Theme: First Evangelist Mary
Text: John 20:01-19
Introduction:
The resurrection narratives in all four gospels record very precisely how things were moving from one stage to the other. All of them want to give credit to Mary Magdalene as the first person to meet the Resurrected Lord Jesus Christ. Mary Magdalene had great enthusiasm and love for Lord Jesus Christ.
She was healed from seven demons (Luke 8:3). She bathed Jesus with her tears and Alabaster perfume (Luke 7:36-37 & John 8:7). Later she became a strong disciple to sit at the feet of Jesus and to listen to the Word of God (Luke 10:38-42). Mary had faith in the Person and Power of Jesus (John 11:2,32). She continued in her sacrificial giving to Jesus. She brought costly perfume and washed feet of Jesus before death (John 12:1-3).
Mary Magdalene teaches three higher qualities of her life on the day of Resurrection.
1. Mary Magdalene was a daring follower of Christ
2. Mary Magdalene was a diligent follower of Christ
3. Mary Magdalene was a dedicated evangelist
20:1-9 Mary was a Daring Follower of Christ
On the first day of the week, i.e., on Easter morning, three women went to the graveyard. Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James (and Jesus), and Salome (Mark 16:1). Only a day has gone but everything seems to be bleak, gloomy and non-futuristic. Disciples were afraid of the Constitutional authorities, religious leaders(John 7:13, 9:22) and guards. While the whole company of disciples was living in fear. Fear factor became their lifestyle. Mary Magdalene took the bold and daring step to organise a team to visit the graveyard of Jesus.
We are more familiar with the word “Phobias”. Fear of anything and everything. Fear is a very common emotion in the human body, it leads to instability, unhappiness, sometimes even to death. Fear is an enemy of faith. Fear is one of the by-products of modern life no one could avoid. “It saps spiritual vitality and it can paralyze the soul”(Harold S Martin).
Whereas, when Jesus was alive, disciples stand was entirely different in society. They were happy to move around with Him. Nothing was threatening to them. They were not afraid of anybody – they never worried about either the Tyrant Roman rulers or the Jewish religious hypocritic leaders. As long as Jesus was alive disciples had extra-ordinary powers, they went two by two to preach the Kingdom of God and to cast out demons. Earlier they stood bold in many situations and occasions against the Jewish religious authorities.
But now, their master was treated very badly along with robbers, thieves and notorious criminals. Jesus was given a cruel capital punishment of Crucifixion with vicarious sufferings. The death of Jesus brought great fear and anxieties. They were not seen, they were within their homes they were lockdown, quarantined. It was very natural after the defeat of any leader. Jesus told his disciples not to fear the men who can only destroy their bodies and not their soul (Mathew 10:28 & Luke 12:4). Mathew 10:31 tells us: “Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows”.
Paul Johannes Tillich, a Lutheran Theologian, German-American, lived from 1886 to 1965. “He wrote about 3 types of worry. First is a worry about fate and death. Second is a worry about two feelings: feelings about two lacks A lack of inner satisfaction and a lack of meaning to life. The third is a worry about being guilty and deserving punishment”.
John Bunyan in his Pilgrim Progress, records a very interesting incident, at one point he met with two Roaring Lions blocking his way to the heavenly city. He was more fearful to take a further step but with courage he moved on, when he reached very near to the Lions, he found that the Lions were chained by God. How often, we are afraid of the chained defeated, powerless issues over us. God has confined and curbed them already.
Bible helps us to gain confidence during the fear and dreadful situations. When I am afraid I will put my trust in you (Psalm 56:3). Psalm 34:4 “I sought the Lord,... he delivered me from all my fears”. Psalm 23:4 “ Even though I walk through the valley of death, I fear no evil”. Psalm 46:1-3 “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear though the earth gives way. Still, the mountains are moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling.” Psalm 91:4-5 “He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings, you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler. You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day.”
Mary Madelene became a daring follower of Christ to visit the Tomb of Jesus along with other women. Now the women as soon as reached the garden they found an empty tomb. So they quickly returned to City and told Simon Peter and John, they rushed to the spot and confirmed the empty tomb. The open grave brought more fear than courage and joy. None of them heeds to the words spoken by Jesus Christ on Resurrection while he was with them. The search for Truth with unbelief always leads to an empty, fearful and useless situation in life. But Mary Magdalene continued her diligent search for Christ.
20:10-16 Mary was a Diligent follower of Christ
There was an interest to search the dead body of Jesus. She was diligently searching the Body of Christ. She did not give up. The words of Angels did not put off her search for the personal experience with Christ. She was exploring all possibilities to find the TRUTH.
