Mary Magdalene was…
- the only woman mentioned in all 4 Gospel accounts as present at the tomb on Easter morning.
- probably one of the best-known women who followed Jesus.
- an important person in his ministry.
- mentioned by name in the Gospels at total of 12 times.
- more than most of the disciples, Including Matthew (4 times – 3 of those in the list of disciples)
- from Magdala.
- delivered from 7 demons.
- possibly wealthy, because she’s included in a list of women who gave to support Jesus’ ministry. (Luke 8:1–3 (NIV84))
- not a prostitute (no biblical evidence).
- possibly single with no family ties at all.
- present at the Crucifixion. Matthew 27:54–56 (NIV84)
- followed Joseph and Nicodemus to the tomb after they took Jesus’ body down from the cross. Matthew 27:57–61 (NIV84)
John 20:1–18 (NIV84)
Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance.
2 So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!”
10 Then the disciples went back to their homes, 11 but Mary stood outside the tomb crying.
- Mary still assumes the worst. Here’s proof:
As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb 12 and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.
13 They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?”
“They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.”
- What will it take for you to believe?
14 At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.
- There are times in our lives that the Lord shows up and we don’t recognize him, however…
- Acts 17:-27 (NIV) God [made every nation, & their times and places] so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.
- 1 Timothy 2:3b-4 (NIV) God our Savior, 4 …wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.
- Job 33:14 (NIV) For God does speak–now one way, now another– though man may not perceive it.
- Jeremiah 29:13 (NIV)You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
15 “Woman,” he said, “why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?”
- Notice how Jesus frames this question:
- Not, “WHAT are you afraid of?”
- Not “WHAT are you looking for?”
- But “WHO..”
Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.”
16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.”
She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher).
- Have you heard Jesus call your name?
It is so important that we seek Him!
17 Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’ ”
18 Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!”
Jeremiah 29:13-14a (NIV) “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the Lord.