In today's message, we’re going to see how Jesus’ resurrection changed one woman, Mary Magdalene. Therefore, I want you to put yourself in her shoes; in other words, I want you to be her. I want you to feel her sadness, but I also want you to feel her joy and comfort when she realizes that Jesus has indeed risen from the dead. The question I submit to you is this: "How does the resurrection of Jesus Christ change you?"
As we begin, we find Mary Magdalene at the tomb, and she was crying. She was shedding tears of hopelessness, tears of despair and frustration. For some time now, she had been following the Teacher, Jesus Christ. She had thought that perhaps he was the Messiah.
He had healed her of demon possession, and more importantly, he had shown her how to have peace with God. He had made so many promises. He had said so many good things. He had even performed miracles. But now he was dead. And all the things he had said and done were dead with him. How can you hope in someone who is dead?
For Mary Magdalene, the world had become a very cruel place – a place of broken promises, unfulfilled dreams, and big disappointments. And to top it off, it seemed that someone had stolen the body of Christ – could things get any worse? It’s no wonder that she’s crying.
Have you ever had moments like Mary Magdalene? Moments when the world seemed like a very cruel place – a place of broken promises, unfulfilled dreams, big disappointments? The world can be a very difficult place to live, and the Devil uses those difficult moments to make you feel hopeless and despairing. The Devil wants you to say to yourself, “God is dead. There is no hope.”
Think about these following things for a moment: When an earthquake kills thousands, when a tornado kills hundreds, you are tempted to think, “God is dead. There is no hope.” When the job that seemed so secure a year ago suddenly disappears today, when your health suddenly takes a turn for the worse, you are tempted to think, “God is dead. There is no hope.”
When you look into your past and consider all the mistakes you have made in life, all the words and actions you wish you could take back, but you can’t, you cannot help but feel a sense of hopelessness. “Is there any way I can change the past? Is there any way I can make right the wrong things I have done?” The answer is no. And then we feel what Mary felt – an overwhelming sense of hopelessness and despair.
Mary was dealing with the death of a loved one. What happens when you have to deal with that? Perhaps you've dealt with it, or maybe you’re dealing with it right now. When a loved one dies, or when you face your own mortality, it feels as though you’re facing the end of the road. To think that there is anything positive beyond death is far-fetched, we say to ourselves.
What hope does the world have to offer? Not much. “This is all there is,” many people say, “So you better grab what you can while you can.” That turns people into very self-centered creatures, glorified animals really. A life that is truly here-focused, me-focused, is truly a wasted life, and with it comes loneliness, greed, and ultimately, hell. Maybe that person puts on a happy face, but it’s a face that’s covering up feelings of hopelessness.
What hope does the world have to offer? Be a positive thinker, people say. Can you imagine going up to Mary Magdalene as she’s crying, and saying to her, “Everything will be alright, Mary, just think positive thoughts!” That’s ridiculous. And yet, that’s the best comfort our world is able to offer. To tell someone to be optimistic without any real reason for being optimistic is really quite silly. That causes even greater feelings of hopelessness and despair. There has to be a reason to be optimistic.
Mary Magdalene found that reason on Easter morning. She looked into the tomb, and found that it wasn't empty after all – two angels were in the tomb, and one of them asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?” “They have taken my Lord away,” Mary said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” Then she turned around, and there was Jesus, standing right behind her. She didn't recognize him right away. Jesus asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?”
Mary wasn't thinking clearly. She thought that Jesus the gardener. She said to Jesus, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.” At this point, Mary still believes that Jesus is dead. She still believes that his body is missing, that she must find the body so that she can give it a proper burial. The Messiah was still dead. There was still no hope.
But Mary was wrong – there was hope. Jesus said to her, “Mary.” So many times, Jesus had called her by her name while he was alive. And now she heard that familiar voice call her name called again. She looked up, and realized that it was Jesus. The Bible tells us that she was so excited that she called out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” which means teacher. She grasped Jesus’ legs and did not want to let him go. Somehow, he was alive! Jesus told her that she need not to hold on to him like that any longer. He wouldn't be leaving her in death, like he had done before.
Soon he would be returning to the Father, but he would be with her and his followers always. “Go, and tell the brothers that I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.” Mary quickly returned to the disciples and told them that she had seen the Lord.
What a turn-around for Mary! One minute God is dead, and there is no hope. But then she sees that Jesus is alive. God is not dead. There is hope! There is a reason to be joyful, to be hopeful, to be optimistic. Jesus was alive and well, and that’s what changed her. Her hero was alive. We all love heroes. But there is only one hero in all the world who has died, and then has come back to life – Jesus Christ.
In closing, that empty tomb filled Mary Magdalene’s heart with an incredible sense of joy and comfort and hope. It changed her life forever. Jesus is just as much alive today as he was on that first Easter morning.
Only one thing can bring hope to a hopeless situation. Only one thing can bring joy where there is only sadness. Only one thing can bring life where there is nothing but death. Only one thing can give you a real reason to be optimistic. And that one thing is knowing that Jesus Christ is alive, right now – he has risen from the dead.
Prayer: How shall I make a return to God for all the good God has done to me? I will take up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord. Amen
May your day be blessed!
Cyndi
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