John chapter 20, where we started looking at this chapter, this truly miraculous chapter. Last Sunday, we're on the first day of the week after the death and burial of Jesus. We actually are coming back to the tomb with three of His disciples. And of course, with them, we found it completely empty. Because there in verse 1 of John 20, it was Mary Magdalene who first noticed that that stone, that heavy, large stone that had been in front of the sepulcher was now taken away from the sepulcher. But instead of looking inside, as Peter and John would eventually do, she ran to go get Peter and John to tell them what she had found. And even though it's hard for us to really look at and harmonize all of the accounts of the comings and goings of Jesus and his disciples after his resurrection, I was able to read through it the last couple of weeks and it's still a little bit more challenging to know where everybody is at every single time, every single moment. Even though it's hard for us to do that, it seems pretty clear from these verses that we'll look at this morning that Mary made her way back to the tomb of Jesus as well. So obviously she went to go get Peter and John. We're told that she ran to go get Peter and John, and then Peter and John ran to the tomb, and I would imagine Mary Magdalene was probably a little tired after her first run, and so she kind of probably walked a little bit faster on the way back to the tomb. By the time she gets back to the tomb, there's no one else there, except for the ones that we'll notice here shortly. But at this point, she's all alone. Peter and John, we saw at the last verse that we looked at last Sunday, of course, there in verse 10, that they went back to the house that they were in in Jerusalem. And at this time, she's all alone, and she's completely overcome with grief. She already was crying and weeping because Jesus' body was missing, and now she comes back alone, completely overcome with grief. And so John tells us what happens next, and I would imagine John tells us this because this is what Mary Magdalene told him. Because even after he and Peter left the empty tomb, starting there in verse 11 of John 20, we're told, but Mary. But Mary stood without at the sepulcher, the same tomb, weeping. And as she wept, she stooped down and looked into the sepulcher and see two angels in white sitting, the one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. 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. And when she had thus said, she turned herself back and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus. 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. Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni, which is to say, Master or Teacher. Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not, for I'm not yet ascended to my father, but go to my brethren and say unto them, I'm ascending unto my father and your father and to my God and your God. So verse 18, Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord and that he had spaken these things unto her. Now, obviously we know why the tomb was empty. even though the clues were there when Peter and John looked into the sepulcher. Now, in this moving passage, Jesus himself appears to Mary Magdalene alive and well, and even honors her in the very first appearance that he makes to someone after his resurrection. And even though clearly some things were different after Jesus rose from the dead, there were a lot of things that were still the same. And even though there's a lot of questions that we still might have about this passage, yet the point is still the same. And one of those things is that Jesus was still Mary's Rabboni. That's why she calls Jesus there in verse 16 after she heard Jesus speak her own name. Imagine how that must have felt for her, how that would have made you fail if you were there weeping and really mourning and crushed because of the death of someone that you love and that person who you actually saw die. who you actually saw be buried, who you actually saw the tomb closed, is now behind you and speaking your own name. She hears Jesus speak her own name and then calls him Rabboni. Rabboni. Of course, this is probably what she had called him all throughout his life and ministry, but now, again, she calls him Rabboni, which John then explains to his readers simply means master. or teacher. I mean, I guess you can join those two together. Jesus is the master teacher. And that is how Mary saw him. That is how Mary would listen to him and learn from him. And I think in the verses that we just read, we see Jesus, Jesus himself, teaching Mary even more about what it means to be one of his disciples, to be one of his followers, to be one who believes in him and truly belongs to him, especially in light of the day of resurrection. especially in the day in which Jesus himself stepped into the light of this world after being in the darkness of the tomb so that Mary herself could experience that light and that love for herself. And what Jesus wanted to teach Mary in these verses is what He wants to teach you and me as well today. Because after we behold and believe in Jesus like John did, remember all throughout last week as we were looking at those first verses of John chapter 20, and the things that John saw convinced him that Jesus rose from the dead. He didn't quite understand all the things that Jesus has said or all that the scriptures taught yet, but he believed because of what he beheld. Now, obviously, Peter, we're told later in another passage that he still was wondering about these things. So, obviously, each of these three disciples, Peter