But her preoccupied mind about the dead BODY of JESUS blinded her and kept her away from the LIVING WORD of JESUS. She was looking among the dead who was living in the midst of her (Luke 24:5). Her futile exercises of running up and down, finding the dead body went in vain but she never gave up. Mary was crying and searching for Jesus, the TRUTH. Mary did not realise the person of Jesus who was standing with her. The voice of Jesus came to her but because of her unbelief, she could not recognise the voice of Jesus. She thought he was a Gardener. She was searching for a decomposed body but encountered with a resurrected body. The Emmaus disciples thought he was a traveller and visitor (Luke 24:18). Moses saw the burning Bush and did not notice the presence of YHWH on Mount Horeb (Exodus 3:1-4).
Often it is true for most of us, we don’t give attention to the voices of God coming through many servants of God. Our ears are deafened to the preaching and teachings coming from the Pulpit. Our insensitivity to the voice of the Holy Spirit keeps us on the same state of Life. No spiritual growth, no enthusiasm, no eagerness to follow TRUTH, only keep exploring, doing research and keep trying to do certain things which satisfy us rather than to get the real revelation of Jesus Christ.
God’s word is true. “Seek ye shall find”. Search the scriptures it will lead you to Jesus (John 5:39). Luke 24:31 “their eyes were opened and they recognized”. Luke 24:45 “Jesus opened their minds to understand the power of God”. Acts 16:14 “the Lord opened her heart to listen to the word”. Mary had seen the Lord. She had heard the Lord. All her fears have gone and all her tears were wiped away. Her diligent search made her be grounded on Jesus. She stood on the solid foundation of Jesus Christ. She was filled with Joy. Her tears turned into Joy. Her perspectives are changed, her attitude was changed. She became a dedicated evangelist to carry the Good news.
20:17-19 Mary was a Dedicated Evangelist
In your friends' circle, neighbourhood, relatives of other faiths and non-faiths, how many can say that you were the first evangelist to introduce Jesus Christ as Lord, as Saviour, as Healer, as redeemer and so on. Are you a first evangelist to reach anyone with Name of Jesus? An evangelist is one who shares “good news” of God’s love found and expressed in the person of Jesus Christ. All Christians are invited to ‘share the story of Jesus” so all are evangelists. The Greek word ‘evangelist’ in NT conveys the truth that Evangelist is not a position but a gift and duty (Acts 21:8, Ephesians 4:11 and 2 Timothy 4:5).
Here Mary Magdalene became the first evangelist to people who were living with fear and fear of death. The Good News is “Jesus is Alive”. Jesus told her to go and tell His brothers that HE IS ALIVE. Thomas Aquinas calls Mary Magdalene as an “Apostle to the Apostles”(John 20:17). Mary took the Gospel to disciples who were behind “The Closed Doors”. Jesus came into their closed-door and greeted them saying “Peace Be with you”. The disturbed, discouraged, disappointed disciples have seen the resurrected Jesus Christ. Their closed doors brought a new Light to their room, new opportunities have come to their doorstep. Their eyes were twinkling with new hopes and joys.
Noah was locked for more than 237 days (40 +150+40+7 = Genesis 7:17, 24, 8:6, 12). He was forced to live with his wife, children for 237 days, almost 8 months. Joseph was locked in a prison room for many years. His hands were cuffed; his vision was put into a dark room (Genesis 39:20). Closed doors are giving us more opportunity to pray (Mathew 6:6 & 7:7).
Now the whole world lives under fear. Fear of viruses, fear of germs and fear of death. The economy crashed, productions stopped. Many doors are closed. Company doors are closed. Employment opportunities are closed. Motels and Hotels are closed. Restaurants and Recreation centres are closed. But the Lord opened the closed doors. Noah, Joseph and many others were freed and had given new opportunity to serve people. I am sure there is going to be a great open door for all of us to carry the good news worldwide after this dreadful situation. Evangelism is not harassing or intimidating, forcing your beliefs on anyone. Evangelism is an overflow of our life in Christ. Evangelism happens naturally as unnoticed. In essence, it is the reality of experiencing Christ and helping others to experience him.
Jesus stands at your doorstep and knocks to enter into your house, enter into your hearts and enter into your petty world (Revelation 3:20). Dear friends, the resurrected Lord Jesus Christ comes to us with the good news of peace, joy and love. The open tomb of Jesus leads the disciples to many open doors in life. Our Lord Jesus Christ is known as a God one who opens the doors and no can shut (Revelation 3:8). He is such a powerful God. In 1 Corinthians 16:9, Paul testifies that a great door was opened for effective work.
Evangelism believed to be one of the three pillars of Methodism. Social Holiness and Evangelism, organisation and administration. John Wesley said: "…the whole world is my mission field."
Conclusion:
The encounter with the resurrected Lord Jesus Christ changed Mary Magdalene as a daring fearless woman, she became a diligent seeker of Christ, became a bold and vibrant woman to carry the good news to Apostles. She became a woman of hope and life changer. She became a very sharp instrument of Jesus Christ to proclaim the Good news. This resurrected Lord would change your course of Life.
Encounter with Christ will make you an Evangelist of good news. Think of the person who first shared the gospel with you. They were bold, burdened and gifted people, evidently, they are holy people.
