Beacon Hill Church

As the time of his death approached, Jesus tried to explain to the disciples that “he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teacher of the law, and that he must be killed” but on the third day he would be raised to life. (Matthew 16)

· The disciples didn’t grasp his warning, at one point Peter even pulled him aside to rebuke him.

· All in all, although the twelve had been with him for three years, they had yet to understand the broad scope of Jesus ministry on earth.


JESUS’ MISSION WAS TO EXPAND THE OFFER OF GRACE BEYOND THE NATION OF ISRAEL AND EXTEND IT TO ALL PEOPLES FOR ALL TIMES


On the night they arrested Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, the Gospel of Matthew tells us that: . . . all the disciples deserted him and fled (Matt. 26:56- NIV).

Mary Magdalene stands as a prominent figure in all the crucifixion and resurrection accounts.

· She is named among those at the foot of the cross in Matthew, Mark, and John

· She, with the other women were the first to discover the empty tomb.

· And according to John’s Gospel she was the first to see the resurrected Lord.


WHAT DO WE KNOW OF MARY MAGDALENE?
Very little. Aside from the crucifixion narratives and resurrection accounts she is mentioned only in Luke 8:2 where we are told that Jesus delivered her from seven demons.


Mary Magdalene’s actions from the death of Jesus to the discovery of the empty tomb:

(1) She stood near the foot of the cross upon which Jesus suffered and witnessed his death.

(2) She had followed as Joseph of Arimathea carried the body of Jesus to a tomb for burial and observed where they laid Him.

(3) She, with the others, “rested” on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment of God.

(4) At first light, she and the other woman hurried to the tomb where Jesus’ body was laid.


VERSE 11 says "but Mary stood outside the tomb crying" (literally “wailing aloud”)

· She was so distraught and filled with deep emotion that when she sees the two angels sitting in the burial chamber, they make no impression upon her.

· Their role at this point is only to ask: Woman why are you crying?

· Her answer in verse 13: "They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.”


MARY’S DEEP UNSETTLING DISTRESS IS NOT ROOTED SOLELY IN THE LOSS OF ONE SHE HOLDS DEAR, BUT IN THE LOSS OF ALL SHE HOLDS DEAR

· All she had come to know and believe about God and faith has been snatched away.

· And she has no idea how to RECLAIM HER FAITH OR HER GOD


HAVE YOU EVER EXPERIENCED A SENSE IN WHICH SOMEONE OR SOMETHING HAS TAKEN YOUR LORD AWAY?

· Something has snatched away your faith and robbed you of your relationship with God: sin? Sickness? Trials? Loss?

· In the midst of despair and perplexity a voice cuts though the confusion and calls you by name:

VERSE 16 - Jesus said to her “Mary”


BEYOND THE POINT OF DESPAIR LIES THE MOMENT IN WHICH HOPE IS AWAKENED THROUGH THE REVELATION OF GOD’S PRESENCE IN YOUR LIFE

In verse 17, Jesus tells Mary Magdalene, Don’t cling to me.

· Jesus was warning Mary not to hold on to him in the natural.

· Jesus was not returning to his old life and ministry with the disciples.

· He had not come to rule over an earthly kingdom, yet Mary is reacting as though he was.

· Part of the problem is that Mary understood nothing of the Father’s purpose in Jesus’ death and resurrection.


In order to appropriately respond to Jesus’ voice, we have to stop relating to Jesus in the same erroneous ways that we have done in our past.

Has someone or something “Taken your Lord away”?

· Let go of your pain, let go of your sorrow, let go of your preconceived notions about God.

· Reach out to Jesus