and John and Mary, they're dealt with differently by Jesus in his resurrection. But here, after we behold and believe as John did, we need to continue to listen and to learn from Jesus as Mary does in these verses. We need to listen and learn from our teacher, from our master teacher, from our Rabboni. That is the lesson that we need from these verses today. Because Jesus is teaching her, and Jesus is teaching us as well. In fact, there are three things that we need to learn from these verses because of the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. Three things. First of all, we need to listen and learn about the new perspective that Jesus gives to us through his resurrection. A new perspective on things. Really, a new perspective on life. A new perspective on this world. A new perspective on everything. And we find this perspective in verses 11 through 13, where again we're told by John, likely from the testimony of Mary herself, this is what happened to me, John. It says, But Mary, verse 11, But Mary stood without at the sepulcher, weeping. So Peter and John are gone, she's there alone, and as she's weeping, crying, mourning, grieving, she, like John before her, stooped down to look into the sepulcher. But this time, instead of seeing just the grave clothes, she sees, or rather, God is showing to her something else, and some others that are there in the tomb itself. She is seeing two angels. Now, did she know they were angels at the time? Probably not. But obviously John is giving that interpretation. This is what she saw. This is who she saw. Two angels in white sitting, the one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus, I love how it's put, had lain. Why? Because his body's gone. In fact, his body is standing just in front of the tomb where he had been laying. But he's gone. The tomb is empty except for the grave clothes that John and Peter saw, and now these two angels there that Mary sees. And they say unto her, Oh, what kindness and compassion you can just hear in these words. Woman, why weepest thou? still crying, still grieving, still mourning, and we see that and sense that really all throughout the first part of these verses that we just read. She's still weeping, and she says unto them, because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him. If you remember, those are the same words, or practically the same words that she told Peter and John when she went to go get them. They've taken away our Lord, and we don't know where he is at. So there at the tomb of Jesus, Mary is still completely overcome with sorrow and with grief. And it's not just because of the death of someone she loved. I mean, we've all experienced that kind of grief, probably in our life at some time or another, where there's someone that is close to us, someone that was perhaps a family member or a very close personal friend, and they die, and we mourn, and we grieve, and we sorrow, and we weep. We weep. It's a good thing for us to weep because we know from scripture that that death truly is an enemy, not just of believers, but of all the world. It is an enemy. And yet. that enemy will also experience its demise when Jesus himself returns. But here, she's not just grieving the way we've grieved over the death of someone that we've loved. She was also grieving because she believes that someone took the one she loves. Someone took the very body of Jesus. She doesn't know who, she doesn't know why, she doesn't know where, she doesn't know any of these things, and so she's weeping. And since she believes, now that she's all alone, she just lets it out. I know sometimes when we experience grief, we might not grieve the way we would with other people, as if we were alone. I remember when my dad passed away, oh, this has been close to 30 years now, I remember that I grieved and cried and wept so much more when I was alone, crying out and appealing to God for his comfort and his strength than I did even at the funeral where God gave me the grace to actually read the testimony of my dad that I found in one of his Bibles. And so Mary here thinks she's all alone. Peter and John, obviously they were there, but they're gone now. She thinks it's just her, her and God. And so she's crying and weeping and letting it all out, letting out all the thoughts and feelings that she's had over the last several days. Imagine she's witnessed the death of her savior on the cross. She witnessed the removal of His body, His limp, lifeless body from that cross. She witnessed Joseph and she witnessed Nicodemus gathering that body and wrapping it with the grave clothes and carrying it to the very place where they would put Him. And she saw all of these things. She knew where Jesus was. And now after that day, you've got the Sabbath day, a day that was supposed to be a day of rest and of worship. And I'm sure there was still some time for rest and worship. But oh, how much her mind was still active in her heart was just moved in her in herself to think what happened to her savior. And that's why we read earlier that it was at the very beginning of the day. Verse 1, the very first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene when it was yet dark. So very early on, because she wanted to be able to get there as quickly as she could, because she wanted to be able to care for her Savior, and now He is gone. All of the feelings, all of the thoughts is just poured out in weeping, oh how she loved Jesus. Oh, how Mary missed Jesus, even though it's only been a few days. And yet she wanted to see him for herself once again, even if it was his lifeless body. And so at some point, We're