Lindsey Blair and Bobby Gilles recap and discuss the sermon on John 20:11-18, where the resurrected Jesus appears first to Mary Magdalene.
Lindsey Blair and Bobby Gilles recap and discuss the sermon on John 20:11-18, where the resurrected Jesus appears first to Mary Magdalene.
SHOW MORE
Lindsey: Welcome to the Midweek Checkup. My name is Lindsey Blair, and I’m joined by Bobby Gilles, who preached from the post-resurrection appearance of Jesus to Mary Magdalene in John Twenty. He asked, “What would you do if you were convinced that Jesus wants you and your church needs you?”
I would guess that most of us can think of several reasons why we might believe that Jesus doesn’t want us and the church doesn’t need us: some might struggle with feelings of fear, shame, or guilt, while others might feel marginalized, left out, or just might feel like we aren’t competent. Not only does Jesus want us in spite of all of those things, the church NEEDS each of us. We can show up with the gift of our transformed presence in Christ and confidently step into the mission that the Lord is calling us to.
Bobby is there anything you came across in your research that didn’t fit into your sermon.
Bobby: Oh, lots. Mary is a fascinating disciple. The early church called her the “apostle to the apostles,” the Sent One to the Sent Ones. And many people know Magdalene isn’t a last name. Scholars have often speculated she came from one of several towns named Magdala. But Luke Eight introduces her as “Mary who was called Magdalene,” similar to how Luke introduces “Simeon who was called Niger.”
A growing number of scholars think that Magdalene was a nickname. In Aramaic, Magdalene means “tower.” Maybe she was physically tall or strong, but certainly, her character was a tower of strength - one of the few disciples who stayed near Jesus on the cross, one of the few who prepared spices for his burial, and the first to his tomb on Easter morning. We know Jesus gave nicknames like “Sons of Thunder” to James and John, and “Rock” to Peter. Did he name Mary, “Tower?” It reminds me of Avengers or X-Men characters: “Rock! Tower! Sons Of Thunder!”
Now, for anyone who missed the sermon or needs help remembering, let’s do a quick recap.
Lindsey: We began by asking if Jesus is alive, if it’s not just a fairy tale, then where is he when we feel alone, anxious, inadequate? Does he want me? And if he does, am I just a charity case? Would he really entrust me with meaningful work in his kingdom? Mary Magdalene had every right to ask these same questions. She lived in a society where women were on the margins in many ways. And before Jesus had healed her, she was oppressed by seven demons.
Bobby: Early that Sunday morning she was crying at the garden tomb, and thought Jesus was the gardener when he appeared to her. Our minds have a way of overlooking what we don’t expect to see, even if we want to see it. When you hear skeptics say the resurrection story is just a bunch of superstitious ancient people believing what they want to believe, remember that no one back then thought someone could rise from the grave after three days.
Lindsey: Mary recognized Jesus when he called her by name, and she responded by shouting “Rabboni,” which means “my teacher.” She not only recognized him but recognized her own identity and calling in light of what he claimed was true of her. He is Teacher and she is Disciple, called to testify that she has been transformed by Jesus.
Bobby: Women weren’t even considered reliable witnesses to give legal testimony, according to the First-century Jewish historian Josephus. If the Gospel writers were making this story up, they would not have written a daughter of Eve as the first witness. But this is a powerful story of restoration. At the dawn of time, the first woman made in God’s image had been exiled from a garden along with her husband. Now once more God meets a woman in a garden, and once more he sends her out – this time not in exile but to proclaim the exile is over. Christ the Lord has awakened from death with the keys to hell and the grave, and he entrusts to a daughter of Eve the first announcement, “He is risen.”
Lindsey: If Jesus can welcome a woman who had seven demons into his family and he can send her on mission, what could he do for you? Just like the church needed Mary Magdalene, the church needs you. We need your presence. We need your voice. We need you in all the ways God has gifted you to bear his image. So, with that in mind, we consider the question, “What would you do if you were convinced Jesus loves you and your church needs you,” no matter who you are or what you have done?
Bobby: This Sunday we continue our series Resurrection Responses, looking at the famous encounter between Jesus and Doubting Thomas. And in Bible Fellowship we’ll talk about John Twenty-One together, where Jesus asks Peter a vital question three times, each time following it with an important request.
Join us, and bring a friend.