WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:09.599 All right, well, this morning we've finally come to the moment that many of us have been waiting for in the story of Jesus, the resurrection. 00:00:10.560 --> 00:00:12.339 John chapter 20. 00:00:14.220 --> 00:00:18.640 The last two Sundays we heard from John about what happened the day that Jesus died. 00:00:19.359 --> 00:00:23.080 We heard his testimony about how they crucified Jesus. 00:00:23.079 --> 00:00:31.919 We heard how the actions of the soldiers confirmed his death and at the same time fulfilled God's ancient words. 00:00:32.899 --> 00:00:40.159 We heard how Joseph and Nicodemus prepared Jesus' body for burial and laid it to rest in the tomb nearby. 00:00:40.959 --> 00:00:45.700 All of that on the day of preparation just before the Sabbath began in the evening. 00:00:46.500 --> 00:00:50.820 Let's now continue the story this morning reading from John chapter 20. 00:00:50.820 --> 00:01:02.579 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. 00:01:03.420 --> 00:01:09.599 So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, 00:01:10.219 --> 00:01:14.680 They've taken the Lord out of the tomb and we don't know where they've put him. 00:01:14.680 --> 00:01:23.820 So John tells us that it was early on the first day of the week. 00:01:24.420 --> 00:01:30.660 Mary Magdalene, one of Jesus' followers, she goes to the tomb and she discovers that the stone, 00:01:31.140 --> 00:01:34.180 which had been rolled in front of the entrance, had been removed. 00:01:34.719 --> 00:01:39.400 And what's surprising is just how brief John's description of all this is. 00:01:39.400 --> 00:01:46.480 The other three gospel accounts tell us in much more detail what happened there at the tomb that morning. 00:01:47.359 --> 00:01:54.780 Now John is writing his gospel much later and so perhaps just felt, you know, it's already been said and so I'm not going to focus on that. 00:01:55.620 --> 00:02:00.260 John instead seems to focus his account on what he witnessed that day. 00:02:00.260 --> 00:02:07.740 And for him, it all started when Mary Magdalene arrived early in the morning with some shocking news. 00:02:08.659 --> 00:02:19.860 But for those of you who maybe aren't as familiar with the story, let me just briefly explain what the other accounts tell us about Mary Magdalene and what happened at the tomb that morning. 00:02:20.840 --> 00:02:29.400 Matthew, Mark, and Luke all tell us how a group of women, including Mary, went out to the tomb very early in the morning. 00:02:29.400 --> 00:02:40.840 Luke tells us that prior to this, on the evening that Jesus was crucified, these women had gone home and prepared spices and perfumes. 00:02:42.280 --> 00:02:46.840 These were to put on Jesus' body to honor him. 00:02:47.939 --> 00:02:56.420 But because Jesus died quite close to the time that the Sabbath began, they didn't have the chance to anoint Jesus' body with them. 00:02:56.419 --> 00:03:01.739 And so they came together to the tomb on the first day of the week. 00:03:02.739 --> 00:03:04.560 There was a discussion among the women. 00:03:05.179 --> 00:03:10.500 How are we going to roll the stone away so that we can get access to Jesus' body? 00:03:12.859 --> 00:03:18.699 But then, when the women arrive at the tomb, they find that the stone is already rolled away. 00:03:18.699 --> 00:03:29.959 According to Luke, at least some of the women entered the tomb, but couldn't find Jesus' body inside. 00:03:33.299 --> 00:03:36.939 And then after that, angels appear to the women. 00:03:36.939 --> 00:03:43.259 And they announced that Jesus has risen from the dead. 00:03:45.659 --> 00:03:50.740 The women, of course, were terrified, yet they were also filled with joy. 00:03:51.240 --> 00:03:55.939 Matthew tells us that they go running to report all this to the disciples. 00:03:55.939 --> 00:04:02.379 But now as we look closely at John's account from that day, 00:04:02.620 --> 00:04:08.060 it seems that there was one woman who had a different experience from the rest that morning. 00:04:08.960 --> 00:04:11.579 John tells us that Mary Magdalene went to the tomb, 00:04:12.419 --> 00:04:14.400 saw that the stone had been rolled away, 00:04:16.060 --> 00:04:21.420 and because of what she saw, she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, 00:04:21.579 --> 00:04:23.819 that's John, the author of this account. 00:04:23.819 --> 00:04:25.599 And Mary says to them, 00:04:25.659 --> 00:04:27.500 they've taken the Lord out of the tomb, 00:04:28.040 --> 00:04:29.800 and we don't know where they've put him. 00:04:32.360 --> 00:04:33.819 So Mary doesn't say, 00:04:34.500 --> 00:04:35.379 guess what, guys? 00:04:35.439 --> 00:04:39.439 We went to the tomb, and we saw angels declaring that Jesus is alive. 00:04:41.420 --> 00:04:42.759 And then on the way there, 00:04:43.500 --> 00:04:44.819 here, we saw him. 00:04:45.180 --> 00:04:46.180 She doesn't say that. 00:04:47.039 --> 00:04:47.860 Instead, she says, 00:04:47.939 --> 00:04:50.740 they've taken the Lord out of the tomb, 00:04:50.740 --> 00:04:52.439 and we don't know where they've put him. 00:04:53.819 --> 00:04:57.779 So what does Mary Magdalene know at this point? 00:04:59.279 --> 00:05:03.000 She only knows that Jesus' body is missing. 00:05:04.120 --> 00:05:07.899 And she suspects that the reason is because someone has taken it. 00:05:08.879 --> 00:05:09.959 Perhaps thieves. 00:05:11.279 --> 00:05:12.680 Or Jesus' enemies. 00:05:13.100 --> 00:05:13.600 And where? 00:05:13.860 --> 00:05:14.719 We don't know. 00:05:14.720 --> 00:05:20.320 So it would seem then that as we bring these accounts together, 00:05:21.040 --> 00:05:23.620 that the women, they get to the tomb, 00:05:24.000 --> 00:05:26.340 they see that the stone has been rolled away. 00:05:26.440 --> 00:05:27.220 Some of them go in. 00:05:27.300 --> 00:05:28.960 They can't find the body of Jesus. 00:05:29.360 --> 00:05:35.320 And immediately, Mary Magdalene runs to tell the disciples. 00:05:35.319 --> 00:05:39.879 And it seems she must have left them before the angels appeared 00:05:39.879 --> 00:05:45.159 to declare the news to the rest of the women at the tomb. 00:05:46.420 --> 00:05:50.319 So this is the first thing that John remembers that day. 00:05:50.459 --> 00:05:53.459 It's Mary Magdalene showing up to the door of the house, 00:05:54.459 --> 00:05:54.800 saying, 00:05:55.459 --> 00:05:58.439 someone has stolen Jesus' body. 00:05:58.439 --> 00:06:03.420 I know it's probably impossible for us to imagine 00:06:03.420 --> 00:06:06.579 how Mary might have felt in those moments. 00:06:06.719 --> 00:06:07.579 But let's try. 00:06:09.139 --> 00:06:10.379 She's just witnessed 00:06:10.379 --> 00:06:13.699 the horrific death 00:06:13.699 --> 00:06:17.579 of the wonderful man, Jesus. 00:06:18.259 --> 00:06:21.120 The one that she's come to believe in as her Messiah. 00:06:21.120 --> 00:06:25.420 His death alone had brought her to anguish 00:06:25.420 --> 00:06:28.000 and grief like never before. 00:06:29.040 --> 00:06:30.720 But now, can you imagine this? 00:06:30.819 --> 00:06:31.819 Just days later, 00:06:31.920 --> 00:06:35.259 she goes to the place where he was buried 00:06:35.259 --> 00:06:38.439 and finds that his remains are gone. 00:06:40.459 --> 00:06:41.740 Can you imagine this? 00:06:42.160 --> 00:06:43.480 How would that make you feel 00:06:43.480 --> 00:06:44.740 if you went to the cemetery 00:06:44.740 --> 00:06:47.300 three days after the death of a loved one 00:06:47.300 --> 00:06:50.000 only to find that the headstone is out of place? 