Well, good morning, everyone. My name is Graham. I'm the pastor here at the church,
and it's a real joy to welcome you to our Easter Sunday service, the day that Christians around
the world and down the ages know and celebrate as being the greatest day in history. Now,
you might be wondering why on earth would somebody think that? Well, why don't you grab a Bible and
come with me to the Gospel of John and to chapter 20. This is where we're going to be this morning.
John chapter 20. And as you're turning there, let me read to you some lyrics taken from one of the
best-selling songs that was on one of the best-selling albums that came out in the UK in 2005.
And see if you recognize the song. The lyrics go like this. When the tears come streaming down your
face, when you lose something that you can't replace, when you love someone,
but it goes to waste. Could it be worse? Fix You by Coldplay. 1.25 million people in the UK
apparently bought that single when it first came out. Many more bought the album as well.
1.25 million people. That's a lot of people. Which tells you something, doesn't it, about something of the song.
1.25 million people. That it was resonating deep within human hearts. Let me just ask you as you
maybe think on that today. When was the last time that tears came streaming down your face?
We cry for all sorts of reasons, don't we, as human beings? The person who cries tears of
jubilation when their team have just won the Premier League. The child who cries tears of pain when they
fall off their bike. The parent who cries tears of joy when they have just witnessed the birth of
their first child. There's all sorts of reasons that we cry in life.
but I guess the thing to see is that that song is talking about another type of tears isn't it
you know rumor has it that Chris Martin wrote that song to help his wife at the time Gwyneth
Paltrow process the death of her father and we know that to be true don't we that's a pain that
we all know in our own lives and I imagine it's a pain that that many people around our world at the
minute know for themselves right now and maybe it's a pain that you know in your life even as you watch
this the tears that we shed when death so cruelly takes from us somebody that we love and we're left
with that feeling deep down in our souls that this isn't the way it was supposed to be
now whoever you are here today wherever this video catches you whatever you believe about this God
the God of the Bible let me just pitch you a question one question to take us through the sermon today
and it's in those moments where do you run
where do you go as the tears come streaming down your face you see the thing is about
the original Easter Sunday just as we tap into John chapter 20 today the curtain opens on this
chapter the first Easter Sunday morning and you see how we see a woman who's crying her eyes out
in fact you might notice we're told four times if you've got your Bibles there four times in
these verses that this lady is weeping she's heartbroken she's distraught she's confused
she's inconsolable here is Mary Magdalene now Magdalene's not her surname okay Magdala is the
name of the little fishing village where it's most likely she comes from so Mary Magdalene's kind of
like her nickname the one that the disciples gave her to differentiate her from the other Marys who were on
the scene Mary Magdalene there's all sorts of trashy rumor mill stories that are circulating even
today about Mary Magdalene we don't know an awful lot about her and her past but there's one thing we
know about her past and it's the fact that she has a very troubled past you see when we first meet this
woman in the gospels we're told that demons previously tormented her now whatever that means
what we can say is that she was a really poor soul right she was a really troubled soul
there was no glittering career prospects ahead for Mary there was no Mr. Darcy coming over the hill to
pick her up to take her to the prom there's no provision of a health care system that's going to
help her in her time of need there's no knight in shining armor who's coming over the hill who can
make things better for Mary that's what she doesn't have but you know what she probably does have she
probably does have people in her village thinking that she's the crazy lady every time they see her
crossing the road
and while the world turned away from Mary from Magdala
in her life Jesus turned toward her in compassion and love
while the world walked by Jesus reached out and he lifted this woman up he freed Mary from her demons
and he forgave Mary of her sin Jesus gave Mary life
and flowing from that deep sense of gratitude and love deep within her heart Mary joins the
