Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene
Notes
Transcript
Background on Mary Magdalene
Background on Mary Magdalene
Mary from Magdala
Mary from Magdala
Western shore of the Sea of Galilee, modern Migdal, meaning “Watchtower” about 3 miles northeast of Tiberias along the coast.
Hellenized town with an important dried-fish industry. Drying and salting fish.
There was a small Jewish presence, but Rabbis criticized the immorality of Magdala.
It was a prosperous city that had a horse racing stadium and around 40,000 inhabitants.
Mary is from a wealthy family.
Mary is from a wealthy family.
Soon afterward he went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with him, and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, and Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s household manager, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their means.
Since she helped support Jesus and his disciples from her personal fortune, we assume she was a lady of means.
Mary was Troubled
Mary was Troubled
Mary had be healed by Jesus from 7 demons which He cast out of her.
and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out,
Some paint Mary as a prostitute or loose woman
I think that would be a struggle from the text.
NT usually differentiates between demon possession and sin.
However, Mary Magdalene is confused with the sinful woman who anointed Jesus feet.
Mary Magdalene vs Mary of Bethany
cf. Luke 7:36-50
Mary is Single
Mary is Single
We are not told anything about her husband, as we would have been if she were married. She was either unmarried, or, more likely, a widow.
Mary is Devoted to Jesus
Mary is Devoted to Jesus
She traveled with his party throughout Galilee, and was with him in Jerusalem at his crucifixion and resurrection.
She was one of those who followed Jesus because her life had been so remarkably changed by his healing power.
I have little doubt that the women who have been healed by Jesus and travel with him play an important part in ministering to other suffering women.
Mary, and others, probably did a lot of encouraging, counseling, and instruction with ladies as part of Jesus’ ministry team.
Recounting of Mary’s Tomb Experience.
Recounting of Mary’s Tomb Experience.
*Start with Mark’s reference and acknowledge the textual concerns. However, we will focus our attention on John 20:11-18
Mary is Crying
Mary is Crying
But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb.
Weeping is the same word used in the Lazarus account. To cry, wail, lament; it would have been a loud expression on pain and sorrow.
Why was Mary weeping?
Because she believes that Jesus’ body has been stolen.
Mary Talks with the Angels
Mary Talks with the Angels
And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.”
Why was she not started at the presence of the angels?
And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe, and they were alarmed.
Notice, she doesn’t seem bothered by their presence at the tomb.
In some way, it is as though they belong.
Could Mary have been in shock?
Maybe her grief was so great that she did not recognize them as angels.
Why the dumb question ‘Why do you weep’?
She did not know the Lord had risen, the victory won, and that this would soon become a glorious event.
The angels knew that and asked anyways.
They asked to snap her back to reality.
Mary thinks Jesus is the Gardener
Mary thinks Jesus is the Gardener
Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.”
How did she not know this was Jesus?
Jesus could have hidden himself like he does with the two on the road to Emmaus. (Luke 24:13-35)
Probable that Jesus was behind her. She knew someone was there but didn’t take the time to examine who.
Why does Jesus ask this question when he knows why she is crying?
Jesus is asking about her grief, but he already knows why she is weeping.
he just wants to get her attention, for her to snap out of her grief and look at him.
She is willing to rebury Jesus if the ‘gardener’ will tell her where the body is laid.
Mary Recognizes Jesus’ Voice
Mary Recognizes Jesus’ Voice
Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher).
What about Jesus’ ‘Mary’ stood out to Mary?
Why does she turn on that word?
If he is the gardener, how did he know her name?
Is it possible that he called her that way she he cast the demons out of her?
It was a familiar greeting that filled her heart.
What does Rabboni mean?
Teacher is Rabbi
“My Teacher” would be a better phrasing. More personal than title.
Second perspective is that Robboni applies to God
Only occurs here and Mark 10:51. Mark says “rabbi”
Rabbinical Hebrew used this term for God as ‘rabbi of the world’
It was never used of human rabbis
Most importantly, John defines this term as teacher.
