Church of the Nazarene - East Rockingham Campus

Today we continue in our Easter teaching series called Encounters.

We are looking at different stories in the bible where people personally encounter Jesus. Today we are looking at Jesus’ encounter with Mary Magdalene on resurrection Sunday morning.

What did this encounter mean for Mary? What can we learn from it today?

We learn that Jesus had healed Mary from evil spirits and infirmities- It tells us specifically that 7 demons were cast out of her life. And that’s all we really know about her background

She was once in darkness, living with demonic presence in her life. But an encounter with Jesus was all it took. And her life was changed forever.

What about you?

The last time Mary saw Jesus. He was dead.

It was on the evening of Good Friday after she witnessed Jesus lifeless body being placed in the tomb, with a large stone rolled in front of the entrance.

That stone on Friday evening had to feel like the end of her world. Hopeless and heavy. And she carried that same feeling with her on Sunday morning.

Mary’s only conclusion at the sight of the stone being rolled away is that someone has taken the body of Jesus out of the tomb. She runs to tell the other disciples.

The other disciple who is not named here, is believed to be John, the one writing this gospel.

Peter arrives and goes right on in to see for himself. He is taking it all in, trying to process the evidence that’s right in front of him.

Mary is still so upset, that she is seemingly unphased by the sight of two angels as she looks in the tomb. As the angels ask about her condition, she can only reply that someone has taken away Jesus.

And now comes Mary’s encounter – the one that would change her forever…the one that would change the world – change you. If you let it.

This is the encounter. This is the moment that changes everything for Mary.

Jesus first shows up in a graveyard to encounter his friend Mary who is confused, broken, and hopeless. That’s the God we serve.

At the sound of Jesus calling her name, Mary recognizes that it is Jesus. Her heart leaps for joy as she grabs ahold of him.

This encounter with Jesus changed her life. Jesus was alive, validating everything he ever said.

Jesus is alive, there is hope, there is the forgiveness of sin and the hope of ternal life. And he’s still encountering us today.

Do you believe that? Do you really believe that it can be true for you?

The question of the resurrection is really the central claim of Christianity.

The good news or the gospel of Jesus Christ is that through is life, death and resurrection, we can not only encounter him, but we can find new life in him.

Jesus, through his sufferings, and his death on the cross, made the full payment for all sin.

The bible tells us that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Jesus came to deal with the penalty and the power of sin in our lives. And in his resurrection, he validated his teaching, and the victory over sin death and hell. And those who place their faith in him, will one day share in a resurrection like his. And until then, we get to experience his life within us.

That’s what’s at stake today as we consider the stone rolled away this Easter Morning.