00:06:50.000 --> 00:06:52.800 There's a wide open hole in the ground. 00:06:53.540 --> 00:06:55.259 The casket is open. 00:06:55.920 --> 00:06:58.180 There's no body inside. 00:06:59.519 --> 00:07:02.259 So Mary Magdalene's mind is racing. 00:07:03.319 --> 00:07:04.360 She's running. 00:07:05.040 --> 00:07:06.639 Who would do such a thing? 00:07:07.300 --> 00:07:08.819 Somebody's taken his body. 00:07:10.319 --> 00:07:12.720 Now let's try Peter and John. 00:07:13.879 --> 00:07:16.660 Can you imagine what it was like from their perspective? 00:07:16.899 --> 00:07:18.720 I doubt they got much for sleep 00:07:18.720 --> 00:07:20.480 on the nights following Jesus' death. 00:07:21.280 --> 00:07:23.460 Probably the horror of what they had witnessed 00:07:23.460 --> 00:07:26.760 was just replaying again and again in their minds. 00:07:27.860 --> 00:07:28.320 Tears. 00:07:29.600 --> 00:07:30.040 Questions. 00:07:31.180 --> 00:07:31.660 Wanderings. 00:07:32.540 --> 00:07:33.360 For Peter, 00:07:33.640 --> 00:07:34.660 I tried. 00:07:34.960 --> 00:07:37.320 I tried to fight in the garden, 00:07:37.440 --> 00:07:38.460 but he told me to stop. 00:07:38.560 --> 00:07:40.040 He told me to put my sword away. 00:07:40.040 --> 00:07:43.439 And again and again, 00:07:43.540 --> 00:07:46.420 I imagine the memory of Jesus' piercing gaze 00:07:46.420 --> 00:07:48.160 in the courtyard 00:07:48.160 --> 00:07:50.420 right after he had denied 00:07:50.420 --> 00:07:52.400 having known Jesus. 00:07:53.840 --> 00:07:55.260 And then all that followed 00:07:55.260 --> 00:07:57.720 as they brutally beat him 00:07:57.720 --> 00:07:59.560 and killed him. 00:08:00.379 --> 00:08:01.100 For John, 00:08:01.180 --> 00:08:02.300 the memory of those words 00:08:02.300 --> 00:08:04.040 that Jesus had spoken to him 00:08:04.040 --> 00:08:06.200 while up on the cross, 00:08:06.199 --> 00:08:08.759 here is your mother. 00:08:11.159 --> 00:08:12.779 And the other words too, 00:08:12.939 --> 00:08:13.839 I am thirsty. 00:08:15.659 --> 00:08:18.019 It is finished. 00:08:19.219 --> 00:08:20.379 And the spear. 00:08:21.819 --> 00:08:22.839 And the blood. 00:08:24.360 --> 00:08:26.139 Can you imagine after all that 00:08:26.139 --> 00:08:27.259 and sleepless nights 00:08:27.259 --> 00:08:28.539 waking up to the sound 00:08:28.539 --> 00:08:31.759 of someone knocking frantically on the door 00:08:31.759 --> 00:08:34.220 and you open up 00:08:34.220 --> 00:08:35.519 and here is Mary Magdalene 00:08:35.519 --> 00:08:36.399 out of breath 00:08:36.399 --> 00:08:37.919 fighting back tears 00:08:37.919 --> 00:08:39.039 and frantic saying, 00:08:39.220 --> 00:08:40.939 somebody has stolen his body. 00:08:46.080 --> 00:08:47.840 So Peter and the other disciple 00:08:47.840 --> 00:08:49.519 started for the tomb. 00:08:50.559 --> 00:08:51.860 Both were running, 00:08:51.860 --> 00:08:54.519 but the other disciple outran Peter 00:08:54.519 --> 00:08:56.620 and reached the tomb first. 00:08:57.700 --> 00:08:58.620 That's, by the way, 00:08:58.679 --> 00:08:59.340 one of the clues 00:08:59.340 --> 00:09:01.519 that John is the one writing this. 00:09:01.759 --> 00:09:02.639 Only he would have known 00:09:02.639 --> 00:09:04.059 if he arrived a split second 00:09:04.059 --> 00:09:04.899 before Peter. 00:09:06.000 --> 00:09:07.799 The other disciple outran Peter, 00:09:07.899 --> 00:09:08.899 reached the tomb first. 00:09:10.019 --> 00:09:10.899 John bent over 00:09:10.899 --> 00:09:11.759 and looked in 00:09:11.759 --> 00:09:12.899 at the strips of linen 00:09:12.899 --> 00:09:13.779 lying there, 00:09:14.519 --> 00:09:15.659 but did not go in. 00:09:17.899 --> 00:09:19.460 There's this moment of pause 00:09:19.460 --> 00:09:20.699 as John arrives at the tomb 00:09:20.699 --> 00:09:21.340 and we don't know 00:09:21.340 --> 00:09:22.639 what John is thinking here. 00:09:23.319 --> 00:09:24.419 He's looking in, 00:09:24.539 --> 00:09:26.019 he's seeing the strips of linen 00:09:26.019 --> 00:09:27.019 lying there 00:09:27.019 --> 00:09:29.399 where Jesus' body was 00:09:29.399 --> 00:09:31.340 and it's like he just 00:09:31.340 --> 00:09:32.319 doesn't know what to do. 00:09:32.819 --> 00:09:33.559 He freezes. 00:09:34.120 --> 00:09:34.659 Who knows? 00:09:34.740 --> 00:09:35.879 Maybe he was thinking about 00:09:35.879 --> 00:09:36.819 whether it would make him 00:09:36.819 --> 00:09:38.159 unclean to go in there 00:09:38.159 --> 00:09:40.319 or was he just processing 00:09:40.319 --> 00:09:41.059 like, whoa, 00:09:41.819 --> 00:09:43.699 Mary's telling the truth. 00:09:44.699 --> 00:09:45.919 His body, it's gone. 00:09:47.919 --> 00:09:48.720 Verse 6, 00:09:48.720 --> 00:09:50.320 Then Simon Peter came along 00:09:50.320 --> 00:09:50.899 behind him 00:09:50.899 --> 00:09:51.779 and went straight 00:09:51.779 --> 00:09:52.680 into the tomb. 00:09:53.680 --> 00:09:54.980 He saw the strips of linen 00:09:54.980 --> 00:09:55.680 lying there 00:09:55.680 --> 00:09:56.680 as well as the cloth 00:09:56.680 --> 00:09:57.700 that had been wrapped 00:09:57.700 --> 00:09:58.759 around Jesus' head. 00:09:59.759 --> 00:10:00.680 The cloth was still 00:10:00.680 --> 00:10:01.759 lying in its place, 00:10:02.460 --> 00:10:03.460 separate from the linen. 00:10:04.600 --> 00:10:05.600 You've got to love Peter. 00:10:05.720 --> 00:10:06.519 He may not have been able 00:10:06.519 --> 00:10:07.379 to outrun John, 00:10:07.460 --> 00:10:08.360 but he was going to get 00:10:08.360 --> 00:10:10.300 into that tomb first. 00:10:10.299 --> 00:10:13.579 Picture him jumping down 00:10:13.579 --> 00:10:13.939 in there 00:10:13.939 --> 00:10:15.219 and then just staring, 00:10:15.899 --> 00:10:16.319 speechless. 00:10:17.459 --> 00:10:18.699 There's the strips of linen 00:10:18.699 --> 00:10:20.439 that his body was wrapped in. 00:10:20.519 --> 00:10:21.620 There's the head cloth. 00:10:23.539 --> 00:10:24.439 Quite literally, 00:10:24.620 --> 00:10:25.779 not in this translation, 00:10:26.019 --> 00:10:27.759 but in most of the other ones, 00:10:27.919 --> 00:10:30.439 the head cloth folded up 00:10:30.439 --> 00:10:32.620 in a place by itself. 00:10:35.120 --> 00:10:35.559 Hmm. 00:10:35.559 --> 00:10:39.459 If this is the doing of thieves, 00:10:40.399 --> 00:10:41.719 this is strange. 00:10:42.739 --> 00:10:43.719 Why would they have 00:10:43.719 --> 00:10:45.000 unwrapped the body 00:10:45.000 --> 00:10:47.079 in the middle of the theft? 00:10:48.359 --> 00:10:49.759 Why not just take the body 00:10:49.759 --> 00:10:50.659 wrapped as it was 00:10:50.659 --> 00:10:51.919 if that's what they were after? 00:10:53.459 --> 00:10:54.919 And if it was the valuables 00:10:54.919 --> 00:10:56.079 that may have been buried 00:10:56.079 --> 00:10:56.919 with the body, 00:10:57.079 --> 00:10:58.159 wrapped with the body, 00:10:59.619 --> 00:11:00.059 I mean, 00:11:00.459 --> 00:11:02.159 why not take the head cloth 00:11:02.159 --> 00:11:02.699 as well 00:11:02.699 --> 00:11:05.219 in the custom of the day? 00:11:05.220 --> 00:11:06.220 That was one of the most 00:11:06.220 --> 00:11:07.080 valuable things 00:11:07.080 --> 00:11:08.740 buried with the person. 00:11:09.019 --> 00:11:11.300 Often very ornate, 00:11:11.920 --> 00:11:13.620 high-quality cloth. 00:11:15.379 --> 00:11:16.660 And did they fold up 00:11:16.660 --> 00:11:17.460 the head cloth 00:11:17.460 --> 00:11:19.060 during the theft? 00:11:20.720 --> 00:11:21.980 Or was that one of the women 00:11:21.980 --> 00:11:22.879 who were here earlier 00:11:22.879 --> 00:11:23.600 that did this? 00:11:23.660 --> 00:11:24.860 Like, what's going on here? 00:11:27.220 --> 00:11:28.560 Finally, the other disciple, 00:11:29.000 --> 00:11:29.340 John, 00:11:29.540 --> 00:11:31.060 who had reached the tomb first, 00:11:31.379 --> 00:11:32.840 also went inside. 