“Who Are You Really?”

Scripture: John 20:11-18

The glory of Easter had arrived; Jesus had defeated the tomb; his enemies believed that his challenge to their orthodoxy had ended; his disciples had heard the truth of this day before, but they needed more if they were to fully believe.

God has never been one to leave those who want to believe in the darkness of doubt, so the Risen Jesus would begin revealing himself – not just in Spirit, but in the flesh. But he would look different in some way, and the people couldn’t recognize him at first! 1 Corinthians 15:3-6 tells us that over 500 believers, in addition to the apostles, would meet him in his life beyond death.

During the next 6 weeks, in this time that leads us to Pentecost, we will be considering some of these encounters and what they are given to mean for each of us. Today, we spend some time with Mary Magdalene as she mourns at the empty tomb.

Read John 20:11-14

Mary had come to the tomb that morning, prepared to finish caring for the body of her dead Teacher. But instead of burial ritual, she would find herself in a new form of discovery. She would find that the stone that sealed the tomb had been rolled away, and the body was gone. She ran to tell the disciples, all of whom were appalled at the news, but still not believing in what Jesus had told them about his resurrection. Peter and John ran to see for themselves, but confusion still reigned in their lives, too, and they left the garden, still without any hope.

Mary was left alone, filled with sorrow, struggling with the unbelievable things that were happening all around her, and weeping uncontrollably over the huge void that now filled her heart. And who meets her there, but two angels! And they ask her a typical “Jesus” question – “Why are you crying?” – as if they didn’t know!

This poor distraught woman doesn’t recognize these men in white as heavenly beings. But then, why should she? This is a totally new experience for her – after all, she isn’t exactly accustomed to having conversations with the angelic host! And on top of that, her vision has been clouded with her many tears, and the hope that Jesus had always been for her had yet to lift this dark veil from her heart.

“Someone has taken his body! Why would anyone do this terrible thing? Do you know what they have done with him?” The words tumble off her tongue – there is no thought controlling them, no plan to guide them – only brokenness and heart ache. And when she turns around, not even waiting for an answer from her first question, she sees another man standing there. Not only doesn’t she recognize the angels for who they are, she doesn’t see Jesus for who he is – her RISEN Lord!

Nearly all of humanity, including believers, go through this same struggle during times of strife. Sorrow has a way of blinding us to the truth of God, and all we can think about is the great loss that we are dealing with. “O God, why did this have to happen? I know that you could have prevented this – why didn’t you?” We know that the Lord has great power at his disposal, and for some reason, we think that he is supposed to use it to keep us, and our loved ones, from being hurt. But that isn’t how the Lord works. He doesn’t destroy pain, he doesn’t prevent loss – instead, he brings comfort and hope to us as we go through these labors of life.

Glory is always here – we just have to believe that it is here – we need to look for it, to seek it, expect it, and let it fill us, especially in times of great burdens.
Mary would soon discover that her Lord was doing this very thing – filling her, loving her, revealing his gracious glory to her. She just couldn’t see it yet.

Read John 20:15-16

As she continues her pleas with who she believes is the garden’s caretaker, she still doesn’t remember the truths that her Lord Jesus had been teaching for 3 years – that this life is temporary, but that a life in him is eternal, and that nothing can change either of these truths.

Her words are still confused and jumbled – believing that the gardener may have been the culprit who stole the body, she accuses him of the theft, and tells him that if he tells her where he has hid the Lord, she will go and bring him back to where he belongs.

If she could find the body, how would she ever be able to carry the dead body back by herself? And how would she ever move the stone back into it previous position? And what about Pilate’s seal? There is no reality in her questions, and even less in the implications contained within them! And then it happens.

Mary discovers just who this strange man really is! And the revelation comes when the Lord speaks her name. It’s interesting that in every one of us, there is a trigger that can prove the truth of Jesus for us. As we continue through our six week series, we will see that whatever it is that a person needs to trust in Jesus, he will use it as soon as we are ready to receive it.

I believe that, in Mary’s case, she needed to know that he still knew her and loved her. The Lord had freed her from seven demons quite a while before this (Luke 8:1-3), and she had been following him as part of his entourage for months now. She knew Jesus, but until she knew that Jesus wanted to continue as an important part of her life, she couldn’t recognize him.

Of course, this is, to a degree, speculation, but don’t we all need to know that we are loved? And how do we ever know? The best way is to hear, as well as see, that we are loved. Words can sometimes deceive us, but when we see the truth through the eyes and the voice and the actions of the one we love, it is then that we can believe. Mary saw, and then heard, the very words that she needed if she was to believe – it was her name spoken in the fullness of her Lord and Savior’s love.

Read John 20:17-18

There has always been a lot of controversy over Jesus’ admonition to Mary, that she shouldn’t touch him because he has yet to ascend to his Father. One of the best explanations that I have read is that the Lord is telling Mary that he has a more important task for her at the moment, that there will be time for worship later. But now, the word must be shared with all who believe - that Jesus lives, that life in the Lord is still on track, and that all who believe must now pick up the mantle of ministry in his name.

Mary, a woman, a follower of Jesus Christ, is the first to actually recognize the risen Lord, but she won’t be the last. Many more will see him in that time, and throughout the centuries to come, Christians, over and over again, will meet the Lord by his means and in his ways and time. And it will be in ways that we need, if we are to see him. It’s an assurance that Jesus is not only real and living, but that he wants to be a part of our life.

And this creates an opportunity for each of us. Mary was to go to the disciples to share this new found truth with all of them – she was to tell them what her experience with the Living Lord had brought to her life, and she did. And that is what our witness must be, too.

Be a witness for Jesus. Share your experience of revelation with others; share the surprise and blessing that you felt; share the call that he placed on your life, and what you have done about it. And no one who has faith in Jesus Christ can say that they have never had a time with their Lord. We might not have come to the realization yet, but we all have had his hand, his eyes, his voice, his love come to rest upon us.

Mary never hesitated in the call that Jesus gave her, to share her story with the others. Are we ready to do as much?