Mary Clings to Jesus
Mary Clings to Jesus
Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’ ”
Does your translation say “touch” or “cling”?
Touch is probably wrong.
Jesus doesn’t mind people touching him.
ie. Thomas
Cling is probably the best.
Mary had seen her Master die a horrible death.
She watched as he was taken down from the cross and placed in a tomb.
She had seen the great stone rolled in place to seal the doorway.
And then she had thought that his body had been stolen by grave robbers.
Now that she has found him again, she cannot stop holding him, overcome with emotion.
But she can’t hold on forever!
Why does Jesus qualify his “don’t cling” comments to Mary with his assention?
This carries weight because Thomas is told to touch and Mary is told not to. Why the difference?
The Gospel according to John (2. Jesus Appears to Mary (20:10–18))
The thought, then, might be paraphrased this way:
‘Stop touching me (or, Stop holding on to me),
for (gar) I have not yet ascended [NIV’s “returned” is too weak] to my Father—
i.e. I am not yet in the ascended state, so you do not have to hang on to me as if I were about to disappear permanently.
This is a time for joy and sharing the good news, not for clutching me as if I were some jealously guarded private dream-come-true.
Stop clinging to me, but (de) go and tell my disciples that I am in process of ascending to my Father and your Father.’
This makes the contrast between Mary and Thomas far more understandable.
Mary is told to stop because her enthusiastic grasping of Jesus does not really comprehend what is transpiring.
Thomas is told to touch because he has not yet believed that Jesus has risen from the dea.
Why was Jesus so specific, “My Father and Your Father”…?
Because of Jesus’ death / resurrection / exaltation, his disciples come to share in his sonship to the Father
Emphasis is on the shared privileges
For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,
For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers, saying, “I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise.”
Mary Announces the Gospel
Mary Announces the Gospel
Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”—and that he had said these things to her.
John doesn’t tell us how the disciples responded, but Mark gives us a clue.
But when they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they would not believe it.
Lessons We Learn from Mary’s Experience
Lessons We Learn from Mary’s Experience
A Reminder of Faith
A Reminder of Faith
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
After Jesus’ resurrection, there were many men who doubted, leading to Jesus’ eventual lesson…
Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
The ladies remembered Christ’s words…
And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.” And they remembered his words,
God has a habit of using the weak things to shame the strong.
But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are,
This is so man cannot boast in strength or charisma, but only in the grace and mercy of God.
Where the people might have believed Peter due to his position, or one of the men due to their social standing, sending the angels and the women first meant that their confidence would be in the remembered words of Christ.
A Picture of Faithfulness
A Picture of Faithfulness
Mary was at the crucifixion (John 19:25)
Mary was at the Burial (Matthew 27:57-61)
Mary was first to the tomb in the morning (John 20:1-2)
Mary remained at the empty tomb when the disciples left.
This Is a picture of the heartfelt and consistent devotion we should all give to Christ!
How we all should cling to Him and long for His appearing.
This also shows how it is often the most broken among us that cling to God the tightest.
Those who are forgiven much, love much (Luke 7:36-50)
Our life is not in just the high points, but in the entire journey, the ups and downs.
Jesus calls us forward regardless of our current state.
Mary, despite her past, sought to stay close to the side of Jesus, no matter what.
Listening for the voice of Jesus
Listening for the voice of Jesus
Jesus speaks with Mary without her recognizing his voice.
She finally recognizes his voice and addresses him.
How often do we fail to listen for the voice of Jesus because we are overcome with the world?
A Portrait of Sharing the Good News
A Portrait of Sharing the Good News
Jesus could have easily appeared to all of his disciples first, or to everyone at once. Instead, he started with a few women!
We all have been called as workers for God’s harvest (Luke 10:2)
Jesus will reveal himself as Lord to everyone someday soon.
In the mean time, we are commissioned to go and share the gospel.
The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.