00:11:32.840 --> 00:11:35.600 He saw 00:11:35.600 --> 00:11:37.820 and believed. 00:11:39.920 --> 00:11:41.280 And then John has 00:11:41.280 --> 00:11:42.680 this side comment here 00:11:42.680 --> 00:11:43.500 that he makes. 00:11:45.580 --> 00:11:46.379 He says, 00:11:46.480 --> 00:11:48.080 they still did not understand 00:11:48.080 --> 00:11:48.780 from Scripture 00:11:48.780 --> 00:11:51.379 that Jesus had to rise 00:11:51.379 --> 00:11:53.180 from the dead. 00:11:55.139 --> 00:11:56.639 Then the disciples went back 00:11:56.639 --> 00:11:57.660 to where they were staying. 00:11:57.659 --> 00:11:59.399 So John finally goes 00:11:59.399 --> 00:12:00.000 into the tomb 00:12:00.000 --> 00:12:01.179 after seeing Peter do it 00:12:01.179 --> 00:12:02.379 and he sees for himself, 00:12:02.939 --> 00:12:03.179 yeah, 00:12:03.639 --> 00:12:05.399 there's nothing in here. 00:12:05.579 --> 00:12:06.519 There's nobody in here. 00:12:06.579 --> 00:12:07.100 No body. 00:12:07.659 --> 00:12:09.259 The cloths lying there. 00:12:09.579 --> 00:12:10.839 The head cloths still there. 00:12:11.139 --> 00:12:12.000 And in that moment, 00:12:12.120 --> 00:12:12.759 John says, 00:12:13.620 --> 00:12:15.259 he believed. 00:12:17.819 --> 00:12:19.219 Now there's lots of speculation 00:12:19.219 --> 00:12:21.019 here about what John believed. 00:12:21.159 --> 00:12:21.779 Believed what? 00:12:21.779 --> 00:12:25.039 Some suggest 00:12:25.039 --> 00:12:25.839 that he just believed 00:12:25.839 --> 00:12:27.220 that the body was stolen. 00:12:28.299 --> 00:12:29.299 But it can't be. 00:12:29.379 --> 00:12:30.159 It's got to be more. 00:12:31.000 --> 00:12:32.259 I think John's side comment 00:12:32.259 --> 00:12:32.980 in verse 9 00:12:32.980 --> 00:12:33.740 gives us a clue 00:12:33.740 --> 00:12:35.059 about what he believed. 00:12:36.039 --> 00:12:37.360 They still did not understand 00:12:37.360 --> 00:12:37.939 from Scripture 00:12:37.939 --> 00:12:39.819 that Jesus had to rise 00:12:39.819 --> 00:12:41.459 from the dead. 00:12:41.959 --> 00:12:43.679 Rise from the dead. 00:12:45.500 --> 00:12:47.299 That's what John believed. 00:12:48.419 --> 00:12:49.199 He saw. 00:12:49.199 --> 00:12:49.279 He saw. 00:12:51.779 --> 00:12:53.039 And he believed. 00:12:54.679 --> 00:12:56.279 Jesus really had risen 00:12:56.279 --> 00:12:56.899 from the dead. 00:12:56.959 --> 00:12:58.220 He really had come back 00:12:58.220 --> 00:12:58.959 to life. 00:12:59.159 --> 00:13:00.699 And I think the side comments 00:13:00.699 --> 00:13:01.360 there, you know, 00:13:01.439 --> 00:13:04.100 it's kind of an admission. 00:13:05.000 --> 00:13:05.240 You know, 00:13:05.319 --> 00:13:06.319 up until that point, 00:13:06.379 --> 00:13:07.000 even though Jesus 00:13:07.000 --> 00:13:08.139 has been talking about 00:13:08.139 --> 00:13:09.519 rising from the dead a lot, 00:13:10.600 --> 00:13:11.759 I'll be honest, 00:13:12.259 --> 00:13:13.039 me, Peter, 00:13:13.240 --> 00:13:13.740 the others, 00:13:14.039 --> 00:13:15.639 we still hadn't got it. 00:13:16.120 --> 00:13:18.159 We still didn't see 00:13:18.159 --> 00:13:19.480 that that's how his story 00:13:19.480 --> 00:13:20.279 was going to go. 00:13:20.360 --> 00:13:20.939 He would die 00:13:20.940 --> 00:13:22.280 and then rise back 00:13:22.280 --> 00:13:22.920 to life. 00:13:25.840 --> 00:13:27.060 So John tells us 00:13:27.060 --> 00:13:28.200 that this moment 00:13:28.200 --> 00:13:29.700 as he goes down 00:13:29.700 --> 00:13:30.360 into the tomb 00:13:30.360 --> 00:13:31.020 and looks 00:13:31.020 --> 00:13:32.320 at where the body 00:13:32.320 --> 00:13:33.340 was laid, 00:13:33.720 --> 00:13:34.820 that's the moment. 00:13:35.480 --> 00:13:36.460 I believed it. 00:13:37.960 --> 00:13:38.840 Now at this point, 00:13:38.860 --> 00:13:39.600 I want to zoom out 00:13:39.600 --> 00:13:40.380 and switch to 00:13:40.380 --> 00:13:42.000 camera 2, 00:13:42.360 --> 00:13:43.000 as it were. 00:13:43.660 --> 00:13:44.620 The Gospel of Luke 00:13:44.620 --> 00:13:45.560 tells us a little bit 00:13:45.560 --> 00:13:46.980 about what we just read 00:13:46.980 --> 00:13:48.060 from a different angle. 00:13:48.059 --> 00:13:50.039 There's a man 00:13:50.039 --> 00:13:51.119 named Cleopas 00:13:51.119 --> 00:13:52.659 later this very day 00:13:52.659 --> 00:13:53.839 walking to a town 00:13:53.839 --> 00:13:55.059 nearby called Emmaus 00:13:55.059 --> 00:13:55.739 with his friend 00:13:55.739 --> 00:13:57.379 and according to Luke, 00:13:58.719 --> 00:13:59.459 Jesus appears 00:13:59.459 --> 00:14:00.179 to Cleopas 00:14:00.179 --> 00:14:00.799 and his friend 00:14:00.799 --> 00:14:02.399 and walks with them 00:14:02.399 --> 00:14:02.859 on the road 00:14:02.859 --> 00:14:03.539 to Emmaus. 00:14:04.219 --> 00:14:05.179 But Cleopas 00:14:05.179 --> 00:14:06.319 and his friend 00:14:06.319 --> 00:14:07.019 don't know 00:14:07.019 --> 00:14:07.619 that it's Jesus. 00:14:07.759 --> 00:14:08.959 They don't recognize him. 00:14:09.839 --> 00:14:10.399 And this is what 00:14:10.399 --> 00:14:11.359 Cleopas is saying 00:14:11.359 --> 00:14:11.939 to Jesus, 00:14:12.059 --> 00:14:12.759 even though he doesn't 00:14:12.759 --> 00:14:13.399 know who he's 00:14:13.399 --> 00:14:14.419 talking to, 00:14:14.619 --> 00:14:15.579 about what happened 00:14:15.579 --> 00:14:16.639 earlier this morning. 00:14:16.639 --> 00:14:17.720 He says to Jesus, 00:14:18.220 --> 00:14:18.720 in addition, 00:14:19.299 --> 00:14:20.059 some of our women 00:14:20.059 --> 00:14:21.059 amazed us. 00:14:21.860 --> 00:14:22.799 They went to the tomb 00:14:22.799 --> 00:14:23.720 early this morning 00:14:23.720 --> 00:14:25.159 but didn't find 00:14:25.159 --> 00:14:25.699 his body. 00:14:26.659 --> 00:14:28.399 They came and told us 00:14:28.399 --> 00:14:29.299 that they had seen 00:14:29.299 --> 00:14:30.580 a vision of angels 00:14:30.580 --> 00:14:32.240 who said he was alive. 00:14:33.399 --> 00:14:34.860 Then some of our companions 00:14:34.860 --> 00:14:36.319 went to the tomb 00:14:36.319 --> 00:14:37.939 and found it just as 00:14:37.939 --> 00:14:38.819 the women had said. 00:14:39.679 --> 00:14:41.100 But they did not see 00:14:41.100 --> 00:14:41.659 Jesus. 00:14:43.120 --> 00:14:44.080 So this is what 00:14:44.080 --> 00:14:45.299 Cleopas and his friend 00:14:45.299 --> 00:14:45.960 remembered. 00:14:45.960 --> 00:14:47.100 Notice the sequence 00:14:47.100 --> 00:14:47.420 here. 00:14:48.180 --> 00:14:49.320 The women go to the tomb 00:14:49.320 --> 00:14:50.620 early in the morning. 00:14:51.040 --> 00:14:52.019 They don't find 00:14:52.019 --> 00:14:52.600 his body. 00:14:53.920 --> 00:14:54.860 And before some 00:14:54.860 --> 00:14:55.740 of our companions 00:14:55.740 --> 00:14:57.180 go to verify it, 00:14:57.240 --> 00:14:58.840 that's Peter and John, 00:14:59.460 --> 00:15:01.460 what happened? 00:15:03.240 --> 00:15:04.259 The women, 00:15:04.600 --> 00:15:05.080 plural, 00:15:05.940 --> 00:15:06.540 came 00:15:06.540 --> 00:15:07.940 and told them 00:15:07.940 --> 00:15:08.860 that they had seen 00:15:08.860 --> 00:15:10.360 this vision of angels 00:15:10.360 --> 00:15:12.200 who said that 00:15:12.200 --> 00:15:13.019 he was alive. 00:15:13.019 --> 00:15:14.819 So there's another 00:15:14.819 --> 00:15:15.460 angle here. 00:15:15.539 --> 00:15:16.319 There's a context 00:15:16.319 --> 00:15:17.340 that Luke supplies. 