John 20:1-2

Ardent love is depicted here as Mary of Magdala seeks to remain close to the Lord Jesus even in His death. She came seeking Christ early - while yet dark – solicitously and industriously – setting forth a wonderful example for all who believe in and love the Lord Jesus. We as His followers are to seek Him early in our day – solicitously and industriously - both for our souls filling and for His loving leading and direction. The day that is well begun is likely to well end. None of our Lord’s followers in Scripture seemed to have loved Him as much as Mary. The continued instances of her respect for Him even after His death are proof of her sincerity and love. It was indeed an extraordinary affection. I am reminded of King Solomon’s words in Song of Songs:

“For love is as strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave. It burns like blazing fire, like a mighty flame.” Song of Songs 8:6 (NIV)

Love is portrayed as a mighty and vigorous passion – as strong as death. Christ’s love for us broke through death causing it to lose its sting. The love for Christ of believers who trust in Him is as strong as death. Mary demonstrates this Truth. Mary, from whom seven demons had been cast out by the Lord Jesus, was desperate for His presence. She stood as a monument to Christ’s power and mercy. Seven, the number of completion in Scripture, more than likely equates to her being totally demonically possessed - a harrowing condition indeed. She found mercy at the feet of the Master and freedom from the intense pain and misery of her bondage. Her gratitude knew no bounds – none felt they owed so much to the Master. She had no intentions of returning to her prior life of wallowing in that lifeless mud – to say the least. The more mercy one has received, the more love one has – those who love Christ most are those who have received the most benefit from Him. Again, having loved much, Mary did much in order to prove the reality of her love. Is love without actions love at all? Love always acts. I am reminded of the woman who had lived a sinful life and the gratitude she exhibited to Jesus for her forgiveness:

36 Now one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, so he went to the Pharisee's house and reclined at the table. 37 When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume, 38 and as she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them... 44 Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. 46 You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. 47 Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven--for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little." Luke 7:36-38 (NIV) Luke 7:44-47 (NIV)

“The man who is deeply conscious of his own guilt and corruption, and deeply convinced that without the blood and intercession of Christ he would sink deservedly into the lowest hell, this is the man who will spend and be spent for Jesus, and think that he can never do enough to show forth His praise. Let us daily pray that we may see the sinfulness of sin, and the amazing grace of Christ, more clearly and distinctly. Then, and then only, shall we cease to be cool, and lukewarm, and slovenly in our work for Jesus.” John Charles Ryle

Mary was full of firsts: she was first to arrive at our Lord’s tomb, she was first to discover in dim twilight the stone rolled away, she was first to discern something remarkable had occurred and she was first to act on what she saw. Many of the Galilean women showed faith and love and zeal that morning but none more than Mary. Yet in their zeal they neglect to recall Jesus’ Word to them before His crucifixion that He would indeed rise again on the third day. Mary immediately jumps to the wrong conclusion that His body had been taken away – her reason prompted this thought. Interestingly, when we reflect back on our own conduct in our darkest days – relying on our reason only - we can also stand amazed at our own dullness over the obvious. Her actions were now focused on finding the Lord’s body rather than in remembering His last words. We must also place our circumstances through the sieve of the Truth of God’s Word if we desire to rid ourselves of our own ignorance.

Lastly, we discover Mary fleeing to find our Lord’s closest earthly companions to fill them in on her discovery. She did not stand pouring over her grief alone but acquaints her friends as well. Sorrow shared among the saints divides grief.

“If I were a pastor, I would want to preach in the spirit of the New Covenant, inviting everyone in the congregation to see the heart of God revealed in the cross of Christ. I would encourage them to interpret all of life’s hardships not as problems to fix or struggles to relieve or pain to deaden, but as important elements in a larger story that all God’s children long to tell. I would urge them to accept wherever they are on the journey, whether happy or miserable, as the place where God will meet them, where He loves them, where He will continue to work in them. And I would offer my own life as a growing, struggling, sometimes painfully unattractive example of what doing that might mean. I would beg God to deliver me from Calvary-denying sermons, which leave people feeling scolded and pressured...I would ask God to never let me again preach an Eden-denying message where psychological insights replace biblical wisdom in a misguided effort to repair emotional damage when the real problem is a serpent-inspired determination to experience life without God.” Larry Crabb