told that just like John did earlier, she gets up the courage, and I think it did take some courage to actually stoop down into the entryway, the small entryway. Some believe that it was probably about three feet tall and about two feet wide, so you would have had to bow down and stoop down to just get a little look inside. It would have taken some courage to see what was going on in there, but what she could see was still hard to see because of her tear-clouded eyes. And yet what she will see and hear, as we read, she will never forget. Because then we're told that she saw and heard two angels. Again, this doesn't mean that she knew this at the time, but eventually it probably dawned on her or was shown to her that this is who they were. Maybe it was Jesus himself who explained who she saw in that tomb. But they were angels. They were messengers from God. That's what an angel is, a messenger of God, a ministering servant from God to men. And these angels were messengers from God and even from Jesus to Mary, to Mary Magdalene. They were given there to her and really to give even us a message, a message about a new perspective that all of us can have because Jesus is alive from the dead. Now there are all kinds of different ways that teachers can teach their students. At least in our community, schools are back in session. But maybe you can remember some of the best teachers that you had, whether it was in elementary school or junior high or high school or even in college. Think about how they taught you. One of the best ways that teachers can teach is through illustration. I loved my chemistry class when I was in high school, not so much because I loved chemistry, but I loved class. Because one of the ways that my teacher taught was through object lessons, illustrations, to show us in practice what the theory was in the book. And so we'd read, read, read, our eyes would get puffy and we'd get tired and all that. And then he says, well, what you read, this is, how it turns out. And He showed us those things. I loved that particular class, and I loved that particular teacher. The fact is, you can learn something, not just with your ears, but especially with your eyes. And actually, some people learn better that way. And this is how Jesus, Mary's Rabboni, Mary's master teacher, first teaches her, even from that empty tomb, and through the two angels that are before her very eyes. There in verse 12, we're first told that the two angels were in white. This must have been something that really stood out to Mary. Even as she's been crying, even as the tears perhaps were still in her eyes, she could make out that these two figures that were sitting there were actually in something that was bright and something white. This must have been a huge contrast to the darkness and the shadows that would have filled the rest of the tomb, but she saw them in white. And that's the first thing that she probably noticed. But what a lesson she was given already by Jesus through these angels as she peers into that sepulcher. A lesson even about the cleansing that the empty tomb brings to Jesus' disciples. You see, the darkness of the tomb was actually gone. not just the literal darkness, because maybe that was still there, maybe there still was some shadows, maybe there's still some darkness, but spiritually, the darkness of death was gone because the light of life, Jesus Christ, overcame it. And the fact is, when you believe in and belong to the Lord Jesus Christ, His light and His life will overcome the darkness of death for you and for everyone else who believes. Isn't this what Jesus himself said back in chapter 8, verse 12, when he says, I am the light of the world. It doesn't matter where you are, whether it's in the darkness of a tomb or in the valley of the shadow of death. He says, I am the light of the world. He that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. And now all Mary had to do was listen and learn from Jesus, her master and teacher and Lord, to show her, to show her, even from these angels who were in a place of darkness, that you can experience light and brightness and even the white cleansing that Jesus came to give. Imagine what she saw. Imagine what she learned. But then we're also told there in verse 12 that Mary noticed that the two angels We're just sitting there. Did you notice that? That's something else that probably stood out to her as she's recalling this to memory. They're just sitting there. They're just sitting, one at the head, we're told, and the other at the feet where the body of Jesus had lain. And, of course, remember what Peter and John saw earlier in this chapter. There were grave clothes, right? We have grave clothes that were wrapped around the body, and then, of course, we have the napkin that was either placed on or wrapped around the head, and they're still there on the surface where Jesus had lain, and now we have the two angels on either side, and they're just sitting there as if they were waiting for Mary. to come there and to see them and to hear what they had said. Now, we're not told, but I would imagine Mary was probably surprised. I would have been, thinking you're gonna go in there and see just where Jesus had lain, and now you see two people there, or you think are two people there, but she clearly sees no threat to these men. They're sitting there, clothed in white. They were sitting there, once again, in no hurry and with no worry. And instead, by showing by example the very contentment that the empty tomb can bring to those who believe that Jesus is risen from the dead. Why were they just sitting there? Not only were they waiting