Brother Tim Surber brought the message.
John 20:9 “For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead. 10 Then the disciples went away again unto their own home. 11 But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre, 12 And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. 13 And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him. 14 And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away. 16 Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.”
God called Abraham out of his own country to a land that God would show him. Moses was called from a burning bush. On the road to Damascus the Lord spoke “Saul, Saul.” Do you remember when the Lord called your name?
Here we find Mary. Jesus had cast 7 devils out of her. They were no match for him, yet heartbroken here she goes to a sealed tomb to anoint his body. It was gone. The disciples didn’t know where he was; they went back home. It was hard for Mary to understand. It would be for us too. Mary had never met anyone like Jesus. She didn’t understand the scriptures. She was looking for her Lord. When she went into the tomb, the angels asked why she was crying and who she was looking for. There are comforting words in what they said—where he HAD lain. He had been there, but was gone. He had risen. That same Spirit that raised Jesus up will do the same for us one day. He’s not a God of the past. Jesus is still the Son of God. Mary knew this but she didn’t understand. She needed to find his body. She saw Jesus but thought he was the gardener. Why didn’t she recognize him? She was no different than the disciples Jesus found on the road to Emmaus. They didn’t realize who he was until Jesus opened their eyes.
Jesus asked Mary the same questions that the angels asked. She had not found him, rather he found her. He found us, and I’m glad that when we see Jesus we’ll know who he is. In verse 16 Jesus called her name. When he said “Mary,” she knew his voice. She’d heard him speak her name many times. Upon realizing the man was her Lord, she called out to him, “Master.” She knew it without a doubt.
We are saved when Jesus calls our name and we accept him as Savior. Mary found the one she was looking for. She found him alive. We must take that step and draw near. She knew his voice. We’ve not audibly heard the voice of the Lord, but we hear him through the Holy Spirit. There have been times in all our lives that we’ve heard his voice. Walk by faith. It’s a thrill to hear Jesus call your name.
Mary called him Master for so He is. She was down and hurting over the events of the past few days; his voice brought hope and peace and joy to her life. As our Master, he will do the same for us. Don’t think of the Lord as someone to get you out of trouble. He’s not just a grocery list of our troubles. He says to bring our problems to him, but worship is what we need, a bowing of heart and mind. We need to recognize God for who he is and just worship him. Jesus told Mary to go the disciples. She was obedient and did what he asked. Thomas was not there, but a week later he too found out that his Master lived. He said “my Lord and my God.” In return Jesus said to him “Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.”
That’s us. We are those who believe without having seen. We walk by faith. We responded when he called our name. He is calling yours right now.
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 