Woman, Why Are You Weeping? | John 20:11-18 | Resurrection Service | Pastor Daniel Batarseh (4/5/26)

Omeronatha Bible Church, he is risen. He is risen indeed. Happy resurrection Sunday to you brothers and sisters in the Lord. To friends and family and guests here, we welcome you to our Lord's Day service. This great resurrection Sunday Lord's Day service.

It is a joy. It truly is a joy to worship our great king with you. And as always, I'd like to begin our service by hearing what the Lord has spoken to us through his word. Matthew chapter 28. If you'd like to turn there with me, I'll be reading the first 10 verses.

Matthew chapter 28. And as you open your Bibles, we welcome our children who are coming to minister to us in just a couple moments. Matthew chapter 28 verse number one. Now, after after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it.

His appearance was like lightning and his clothing white as snow. And for fear at him, the guards trembled and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he is risen as he has said. Come, see the place where he lay.

Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead and behold, he is going before you to Galilee. There you will see him. See, I have told you. So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy and ran to tell his disciples. And behold, Jesus met them and said greetings.

And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me. I love that last part. You know, if you are a Christian today, if you have faith in Jesus Christ as your lord and savior, we are heirs of god and fellow heirs with Christ.

We are his brothers. We are his sisters. And together with him, our risen lord, we will inherit everything. Let's pray. Father, we thank you.

Lord, we thank you that you have sent Christ to die for us. You have sent him to pay the penalty for our sins. And through his resurrection, you declared him to be the son of God in power so that everyone who hears of him, everyone who looks upon him knows that he is Lord. He is God. He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords, and we worship you today for that.

Help our hearts today, Lord. Help our hearts prone to wander as they are. Prone to distraction. Help us Lord to give maximum focus and maximum attention to the to the proclamation of your word, to the singing of your praises, to giving you everything that we have with inside of us. Lord, may you be glorified in all that we do today.

And Lord, I join our brothers and sisters across the world today, and we proclaim once again that we believe in you. We confess that you are Lord, that Jesus Christ is Lord, and that he has risen from the dead. Lord, move powerfully in the service today. Move powerfully in our hearts. Soften our hearts to hear from you.

Open our eyes to behold wondrous things out of your word, and may we, all of us, come away changed, come away more in love with you. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen. Amen. Amen.

Church, will you please join me in welcoming these wonderful children as they prepare to minister to us?

Christ has risen. Amen. Hallelujah. Let's pray together. Father, we thank you that we come here this day singing to a living God.

We thank you that many people in this very room can testify of the wonder working power of the blood. You have broken our chains. You have set us free. You have you have filled us with your Holy Spirit, and you have given us hope everlasting. We pray, Lord, that we would not just sing about the resurrection, we would not just hear about the resurrection, but we would experience afresh the power of the resurrection.

In Jesus' name we pray, amen. Well, we can say it more and more. Can we turn to somebody and say Christ has risen before you're seated? Here, welcome to Maranatha Bible Church. We are so excited to be able to celebrate this time with you.

We know that 1PM is not a usual time for a Sunday service, but here we are. And before we started the service, Pastor Mark leaned to me and he said, it's bittersweet what we have going on here. And it is bittersweet because many of you know that this is our very last Easter service before we move to our brand new permanent home. Yes. We can celebrate that.

So we find ourselves in a very unique season as a ministry. We've been here for, four and a half years, and there have been so many testimonies, so many wonderful miracles that God has done, so many things that we have heard and learned from his word, so many lives transformed. I was thinking last night about the baptisms that were here, the tears that were shed and spilled on these carpets, the friendships that were made, the souls that were saved, the people that grew, the the stories of people who said it was on this particular bible study or this particular Sunday service where my life turned around. So God has used this place to do much for his glory. And we are looking forward to this new place because it's gonna be a new chapter, and all it's really going to do is give us a greater platform to see what God has been doing on a greater scale.

So when we announced the new building, we, obviously let people know that we put an offer and the offer was accepted. But we had another goal in mind and that was to enter into this new chapter without any need for a loan, without any need for any kind of debt. And so, people have been asking since then, what's the update? And we've been giving regular updates. We didn't wanna mention anything last Friday because we really want to give all our attention to what Christ has done, the gospel, the cross, but here we are on this Sunday.