for Mary, but because they knew what had happened. They knew Jesus wasn't stolen away somewhere. They knew that Jesus had risen from the dead. And so they weren't bothered by it. They were simply content. And again, showing by illustration, by object lesson, Mary, you don't need to sorrow. You don't need to grieve. You don't need to weep. You can sit down with us. You can be content with us, even as we are. What a lesson this would have been to Mary, even without a word. And what a lesson this can be to us. Even as the writer of Hebrews tells us in Hebrews 13, 5, We can be content with such things as we have. For he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. Isn't that a wonderful truth? but we know that Jesus can be present with us because Jesus is alive, because Jesus rose from the dead, because those two angels were just sitting there, no worry, no hurry, content because of what that tomb, that empty tomb means. We can be content because Jesus is alive, and because Jesus is alive, he is with us always when we believe in him and belong to him, even if it's through his spirit. The worry of the grave is no more. for the true believer in Christ. You don't have to worry about what happens to you at the end of this life and at the end of your grave, because you know that the presence of God that is with you now will last you into eternity. What a lesson to learn. But then in verse 13, the angels finally speak. And again, you don't see any sense of shock in Mary here, but they ask Mary, why weepest thou? Of course, again, they knew. They knew why Mary was weeping. They weren't asking for their own information. Instead, they wanted her. They wanted Mary to start thinking about why she was really weeping. Why are you so full of grief? Why are you full of sorrow? They wanted her to learn the lesson of the empty tomb. They wanted her to learn about the comfort that the empty tomb brings to those who believe in Christ. You see, God knows that the sting and sorrow of the grave is very powerful in this world, but His care and His compassion is so great that He made a way for that sorrow to be broken. You know, we have lived over the last couple of weeks times of grief over some of the loved ones that had been with our church or people that you have known in this church. They have passed away. God knows that there is sorrow and sting and death, but even as we appear with Mary to that tomb and we see those two angels sitting there and we hear those two angels speaking to her, we too can realize that Jesus gives us comfort because he's alive. The resurrection of Jesus Christ gives us comfort even in the darkness of death. He even gives a way for us to have joy and gladness for that mourning and sorrow. And so the illustration, through the illustration of those two angels in the tomb, wearing white, sitting and speaking words of kindness and comfort, Jesus, that master teacher of Mary's, wanted her and wanted us to listen and learn about the new perspective that we can have even in a world full of sorrow and death. We can look around in this world and it ought to cause us grief. Brother Tim was praying how we too as believers ought to be grieved over our own sin and the sin of others. We live in that kind of world. But the resurrection of Jesus Christ gives us a new perspective. And as we see the object lesson that was given to Mary, even in that empty tomb, it ought to show us the kind of perspective that we ought to live. What does Paul tell us? How does Paul say that we ought to live? We ought to set our minds and affections and even our eyes on things where? Above! Not on things on the earth. Because if we set our minds and hearts and affections on things on the earth, it's going to get us down. It's going to bring us more sorrow, more grief, more pain. But when we look up and we see that because of the living Savior, all of these things have meaning, all of these things have purpose, all of these things are well in His control, and especially for believers, especially for His people, especially for His church, the empty tomb means that we have cleansing from our sin. It's proof positive. That what Jesus said was going to happen actually did happen. That when Jesus did die on the cross for our sins, it was the sacrifice that was fully approved by His Father so that we could experience that cleansing, and then that contentment, and then that comfort that comes because Jesus is alive. Do you have that kind of perspective today? Pray that God will give you the same eyes that Mary needed when she saw those two angels in that empty tomb. What a way Jesus teaches. And you know, we see that all throughout the scripture. You know, a lot of times when we come through the Bible, there aren't just words that teach us, there are pictures that teach us. Obviously, there are pictures in words, but we've been going through Revelation, and how many pictures have we seen with words that come into our minds that teach us things? Well, that's what happened with Mary, and that's what can happen with us. May the Lord give us a new perspective to listen and to learn. But then in these verses, second, Jesus also teaches about the new peace, the new peace that he gives to us through his resurrection. And we find this peace there in verses 14 and 16, again, where we're told these words. So she's already seen and witnessed everything in the tomb, though she doesn't probably quite understand it yet. But she's starting to, I think. But now we're told in verse 14 that when she had said thus, still probably weeping and crying with those tear-stained eyes, she turned herself back, maybe still a little