00:15:18.159 --> 00:15:19.460 Before Peter and John 00:15:19.460 --> 00:15:20.460 run to the tomb, 00:15:21.240 --> 00:15:22.220 they heard from the 00:15:22.220 --> 00:15:22.559 women, 00:15:23.240 --> 00:15:23.500 plural, 00:15:24.220 --> 00:15:25.779 about the angels 00:15:25.779 --> 00:15:27.960 saying Jesus was alive. 00:15:28.539 --> 00:15:29.500 Now Mary Magdalene 00:15:29.500 --> 00:15:30.259 never said anything 00:15:30.259 --> 00:15:31.019 about angels 00:15:31.019 --> 00:15:32.480 or about Jesus 00:15:32.480 --> 00:15:33.179 being alive. 00:15:33.299 --> 00:15:33.899 She just said, 00:15:34.240 --> 00:15:35.220 they've taken his body 00:15:35.220 --> 00:15:37.059 and I don't know where. 00:15:37.059 --> 00:15:39.359 So it would seem 00:15:39.359 --> 00:15:39.979 that before 00:15:39.979 --> 00:15:41.459 any of the angels 00:15:41.459 --> 00:15:42.559 appeared to the women 00:15:42.559 --> 00:15:43.139 at the tomb, 00:15:43.279 --> 00:15:44.559 Mary left and ran. 00:15:45.919 --> 00:15:47.000 But then it would also 00:15:47.000 --> 00:15:47.799 seem that before 00:15:47.799 --> 00:15:48.679 Peter and John 00:15:48.679 --> 00:15:49.819 came to the tomb 00:15:49.819 --> 00:15:50.399 to verify, 00:15:50.579 --> 00:15:52.059 the women had caught up 00:15:52.059 --> 00:15:53.479 hot on her heels 00:15:53.480 --> 00:15:56.019 and they shared 00:15:56.019 --> 00:15:57.000 what they had 00:15:57.000 --> 00:15:58.200 seen 00:15:58.200 --> 00:15:59.139 on their way. 00:16:06.620 --> 00:16:07.720 Now look to John 00:16:07.720 --> 00:16:08.659 chapter 20 00:16:08.659 --> 00:16:09.220 verse 8 00:16:09.220 --> 00:16:10.399 and I think it makes 00:16:10.399 --> 00:16:11.360 a little more sense. 00:16:12.860 --> 00:16:13.399 As John 00:16:13.399 --> 00:16:15.420 went inside the tomb, 00:16:15.539 --> 00:16:16.100 he saw 00:16:16.100 --> 00:16:17.560 and believed. 00:16:18.899 --> 00:16:19.700 Believed what? 00:16:20.600 --> 00:16:21.440 He believed 00:16:21.440 --> 00:16:22.320 what the other women 00:16:22.320 --> 00:16:23.240 had been reporting 00:16:23.240 --> 00:16:24.240 right before this 00:16:24.240 --> 00:16:26.139 that they had 00:16:26.139 --> 00:16:26.840 seen angels, 00:16:26.980 --> 00:16:28.720 that Jesus was alive. 00:16:29.120 --> 00:16:30.139 He really had risen 00:16:30.139 --> 00:16:30.899 from the dead. 00:16:33.840 --> 00:16:35.240 So Mary Magdalene, 00:16:35.299 --> 00:16:35.759 it seems, 00:16:36.840 --> 00:16:37.500 missed out 00:16:37.500 --> 00:16:39.940 on the angels, 00:16:41.320 --> 00:16:42.259 on seeing Jesus 00:16:42.259 --> 00:16:43.680 alive with the other 00:16:43.680 --> 00:16:45.039 women on the way 00:16:45.039 --> 00:16:45.799 according to the 00:16:45.799 --> 00:16:46.779 Gospel of Matthew. 00:16:49.539 --> 00:16:50.580 Or did she? 00:16:52.039 --> 00:16:52.980 Verse 11. 00:16:53.240 --> 00:16:56.060 Now Mary stood 00:16:56.060 --> 00:16:57.080 outside the tomb 00:16:57.080 --> 00:16:57.720 crying. 00:17:00.980 --> 00:17:01.419 Interestingly, 00:17:01.659 --> 00:17:02.279 John doesn't even 00:17:02.279 --> 00:17:03.019 tell us that she 00:17:03.019 --> 00:17:03.779 came back 00:17:03.779 --> 00:17:04.680 to the tomb, 00:17:04.839 --> 00:17:05.519 but it's implied 00:17:05.519 --> 00:17:06.380 that she must have 00:17:06.380 --> 00:17:07.380 followed after 00:17:07.380 --> 00:17:08.160 Peter and John. 00:17:08.279 --> 00:17:08.839 Peter and John 00:17:08.839 --> 00:17:09.420 obviously 00:17:09.420 --> 00:17:11.079 ran there 00:17:11.079 --> 00:17:11.740 full tilt. 00:17:12.980 --> 00:17:13.660 Mary had already 00:17:13.660 --> 00:17:14.400 done a fair bit 00:17:14.400 --> 00:17:14.759 of running 00:17:14.759 --> 00:17:15.819 and probably just 00:17:15.819 --> 00:17:17.120 got there 00:17:17.120 --> 00:17:17.559 after. 00:17:17.559 --> 00:17:18.819 Peter and 00:17:18.819 --> 00:17:20.539 perhaps Peter and 00:17:20.539 --> 00:17:21.059 John had even 00:17:21.059 --> 00:17:21.440 left. 00:17:22.440 --> 00:17:23.339 At any rate, 00:17:23.559 --> 00:17:24.519 Mary gets to the 00:17:24.519 --> 00:17:25.839 tomb and John 00:17:25.839 --> 00:17:26.700 tells us that she 00:17:26.700 --> 00:17:28.000 stood outside the 00:17:28.000 --> 00:17:29.240 tomb crying. 00:17:30.879 --> 00:17:31.859 As she wept, 00:17:32.500 --> 00:17:33.519 she bent over to 00:17:33.519 --> 00:17:34.480 look into the 00:17:34.480 --> 00:17:36.679 tomb and saw 00:17:36.679 --> 00:17:37.799 two angels 00:17:37.799 --> 00:17:39.039 in white 00:17:39.039 --> 00:17:40.679 seated where 00:17:40.679 --> 00:17:41.440 Jesus' body 00:17:41.440 --> 00:17:42.000 had been, 00:17:42.000 --> 00:17:43.559 one at the 00:17:43.559 --> 00:17:43.900 head 00:17:43.900 --> 00:17:44.779 and the 00:17:44.779 --> 00:17:45.259 other at 00:17:45.259 --> 00:17:45.640 the foot. 00:17:46.960 --> 00:17:47.740 They asked 00:17:47.740 --> 00:17:47.940 her, 00:17:49.259 --> 00:17:49.500 Woman, 00:17:49.980 --> 00:17:50.859 why are you 00:17:50.859 --> 00:17:51.220 crying? 00:17:52.759 --> 00:17:53.500 They've taken 00:17:53.500 --> 00:17:54.299 my Lord away, 00:17:54.400 --> 00:17:54.880 she said, 00:17:55.079 --> 00:17:55.680 and I don't 00:17:55.680 --> 00:17:56.079 know where 00:17:56.079 --> 00:17:56.519 they've put 00:17:56.519 --> 00:17:56.720 him. 00:17:56.720 --> 00:17:59.099 At this, 00:17:59.859 --> 00:18:00.400 she turned 00:18:00.400 --> 00:18:01.619 around and 00:18:01.619 --> 00:18:02.819 saw Jesus 00:18:02.819 --> 00:18:03.619 standing there, 00:18:03.720 --> 00:18:04.440 but she did not 00:18:04.440 --> 00:18:05.460 realize that it 00:18:05.460 --> 00:18:06.160 was Jesus. 00:18:07.660 --> 00:18:08.319 He asked 00:18:08.319 --> 00:18:08.559 her, 00:18:09.440 --> 00:18:09.680 Woman, 00:18:09.680 --> 00:18:11.200 why are you 00:18:11.200 --> 00:18:11.580 crying? 00:18:12.759 --> 00:18:13.460 Who is it you 00:18:13.460 --> 00:18:14.240 are looking for? 00:18:15.480 --> 00:18:16.299 Thinking he was 00:18:16.299 --> 00:18:16.860 the gardener, 00:18:16.920 --> 00:18:17.340 she said, 00:18:18.000 --> 00:18:18.299 Sir, 00:18:18.480 --> 00:18:19.320 if you've carried 00:18:19.320 --> 00:18:19.740 him away, 00:18:19.900 --> 00:18:20.440 tell me where 00:18:20.440 --> 00:18:21.100 you've put him 00:18:21.100 --> 00:18:22.360 and I will get 00:18:22.360 --> 00:18:22.580 him. 00:18:23.900 --> 00:18:24.820 Jesus said to 00:18:24.820 --> 00:18:25.039 her, 00:18:27.000 --> 00:18:27.440 Mary. 00:18:28.860 --> 00:18:29.740 She turned 00:18:29.740 --> 00:18:30.460 toward him 00:18:30.460 --> 00:18:31.820 and cried out 00:18:31.820 --> 00:18:32.799 in Aramaic, 00:18:33.920 --> 00:18:34.640 Rabboni, 00:18:35.360 --> 00:18:36.380 which means 00:18:36.380 --> 00:18:37.259 teacher. 00:18:39.680 --> 00:18:41.140 Jesus said, 00:18:41.560 --> 00:18:41.940 Do not 00:18:41.940 --> 00:18:42.640 hold on to 00:18:42.640 --> 00:18:42.880 me, 00:18:43.560 --> 00:18:44.140 for I have 00:18:44.140 --> 00:18:44.539 not yet 00:18:44.539 --> 00:18:45.100 ascended to 00:18:45.100 --> 00:18:45.560 the Father. 