Sermon by Norman Moll

September 20, 2003

It was the fall of 30 A.D. Jesus ministry had now been in progress for three years. He had traveled the land from the Judean wilderness in the south where He was baptized by John in the Jordan, to Galilee in the north. He had participated in Three Passover services in Jerusalem. He had preached, taught, cleansed the temple of the money changers, healed the sick, cast out demons, fed multitudes with a little boy's lunch, even declared the sins of a poor paralytic forgiven. Jesus' fame had spread throughout the entire region.

Jesus' work had definitely come to the attention of the secular and religious leadership of the nation. John the Baptist had been arrested by Herod and after languishing in prison had been beheaded a few months earlier. Over a year had passed since the Sanhedrin, the highest ruling authority in Israel, had determined that Christ should be killed. The religious leadership of the Jews, those referred to in the Bible as the "scribes and Pharisees" were particularly incensed by Jesus' teachings and work. They and their fathers had rejected the news of Christ' miraculous birth and from that time forward their opposition to Him had grown more and more determined. They felt their spiritual leadership was threatened. They sensed that Jesus' growing popularity was eroding their influence. They were jealous of Him. Their efforts to trick Him into saying something in opposition to the law had consistently backfired. With each humiliation they had become more determined. Rather than seeing that they were fighting against the God whom they claimed to serve, they insisted that Christ was possessed by the devil! So determined were these religious leaders to win back their influence that murder was an option. Indeed they were playing for keeps. They were ready to fight to the death.

Things that troubled them the most about Christ were:

His disregard for their interpretation of proper Sabbath observance.

His claim that He had authority to forgive sins -- which they held to be a prerogative of God alone.

His ability to perform miracles which benefited huge numbers of people.

His claim that God Almighty was His Father personally.

His unfailing ability to evade their attempts to entrap Him -- it seemed like He could read their minds!

Jesus' daily activities where largely unaffected by the ongoing plotting by the religious leaders. Knowing full well their intent, He had come to Jerusalem once again to participate in the Great Feast of Tabernacles. This eight-day celebration marked the end of the harvest and also the grand conclusion of the yearly festivals. But He didn't come with the multitudes and his absence was noted as the festival began. There was speculation that He dared not show Himself for fear of what the priests and rulers might do to Him. Thus there was great surprise towards the middle of the feast as the excitement concerning Him reached its peak, when He walked into the outer court. A hush fell over the vast crowd. All eyes were on Him as He began to speak. His words were unlike any spoken by priest or rabbi. It was apparent that His knowledge far exceeded theirs in every area. Yet, when He spoke, formalism and tradition were cut away. It was as if He could see the future, as if He were in close communion with the Almighty. He spoke of the human and the divine, the earthly and the heavenly all with equal authority. He spoke with clarity and certainty. The listeners could not help but be convicted.

Over and over, using parables and direct warnings He urged that there were but two paths into the future: accept the blessings He had come to bestow or face calamities of unbelievable proportions. He was seeking to bring about their repentance as individuals and as a nation. If only they would believe in Him the Divine Son of God, they could be spared the guilt that would accompany their rejecting and killing Him.

Not for His own sake did He try to prevent them from rejecting Him and murdering Him, but for their own sakes. How He longed for them to be spared the guilt of the deeds towards which their leaders were already taking them.

As Jesus spoke there in the temple court the very men who were the most violent against Him felt themselves powerless to do Him harm.

It was during this festival that Jesus proclaimed, "If any man thirst let him come unto Me and drink. He that believeth in Me, as the scripture hath said, out of his innermost being rivers of living water shall flow" (John 7:38). Here too He had proclaimed "I am the light of the world" as the great torches lit at dusk illuminated the temple court and shown out across Jerusalem.

It was also at this festival that the religious leaders plotted to trap Jesus and stone Him to death.

Mary -- a common name in New Testament times. It meant bitter. Indeed there were bitter aspects to the life of Mary Mother of Jesus. And to this Mary as well. Please note, some of the story I present this morning is plausible fiction. That is, it goes beyond what is revealed to us by inspiration. But I am not alone in making the connections, other scholars and authors to whom I am indebted have done the same. Thus the working hypothesis for this presentation is that Mary Magdalene, Mary the sister of Martha and Lazarus and the woman taken in adultery and brought to Jesus in the temple are one and the same person. Some evidences for this conclusion: John, the only gospel writer to mention the incident with Jesus and the woman taken in adultery does not mention her name, very likely to protect her identity, implying that she was one of those who remained as a follower of Christ in the years to come and was otherwise known. In addition to sharing the same name, the two "Mary's" both appear to be well-to-do, both appeared to have had poor reputations, both are named repeatedly as close associates of Jesus, and -- of particular significance -- in all of the lists where one of these Mary's is mentioned the other is not mentioned, suggesting that they were indeed the same person just known by two different names.