the close circle of disciples who traveled with Jesus on his long journeys and so as we come to
John 20 Mary Magdalene here's what we need to take in about what she's seen
she's seen Jesus triumphantly enter Jerusalem on Palm Sunday she's standing there by the cross as he's
crucified on Good Friday she witnesses his body being taken down and placed in a tomb and she sees the
stone that's rolled in front of it and to compound her misery
she goes to the tomb early on Sunday morning and that same stone
has been rolled away
now what Mary probably thinks has happened is that a band of grave robbers have been and gone
not uncommon in this day for people to try and rob tombs to try and get the clothes off the body
to make a really quick buck
so here's Mary and this is where we kick into our verses today at verse 11
right it's early on the first Easter Sunday Mary's outside the tomb
and she's bawling her eyes out do you see how she's right there in those cold play lyrics
truly she has lost somebody who she can't replace this is her this is where she is
and she looks into the tomb and there's two angels inside now notice in the text that they are at either
end of where Jesus's body was now given that on the Friday Jesus is crucified with two men on either
side of him as he dies on a cross maybe we get a little taste here of what's going on
as God the Father is vindicating the work of his son on the cross
but Mary sees these angels they ask her why she is crying they've taken my Lord she says
and she turns around and she sees the risen Jesus in his resurrection body
and it seems that she doesn't recognize his face
and verse 15 Jesus asks her do you see it why are you weeping
who is it that you are looking for
now here's the thing is if you pause and think about it the thing about those questions
it's not as if Jesus doesn't know the answer
oh it was me you're looking for oh why didn't you just say
he knows the answers to these questions
so what's going on
well here is Jesus lovingly drawing out Mary's heart here
and allowing her in this moment to see the earth
shattering significance of this moment
she doesn't recognize him here's what I love
what does she think who does she think he is
she thinks he is the gardener
which I always think is quite funny
right I wonder if if Jesus was carrying a pitchfork and wearing a John Deere tractor sweatshirt
I doubt it
on one level maybe so wrong why would she think this
and why would it be recorded but on another level
whether she meant this or not
what she thought was so utterly profound
you see the Bible story begins in a garden
it's a garden full of abundance and goodness
it's a beautiful place which tells us
everything that we need to know about the God who created it
God put Adam and Eve there to work it
to enjoy it
to develop it and to steward it
for his glory
all the while living in that perfect relationship with their creator
things are great
in fact the things are more than great
they are very good
and God gives them one rule
he says don't eat from that tree
and yet the bully
the Adam and Eve buy the lie of Satan
and they do
and chaos reigns
as sin enters the human condition
sin
spreads to every human heart
sin
is more than just bad behavior
the things that you and I
do and don't do all the time
is deeper than that
it's an inner disposition
that we all have
that wants to reject God
doesn't love him
doesn't honor him
as he deserves to be loved and honored
and instead forces our own way
and our sin
it offends God
and it's separated us from him
and it's left us deserving to be
on the wrong end of his righteous judgment
our sin
humanity's sin
has put us
out of the garden
separated from God
away from him
that's mankind's predicament
outwith
faith
in the person
and in the work
of Jesus
and yet here in John 20
what is Mary
thinking
what is going on
the dots are being joined
Mary
maybe identifying
Jesus
as the one
who is making a way
for there to be
as it were
a new garden
where we can know
God's presence
through his
work
knowing the
peace
of being right
with our creator
basking in the joy
of fully knowing him
as we were designed
to know him
you see
Adam's life
brought death
and guilt
for us
Jesus' death
paid the penalty
for our sin
and brought us
life
and forgiveness
and so as he rises
and as God
installs him
as heaven's king
the one to whom
all
knees will one day bow
so the sun rises
on a brand new world
where all those
who in faith
would take
this Jesus
to be their savior
and their king
would know life
eternal
with this great
God
yes now
but gloriously
fully one day
in this new creation
and in that sense
Mary's
bang on the money
Jesus is
the gardener
par excellence
and so it's time
for Jesus