00:18:46.279 --> 00:18:47.019 Go instead 00:18:47.019 --> 00:18:47.420 to my 00:18:47.420 --> 00:18:48.480 brothers and 00:18:48.480 --> 00:18:49.539 tell them I 00:18:49.539 --> 00:18:50.080 am ascending 00:18:50.080 --> 00:18:50.519 to my 00:18:50.519 --> 00:18:51.480 Father and 00:18:51.480 --> 00:18:52.120 your Father, 00:18:52.519 --> 00:18:53.539 to my God 00:18:53.539 --> 00:18:54.060 and your 00:18:54.060 --> 00:18:54.420 God. 00:18:56.120 --> 00:18:56.920 Mary Magdalene 00:18:56.920 --> 00:18:57.860 went to the 00:18:57.860 --> 00:18:58.620 disciples with 00:18:58.620 --> 00:18:59.060 the news, 00:18:59.380 --> 00:19:00.019 I have seen 00:19:00.019 --> 00:19:00.560 the Lord, 00:19:01.160 --> 00:19:02.560 and she told 00:19:02.560 --> 00:19:04.100 them that he 00:19:04.100 --> 00:19:05.500 had said 00:19:05.500 --> 00:19:06.380 these things 00:19:06.380 --> 00:19:06.920 to her. 00:19:06.920 --> 00:19:09.539 So Mary 00:19:09.539 --> 00:19:10.019 Magdalene 00:19:10.019 --> 00:19:10.580 didn't miss 00:19:10.580 --> 00:19:10.860 out. 00:19:12.140 --> 00:19:12.680 God had 00:19:12.680 --> 00:19:13.600 something special 00:19:13.600 --> 00:19:14.900 just for her. 00:19:16.000 --> 00:19:16.500 Moments 00:19:16.500 --> 00:19:16.980 earlier, 00:19:17.180 --> 00:19:17.620 Peter and 00:19:17.620 --> 00:19:18.019 John had 00:19:18.019 --> 00:19:18.539 been in 00:19:18.539 --> 00:19:19.019 the tomb. 00:19:19.120 --> 00:19:19.200 They 00:19:19.200 --> 00:19:19.620 didn't see 00:19:19.620 --> 00:19:20.240 any angels. 00:19:21.000 --> 00:19:21.460 They never 00:19:21.460 --> 00:19:22.160 saw Jesus. 00:19:23.400 --> 00:19:23.860 But now 00:19:23.860 --> 00:19:24.680 Mary Magdalene 00:19:24.680 --> 00:19:25.400 takes one 00:19:25.400 --> 00:19:26.120 more look 00:19:26.120 --> 00:19:26.519 into the 00:19:26.519 --> 00:19:26.720 tomb, 00:19:26.800 --> 00:19:27.160 and can you 00:19:27.160 --> 00:19:27.660 imagine the 00:19:27.660 --> 00:19:28.140 shock on 00:19:28.140 --> 00:19:28.680 her face 00:19:28.680 --> 00:19:30.620 as she 00:19:30.620 --> 00:19:31.440 sees these 00:19:31.440 --> 00:19:33.240 two angelic 00:19:33.240 --> 00:19:34.940 figures clothed 00:19:34.940 --> 00:19:35.400 in white? 00:19:35.400 --> 00:19:36.800 Yes, 00:19:36.920 --> 00:19:37.540 in white, 00:19:38.640 --> 00:19:39.420 sitting there 00:19:39.420 --> 00:19:40.560 on the 00:19:40.560 --> 00:19:41.840 place where 00:19:41.840 --> 00:19:42.120 Jesus' 00:19:42.300 --> 00:19:42.740 body had 00:19:42.740 --> 00:19:43.280 been laid. 00:19:44.400 --> 00:19:45.160 The angels 00:19:45.160 --> 00:19:45.940 ask her why 00:19:45.940 --> 00:19:46.620 she's crying, 00:19:47.240 --> 00:19:47.660 and Mary 00:19:47.660 --> 00:19:48.580 still doesn't 00:19:48.580 --> 00:19:49.240 seem to know 00:19:49.240 --> 00:19:50.200 the truth of 00:19:50.200 --> 00:19:50.640 what's really 00:19:50.640 --> 00:19:51.040 happened. 00:19:51.200 --> 00:19:51.580 She says, 00:19:51.660 --> 00:19:52.240 they've taken 00:19:52.240 --> 00:19:52.720 my Lord 00:19:52.720 --> 00:19:53.120 away. 00:19:53.940 --> 00:19:54.240 I don't 00:19:54.240 --> 00:19:54.460 know where 00:19:54.460 --> 00:19:54.900 they've put 00:19:54.900 --> 00:19:55.080 him. 00:19:55.259 --> 00:19:55.620 She still 00:19:55.620 --> 00:19:56.040 seems to 00:19:56.040 --> 00:19:56.420 think that 00:19:56.420 --> 00:19:57.060 somebody's 00:19:57.060 --> 00:19:57.660 stolen 00:19:57.660 --> 00:19:58.340 Jesus' 00:19:58.519 --> 00:19:58.800 body. 00:20:00.380 --> 00:20:00.980 And for 00:20:00.980 --> 00:20:01.580 some reason, 00:20:02.720 --> 00:20:03.080 maybe, 00:20:03.240 --> 00:20:03.580 we don't 00:20:03.580 --> 00:20:03.780 know, 00:20:03.980 --> 00:20:04.380 maybe the 00:20:04.380 --> 00:20:04.940 angels are 00:20:04.940 --> 00:20:05.360 looking at 00:20:05.360 --> 00:20:05.539 her, 00:20:05.600 --> 00:20:05.799 and then 00:20:05.799 --> 00:20:06.200 they look 00:20:06.200 --> 00:20:06.720 up behind 00:20:06.720 --> 00:20:07.200 her at 00:20:07.200 --> 00:20:07.539 Jesus. 00:20:08.940 --> 00:20:09.720 For some 00:20:09.720 --> 00:20:10.000 reason, 00:20:10.140 --> 00:20:10.700 Mary turns 00:20:10.700 --> 00:20:11.740 around and 00:20:11.740 --> 00:20:13.519 sees Jesus 00:20:13.519 --> 00:20:14.620 standing there. 00:20:15.080 --> 00:20:15.519 John tells 00:20:15.519 --> 00:20:16.279 us that she 00:20:16.279 --> 00:20:16.600 doesn't 00:20:16.600 --> 00:20:17.360 recognize him. 00:20:18.940 --> 00:20:19.680 The man 00:20:19.680 --> 00:20:20.100 says, 00:20:20.220 --> 00:20:20.660 why are you 00:20:20.660 --> 00:20:21.019 crying? 00:20:22.460 --> 00:20:23.220 Who is it 00:20:23.220 --> 00:20:23.700 you're looking 00:20:23.700 --> 00:20:24.039 for? 00:20:25.420 --> 00:20:26.039 We don't 00:20:26.039 --> 00:20:26.360 know why 00:20:26.360 --> 00:20:26.779 she didn't 00:20:26.779 --> 00:20:27.700 recognize Jesus. 00:20:27.940 --> 00:20:28.320 There's all 00:20:28.320 --> 00:20:28.759 kinds of 00:20:28.759 --> 00:20:29.320 thoughts about 00:20:29.320 --> 00:20:29.620 this. 00:20:29.740 --> 00:20:30.019 Was it 00:20:30.019 --> 00:20:31.400 Mary's tears? 00:20:32.120 --> 00:20:32.559 Was it 00:20:32.559 --> 00:20:33.340 just the 00:20:33.340 --> 00:20:34.380 excitement of 00:20:34.380 --> 00:20:34.840 the moment? 00:20:35.020 --> 00:20:35.340 Was it 00:20:35.340 --> 00:20:35.860 that Jesus' 00:20:36.080 --> 00:20:36.420 appearance 00:20:36.420 --> 00:20:36.960 after he 00:20:36.960 --> 00:20:37.440 rose was 00:20:37.440 --> 00:20:37.740 slightly 00:20:37.740 --> 00:20:38.900 different than 00:20:38.900 --> 00:20:39.320 before? 00:20:40.800 --> 00:20:41.420 We don't 00:20:41.420 --> 00:20:41.660 know. 00:20:41.800 --> 00:20:42.300 Whatever it 00:20:42.300 --> 00:20:42.840 was, she 00:20:42.840 --> 00:20:43.100 didn't 00:20:43.100 --> 00:20:43.800 recognize him, 00:20:43.860 --> 00:20:44.200 not at 00:20:44.200 --> 00:20:44.580 first. 00:20:46.000 --> 00:20:46.600 And she 00:20:46.600 --> 00:20:46.840 thought, 00:20:46.940 --> 00:20:47.320 well, maybe 00:20:47.320 --> 00:20:47.980 he's the 00:20:47.980 --> 00:20:48.720 gardener that 00:20:48.720 --> 00:20:49.280 looks after 00:20:49.280 --> 00:20:49.940 this place. 00:20:50.080 --> 00:20:50.560 Maybe he 00:20:50.560 --> 00:20:50.960 took the 00:20:50.960 --> 00:20:51.260 body. 00:20:52.060 --> 00:20:52.520 Sir, if 00:20:52.520 --> 00:20:53.020 you've carried 00:20:53.020 --> 00:20:53.560 him away, 00:20:54.240 --> 00:20:54.740 tell me where 00:20:54.740 --> 00:20:55.160 you've put 00:20:55.160 --> 00:20:55.600 him and I'll 00:20:55.600 --> 00:20:55.980 get him. 00:20:56.460 --> 00:20:57.140 I'll take 00:20:57.140 --> 00:20:57.340 him. 00:20:59.400 --> 00:21:00.000 Now, we 00:21:00.000 --> 00:21:00.360 don't know 00:21:00.360 --> 00:21:00.880 what she was 00:21:00.880 --> 00:21:01.540 thinking here, 00:21:01.539 --> 00:21:03.659 but everything 00:21:03.659 --> 00:21:05.200 changes in 00:21:05.200 --> 00:21:05.899 an instant 00:21:05.899 --> 00:21:06.879 when Jesus 00:21:06.879 --> 00:21:07.839 addresses her 00:21:07.839 --> 00:21:08.639 by name. 00:21:10.000 --> 00:21:10.559 Perhaps 00:21:10.559 --> 00:21:12.420 in the same 00:21:12.420 --> 00:21:12.980 way he 00:21:12.980 --> 00:21:13.680 always had 00:21:13.680 --> 00:21:14.079 said her 00:21:14.079 --> 00:21:14.819 name before. 00:21:17.319 --> 00:21:17.879 Mary. 00:21:19.940 --> 00:21:20.759 Instantly, it's 00:21:20.759 --> 00:21:21.440 like the scales 00:21:21.440 --> 00:21:22.180 fall from her 00:21:22.180 --> 00:21:22.460 eyes. 00:21:22.519 --> 00:21:22.940 All of a 00:21:22.940 --> 00:21:24.159 sudden, she 00:21:24.159 --> 00:21:25.720 realizes that 00:21:25.720 --> 00:21:26.359 it's Jesus 00:21:26.359 --> 00:21:27.159 right there in 00:21:27.159 --> 00:21:27.599 front of her 00:21:27.599 --> 00:21:28.000 and she 00:21:28.000 --> 00:21:28.879 grabs onto 00:21:28.879 --> 00:21:30.679 him, clings 00:21:30.679 --> 00:21:31.819 to him, and 00:21:31.819 --> 00:21:32.439 won't let 00:21:32.439 --> 00:21:32.899 go. 00:21:34.579 --> 00:21:34.939 Can you 00:21:34.939 --> 00:21:35.459 imagine how 00:21:35.459 --> 00:21:36.099 sweet this 00:21:36.099 --> 00:21:36.839 moment must 00:21:36.839 --> 00:21:37.299 have been? 00:21:40.059 --> 00:21:41.159 The man she 00:21:41.159 --> 00:21:42.399 watched die, 00:21:43.179 --> 00:21:44.959 now alive, 00:21:45.740 --> 00:21:46.500 right here, 00:21:46.679 --> 00:21:47.559 in my arms. 00:21:52.299 --> 00:21:52.819 Jesus 00:21:52.819 --> 00:21:53.500 says, do 00:21:53.500 --> 00:21:54.480 not hold 00:21:54.480 --> 00:21:55.039 on to me 00:21:55.039 --> 00:21:55.539 or cling 00:21:55.539 --> 00:21:56.079 to me, 00:21:56.079 --> 00:21:57.119 for I 00:21:57.119 --> 00:21:57.419 have not 00:21:57.419 --> 00:21:58.059 yet ascended 00:21:58.059 --> 00:21:58.439 to the 00:21:58.439 --> 00:21:58.779 father. 