[Prayer for God's blessing on the presentation and recognition that we all are sinners in urgent need of Jesus' forgiveness and substitutionary gift of His perfect life and death for our imperfection.]

We know little of Mary's childhood. Very possibly she was the little sister, younger than Martha and Lazarus her siblings. I picture her as growing up to be a very beautiful young woman. Her long hair was nearly black but in the light it showed rich highlights of brown and red. Her skin was deep olive. Her young body slender and beautiful. From an early age Mary was very much aware of her rare beauty. She loved the glances of admiring men. The absence of a mother may have contributed to a certain emptiness that Mary longed to fill. She had lacked a father to love and love her from before she could remember. She craved acceptance especially by men. While these feelings were not uncommon for a young woman, Mary let them take her in a forbidden direction. As an early teenager she allowed a friendship with her uncle Simon to far exceed the bounds of propriety. As an adult Simon, a Pharisee, bore major responsibility for his inappropriate affair with his niece. Mary allowed feelings to overwhelm logic. For her, the illicit relationship seemed to be a doorway into a forbidden but enticing world.

To escape the possible disapproval of her sister and brother, Mary took advantage of the first opportunity to move far away from Bethany her childhood home. She had skill as a seamstress and loved to make her own cloths, some of them were not only stunning but also quite seductive! And she loved to wear them out in public to her sister's great concern.

Mary had heard of the town called Magdala from girlfriends who had gone there with for "spring break" vacations! It was on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee. There was a Roman army post there and it was a favorite place for R and R by the Roman soldiers. It had a reputation as a party town. It sounded really exciting to young Mary. So that's where she headed. With money left her by her parents she bought a small house and set up a business making and repairing cloths especially uniforms brought to her by the Roman soldiers. After a few parties and all night stands she saw that there was an alternative way to make money. It was work but of a different kind than sewing on buttons. It meant that you didn't get much sleep at night, but then, it brought in so much more money that it didn't matter if you slept during normal shop hours. So her seamstress business became a front for something which at first seemed quite exiting. With her beauty she could be very selective in choosing customers. And it seemed that no matter where she went there were customers to be had. It was just a matter of sending out the word through the proper channels. So it was that she spent considerable time in Jerusalem. There her clientele included men of high position: leaders, Pharisees even members of the Sanhedrin.

It was now the 8th day of the Great Feast and business had been good. Mary and her last client lay relaxing as day was breaking, when suddenly the door to her rented room burst open and leering angry men surrounded her bed. "Grab her" one shouted. Her client, a sheepish grin on his face, slid out of bed, slipped quickly into his clothes and disappeared, unhindered into the alley.

"This is a TRAP," Mary thought. As she looked at the faces leering at her she recognized several as her former clients. Their faces showed embarrassment but to expose them was pointless now. Mary knew that one of the risks of her trade was being thrown out of town via the "Dung Gate." The religious leaders conducted sweeps sometimes in order to maintain an appearance of order and dignity. As the men dragged her from her bed she managed to grab her robe. As they pulled her up to the street the older priest commanded, "Let her dress. She can't go to the temple naked."

"The TEMPLE? Why are you taking me to the temple?" she wailed.

"Because that's where The Teacher is," one of the guards hissed out of the corner of his mouth. Then she recognized that it was Temple Guards whose hands were squeezing her delicate arms until they ached.

The Teacher? Yes, she had heard of Him, everyone had. But why take me to Him, the Holy One! I'm too terrible a sinner for Him to forgive! Let me go! Let me go! She cried. Her beautiful hair was tangled partially covering her face. Through her tears she could hardly see the rough pavement over which she stumbled. But what was that? One of the priests had run over and picked up a large rock from in front of a shop. Others did the same. Then the chant began. "Stone her, filthy harlot. Stone the adulterer. Stone her!" Those along the street picked up the chant. Others fell in line to follow some of them carried stones as well. Mary trembled with fear and dread.