startled and yet not threatened by those two angels. And now she sees Jesus standing. But John needs to remind us that at this point, she did not know it was Jesus. Now we're not really told why she did not recognize Jesus. It could very well be that his form was a little different than what it was beforehand. Maybe it was some kind of a spiritual body that we really can't fathom or fully understand. We know that there are other places in the Gospels where Jesus appears in places where it doesn't seem like he should appear. Or maybe he actually came out of those grave clothes in a way that we wouldn't think he should have came out of those grave clothes. Or it could have just been very natural She was still seen through those tear-clouded eyes. But we're told, don't know why, but she didn't recognize Jesus yet. So Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? Verse 15. Whom seekest thou? So he adds to the questions there of even the angels. And so she, thinking, supposing that this man before her, to be the gardener, Of course, remember that tomb was placed in a garden, a beautiful garden. So this is the keeper of the garden. She says to him, Sir, if you have borne him hence... So maybe this man not only knows about what happened to Jesus' body, but maybe he was the one that did something with Jesus' body. Sir, if you have borne him hence, tell me where you've laid him, and I will take him away. I will deal with his body the way it should be dealt with. Jesus saith unto her then, O mare, What a beautiful thing to hear. And so she turns herself and says unto him those words, Rabboni, which again is to say teacher or master. So Mary turns from the door of the tomb and notices that that figure standing by, still crying, still weeping, still grieving, not recognizing the figure before her. Perhaps she felt a little ashamed at her outburst of grief. Remember, she thought she was alone. And now not only are there two people in the tomb, there's somebody outside of the tomb. And maybe as she came out, she turned away, didn't want the one that guarded her to see her crying, to see her weeping. But even though she didn't know it yet, we know that it was Jesus, the living, breathing, resurrected Jesus who stood before her, and his care and his kindness for her is clear and compelling. But he didn't come right out and tell Mary that it was him. Why was that? Well, perhaps because he was still wanting to teach her something before he did. Remember, Jesus is still her Rabboni. Jesus is still her teacher, and she still had some things to learn, and so he teaches her not just through the illustration of the angels, but even through question and answers, right? Through interrogation, if you will. This is another way that teachers teach, much to the chagrin of students. I know I always kind of found it annoying when I would ask my teacher a question, and they would ask me a question back. I mean, if I asked a question, it means I don't know the answer, or at least I didn't think I knew the answer, and I just wanted an answer to my question. And so they would try to lead me to an answer by giving me more questions to my question. And again, I thought it was really, really annoying. But eventually, they knew what they were doing. And a good teacher knows what they're doing, and they're knowing how to lead through questions to get to the right answer. And that's what Jesus, I think, is doing here. Of course, I think this is known as the Socratic method, made famous by the Greek philosopher Socrates. But here, Jesus perfects it with just two questions. Jesus first asked Mary, just like the two angels did, about her sorrow in verse 15. Her sorrow. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? Again, this is the same question by the angels for the same reason. Jesus knew why she wept. He knew why she wept. She was distressed and distraught over his missing body. And she says that so much to Jesus when she didn't know it was Jesus. But both Jesus and the angels want Mary to start thinking about the reality of the situation, even more than the reason for her sorrow. You know, there's a lot of times in our life where the feelings overcome the fact, right? Our feelings so often drive us in ways that really decry and go against the true facts of the situation. What was the situation? The tomb was empty, but also Jesus was alive. And yet, her sorrow overcame her in such a way that it clouded her thinking, it clouded her faith, it clouded her belief in what Jesus had already said to His disciples. That yes, He's going to go to Jerusalem. Yes, He will be arrested. Yes, He will be tortured. And yes, He will be put to death. But yes, on the third day, He will rise again. Had she forgotten those things? Had she forgotten those words? had the grief and the sorrow overtaken the truth of those words. I think in saying this, Jesus is wanting Mary to think. Mary, think, Mary, remember and believe so that your sorrow can be turned to joy because the sorrow of the grave, the reality of the situation is the sorrow of the grave is over for believers in Christ. So Jesus asks about her sorrow to get her to think. But then Jesus adds to that question and asked Mary about her searching. Also there in verse 15, her searching, whom seekest thou? Why weepest thou now? Whom seekest thou? Jesus knew who she was seeking for. Jesus knew who she was looking for. It was for him. So why does he ask? Not for his sake, but for hers. and not just for her sake. This is recorded in Scripture for us. It is for our sake as well. Look up, Mary. See who's before you, Mary. Your searching is over. You have found the very