to reveal himself
to Mary
and let me just draw
out in the remaining
time we have left
three quick things
from these verses
which I hope
encourage your heart
no end
this Easter Sunday
and so here's the first
of these
firstly
notice how
Jesus calls
Mary out
and I love this
this is wonderful
see what Jesus
calls
her
do you see
how Jesus
doesn't go casual
he doesn't say
hey
oi
look
he doesn't go
generic
he doesn't say
woman
he goes
personal
you see it
goes personal
Mary
he uses
her name
so
lovely in life
isn't it
when people
use our names
like in Starbucks
when they
take your order
and they write
your name
on the side
of the cup
seeking to add
just that little
personal touch
to it
and I've had
all sorts of
weird and wonderful
spellings with
Graham
down the years
let me tell you
one time
it just said
on the cup
G-R-I-M
Grim
which if I'm honest
perfectly
captured my mood
that day
but they write
your name
on the cup
but as nice
as it is
they don't know
you
they don't know
me
no that's true
in life isn't it
just because
somebody uses
your name
doesn't mean
that they know
you
but that is
not the case
with Jesus
what's going
on here
here is the
good shepherd
in action
John chapter 10
Jesus called
himself
the good
shepherd
here he is
how is he
the good shepherd
well he knows
and he calls
his sheep
each
individually
by their
name
and so
contained in
this one
word
is Jesus
saying
Mary my
child
I'm here
take heart
be comforted
know that I
hold your
life in
my hands
you see that
is the kind
of relationship
that Jesus
has with
his people
he calls
us by name
and we
respond to
his voice
we know
his voice
in our
lives
do you
notice
that while
Mary doesn't
recognize his
face
she knows
his voice
here is the
good shepherd
calling to
one of his
sheep
and saying
I'm here
and friends
you and I can
know his voice
today as we
open the pages
of our
Bibles
and I
wonder if
some of
us need
to take
great comfort
from that
truth
this Easter
Sunday
Jesus
calls
her out
secondly
notice very
quickly that
Jesus welcomes
her in
you see her
life might
in many ways
look insignificant
but Jesus
wants her to
grasp the
truth that
because of
him
she is now
part of
something truly
magnificent
verse 17
and notice
in this little
section and
what Jesus
says here
notice the
vertical and
the horizontal
dimensions to
what he's
saying
because Jesus
explains to her
doesn't he that
he's going to
ascend and hear
the language in
his voice he's
going to ascend
to his father
and her
father
he's going to
ascend to his
God and
her God
and so Mary
who was once a
stranger to
God
because of
her sin
because of
what Jesus
has done on
the cross
for her
is now
beckoned to
come and
know this
wonderful
privilege of
knowing her
creator God
as her
father
in the same
way that
Jesus knows
him as
his father
what an
incredible
blessing
one that
is the
right of
every single
Christian
the world
over down
the ages
how dare we
use this
how dare we
call God
our father
yes because
of Jesus
Christ and
his work for
us
oh what a
wonderful
privilege and
then you see
Jesus telling
her that she
has to go
tell his
brothers
Jesus'
brothers
there's a
new family
relationship
being established
here
so Mary
is now part
of this
new global
family of
faith
as Jesus
gathers for
himself
through the
ages a
people from
all corners
of the earth
a people from
all walks
of life
a people doing
all sorts of
different jobs
a people with
all sorts of
different interests
a people from
all different
generations
a people from
every tribe
tongue and
nation called
to be Jesus'
one church
and who Jesus
says brothers
and sisters
to incredible
privileges
Jesus calling
his people out
with the
express purpose
of living for
and worshipping
him and
thirdly notice
how Jesus
sends Mary
on
you know
there are many
privileges in
life
Maggie who was
on just a
few moments
ago
I always remember
got chosen last
year to go and
meet the queen
at Buckingham
Palace
what an
incredible
privilege that
is
but even the
greatest privilege
is nothing
compared to
the one that
is bestowed
on Mary
here
as she
becomes the
first witness
to the
risen Jesus
what an
honor
what a
privilege
and you have
to say what a
surprise in many
ways that
Mary would be
the first
witness
but then again
this is the
God of the
Bible
he is the
God who is in
the business of
lifting up
the humble
and casting
down the
proud
the God
who uses
the weak
and the
seemingly
insignificant
things of
this world
to shame
the strong
and so the
God who
chose the
shepherds to
be the first
messengers of
the news about
the birth of
his son
now chooses
this Mary
who if we're
honest has not
got a lot going
for in many
ways except a
devoted and a
loving heart
to be the
first herald
about the
news of his
risen son
and she
runs and she