Suddenly the chanting stopped. Mary was thrust forward until she stood cringing and shaking in front of one whom she could only identify to be The Teacher. Mary stared in awe. His features were angular, rugged, obviously not a stranger to hard work. Yet in his face she saw a gentleness, an expression of innocence mixed with wisdom and dignity. His handsome frame bore a combination of nobility and compassion. Mary had never laid eyes on so majestic a man and she had known many men! In spite of her predicament Mary felt a certain sense of peace come over her.

When the guards released their grip on her arms she collapsed on the marble pavement at the feet of Jesus. The spokesman of the group addressed Him!

"What shall we do with this woman. We caught her in adultery, the very act! Moses says she should be stoned. And what do you say, wise teacher?"

There were serious problems with their accusation against this woman. Stoning was only directed in the Bible in a case where one of those accused was a betrothed (that is engaged) person. The sentence was to be carried out against both participants not just the woman. Furthermore the only person who could press charges was the spouse of the adulterer. Since Mary wasn't married and her client had not been charged, there was no spouse or betrothed person to press charges. The case had no basis. Furthermore cases of this kind were to be brought before a judge not a rabbi.

Mary had been entrapped but the real trap was for Jesus. If He said "stone her" they would have dragged Mary outside the city, stoned her, then ran to the Romans to accuse Jesus of assuming authority reserved only for the Romans. But if Jesus said, let her go, He would be at fault for not upholding the law of Moses. In this case the priests planned to incite a riot and stone Jesus for being "anti-Moses." It seemed like a perfect scheme. There was no way out. One or both were going to be stoned right then and there!

Overtaken by waves of fear and emotion Mary fainted at Jesus' feet.

Meanwhile Jesus knelt down and began writing in the dust that covered the marble pavement of the court. He seemed to be ignoring the question put to Him by the priests.

"What shall we do with this woman?" they asked again, impatiently.

Jesus rose to his feet and said calmly, "Let him that is without sin cast the first stone."

Mary gasped and held her breath, expecting stones to come crashing down on her. The onlookers smiled knowing that even among the white-robed priests none would dare claim to be sinless! And again Jesus resumes writing in the dust.

Frustrated and wondering what to do, the leader, who was the senior member of the group, looks over Jesus' shoulder at the pavement. There in the dust are listed his most secret sins for all to read: abuse of his wife, infidelity, conspiracy to murder. . . Stunned and ashamed he slips back into the group. His closest associate gives him a puzzled glance as he steps forward to get a look at what Jesus is writing. Now the words in the dust have changed and it is the associate's sins that are listed. . . conspiracy, bribery, fraud, adultery . . . Both decide it is time to leave. One by one, from eldest to youngest the sins of every accuser are scrawled in the dust. Hypocrites all, every accuser leaves, head hung in shame. At last only Jesus and the woman remain. Both rise and face each other. Mary unsure of what to do looks Jesus in the face. "Woman," Jesus says--using a term of respect, "where are those who accuse you? Has no one condemned you?"

Hesitating Mary replies, "No one, Lord."

"Neither do I condemn thee," Jesus tenderly responds. But then He adds, "Go and sin no more."

What Mary had done was sin! Jesus did not equivocate on this. But His purpose was not to condemn her for sinning but to urge her to give up sinning. The standard Jesus set for Mary was to never fall into sin again. Was that a possibility? The very fact that Jesus set perfection as the goal is evidence that victory could be hers!

By saying "Neither do I condemn thee" Jesus demonstrates to us that His purpose is to be our advocate, not our accuser.

In John 3:17-18 we read "For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God."

How could Jesus NOT condemn Mary and still acknowledge that she had sinned? In only one way. by taking the penalty for Mary's sin upon Himself! Sin is the transgression of the law. The wages of sin is death. Sin hurts the sinner. But it also hurts God. In essence Jesus was saying "Because I love you I will be a sacrifice in your place. Because you love me, go and sin no more."

Mary had seen the glaring, murderous looks of her accusers as they slunk away. She could easily anticipate that the battle was far from over. They were determined to have their way. Her death on their way to victory was of no consequence to them. Christ had stood between her and her accusers. He was ready to bear her punishment and in a short time He would! But it was your punishment and mine as well!

One could hope that the story would end right here. Mary protected, forgiven and sent away to sin more. One could hope that her close brush with death by stoning might have cured her, given her all the strength and determination she would ever need to resist that temptation! One could hope!