one that your soul loves. He's standing right before you. Because of the empty tomb, all the sorrow and all the searching that takes place in this world can be replaced with a joy and security of Jesus' life. Hallelujah, I have found him whom my soul so long hath craved. Jesus is alive, and that is why the sorrow and the searching can be over for us. Of course, Mary here is still struggling, and yet in that struggle, she's still committed to her Lord. We see the strength and courage of this woman there in verse 15, when she supposes him to be the gardener, says, Sir, if you've borne him hence, tell me where you've laid him, and I will take him away. I'm not sure exactly how old or the size of this dear woman was. Could she have taken him? Many believe that this shows how she might have been a woman of means. She might have been thinking, hey, I'm gonna take him home to Galilee. This is where Jesus was born. This is where Jesus served. This is where Jesus ministered. I've got a tomb. I know a place where I can put this body. I know where I can care for Jesus. She's ready to do that for her Lord. But she's still not thinking about her sorrow. Why? She's still not thinking that even her searching is over. But then Jesus stops with the questions and simply calls out her name. Mary. And immediately she knew who it was who spoke to her. Verse 16. She turned herself again. She might have seen seen Jesus when she came out of the tomb, but then averted her face, averted her eyes, because, you know, maybe there was those those tears and she didn't want him to notice this. But here, in some way, she turns herself again and looks him full in the face and says unto him, Rabboni, which is again to say master and teacher. It was Jesus. alive from the dead, just as he said, just as scripture said. And though we're not told so here, it seems as if she would have fallen before him and grasp his feet as the other women would do later in the book of Luke. But through just Jesus's word, all of her sorrow, all of her searching were now all past and she was at peace. There is peace. in the words of Jesus. There is peace when Jesus calls you by your name as his child, as the one that belongs to him, through the power of his own word, through the power that he expresses when he just says her name. She's at peace. She knew that she too was a disciple whom Jesus loved. Isn't that how John refers to himself all throughout the gospel of John? He says, I am the one who Jesus loved. And really, every disciple that Jesus knew could say that. I mean, that's the kind of love that Jesus had. He didn't have any favorites. Everyone thought that they were Jesus's favorites. John thought, I'm the one that Jesus loved. I'm sure that Mary could say that. I'm sure that all the others could say that. But here, she certainly felt it. Because as he called her name, that love drove all her fears away. This is still what the word of the living Lord does for his people. It will just give us that peace if we but listen to Him and learn from Him. Remember what Jesus said in John 10, 27? He says, my sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. Mary heard the voice of her shepherd, and she knew instantly it was Jesus. Even if He did look a little different, again, we're not sure how He looked at His resurrection, but even if He did look a little different yet, she knew it was Him. And that's why we can also listen to and learn from the voice of the Lord, because then He gives us that new perspective in life and even that new peace. A peace that passes all understanding, that will keep your hearts and minds through the Lord Jesus Christ. Do you have peace in your heart as a Christian today? Assurance that Jesus even loves you and knows you by your name? If you don't have that assurance, you can't have that assurance by turning to and trusting in the Lord Jesus alone for salvation from your sin. And if you've done that, if you belong to him, he does know you by your name. He does call you by your name. And when he does so, as he does so, he brings peace. You need not sorrow as the world sorrows. You need not search. because you have found the one your soul loves and even the one who loves your very soul. Find your peace in Christ. We live in a world that is not full of peace. You know, there are wars and truly rumors of wars all around us. We have conflicts not just between nations, but conflicts between people and families and politicians and all of these things. In the world, we will not have peace, but we can experience the peace of God in our hearts and lives because Jesus is alive. Do you have that peace? Listen and learn to what Jesus says through his word. But then third, he will also teach you about the new purpose that he gives through his resurrection. So the new perspective, the new peace, and even the new purpose. And we find this purpose again there in verses 17 and 18. So now Mary knows. Jesus is alive. Jesus is alive and well. Verse 17, so Jesus now says to her, touch me not. For I am not yet ascended to my father, but go, go to my brethren. Clearly he's talking about his disciples because of what we find later on. Go to my brethren and say to them, I ascend unto my father and your father and to my God and your God. So what does Mary do? Mary Magdalene came and told. So Jesus says, go and say, and now Mary comes or goes and tells. She goes and tells the disciples that she had seen the Lord and that he had spoken these things unto her. Now, even though verse 17 is perhaps considered to be one of the most challenging verses to really grasp and understand in all of the New Testament, perhaps we can