00:21:59.799 --> 00:22:00.500 Go instead 00:22:00.500 --> 00:22:00.879 to my 00:22:00.879 --> 00:22:01.480 brothers and 00:22:01.480 --> 00:22:01.939 tell them, 00:22:02.480 --> 00:22:02.819 I am 00:22:02.819 --> 00:22:03.379 ascending to 00:22:03.379 --> 00:22:04.019 my father 00:22:04.019 --> 00:22:05.220 and your 00:22:05.220 --> 00:22:06.139 father, to 00:22:06.139 --> 00:22:06.819 my God 00:22:06.819 --> 00:22:08.039 and your 00:22:08.039 --> 00:22:08.419 God. 00:22:09.939 --> 00:22:10.659 Again, there's 00:22:10.659 --> 00:22:11.000 a lot of 00:22:11.000 --> 00:22:11.799 conjecture about 00:22:11.799 --> 00:22:12.500 these words as 00:22:12.500 --> 00:22:12.740 well. 00:22:13.599 --> 00:22:14.039 How come he 00:22:14.039 --> 00:22:14.819 tells Mary not 00:22:14.819 --> 00:22:15.500 to hold on 00:22:15.500 --> 00:22:15.939 to him? 00:22:16.819 --> 00:22:17.619 Is he about 00:22:17.619 --> 00:22:18.359 to ascend to 00:22:18.359 --> 00:22:18.839 his father 00:22:18.839 --> 00:22:19.399 right now? 00:22:19.539 --> 00:22:19.960 Some people 00:22:19.960 --> 00:22:21.159 kind of see 00:22:21.159 --> 00:22:22.019 two ascensions, 00:22:22.139 --> 00:22:22.579 that he goes 00:22:22.579 --> 00:22:23.079 up to heaven 00:22:23.079 --> 00:22:23.759 now and then 00:22:23.759 --> 00:22:24.240 he goes up 00:22:24.240 --> 00:22:24.879 again 40 00:22:24.879 --> 00:22:25.559 days later. 00:22:26.079 --> 00:22:28.720 There's a lot 00:22:28.720 --> 00:22:29.419 of speculation. 00:22:29.740 --> 00:22:31.179 Is it, or 00:22:31.179 --> 00:22:31.619 is it something 00:22:31.619 --> 00:22:31.939 else? 00:22:31.980 --> 00:22:32.319 Is it that 00:22:32.319 --> 00:22:32.980 Jesus hasn't 00:22:32.980 --> 00:22:33.599 yet been 00:22:33.599 --> 00:22:34.419 glorified and 00:22:34.419 --> 00:22:34.740 it's not 00:22:34.740 --> 00:22:35.619 appropriate for 00:22:35.619 --> 00:22:36.559 her to touch 00:22:36.559 --> 00:22:36.859 him, but 00:22:36.859 --> 00:22:37.439 then why is 00:22:37.439 --> 00:22:38.019 it okay for 00:22:38.019 --> 00:22:39.679 Thomas just 00:22:39.679 --> 00:22:40.379 a week later? 00:22:40.559 --> 00:22:41.399 And I'm not 00:22:41.399 --> 00:22:41.779 going to go 00:22:41.779 --> 00:22:42.359 into all of 00:22:42.359 --> 00:22:43.639 that and the 00:22:43.639 --> 00:22:44.579 speculation there, 00:22:44.740 --> 00:22:47.119 but maybe it's 00:22:47.119 --> 00:22:48.000 just something as 00:22:48.000 --> 00:22:48.699 simple as this. 00:22:48.819 --> 00:22:49.339 Mary doesn't 00:22:49.339 --> 00:22:49.759 want to let 00:22:49.759 --> 00:22:50.279 go of the 00:22:50.279 --> 00:22:51.000 one that she 00:22:51.000 --> 00:22:52.199 felt she'd 00:22:52.199 --> 00:22:53.019 lost and 00:22:53.019 --> 00:22:53.539 she's just 00:22:53.539 --> 00:22:54.359 hanging on 00:22:54.359 --> 00:22:55.899 for a long 00:22:55.899 --> 00:22:57.139 time and 00:22:57.139 --> 00:22:57.799 maybe Jesus 00:22:57.799 --> 00:22:58.440 is basically 00:22:58.440 --> 00:22:59.099 just saying, 00:22:59.480 --> 00:22:59.920 you can let 00:22:59.920 --> 00:23:00.480 go of me. 00:23:00.559 --> 00:23:00.879 I'm not 00:23:00.879 --> 00:23:01.740 going anywhere 00:23:01.740 --> 00:23:02.319 yet. 00:23:02.920 --> 00:23:03.619 I'm going to 00:23:03.619 --> 00:23:04.659 be around for 00:23:04.659 --> 00:23:05.279 a little while. 00:23:06.879 --> 00:23:07.839 Go tell my 00:23:07.839 --> 00:23:08.279 disciples. 00:23:09.879 --> 00:23:11.019 And Mary does. 00:23:11.659 --> 00:23:12.500 She heads back 00:23:12.500 --> 00:23:13.000 to where the 00:23:13.000 --> 00:23:14.359 disciples are with 00:23:14.359 --> 00:23:15.000 this news. 00:23:15.500 --> 00:23:16.159 A totally 00:23:16.159 --> 00:23:16.980 different message, 00:23:17.099 --> 00:23:17.720 a totally different 00:23:17.720 --> 00:23:18.639 report than before. 00:23:18.640 --> 00:23:20.020 I have seen 00:23:20.020 --> 00:23:20.800 the Lord. 00:23:21.660 --> 00:23:22.600 Big change. 00:23:24.240 --> 00:23:24.920 Well, this is 00:23:24.920 --> 00:23:25.820 the first encounter 00:23:25.820 --> 00:23:26.200 with the 00:23:26.200 --> 00:23:27.640 resurrected Jesus 00:23:27.640 --> 00:23:28.840 that John tells 00:23:28.840 --> 00:23:29.560 us about in his 00:23:29.560 --> 00:23:30.000 gospel. 00:23:30.840 --> 00:23:31.820 And it's a very 00:23:31.820 --> 00:23:32.720 special moment, 00:23:33.460 --> 00:23:34.440 a very personal, 00:23:35.440 --> 00:23:36.759 private moment 00:23:36.759 --> 00:23:39.080 between Jesus 00:23:39.080 --> 00:23:40.120 and Mary Magdalene. 00:23:40.280 --> 00:23:40.900 Jesus shows 00:23:40.900 --> 00:23:41.860 himself alive 00:23:41.860 --> 00:23:43.220 to her even 00:23:43.220 --> 00:23:44.040 before he shows 00:23:44.040 --> 00:23:44.940 himself alive to 00:23:44.940 --> 00:23:46.240 Peter and to 00:23:46.240 --> 00:23:47.660 John, the 00:23:47.660 --> 00:23:48.400 disciple whom 00:23:48.400 --> 00:23:49.320 Jesus loved. 00:23:51.440 --> 00:23:52.240 And this is 00:23:52.240 --> 00:23:52.580 just the 00:23:52.580 --> 00:23:52.960 beginning. 00:23:54.080 --> 00:23:54.740 All the 00:23:54.740 --> 00:23:55.400 disciples will 00:23:55.400 --> 00:23:56.019 see him alive 00:23:56.019 --> 00:23:57.420 as well, but 00:23:57.420 --> 00:23:57.800 we're going to 00:23:57.800 --> 00:23:58.720 save that for 00:23:58.720 --> 00:23:59.340 next Sunday. 00:24:00.800 --> 00:24:01.620 In the couple 00:24:01.620 --> 00:24:02.279 minutes that we 00:24:02.279 --> 00:24:03.160 have left here, 00:24:03.400 --> 00:24:03.900 what are we to 00:24:03.900 --> 00:24:04.660 make of all this? 00:24:04.700 --> 00:24:05.100 What are we to 00:24:05.100 --> 00:24:05.820 do with this? 00:24:06.759 --> 00:24:07.340 What should our 00:24:07.340 --> 00:24:08.040 response be? 00:24:09.640 --> 00:24:10.400 Well, when we 00:24:10.400 --> 00:24:11.180 compare John's 00:24:11.180 --> 00:24:11.820 account of the 00:24:11.820 --> 00:24:12.700 resurrection to 00:24:12.700 --> 00:24:13.240 the other 00:24:13.240 --> 00:24:14.900 accounts, Matthew, 00:24:15.180 --> 00:24:16.519 Mark, Luke, 00:24:16.600 --> 00:24:17.340 we see that it's 00:24:17.339 --> 00:24:18.119 quite different. 00:24:19.279 --> 00:24:20.099 I'll be honest, 00:24:20.539 --> 00:24:21.679 I love Matthew's 00:24:21.679 --> 00:24:22.379 account best. 00:24:23.579 --> 00:24:24.939 Right off the 00:24:24.939 --> 00:24:25.919 get-go, early in 00:24:25.919 --> 00:24:27.000 the morning, Matthew 00:24:27.000 --> 00:24:28.240 invites you right 00:24:28.240 --> 00:24:29.099 into the action, 00:24:29.220 --> 00:24:29.799 the angels 00:24:29.799 --> 00:24:30.559 appearing, the 00:24:30.559 --> 00:24:31.119 excitement. 00:24:31.740 --> 00:24:32.279 You can just 00:24:32.279 --> 00:24:33.779 feel the joy. 00:24:34.579 --> 00:24:35.579 You can feel the 00:24:35.579 --> 00:24:36.000 fear. 00:24:36.599 --> 00:24:38.439 You can feel the 00:24:38.439 --> 00:24:39.299 adrenaline as they 00:24:39.299 --> 00:24:40.500 run to tell the 00:24:40.500 --> 00:24:40.919 news. 00:24:40.920 --> 00:24:40.980 things. 