proclaims the
theme that has
been the anthem
of the church
down the ages
and the one
which fuels
Christian mission
across the
globe that
Christ is
risen
he is risen
indeed and
that is great
news
that is the
gospel that is
that the the
message that's at
the heart of the
Christian faith
Jesus lived
he died
he rose
and one day he
will return
the famous words
of Christian
missionary Jim
Elliott
he is no fool
who gives what
he cannot keep
to gain that
which he cannot
lose
and so here is
Mary Magdalene
and we don't know
what happened to
her after this
point you go on
Google you'll find
all sorts of weird
and wonderful
attempts at it
but the truth
is we just
don't know
but what's
almost for
certain is
that life
wouldn't have
been all
rainbows and
unicorns for
Mary after this
point I mean if
you're carrying
this message to
a world about
the guy who the
world wanted
dead it ain't
gonna go well
for you I'd
imagine imagine
that life for her
would have been
the same as it
was for the
other disciples
who took the
message of the
risen Jesus to
the world
it's funny I
was reminded of
this the other
night as I
was reading
do you know
what I was
reading I was
reading where's
Wally with my
kids a lad but I
was reading where's
Wally on one of
the pages she had
to find Wally in
the in the
Coliseum in
Rome so we're
sitting there the
three of us looking
for him and the
girls say to me
daddy daddy what
does it say at
the top and I
read to them the
caption at the
top and it
simply read here
in Rome are the
Christians being
thrown to the
lions and so
they they're off
they're trying to
look for Wally
they're trying to
look for the
wizard and I'm
struck by that
comment and I'm
led to think of
the first disciples
I'm led to think of
my brothers and
sisters who first
carried the torch
for Christ because
that was the reality
for those who
follow Jesus sure
that would have
been the reality
for Mary but
what's for certain
is that Mary
would have known
pain in her life
she would have
known the loss of
loved ones she
would have known
herself what it
is like to feel
that you are on
your way out of
this world that
you are dying she
would have died
let me ask you
where do you run
in those moments
when the tears
come streaming
down your face
when you lose
someone something
thing you can't
replace when you
lose someone but
it goes to waste
what could be
worse where do
you go answer
the invitation as
we look at Mary
here and as you
look at the risen
Jesus is we have
got nowhere else to
run but to the man
who has defeated
death and is alive
forever more we
are called to run
to the risen
Jesus Mary's
saviour lives he
lives you see
Mary's not got
hope Mary's got
Christ and Christ
is her living hope
and because he
died and because
he now lives she
one day too no
matter what happens
to her even though
she dies will one
day live with Jesus
forever he is our
living hope he is
the hope of every
single Christian
down the ages in
this world
Jesus Christ
crucified
risen
returning the one
who we read at the
end of the Bible is
the one who will make
all things new
the one who will
wipe away every
tear the one who
will banish death
forever for we will
be in God's perfect
kingdom
here is Jesus
standing victorious
having conquered the
grave having atoned
for our sin here is
the lamb that was
slain and here is
the roaring lion of
Judah who has
defeated the power of
sin and death
and so even in our
darkest moments and
friends we don't know
what's going to happen
over the next few
months but what we
can know is that even
in the shadow of the
valley of death here
is a shepherd who
walks close with his
people and here is a
shepherd who has given
his life so that his
people could go free
and here is a shepherd
who even in our
darkest moments invites
us to come and put
our faith in him and
join in the chorus the
one that's been the
anthem of the church
down the ages and with
this we close it goes
like this God sent
his son they called
him Jesus he came to
love heal and forgive
he lived and died to
buy my pardon an empty
grave is there to prove
my savior lives because
he lives I can face
tomorrow because he
lives all fear is gone
because I know I know he
holds the future and life
is worth the living just
because he lives let me
pray for us as we close
heavenly father we thank
you so much for today and
that even as we journey
through the uncertainty of
this life that as we look
at the crucified risen and
one day returning Jesus we
can have hope and so
father we ask that you
would help us to look to
him and have our eyes
fixed on him father thank
you that you love us and
we pray these things in
Jesus's precious and
perfect name amen
sight of him and
three
words point
I
think of
him for
me
for
long
H