To go back to Bethany now would certainly mean informing her brother and sister of the events that overtook her in Jerusalem. That would be too embarrassing! As far as Mary knew Martha and Lazarus believed her to be legitimately employed as a seamstress in Magdala. But our sins have a way of making their presence know. The clothing Mary wore when she did visit home spoke volumes. And the way she lavishly spent her seemingly endless supply of money also left ample room for speculation. Of course in the family "Don't ask, Don't tell," often rules. But for now Mary's only option seemed to be going back to familiar Magdala. And she went back with only the best intentions.

She could support herself as a seamstress supplementing with the surplus she had accumulated for a long time! But soon after arriving, things started to unravel. There were parties and rich friends, and temptations that were, well, overpowering. After falling back into sin the reality of what she had done would catch up with her. For days she would hide in her room, the curtains pulled, weeping bitterly bemoaning her weak will and sinful heart. Like many women of the day she had purchased a beautiful blue tear jar made from blown glass. With its lip she would collect the tears as they streamed down her cheeks. Eventually she would find courage to search out The Teacher, confess her failure, her sins, and beg forgiveness. Then the cycle would begin again. When the tear jar became filled she would purchase a larger one. Time after time she fell back into sin. Time after time Jesus forgave and admonished her to go and sin no more. But the devil was on her back. Sinning seemed so natural, so victimless, so necessary, so exciting, so. . . unconquerable!

She couldn't shake herself free of sin's addictive power. Finally the seventh time she sought Jesus' help He told the listening crowd a parable. But Mary knew Jesus was talking directly to her.

Jesus said, "When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, the spirit goes through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he says, 'I will return to my house from which I came.' And when he comes, he finds it swept and put in order. Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter there and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first" (Luke 11:24-26).

Jesus was telling Mary that she needed a new beginning. She needed a new environment, a new set of friends. And if she didn't make that clean break with her past, her future would be filled with the horrors of unrelinquished sin! So Mary closed her seamstress business, sold her house in Magdala along with her furniture. She took her expensive, risqué attire and burned it at the city dump. She took her substantial bag of money, her tear jar and the few cloths that remained in her wardrobe and moved back home to Bethany. Martha and Lazarus warmly welcomed her home.

Home! What a wonderful place for a prodigal to return to!

Bethany was only two miles from Jerusalem but it was far from the crowds and ever-quarrelsome religious leaders. Mary, Martha and Lazarus loved Jesus, each in their own way. Lazarus, a carpenter and cabinetmaker enjoyed "talking shop" with Jesus. Martha, ever the perfect hostess and outstanding cook, loved to provide meals for Jesus, His disciples and close followers. Mary loved to sit next to Jesus drinking in His every word, letting Jesus speak to her heart about joy, the principles of his kingdom, the final end of sin, and the limitless love of His heavenly Father. And Jesus loved to answer Mary's simple yet profound questions. In these sessions Mary would sit close to Jesus so that she could look deep into his dark eyes. She imagined that she could fall into those orbs and drown in the love she saw there.

It had been several months since Mary first met Jesus at the synagogue. The home in Bethany had become a regular stopping place for Jesus, a welcome oasis in His busy itinerant life. Significant events occurred during these months. Lazarus became sick, and even though Jesus was called, Lazarus died and was buried. Jesus tested the faith of Mary and Martha by intentionally staying away. When He did come it was too late to heal Lazarus; instead Jesus raised him from the dead. What a stir this miracle caused among the people and the religious leaders. The lines were being drawn between those who believed and proclaimed Jesus as Messiah, the Promised One, and those who more stubbornly than ever rejected Him.

It was also during this time that Uncle Simon the Pharisee had been healed of leprosy. Up until being diagnosed with leprosy by the temple priests, Simon had continued to live in Bethany. It was a shock to the little community when the most respected and wealthy Simon was declared a leper and forced to move to the "Place of living death," the leper colony. Martha had commented to Mary that there must have been some dark sin in Simon's life for God to punish him with leprosy. Mary hung her head and said nothing. For months Martha had prepared food and purchased necessities, packed them in a basket and taken it to where Simon stayed and left if for him to pick up. On one of her visits after Lazarus was raised from the dead, Martha had called to Uncle Simon, urging him to go to Jesus. If Jesus could raise a person from the dead after four days surely He could cure one of leprosy! There was even a report that Jesus had cured a leper. It took considerable convincing, but finally Simon agreed. He found nine other lepers who agreed to go with him to seek Jesus. Finding Him, they were instructed to go present themselves to the priests. On their way to the temple they were all cured. One, a Samaritan immediately returned to thank Jesus. The others assuming that the Samaritan had decided to go home to his family hurried on to Jerusalem. Only later did they learn that he alone of the ten had returned to Jesus.