00:24:43.860 --> 00:24:45.480 And then, to 00:24:45.480 --> 00:24:46.420 see Jesus on the 00:24:46.420 --> 00:24:48.480 way, and they 00:24:48.480 --> 00:24:49.240 worship him. 00:24:49.940 --> 00:24:50.880 I love Matthew's 00:24:50.880 --> 00:24:51.680 account, but John's 00:24:51.680 --> 00:24:52.340 account is so 00:24:52.340 --> 00:24:52.740 different. 00:24:53.880 --> 00:24:54.740 John invites us to 00:24:54.740 --> 00:24:55.680 consider things from 00:24:55.680 --> 00:24:56.560 his perspective. 00:24:57.940 --> 00:24:59.060 Instant surprise and 00:24:59.060 --> 00:25:00.160 joy all at once right 00:25:00.160 --> 00:25:00.800 there in the morning 00:25:00.800 --> 00:25:02.860 wasn't how it felt for 00:25:02.860 --> 00:25:03.240 everyone. 00:25:04.380 --> 00:25:05.259 There were some of 00:25:05.259 --> 00:25:07.160 us that day who 00:25:07.160 --> 00:25:08.480 never saw the 00:25:08.480 --> 00:25:08.840 angels. 00:25:08.839 --> 00:25:08.959 angels. 00:25:10.240 --> 00:25:11.379 Think about this. 00:25:12.000 --> 00:25:12.819 At what point here 00:25:12.819 --> 00:25:14.119 does John see 00:25:14.119 --> 00:25:15.439 Jesus alive? 00:25:17.099 --> 00:25:18.179 We haven't even got 00:25:18.179 --> 00:25:18.699 to it yet. 00:25:19.099 --> 00:25:19.699 It's coming. 00:25:20.199 --> 00:25:20.859 We'll talk about it 00:25:20.859 --> 00:25:21.339 next week. 00:25:21.439 --> 00:25:22.699 It's later the same 00:25:22.699 --> 00:25:24.179 day in the evening. 00:25:28.579 --> 00:25:29.839 For Peter, it will be 00:25:29.839 --> 00:25:30.819 later this afternoon. 00:25:33.879 --> 00:25:34.839 What does John 00:25:34.839 --> 00:25:36.199 remember most from 00:25:36.199 --> 00:25:36.740 that morning? 00:25:36.740 --> 00:25:38.980 He remembers Mary 00:25:38.980 --> 00:25:40.839 Magdalene finding 00:25:40.839 --> 00:25:41.880 him early in the 00:25:41.880 --> 00:25:43.460 morning, telling him 00:25:43.460 --> 00:25:44.400 that the body had 00:25:44.400 --> 00:25:45.039 been stolen. 00:25:46.120 --> 00:25:47.240 He remembers running 00:25:47.240 --> 00:25:48.099 to the tomb with 00:25:48.099 --> 00:25:50.000 Peter, finding it 00:25:50.000 --> 00:25:50.359 empty. 00:25:52.039 --> 00:25:53.240 And then, after 00:25:53.240 --> 00:25:54.039 going back to where 00:25:54.039 --> 00:25:54.720 he was staying, he 00:25:54.720 --> 00:25:55.480 remembers Mary 00:25:55.480 --> 00:25:56.740 Magdalene coming 00:25:56.740 --> 00:25:57.680 back again with a 00:25:57.680 --> 00:25:58.480 totally different 00:25:58.480 --> 00:25:58.920 report. 00:25:59.279 --> 00:26:00.519 I have seen the 00:26:00.519 --> 00:26:00.799 Lord. 00:26:00.799 --> 00:26:03.899 there was joy, but 00:26:03.899 --> 00:26:05.139 it didn't break into 00:26:05.139 --> 00:26:06.759 John's day in the 00:26:06.759 --> 00:26:07.299 same way. 00:26:09.539 --> 00:26:11.839 There was joy for 00:26:11.839 --> 00:26:13.839 Mary, but it was 00:26:13.839 --> 00:26:15.259 different than for the 00:26:15.259 --> 00:26:15.759 other women. 00:26:18.259 --> 00:26:20.299 For John and Peter, I 00:26:20.299 --> 00:26:21.119 mean, they had, think 00:26:21.119 --> 00:26:21.919 about this, they had 00:26:21.919 --> 00:26:22.720 heard what the women 00:26:22.720 --> 00:26:23.339 were claiming. 00:26:23.879 --> 00:26:24.919 They went to the 00:26:24.919 --> 00:26:25.240 tomb. 00:26:26.159 --> 00:26:26.940 No angels. 00:26:27.759 --> 00:26:28.899 No sight of Jesus. 00:26:28.900 --> 00:26:31.300 Luke tells us that 00:26:31.300 --> 00:26:32.259 after Peter went in 00:26:32.259 --> 00:26:33.000 and saw the linens 00:26:33.000 --> 00:26:33.800 lying there, he went 00:26:33.800 --> 00:26:34.600 away wondering to 00:26:34.600 --> 00:26:35.780 himself what had 00:26:35.780 --> 00:26:36.140 happened. 00:26:37.660 --> 00:26:38.660 John tells us, 00:26:38.740 --> 00:26:40.000 though, that when he 00:26:40.000 --> 00:26:40.980 saw the linens lying 00:26:40.980 --> 00:26:42.300 there, he had a 00:26:42.300 --> 00:26:43.060 different response. 00:26:43.180 --> 00:26:44.320 He says, that was the 00:26:44.320 --> 00:26:46.240 moment he believed. 00:26:48.320 --> 00:26:49.340 There's a saying in 00:26:49.340 --> 00:26:50.360 English that we have, 00:26:51.280 --> 00:26:52.660 seeing is believing. 00:26:52.660 --> 00:26:54.700 And usually what is 00:26:54.700 --> 00:26:55.700 meant by that is that 00:26:55.700 --> 00:26:57.900 until a person actually 00:26:57.900 --> 00:26:59.740 sees something unlikely 00:26:59.740 --> 00:27:03.580 for themselves, doubt 00:27:03.580 --> 00:27:04.700 and disbelief are to be 00:27:04.700 --> 00:27:05.220 expected. 00:27:06.580 --> 00:27:07.380 There's something 00:27:07.380 --> 00:27:08.680 powerful about seeing 00:27:08.680 --> 00:27:09.800 something with your own 00:27:09.800 --> 00:27:11.759 eyes, about witnessing 00:27:11.759 --> 00:27:12.660 it firsthand. 00:27:14.440 --> 00:27:15.720 And yet God in his 00:27:15.720 --> 00:27:17.840 wisdom decided that not 00:27:17.840 --> 00:27:19.380 everyone would experience 00:27:19.380 --> 00:27:20.580 the resurrection of his 00:27:20.579 --> 00:27:22.919 son the same that day. 00:27:23.919 --> 00:27:25.259 The men never saw the 00:27:25.259 --> 00:27:26.419 angels, only the 00:27:26.419 --> 00:27:26.659 women. 00:27:27.740 --> 00:27:28.599 And it seems Mary 00:27:28.599 --> 00:27:29.759 Magdalene at first was 00:27:29.759 --> 00:27:32.159 forgotten, missed out. 00:27:34.079 --> 00:27:34.879 You know, sometimes we 00:27:34.879 --> 00:27:36.179 may wonder, why is my 00:27:36.179 --> 00:27:38.599 life going so differently 00:27:38.599 --> 00:27:39.359 from that other 00:27:39.359 --> 00:27:40.240 person's life? 00:27:41.639 --> 00:27:43.399 How come this particular 00:27:43.399 --> 00:27:45.000 area of my life is such 00:27:45.000 --> 00:27:46.099 a struggle, but for that 00:27:46.099 --> 00:27:48.439 person it seems so easy? 00:27:48.440 --> 00:27:50.940 And yet God in his 00:27:50.940 --> 00:27:53.460 wisdom has arranged our 00:27:53.460 --> 00:27:56.059 lives differently for a 00:27:56.059 --> 00:27:56.380 reason. 00:27:57.799 --> 00:27:59.000 And at the end of the 00:27:59.000 --> 00:28:01.880 story, nobody misses out. 00:28:03.259 --> 00:28:04.900 Most of the women, on the 00:28:04.900 --> 00:28:05.900 one hand, they couldn't 00:28:05.900 --> 00:28:07.799 deny that they'd seen the 00:28:07.799 --> 00:28:09.100 angels saying Jesus was 00:28:09.100 --> 00:28:09.539 alive. 00:28:10.920 --> 00:28:11.980 And yet here on the other 00:28:11.980 --> 00:28:14.100 side is Peter and John 00:28:14.100 --> 00:28:14.600 and Mary. 00:28:15.900 --> 00:28:17.160 Could this be true? 00:28:17.160 --> 00:28:19.519 They hadn't seen it. 00:28:21.380 --> 00:28:22.960 John tells us here with his 00:28:22.960 --> 00:28:24.120 own personal testimony 00:28:24.120 --> 00:28:27.279 though, that seeing is not 00:28:27.279 --> 00:28:29.220 required for believing. 00:28:30.140 --> 00:28:31.440 In fact, that's what faith 00:28:31.440 --> 00:28:31.800 is. 00:28:32.519 --> 00:28:33.500 It's trusting. 00:28:34.240 --> 00:28:36.700 It's believing the truth 00:28:36.700 --> 00:28:38.420 that God has revealed even 00:28:38.420 --> 00:28:39.900 when you can't see it. 00:28:40.220 --> 00:28:42.040 Even when you don't feel it. 00:28:42.039 --> 00:28:45.980 Sometimes God gives us the 00:28:45.980 --> 00:28:47.240 opportunity to see things 00:28:47.240 --> 00:28:48.000 all at once. 00:28:48.259 --> 00:28:49.859 Just like the women saw, the 00:28:49.859 --> 00:28:50.839 angels and Jesus. 