grasp it a little bit more when we understand and remember that Jesus is still Mary's rabboni. He is still teaching her about what his resurrection means. He's teaching her about the new perspective it gives. He's teaching her about the new peace that it gives. And here, he's teaching about the new purpose that it gives. So it seems that Mary, more than likely, was already touching Jesus, probably grasping his feet in joy and worship of her Lord. And that's why Jesus says, first, touch me not. The way John originally wrote it wasn't so much as to avoid that, but rather to stop her from doing that as she had been touching, as she had been holding onto him. Later on in Luke, we know that other women come before Jesus and are worshiping him and are touching his feet. And so we can imagine her doing the same thing. And so Jesus says, stop handling me. Stop touching me. Now, when we would think about it, if we were in Mary's shoes, we would probably do and want to do the same thing. She had good reason to hold on to the Lord. She'd been searching for him all morning, wondering where he was, running back and forth from the tomb and back to the tomb, and now she finally finds him and she doesn't want him to go. She doesn't want to lose him again. But Jesus tells her, you don't need to hold on to me this way, because, verse 17, I am not, and it can also be translated, I have not yet ascended to my father. Now we know in the book of Acts that Jesus does ascend to his father. And so Jesus knew that the time would come when he would go back to heaven to his father, but that time had not yet come. And that's why she could take heart that she would see Jesus again, even more because he was alive. We know from other scripture that Jesus continued to visit his disciples for 40 days. 40 days, Jesus proved himself alive with many other things, right? Many other things. Jesus showed to his disciples that he was alive. And in some of those visits, Mary herself would see him and be with him again as he prepared his disciples for his final departure. So basically, Jesus is saying, you don't have to hold on to me now because you're gonna see me again. I'm not going away yet. I have not yet ascended to my father permanently yet. For 40 days I will be with my people, and I will instruct my people, and I will love my people, and you will see me, Mary." And maybe there's also a picture here that, Mary, my separation from you will only be temporary. Because remember what Jesus said to his disciples in John 14? When I go, I'm going to prepare a place for you. so that where I am, there ye may be also, and then you'll never have to let hold of me. You'll never have to take away your hands from me, because you can always be there, always worshiping, always loving." But as sweet as this reunion was, Jesus, her teacher and master, had something else for her to do. Verse 17, Jesus says, Don't hold on, but go and tell. Go and tell. Go and tell the others that I'm alive. That was Mary's new purpose, because Jesus was alive. Go to my brethren and say unto them, go and tell. And again, as with any good teacher, Jesus is teaching Mary, not just with illustration, but that's one way to teach. Not just with interrogation and questions and answers, though that's another way to teach, even if it's annoying. But Jesus teaches Mary here with just basic instruction. When I went to college, that was what I paid my teachers for, for their knowledge. I wanted them to teach me and instruct me. Sometimes this is just what you need in order to know things and to know what to do about those things. Sometimes students will not grasp things that are shown to them or will not grasp things or just ask to them. So they just need to be told what to know and told what to do. And that's what Jesus does here. We find three imperatives. Jesus first of all says, touch me not. Then he says, go. And then he says, tell. Jesus gives her exactly what she needs to know. And sometimes that's what we need. And praise God that we have this book. Because this is God's instruction for us. Sometimes we have the illustrations. Sometimes we have the questions and the answers. Other times we just have the instructions where we by faith just need to obey. We just need to do what God tells us to do. And so what he tells Mary to tell his disciples are things about, first of all, his return. His return. He says, I am ascending unto my father. I want you to go tell my brothers this, my disciples this, who are now brethren. I am ascending to my father, present tense. Fact is, this was always God's plan for his son. It wasn't that Jesus would just come and stay and set up his kingdom at that point. It was rather for Jesus to come, deal with our sin, come back to life, and then return home after his work was done. The trajectory of Jesus's life and ministry from the moment of his birth was ever upward. Jesus Himself knew that. He knew that the Son of Man would be lifted up onto a cross, and that would be the very beginning of His glory. But that glory would continue to be expanded as He was exalted into the very heavens where God Himself, God the Father, lived. And when He would finally go back to His home before His disciples' very eyes, it would provide even more confirmation of His claims, He is who He said He was, and comfort for their souls. So Jesus wanted Mary, go and tell them that I am ascending back home. I'm going home. And then I'm going to do everything that I've already said. I'm going to prepare that place for you. And I'm going to send that comforter, the Holy Spirit that I've talked about already to you. And I'm going to send him to remind you