Arriving back in Bethany, Simon caused quite a stir. Knowing that he still owed Jesus a debt of gratitude and fearful lest his neighbors and friends learn that of the ten only the Samaritan had thanked Jesus following the cure, Simon decided to host a grand feast for Jesus in his spacious house. Many dignitaries were invited along with Jesus and his disciples. Martha was enlisted to cater the banquet. Lazarus was invited as one of the honored guests. Everyone was still in awe over his resurrection.

In His visits with Mary, Jesus had told her directly what He had also told his disciples, that very soon He would be put to death by the religious authorities. This caused Mary deep distress. To be without Jesus was unthinkable to her now. Her gratitude for what He had done for her overflowed. Even though she had thanked Him for his love and mercy innumerable times she now determined to show Him in a tangible way how much His forgiveness and kindness meant to her. Mary believed Jesus' words. She accepted what everyone else rejected, that Jesus was going to die at the hands of wicked men. Had she not experienced their determined hatred? She senses that there is no time to delay.

Thus while Martha, a whirlwind of efficiency, organizes, plans and directs the preparations for the banquet, Mary retrieves her bag of money from its hiding place and sets out for the market in Jerusalem.

Preparations for the Passover, to be celebrated barely a week hence are in evidence as Mary enters the city. She observes the knots of people trading news as to Jesus' whereabouts. The resurrection of Lazarus is the topic of many conversations. Excitement that soon, maybe at the feast, Jesus would allow Himself to be made king is voiced openly.

Mary goes to the most exclusive perfumery. As she approaches the odors of fragrant ointments, perfumes and funerary spices are beyond description. Gaining the attention of the chief perfumer she asks to see his best. Doubting her word he shows her a middle range jar thinking it will more than satisfy her needs. But Mary is insistent, "Show me the best you have."

Finally the merchant brings it forth. It is a special blend of spikenard and myrrh. The ingredients are so rare that the spice merchants are only able to bring enough to prepare one flask and that only once a year when the harvest in the mountains of Sheba is just starting. The perfumer shares that the finished blend is placed in one of his most exquisite alabaster flasks. "The recipe is mentioned in the Song of Solomon. The secrets of its preparation have been handed down in our family from generation to generation from the time of David! Last year's flask was purchased by Herod as a gift for Caesar."

Mary is an expert negotiator, used to bartering with wealthy men, but even so the price agreed upon takes every last one of her 300 denarii -- all that remains of her savings. But the expenditure is of no concern to her. What is important is the beauty and quality of the gift she will give her Master and Lord.

When Mary arrives back in Bethany carrying her precious gift, the banquet is beginning. Mary dresses in a clean simple dress that hides her lovely form, ties her hair with a shawl, and considers how to complete her mission of love. Her plan is to work in the shadows and to remain unnoticed by the guests. Her love for Jesus is deep. She anticipates the joy of expressing her love more completely. At the feast things go well initially, but as the fragrance wafts through the room on the mild evening air conversation stops in mid-sentence. Everyone strains to see who it is that has released such a wonderful aroma. Meanwhile Mary gently baths Jesus' forehead and then His feet with the oil. Simon it seems had made no provision for the washing of his guests' feet. Mary baths Jesus not with water but with the fragrant oil and her tears. They flow freely down her cheeks but she has also brought her tear jar, which she empties without hesitation on the one she loves. She spreads the oil and tears with her kisses and dries His feet with her long beautiful hair.

Mary's gift draws an acknowledgement from Jesus, but He continues to speak to those present.

The dynamics of human emotion are focused by what was happening. A response is being demanded from each person's heart. The extravagance of Mary's gift is obvious.

How do you respond when someone eloquently expresses their love for their Lord? Do you rejoice or are you pained? Have you adequately expressed your love or do you feel guilt for your delay, or negligence?

Judas was incensed. In the banquet seating he had been seated far from Simon, Lazarus and Jesus. Even young John had been seated higher. Judas the group's secretly dishonest treasurer coveted the money Mary had spent on her lavish gift for his own use under the guise of helping the poor. To him spending all that money on perfume was a tremendous waste. He would have convinced most of the disciples of his position had not Jesus interceded in Mary's behalf.

