JN 20:1-2, 11-18 - MARY MAGDALENE

NO NAME IN HISTORY HAS BEEN HONORED AS HAS THE NAME MARY. MILLIONS OF PEOPLES ALL OVER THE WORLD HAVE NAMED THEIR DAUGHTERS MARY.  ABOUT TEN YEARS AGO IT WAS ESTIMATED THAT 3,720,000 WOMEN WERE NAMED MARY.  MARY THE MOTHER OF JESUS GAVE THE NAME GREAT HONOR AND SO TODAY MILLIONS OF WOMEN ARE NAMED MARY.  EVEN MY MOTHER'S NAME IS MARY.

TODAY WE ARE STUDYING  SPECIFICALLY "MARY THE MAGDALENE". MAGDALENE, IDENIFIES HER WITH HER PLACE OF BIRTH,  JUST AS JESUS WAS CALLED THE NAZARENE,  AND YOU IDENTIFY YOURSELF WITH THE PLACE OF YOUR BIRTH.   SO MARY WAS FROM MAGDALENE.  IT WAS A THRIVING POPULOUS TOWN ON THE COAST OF GALILEE,  FAMOUS FOR IT'S DYE WORKS AND TEXTILE FACTORIES.  IT SEEMED THAT MARY WAS NOT WITHOUT MEANS AS SHE SERVED THE LORD WITH HER SUBSTANCE (LK 8:3).

FAMILY CONNECTIONS -

WE HAVE NO RECORD OF MARY'S PARENTS, HER MARITAL STATUS, OR HER AGE.  MAYBE THE LORD WANTS US TO SEE THAT NO MATTER WHAT NATIONALITY WE ARE FROM,  WHAT MARITAL STATUS WE ARE LIVING IN, OR EVEN HOW OLD OR HOW YOUNG WE ARE,  HE LOVES US AND IS CONCERNED ABOUT OUR NEEDS.

PHYSICAL CONDITION -

Luke 8:1-3 -  And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and showing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with him,  And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils,

And Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto him of their substance.

MARY HAD A MALADY OR CONDITION OF POSSESSION AND OPPRESSION BY DEMONS.  IT IS SAID THAT MARY SUFFERED SEVERLY WHEN AFFLICTED BY THESE DEMONS.  IT COULD HAVE BEEN NERVOUSNESS OR VIOLENT EPILEPSY.  IN EITHER CASE, WHEN JESUS SAW HER, IT MUST HAVE BEEN A REVOLTING SIGHT.

HER UNCARED FOR HAIR,  GLARING EYES,  SUNKEN CHEEKS.  MARY HAD LOST CONTROL OF HER EMOTIONS,  HER SPEECH, HER MOBILITY, AND EVEN HER MENTAL FACULTIES.  SOME SIMPLY CALLED IT INSANITY AND WROTE MARY OFF AS A LOSS TO SOCIETY. 

BUT JESUS SAW SOMETHING INSIDE OF MARY THAT THE DEMONS COULD NOT OVERCOME.  JESUS SAW MORE THAN MARY'S WEAKNESS.  WE ARE NOT EVEN TOLD WHAT WEAKNESS CAUSED HER TO BE POSSESSED,  ONLY THAT SHE WAS DELIVERED BY THE LORD.

WE ARE NOT TOLD HOW JESUS DID IT,  ONLY THAT SEVEN DEVILS WENT OUT OF MARY MAGDALENE.  WHEN JESUS MOVES IN, DEVILS MOVE OUT.  JESUS DON'T WANT YOU CAUGHT UP IN HOW THINGS HAPPEN, ONLY THAT HE IS ABLE TO MAKE THEM HAPPEN.

MARY MAGDALENE LOVED JESUS AND SHE FOLLOWED HIM TO THE END EVEN WHEN THE DISCIPLES FORSOOK HIM AND FLED, MARY COULD NOT.  MARY HELD ON TO THE ONE THAT LOVED HER, AND STAYED WITH THE ONE WHO DELIVERED HER FROM HER GREATEST TRAIL AND TROUBLE.  SHE WAS LAST AT THE CROSS AND FIRST AT THE GRAVE.  SHE SAW THE NAILS, SHE SAW THE CROSS,  SHE SAW THE GRAVE,  SHE SAW THE ANGELS, AND SHE SAW THE LORD AS NO ONE ELSE WAS ABLE TO SEE HIM.  SHE SAW JESUS BEFORE HE ASCENDED TO THE FATHER.

THE MAGDALENE AT THE CROSS

Mat 27:55-56 -  And many women were there beholding afar off, which followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto him:   Among which was Mary Magdalene.

John 19:25  Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and Mary Magdalene.

THE MAGDALENE AT THE TOMB

Mat 27:59-61 - And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth,  And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed.   And there was Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, sitting over against the sepulchre.

Mark 15:47  And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses beheld where he was laid.

MARY MAGDALENE WAS FIRST AT THE TOMB

John 20:1-2 -  The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.

Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him.

MARY MAGDALENE STAYED AFTER EVERYONE ELSE HAD LEFT

John 20:10-11  Then the disciples went away again unto their own home.

But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre,

MARY MAGDALENE INTERFERED WITH THE ANGELS

John 20:12-13 -  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.  And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him.

MARY MAGDALENE COULD NOT GIVE UP BUT LOOKED AGAIN

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 borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.

MARY HEARD HER NAME WITHOUT THE MAGDALENE

John 20:16-17 -  Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.   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.

JESUS WANTS YOU TO HEAR YOUR NAME TODAY WITHOUT THE GUILTS OF YESTERDAY, THE BAGGAGE OF YOUR WEAKNESSES, AND THE IDENTITY OF WHERE YOU ARE FROM.   JESUS WANTS YOU TO HEAR YOUR NAME AS ONLY HE CAN SPEAK IT TO YOU.   DO YOU WANT TO HEAR HIM CALL YOUR NAME TODAY?