of these things and to teach you even more things than I could teach you. So go, Mary, and tell them about my return." Also, Jesus wanted Mary to go and tell them about His relationship, His own relationship with God the Father, that God the Father was indeed His Father and His God. I am going to my Father and my God. We know that the relationship that Jesus had with God the Father in heaven always pleased Him. In everything that Jesus thought, in everything that Jesus said, in everything that Jesus did, He always pleased His Father. And when He would finally return to His heavenly home, it would bring them even greater assurance in their faith in Him. So Jesus says, I want you to tell them that My relationship with My Father and My God is true. Everything that I've said is right. How many times have we gone through the Gospel of John where Jesus talks about His Father over and over and over again? I don't think you can go just a few verses and you're confronted with the fact that this heavenly God that created all things is truly the Father of this one in a unique and special way. So yes, He was the Son of God and even God the Son. But then even more, Jesus wants Mary to learn to go and tell about his own reconciliation, his reconciliation that he made possible to them and to all who believe in him. Again, he says, Go and tell Mary, my disciples, my brethren, that I am ascending to my father and your father and to my God and your God. That's reconciliation. Even though there is still a big difference in Jesus' relationship with God the Father and my relationship with God the Father, the fact is, you can now have a relationship with your Creator because of the Redeemer, Jesus Christ, who He sent. According to 2 Corinthians 5.18, we're told that God hath reconciled, He hath joined us together to Himself by Jesus Christ. This is what God wanted for you, and God wanted for me, and God wanted for his people. What God wanted for the world is that the world will be reconciled to him. And how does he do that? Through Jesus. This was the whole life and ministry of Jesus, and now he hath given us the ministry of reconciliation. And isn't this what Mary is doing? Isn't this what God, what Jesus, her Lord, her master, her teacher, now wants her to do? I've given you the ministry of reconciliation, Mary. Go and tell. And we learn from this too. God has given us the ministry of reconciliation to go and tell. And so what does Mary do? Look at verse 18. She goes and tells. Even as Jesus said, Mary Magdalene came and told. Jesus says, go and tell. She went and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord. Praise God. He's alive. and that he has spoken these things unto her. So Mary listened, and Mary learned to the teaching of her master, her Rabboni. And we need to, too. We need to listen and learn, because through his resurrection, he's teaching us about a new perspective that we can have, not a perspective of the world, but a heavenly perspective, where we see things through his eyes and the way things really are. He's given us a new peace. a new peace that comes through the very Word of God. There's a reason why believers have such a connection to this book compared to the unbelievers in this world. Because this is the very Word of God to us. We hear our name through these words. He's speaking even as we read it. We know that He gives us peace, but then we also have this new purpose just like Mary was given. And that's why we must listen and learn and follow him. Remember what Jesus said in John 10, 27, my sheep hear my voice and I know them and they follow me. So listen and learn and then go and tell. Let's close in prayer. Heavenly father, we thank you again that in this first visitation of Jesus, the living, breathing, resurrected Jesus to one of his own closest disciples, Mary Magdalene. We are able to witness and then listen in and learn ourselves. Oh, Father, I pray that you will first of all show us that that we are truly living beneath many of the privileges that we have as your people, as believers in Christ. We are living without the new perspective, or in the new peace, or even according to the new purpose that we have because Jesus is alive. Father, forgive us. And then, Lord, quicken us, enliven us, awaken us, so that we might see the Lord Jesus as alive as Mary did on that first day of the week. Because Lord, we know that that perspective and that peace and that purpose that Jesus gave to Mary, he also gives to us, even through the very words that we learned from today. Oh Father, I pray that you will help us to live according to those privileges. What a privilege for Mary to be the very first person that Jesus himself appears to, alive and well. And yet through this testimony, yet through this witness, yet through this record, we can put ourselves where she was that day, and see what she saw, and hear what she heard, and sense what she sensed, so that we too can apply the very lessons that Jesus gave to her on that day. Whether it was through object lessons in the tomb, or whether it was through the questions that he asked outside the tomb, or even if it was the very instruction that he gave her to go from the tomb. Father, teach us. Help us to listen and to learn. Open our eyes, open our ears, open our hearts to your truth, so that we too might have that new perspective, that new peace, that new purpose to go and tell what we ourselves have beheld and believed. And then, Father, as we do so, I pray that others will listen and learn with us. Thank you that Jesus is our rabboni even today. For it's in his name and for his sake we pray all these things. Amen.