Facing Judas Jesus commented "Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a good work for Me. For you have the poor with you always, but Me, you do not have always. For in pouring this fragrant oil on My body, she did it for My burial" (Matt. 26:10-12).

Jesus' clearly stated approval brought ecstatic joy to Mary's heart. How she longed for his approval, and He had given it!

Judas reacted angrily. As soon as the banquet was over he went to Jerusalem, sought out the religious leaders and made arrangements to betray Jesus, the Savior of the world, into their hands in exchange for 30 pieces of silver.

Simon was incensed not so much with the gift as the giver of the gift. You see Simon knew more than most about Mary. He knew all too well her sinful past. He was shocked that Jesus would let a person with her reputation even touch Him. The fact that Jesus was allowing it, Simon interpreted to be evidence that Jesus was not a prophet. Jesus sought to teach Simon a lesson but to do so without embarrassing him. Jesus told the story of two debtors who were forgiven by their creditor of their entire debts; one owed five hundred denarii the other fifty. Because they had nothing to repay he freely forgave them both. "Tell me Simon," Jesus concluded, "which of them loved him more?"

Simon replied, "I suppose, the one whom he forgave more."

"You have judged correctly," Jesus responded.

Jesus looked at Mary then at Simon. "Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has washed My feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head. You gave Me no kiss, but this woman has not ceased to kiss My feet since the time I came in. You did not anoint My head with oil, but this woman has anointed My head and My feet with fragrant oil. Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little."

Now it was Simon's turn to respond. Unlike Judas his heart was pricked. Jesus had rescued him from a horrible existence, living death, by healing his leprosy. But no sooner was Simon healed and back in Bethany, than he resumed his proud self-righteous demeanor. Jesus had not only healed him but at the same time forgiven him. But Simon had not even acknowledged to himself the magnitude of the gift. Mary was certainly a sinner. But who is the greater sinner: the one who falls into temptation or the one who creates the temptation, especially when the one tempted is only a young person? Yet this was Simon's position. He was condemning as a great sinner the very one whom he, Simon had led to fall, all the while failing to acknowledge his own need for forgiveness and cleansing.

To minister to repentant sinners was Jesus' chief goal. And so He turns to Mary and says, "Your sins are forgiven." Jesus' words are like heavenly music to her ears. Mary prostrates herself at His feet in a posture of total commitment and worship as the last lingering drops of gilt and shame evaporate from her soul. She feels enveloped in the warm glow of His loving forgiveness. And to assure her of heaven's approval of her act of love Jesus adds, "Wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what you have done will also be told as a memorial to your love. (Matt. 26:13 adapted). Then gently placing his hand on her head He blesses Mary with the words, "Go in peace, your faith has saved you!" (Luke 7:50).

The events of the next week came like a raging storm, a tumult. First there was the triumphal entry into Jerusalem on the afternoon of the first day of Passover week. At the climax, as those in the procession excitedly anticipate Jesus will now be crowned king, He stops and weeps over Jerusalem. When asked to silence the crowd He tells the priests and religious leaders that if these make no proclamation the very stones will cry out the message. For a moment His ascension to the earthly throne of David seems certain. But it doesn't happen yet. The next day Jesus comes to the temple to teach and again cleanses it of the merchants and moneychangers whose presence desecrates the Holy Place. The anger of the Jewish leadership is fanned to a fury. As Passover approaches Jesus ends his public teaching and retires to the Mount of Olives to be with his closest friends and associates. Part of this time Mary was with Him, clinging to his every word. Over those last few days before the Passover Jesus discussed with His closest friends the future of the world: the destruction of the temple, the signs of Christ's Second Coming, the events that would shape the world to the end of time. All were laid out. Most importantly Jesus admonished His followers on the importance of heart religion. In the parable of the sheep and goats Jesus emphasized that motives would determine the fitness of a professed follower of His for salvation. The only acceptable motive was love -- supreme love for God and His Christ and selfless love for humanity.

It was that love that Jesus continued to demonstrate to the end.

The horrors of the crucifixion were witnessed by many from many different perspectives. Some were curious, some were hoping for a miracle, some--those who had been healed watched from a sense of gratitude, some of His disciples watched in fear for what might be in store for them. Mary watched out of love and devotion. Her heart was broken as she witnessed the terrible scene. Without Jesus how could she live? After his death she stayed close by following the little procession to the never-before-used tomb. As the Sabbath came on she was the last to leave the place where He was laid. Sabbath, how could one observe the Sabbath when the Lord of the Sabbath lay resting in a borrowed tomb? The long sleepless hours were spent in contemplation, Bible study and mournful discussion. No one fully understood what had happened or why. But for Mary there remained a certainty of Jesus' love.

