Resurrection

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

John 20 · chapter mention

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

John 20 · chapter mention

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

John 10 · chapter mention

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

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