00:28:51.559 --> 00:28:53.180 Other times God arranges our 00:28:53.180 --> 00:28:55.779 lives differently so that we 00:28:55.779 --> 00:28:58.859 learn to trust him before we 00:28:58.859 --> 00:29:01.200 see, before it all makes 00:29:01.200 --> 00:29:02.920 sense, before we feel as we're 00:29:02.920 --> 00:29:06.039 supposed to feel, like Mary and 00:29:06.740 --> 00:29:07.099 John. 00:29:07.099 --> 00:29:10.819 As Paul said in 2 Corinthians 5 00:29:10.819 --> 00:29:12.759 verse 7, he said, we walk by 00:29:12.759 --> 00:29:15.199 faith and not by sight. 00:29:16.179 --> 00:29:17.079 What about you? 00:29:17.159 --> 00:29:18.019 What are the things that are 00:29:18.019 --> 00:29:20.219 going on in your life right now 00:29:20.219 --> 00:29:21.719 that you wish you could see? 00:29:23.679 --> 00:29:25.259 You wish you could see God's 00:29:25.259 --> 00:29:26.699 purpose for it. 00:29:28.719 --> 00:29:29.740 You wish you could know 00:29:29.740 --> 00:29:32.179 firsthand how God is using this. 00:29:32.180 --> 00:29:35.259 Why is he allowing this? 00:29:36.240 --> 00:29:37.500 Why doesn't he do it different 00:29:37.500 --> 00:29:38.860 for me like he's doing it for 00:29:38.860 --> 00:29:39.539 someone else? 00:29:41.940 --> 00:29:43.180 Let me encourage you. 00:29:44.539 --> 00:29:46.920 Think of Mary Magdalene's story 00:29:46.920 --> 00:29:47.680 that day. 00:29:49.120 --> 00:29:50.600 Could it be that God has 00:29:50.600 --> 00:29:51.980 something special for you 00:29:51.980 --> 00:29:53.900 like he did for Mary? 00:29:54.840 --> 00:29:56.019 Something just for you? 00:29:57.700 --> 00:29:59.340 Think of John's experience. 00:29:59.339 --> 00:30:02.220 In the meantime, while you 00:30:02.220 --> 00:30:05.059 wait for your turn, while you 00:30:05.059 --> 00:30:06.740 wait for Jesus to appear, to 00:30:06.740 --> 00:30:08.539 answer your prayer, to act in 00:30:08.539 --> 00:30:10.119 this circumstance, will you 00:30:10.119 --> 00:30:10.699 trust him? 00:30:11.919 --> 00:30:13.059 Will you believe? 00:30:14.480 --> 00:30:16.119 This is John's invitation to 00:30:16.119 --> 00:30:16.339 you. 00:30:17.199 --> 00:30:19.279 To do what he did. 00:30:19.659 --> 00:30:21.720 To put your trust in Jesus, the 00:30:21.720 --> 00:30:22.459 risen Lord. 00:30:22.980 --> 00:30:24.480 Even though you can't see him. 00:30:25.699 --> 00:30:26.619 And he's going to have more to 00:30:26.619 --> 00:30:27.299 say about that. 00:30:29.339 --> 00:30:33.259 One final thing that really just 00:30:33.259 --> 00:30:34.659 struck my heart this morning 00:30:34.659 --> 00:30:36.019 as I was reflecting on all of 00:30:36.019 --> 00:30:36.519 this again. 00:30:38.519 --> 00:30:39.559 I was touched. 00:30:41.119 --> 00:30:42.240 You know, you look at the other 00:30:42.240 --> 00:30:43.659 accounts of Jesus' resurrection 00:30:43.659 --> 00:30:46.919 and in almost every other case, 00:30:47.059 --> 00:30:48.459 Jesus appears to a group. 00:30:50.019 --> 00:30:52.240 Or in the case of Emmaus, to two 00:30:52.240 --> 00:30:54.000 men, a couple, a couple of guys. 00:30:54.559 --> 00:30:56.839 Now he does appear to Peter by 00:30:56.839 --> 00:30:58.339 himself at some point in the 00:30:58.339 --> 00:30:59.759 afternoon, but it's not described 00:30:59.759 --> 00:31:00.240 in detail. 00:31:00.419 --> 00:31:02.319 This is the only resurrection 00:31:02.319 --> 00:31:04.439 account, appearance account of 00:31:04.439 --> 00:31:06.539 Jesus to an individual. 00:31:07.699 --> 00:31:09.139 And I got thinking about that. 00:31:10.959 --> 00:31:12.619 What's the significance of this? 00:31:12.699 --> 00:31:13.919 What's the meaning of this? 00:31:14.659 --> 00:31:16.299 Was it because Mary was extra 00:31:16.299 --> 00:31:16.879 special? 00:31:18.159 --> 00:31:18.599 Prominent? 00:31:19.879 --> 00:31:20.279 Influential? 00:31:20.279 --> 00:31:22.879 Well, not really. 00:31:23.960 --> 00:31:26.139 I mean, she's not mentioned that 00:31:26.139 --> 00:31:28.039 much in the gospel accounts, in the 00:31:28.039 --> 00:31:28.399 story. 00:31:29.680 --> 00:31:32.099 In fact, in these days, the men were 00:31:32.099 --> 00:31:33.759 regarded as the more prominent in 00:31:33.759 --> 00:31:35.339 that culture, in that society. 00:31:37.859 --> 00:31:38.819 She was a woman. 00:31:40.899 --> 00:31:42.319 And who was she? 00:31:42.680 --> 00:31:44.460 I mean, we don't really know all the 00:31:44.460 --> 00:31:45.519 details of her life. 00:31:45.519 --> 00:31:47.079 All we know is this little snippet 00:31:47.079 --> 00:31:49.420 that's told us that she was one who 00:31:49.420 --> 00:31:51.379 Jesus had cast seven demons out of. 00:31:53.839 --> 00:31:55.400 I got thinking about this. 00:31:56.579 --> 00:31:59.259 Jesus made a point of appearing to 00:31:59.259 --> 00:32:01.240 her one-on-one. 00:32:05.160 --> 00:32:08.180 Sometimes we may be in that place 00:32:08.180 --> 00:32:12.099 where we just, we believe that Jesus 00:32:12.099 --> 00:32:14.439 loves the church, the group. 00:32:15.659 --> 00:32:16.779 But what about me? 00:32:17.740 --> 00:32:18.759 The individual? 00:32:20.019 --> 00:32:20.779 Just me. 00:32:21.119 --> 00:32:21.919 Insignificant me. 00:32:23.139 --> 00:32:24.039 Who am I? 00:32:25.119 --> 00:32:26.399 Does he really care for me? 00:32:28.619 --> 00:32:30.759 That Jesus took time out of this day 00:32:30.759 --> 00:32:33.059 to appear to Mary one-on-one, I think 00:32:33.059 --> 00:32:34.599 answers the question for us. 00:32:35.699 --> 00:32:37.019 She never missed out. 00:32:38.240 --> 00:32:39.679 She was not forgotten. 00:32:42.099 --> 00:32:44.899 Says to us, to each one of us 00:32:44.899 --> 00:32:46.099 as individuals, yes. 00:32:46.399 --> 00:32:47.419 He cares for you. 00:32:49.459 --> 00:32:50.599 He loves you. 00:32:52.619 --> 00:32:54.219 He desires relationship 00:32:54.219 --> 00:32:55.659 with you. 00:32:55.939 --> 00:32:57.599 Even if your feelings are telling you 00:32:57.599 --> 00:32:59.279 the opposite or something else, 00:33:00.419 --> 00:33:02.000 not a single one of you 00:33:02.000 --> 00:33:04.059 is forgotten 00:33:04.059 --> 00:33:05.719 or will miss out. 00:33:06.759 --> 00:33:08.000 This is the kind of love 00:33:08.000 --> 00:33:09.719 that Jesus, the good shepherd, 00:33:09.839 --> 00:33:11.619 has for his sheep. 00:33:12.099 --> 00:33:14.899 Let's pray. 00:33:21.459 --> 00:33:22.219 Father in heaven, 00:33:22.319 --> 00:33:23.659 we thank you for this account 00:33:23.659 --> 00:33:26.099 that you've preserved so well for us. 00:33:26.399 --> 00:33:28.959 And I pray that you would press it 00:33:28.959 --> 00:33:30.000 into each of our hearts. 00:33:30.159 --> 00:33:31.719 Lord, you alone know 00:33:31.719 --> 00:33:34.199 the deepest part of the struggles 00:33:34.199 --> 00:33:35.419 that we carry with us. 00:33:35.639 --> 00:33:36.839 The hard things. 00:33:36.839 --> 00:33:40.159 The moments where we feel alone 00:33:40.159 --> 00:33:40.839 and confused 00:33:40.839 --> 00:33:42.459 and don't know what's going on 00:33:42.459 --> 00:33:43.779 or why this is happening. 00:33:44.179 --> 00:33:45.619 And I pray that you would speak 00:33:45.619 --> 00:33:46.379 your love 00:33:46.379 --> 00:33:47.480 and your grace 00:33:47.480 --> 00:33:48.779 to each of us. 00:33:49.720 --> 00:33:51.079 Just as you did to Mary. 00:33:51.240 --> 00:33:53.019 As you made yourself known to her, 00:33:53.519 --> 00:33:55.279 would you reveal yourself to us? 00:33:56.319 --> 00:33:57.240 Would you let us know 00:33:57.240 --> 00:33:58.139 of your love again 00:33:58.139 --> 00:33:59.639 and your care? 00:34:00.460 --> 00:34:02.520 We ask this in Jesus' name. 00:34:03.259 --> 00:34:03.600 Amen. 00:34:03.940 --> 00:34:04.560 Amen.