After the Sabbath the women turned their attention to the final care of Jesus' body. Their work had been interrupted by the coming of the weekly Sabbath, and now they determined to finish what they had begun. There were problems and uncertainties. Who would roll away the stone blocking access to the tomb and the body of their Lord? What about the Roman guard? They had heard that even though it was Sabbath the religious leaders had requested that the Romans place guards at the tomb to prevent the body from being stolen.

Long before the others rose that Sunday morning Mary, sleepless with grief, made her way to the tomb. When she arrived Christ had already risen, the stone was removed, the guards all gone, a glorious light surrounded the area, the grave was empty. Upon observing all this Mary turned and ran into the city to excitedly tell the disciples what she has seen. While she was gone the other women arrived at the tomb. Lingering there they meet and speak with two angels. One, Gabriel has come from heaven to call Jesus forth at the direction of the Heavenly Father. The second had commanded the company of angels commissioned to guard the tomb against the forces of the devil. At the angels' command these women also leave to go inform the friends of Jesus of the strange happenings. On hearing the news Peter and John ran to the tomb and like the others found it empty. They then returned to the city. Mary meanwhile had also returned to the tomb, and when Peter and John departed she stayed behind.

We remember the story of how she spoke with the two angels who sought to comfort her, and then seeing a man she assumed to be the gardener, she offered to take the body away. After all she had the empty tomb of Lazarus where she could place the body of her Lord. Perhaps it was tears, perhaps it was the brightness of the sunrise in contrast to the shadows that kept her from recognizing Him. But when the He speaks her name, "Mary," she instantly recognizes her risen Lord. Jesus tells her that He has not yet ascended to His father, a most urgent need. Why this delay? Why had Jesus lingered on earth perhaps for more than an hour waiting for this moment, the opportunity to meet with Mary alone!

If you had been orchestrating the resurrection who would you have arranged for Jesus to meet first? The eleven disciples -- you remember Judas after betraying Christ had hanged himself. How about the Sanhedrin, or Caiphas or Pilate or Herod? What would the look on their faces have been? What payback for what they had done! Of course the guards did see Him and fell as dead men. Their testimony could not be silenced even with bribes and money. They bore the news undiluted -- in spite of the money, bribes, and conniving arrangements -- to Pilate.

Or would you have arranged for Him to meet first Mary, His grieving mother?

Why was it Mary Magdalene who was privileged to first speak to the risen Lord? After this meeting Mary disappears from the Biblical record! But what she is told to do by Jesus is "Go spread the news of my resurrection to those who know me!" And she went. Quoting His parting words she said "I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God!"

Mary was given a work to do and she does it! I believe that Jesus met with Mary at this auspicious time because of Mary's great love for Him! What a testimony this is, as to what is truly important to our Lord!

When was the last time you told Jesus how much you love Him?

Mary's life and story is a pattern for revival and vitality for God's people -- both collectively and as individuals:

1. Like Mary, we must spend time at Jesus' feet, crying tears of repentance for our sins as Mary did in the Temple. There we hear Jesus declare that He does not condemn us, "Go and sin no more," is His admonition to us.

2. As Mary did for Lazarus, each Christian needs to spend time at Jesus' feet, pleading and praying for friends and family who are spiritually dead, that He will give them life.

3. Like Mary, God's people need to make quality time for reading and hearing the Word at Jesus' feet. Mary is recorded in Scripture as saying very little; apparently she spent more time listening than talking.

4. Like Mary, the church will thrive only when she understands the commitment and beauty of sacrificial giving.

5. It is crucial that we spend much time at Jesus' feet, beholding Him on the cross for our sins. It is here that we have our love batteries recharged.

6. Mary spent time serving Jesus, both at Simon's feast and when she helped with His burial. Likewise, we will want to serve Him after seeing how much He loves us.

7. Finally, to proclaim the living Savior joyfully to others is the privilege and responsibility of every child of God.

 

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This sermon is based in part on Doug Batchelor's book, At Jesus' Feet: The Gospel According to Mary Magdalene, Copyright 2001, Review and Herald Publishing Association.