says that through her tears, she does look into the tomb.

Here she sees two angels and they are sitting where the body of Jesus had been laid. Now Luke in his gospel mentions both angels while Matthew and Mark only mention one angel. Now a question. What was the purpose of the angels? We must see that they were simply messengers for Mary. They were not to be worshiped. They were not to be revered. They were simply messengers of God for God's purposes for Mary. And that's what Mary sees. Then third notice the angels question. This is at the beginning of verse 13. "And they said to her, 'Woman, why are you weeping?'" Here we see the angels give a, I call it a soft correction.

A Bible commentator that I read this week called it a gentle rebuke. This speaks to their purpose as messengers. They were correcting Mary, teaching Mary. The time for weeping and sorrow was to be over. They were moving her along, if I can use that language, to see that Jesus had been raised from the dead. And then the fourth observation, notice Mary's response. Go back to verse 13, "And they said to her, 'Woman, why are you weeping?' And she said to them, 'Because they have taken away my Lord.' And I do not know where they have laid him or laid his body." Here we see that Mary suffered from three misconceptions.

First she did not know who they were. It is likely that she assumed that they were men. Second she believed the body of Jesus had been taken away or stolen. And then the third misconception, she still believed that Jesus was dead. Simply, Mary had it all wrong. One issue that could have added to Mary's grief was a cultural issue. The Jews in that day placed a heavy emphasis on the care of a body and a respectful burial. She would have been mortified, and I think that's an accurate way to describe it. To think that Jesus' body was taken and not being cared for properly, lovingly, and respectfully. So in a summary, what do we see here?

Mary is not simply at the tomb. She is broken. She is weeping through her brokenness. Also she completely misunderstands the circumstances. She has everything wrong. She does not know who the angels are. She believes the body has been taken or stolen. She still believes that Jesus is dead. Simply she has it all wrong. Now on application, I want to use Mary, and I want to go back and grab the disciples to teach us a lesson here. To do so, we have to go back and look at the contrast and see how they're reacting in these circumstances. Their reactions tell us who they are and what they are made of spiritually.

Now let's go all the way back to John. John, the Apostle John had faith. He had a belief that Jesus was alive according to verse 8. That was an incomplete belief, but he did have faith. But, but he is back in his home in fear hiding. But Mary. Mary had a weak faith. He thought Jesus was dead, although he had told him many, many times that these events would happen. But Mary had a great love for Jesus. She had a love so great that she stayed at the tomb in her brokenness. Simply, Mary had a great emotional expressive love, but a weak faith. While John had a stronger faith, but yet a fearful heart. Now what is the lesson?

What's the lesson for you and for me? Some of you have a strong love for God, but yet you have a weaker faith. Others of you have a strong faith, but you wrestle with fear and doubt. If you let that sink in a little, you might see the lesson. Some of you are more, if I can use the language Mary like, while some of you are more like John. Again, this helps us see why it's important to study not just the resurrection story, but all of those who are involved. Let's move on to our second major truth. Christ reveals himself to Mary. We see that in verses 14 to 16. Christ reveals himself to Mary. Let's go back to the verses.

When she had said this, she turned around and beheld or saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Woman, who 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." Here we see the story progress along. Things are not all about the individuals within the story. If I can say it like this, Christ is the central character. The story is first and foremost about Christ as the risen Savior, and we begin to see this fact in these verses.

Now, there are five observations I want to make here. Five observations I want to make here. Notice first, Mary sees Jesus. Go back to verse 14. When she had said this, this is her response to the angels. She turned around and beheld Jesus standing there. It did not know that it was Jesus. Now we do not know what took Mary's attention off of the angels and to Jesus. We don't know. Some commentators speculate that the angels directed her attention to Jesus. Some say that Mary might have heard a sound or something which caused her to look Jesus' way. Simply, we do not know.

But the most important issue to see is that she did not know who she was looking at. She did not know this was Jesus. Now a question. Why was that the case? Obviously, there was something different about Jesus after the resurrection. There were other instances after the resurrection where those who knew Jesus did not recognize Jesus. In Luke 24, I referenced this verse earlier, on the road to Emmaus, there were two disciples who did not recognize Jesus. At the miraculous catch over in John 21, the disciples did not recognize Jesus at first.

