Faithbase

Hey y'all. Okay. So following along with the chosen if you happen to be watching that series one of the you do not have to to get something out of this this that's just where I am going to to find the order of stories that I want us to dive into with this. Um, but Mary Magdalene is one of the very first characters that you're introduced to in the series. And she is a very very influential part of Jesus's ministry in the early days of the church after Jesus's resurrection and Ascension. So I want us to dive right in the thing about Mary is we don't know a whole lot about her. And again, I am so nosy. I want to know all of the details that how good is our God that he uses her story to proclaim Glory to reclaim her dignity and then doesn't share all of the highlights because that is between him and her beautiful Luke 8 1 through 3 says after this Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The 12 were with him and some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases Mary called Magdalene from whom seven demons had come out. I can't imagine her existence. I can only picture it. And again, I am such a visual person watching the chosen allowed me to kind of further put myself in her shoes. I have not to my knowledge ever been possessed by demons, but I have felt like an outcast. I have felt like a failure. I have felt worthless. I have felt so shameful and I feel like those are the things that she felt on a grand scale. Not only was she suffering from being possessed by evil spirits, but she was also a woman. We have deducted through, you know study. I mean, it's not verified. I don't think but not Mary doesn't seem to have any family ties. She would have been living on the outskirts of society because people would have feared her. She would have had nothing and no one. Then here comes this Jesus. Not only does he heal her, he sees her and he redeems her life. She fully changed into the person that God had created her to be. To learn from Jesus and then to teach it wherever she goes. To follow behind Jesus as her teacher. And then we all know Jesus is crucified. And that's the story that I want us to pick up with today. It's John chapter 20 verses 11 through 18. And this is right after Jesus has been buried. But Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she was crying, she stooped to look into the tomb. She saw two angels in white sitting where Jesus's body had been lying. One at the head and the other at the feet. They said to her, woman, why are you crying? Because they have taken my Lord, she told them. And I don't know where they've put him. Having said this, she turns around and sees Jesus standing there. But she didn't know it was Jesus. Woman, Jesus said to her, why are you crying? Who is it that you're seeking? Supposing he was a gardener, she replied, sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you've put him and I will take him. Jesus said to her, Mary. Turning around, she said in Aramaic, Rabboni, which means teacher. Don't cling to me, Jesus told her, since I have not yet ascended to the father, but go tell my brothers, tell them that I am ascending to my father and your father, to my God and your God. Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, I have seen the Lord. And she told them what he had said to her. Can you imagine the loss of hope? The one who rescued, redeemed, restored and gave her this entirely new existence dies. I can only imagine the shame that just started to pour back in. The fear of if he's gone, I'm right back to who I was. I'm right back to living on the outskirts of society. I'm right back to where I started. Can you imagine the despair? That, in my thoughts, opinions, might be one of the reasons why Jesus chose her. He didn't choose a man. He didn't choose the religious leaders. He could have like definitely appeared in the high court around all of the Pharisees and Sadducees and say, hey guys, I'm back. I've told you, mic drop. But he goes to Mary. He goes to Mary because he wants her to know as good as things were when I was with you physically, they're about to get that much better. Because now I am with you spiritually. My presence is with you everywhere. I have defeated the enemy, the king of those demons who tormented you. I have overcome him. I've won. They cannot come back because I am with you. Whatever God has redeemed you from, whatever past he has restored, your enemy is going to want to make you think that you're going to up. You made one mistake. You're going right back to the beginning. You're not. What God has redeemed, man nor evil can undo. What hope, friends? I hope you cling to that today. I hope you allow Jesus to come to you the way that he did to Mary and just love on you and say, I'm here. I've got you. Such a beautiful picture.