Matthew 28 tells us that on the mountain in Galilee, there were some who recognized Jesus in worship, but yet some doubted. So after the resurrection, Jesus, if I can put it in my language, simplistic language, he was just different. He was just different. The second observation, notice Jesus, his question. Notice Jesus and his question. Verse 15, Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?" Here we see that Jesus repeats the question that the angels had asked, but Jesus goes on to ask, "Who are you looking for?" Again, this emphasizes the fact that Jesus was much different after the resurrection.

Of all of the people who should have recognized Jesus immediately, Mary should have been one of them. And then notice third, Mary's response. Mary's response. Go back to verse 15. Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Woman, who are you seeking?" Supposing him to be the gardener, she said, "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away." Here we see Mary's simple but pure devotion. Her reaction speaks to the deep respect to care for the body. But notice what else we see in her response. She is revealing that she has no clue that Jesus is alive. And then fourth, notice Jesus' revelation.

This revelation to Mary. Verse 16. Jesus said to her, "Mary." Simply called her name Mary, and she turned around and said to him in Hebrew, "Teacher." Mary struggled to know who the angels were and who Jesus was. But with one simple word, Jesus opens Mary's eyes. He simply called her name. Now what needs to be seen here? It was not the voice that opened her eyes. It was not the mention of her name that opened her eyes. It was the spiritual manner in which he called her name. This reiterates what Jesus had previously taught back in John 10, verse 3. What does he say?

"His sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name, and he leads them." See, this was a spiritual work of revelation to Mary. We see Jesus perform this spiritual work of self-revelation in all of the post-resurrection appearances. So Jesus reveals himself to Mary. And then our fifth observation. Our fifth observation. Notice Mary's worship. Mary's worship. Verse 16. "Jesus said to her, 'Mary,' and she turned around and said to him in Hebrew, 'Rabbana, our teacher.' And Jesus said to her, 'Stop clinging to me.'" Here we see that Mary worships her risen Savior, but notice she worships in two ways.

First, she worships in word, and second, she worships in deed. This word, "Rabbana," it is seen in all of our English translations. Now we've seen a familiar word, "Rabbai," and it means "teacher." We have seen this word several times in our study of John. But this word in verse 16 is a stronger word. It is a strengthened form of the word "Rabbai," and it points to a reverence and an honor. So she worshiped Jesus in word. And then second, she worshiped in deed. If we go on over to verse 17, we see that Mary is clinging to Jesus. She is holding onto Jesus out of a love for Jesus and a desire, if I can use this language, not to lose Him again.

She's holding onto Jesus because she is worshiping Jesus. Now in summary, what do we see in verses 14 to 16? Mary is in a state of blindness to all of the circumstances that she is in. She does not understand what is going on. And Jesus reveals Himself to Mary, and immediately Mary worships. She worships her risen Christ in word and in deed. Now in application, we must see two things. First, we are much like Mary. We do not fully see Christ in many of the circumstances that we find ourselves in in life. And second, we should react like Mary when our Lord completes the work within us. Now let me say more. Some of you here this morning.

You're in circumstances and you do not understand. You just can't see. You may be hurt. You may have questions. You may be blind to what the Lord is doing through your circumstances. And let me ask you a question. Are you reacting like John? Or are you reacting like Mary? But when our Lord brings about a work of full completion in you and through your circumstances, make sure you worship. Mary's response in word and deed was perfect. Now third major truth, Christ calls Mary to give a report. We see this in verses 17 and 18. Christ calls Mary to give a report. Go back to the verse.

Jesus said to her, "Stop clinging to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father, but go to my brethren and their brothers and say to them, 'I ascended to my Father and your Father and my God and your God.'" Mary Magdalene came announcing, reporting to the disciples. I have seen the Lord and that He has said these things to her. Here we see Mary do exactly what she had done earlier. Remember in verse 2, she made a report to Peter and John about the stone being rolled away. Remember, Jesus calls her to do the same. He calls her to report back to the disciples and of course Peter and John, those leaders would have been a part of that group.

Now there are three observations I want to make here. Three observations I want to make here. Notice Jesus' instructions. Back in verse 17, He said to her, "Stop clinging to me." Now this portion of verse 17 can be difficult to understand. A question, "Is Jesus rebuking Mary for touching Him?" That's a legitimate question for us to ask. But that could not be the case since others had touched the risen Lord without a rebuke. Other women took hold of His feet and worshipped Him in Matthew 28 verse 9. Later on in John 20 verse 27, Jesus called doubting Thomas to touch His hands and His side. So what is going on here?

The original language here in verse 17, it can read, "Do not continue to cling to me." It does not read, "Do not begin to cling to me." Now what's the point? Jesus is accepting her worship, but He is something more important for her to do and that is to go and report to the disciples. So those instructions mean something. Our second observation, notice Jesus' language. Notice Jesus' language. "Stop clinging to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father, but go to my brethren." Jesus says to Mary, "Go to my brethren or go to my brothers," the English Standard Version reads.

Now what is the significance of this word, "brethren" or "brothers"? Oh, this is the first time Jesus has referred to His disciples as brothers. Through His redemptive work on the cross, His disciples had entered into a new relationship with Jesus. They could rightfully be called His brothers. And then third, notice Mary's announcement. Mary Magdalene came announcing to the disciples, "I've seen the Lord. And that He had said these things to her." Simply Mary had done as she had done before. She reported to the disciples what she had seen and now what the Lord had told her.

But notice the difference in the announcement as opposed to the announcement in verse 2. In verse 2, her announcement was of shock and fear and sadness. But here in verse 18, her announcement was of worship and of rejoicing. In John's summary, what do we see in these two verses? On the surface, we see that Mary was called to run and tell the disciples that Jesus has risen. Now, I do not want to minimize that wonderful announcement, but there is something more that we must see. For the first time, Jesus calls His disciples "brothers." The work of redemption allows the disciples to enter into a new relationship with Jesus.

And for us, in application of these verses, we must see that as born-again Christians, we are adopted sons and daughters. Romans chapter 8, verses 14 to 15 says, "For all who were led by the Spirit of God are sons of God, for you did not receive the Spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons by whom we cry, 'Abba, Father.'" And because of this adoption, Jesus is not ashamed to call us and these disciples "brothers." Hebrews 2, 11 reads, "For He who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source, that is why He," that's Jesus, "is not ashamed to call them," that's us, brothers.

And look, for us who are born-again believers, this is our new relationship with Christ. We are brothers, adopted into His family. Now, in conclusion, I want to conclude this morning's message similarly to last week's message. First, in conclusion, we must see that we are far more like those individuals within the resurrection story than we know. We must learn from them, all of them, starting with Mary. We can see ourselves in their strengths and in their weaknesses, just as Christ patiently persevered in them.

Mary, Peter, and John, He, He can do and will do the same patient-persevering work in us, and I don't know about for you, but for me, that is very, very comforting. And then second, we must see the major narrative here is the resurrection. Here we have the victory parade. Christ is defeated, Satan, sin, death, and the grave. And also through His victory, we can have victory. I read the story of an event that took place in the 1930s. At a revival or evangelistic meeting, there was a young Jewish student who went to the preacher and he said, "Why should I worship a dead Jew?" That being Jesus.

The preacher at hand then began to explain through the Scriptures that Jesus was not dead, but alive. After that event, as that preacher was preparing to preach an Easter message in his own church, he was listening to the radio to a liberal preacher who was de-emphasizing the resurrection. And it was through that experience that a hymn writer named Alfred Ackley wrote the words of the hymn that I quoted last week. Simple title. He lives. Remember that song? I serve a risen Savior. He's in the world today. I know that He is living whatever men might say. I see His hand of mercy. I hear His voice of cheer.

And just the time I need Him, He's always near. He lives. He lives. Christ Jesus lives today. He walks with me and talks with me a long life's narrow way. He lives. He lives. Salvation too in part. You ask me how. I know He lives. He lives within my heart. I pray that that song is your testimony this morning. That's the song of victory. Oh, that's the victory parade for us who are in Christ. That's the resurrection song. The goal is should be all of our testimonies who are in Christ Jesus. And if you can't sing that song as your testimony, my friend, then you need Christ as your Lord and Savior. And I urge you to come to Christ.

Oh, I urge you to come to Christ in repentance and faith and trusting in Him that He would save you from your lost condition. What do we see this morning? The first Easter morning, part two. Christ appears to marry and just gets better and better as we progress along. Let's pray.