The last number, my if my memory serves me right, it was around the 220 something thousand dollar mark. But we received a encouraging phone call from somebody, a couple really who watches us online, and they wanted to let us know that they are preparing and they are sending, in our direction a $250,000 check. Yes. So that puts us around $535,000 We originally announced that we wanted to and we needed to raise 1,500,000.0 in order to go into this church debt free. So we are under a million dollars left.

Isn't that amazing? And we can rest with all our needs because Christ is the head of the church. This is his church. This is no man's church. This is the church of the living Christ.

And so we're gonna continue to worship. If it's on your heart to give towards this specific cause, the ushers will help us in in doing that. And as that is taking place, I want us to prepare our hearts to do one thing. I'm not gonna give any more announcements. We'll we'll catch up with whatever else is happening in in in the next few services, but we want to, pray in thanking God for what he has done in these past four and a half years.

If all goes well, brother and sisters, we might receive the keys to this new building at the end of this month. And so things are moving very fast. The last thing that happened was a major inspection and, we're waiting to hear back from them, but it seems like everything is okay. And after that, we're hitting the floor running. So the next time, should the Lord tarry, that we celebrate Easter weekend, we will be in a new place.

And I trust that God is gonna do much more for his name's sake. So that's taking place, sir. Thank you for your partnership. Thank you for your giving. Thank you for your prayers.

We have a month left to see God come through with every single penny that we're believing him for. But can we do this on this resurrection Sunday? Because we are in a unique season as a church, let's give him special thanks for how he has provided for us and where he is leading us. Can we do that? Lord, we thank you.

We thank you that you have proven over and over that you are the living God. You have answered many prayers. You have provided for all our needs. And more than this, you have gone above and beyond what we can ask or imagine. And so, Lord, we ultimately celebrate what you've done on the cross, yes, but we also recognize your many other blessings.

You are leading us to a new place. And, Lord, we pray that you would lead us as you've always led us so clearly, so obviously, so faithfully. We do not doubt you for a moment. Lord, for all who have partnered with this ministry, bless them. May you give them the joy that comes with partnering and advancing your kingdom.

And Lord, we ask that you would do more miracles for your name alone so that when people know and hear where we are going and how we got there, you would receive all the praise. Lord, in this service, we pray that if there's anyone who does not know you, that they would hear what you've done for them and that they would join what you have done. They would join what you are doing and that is the kingdom of God coming soon to this world, establishing the reign of Christ for eternity. Thank you for the service. Thank you for your many miracles.

Thank you that you have more in store. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen and amen. Let's stand together again. Father, help us now in receiving your word.

Unclog our hearts, Lord. Anything that would interfere with your voice, we pray that you would remove it. Make Christ more real to us this afternoon. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

You may be seated. If you have any wiggle room, beside you, if you don't mind scooting just a little bit, just for people who are standing in the back, and the ushers will help point out any available seats. Thank you for your cooperation. Just a few more weeks, and we'll have more room. As I was meditating on the resurrection this week, I found myself exploring all the insights in the scriptures, namely in the gospels, to just refresh my memory and to revisit some things that we often know.

And in skimming through what the word of God reveals, specifically about the events that followed Christ's conquest of death, I encountered the very first words that Jesus spoke after leaving the tomb empty. Have you ever wondered what Christ's very first words were when he rose from the grave? Well, when you consider the sequence of Christ's post resurrection appearances, you'll learn that Jesus first appeared to Mary Magdalene. That's actually plainly stated at the end of the gospel of Mark. And that encounter is disclosed to us in greater detail in John's writings, where he takes us to that early Sunday morning and vividly describes it focusing on Mary's experience as she arrived at the burial site of her master.

And it's in that testimony where we locate the first documented words that Jesus said after defeating death. And I'm sure that after reading it, you will never forget it. Turn with me to John chapter 20, and let's look together at one verse here, verse 15. John 20 verse 15. Jesus said to her, woman, why are you weeping?

Whom are you seeking? Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him and I will take him away. The first recorded words of Jesus is in the form of a question. Woman, why are you weeping? That fascinates me.

And it should compel us to pause, to zoom out, and to see what took place before this and what follows it to have Christ approach Mary in this way. And that's what I want us to consider in our short time together. So So let's read this in its entirety beginning in verse 11 down through verse 18. But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb and as she wept, she stooped to look into the tomb and she saw two angels in white sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. They said to her, woman, why are you weeping?

She said to them, they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him. Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking? Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.

Jesus said to her, Mary. She turned and said to him in Aramaic, Rabboni, which means teacher. Jesus said to her, do not cling to me for I have not yet ascended to the father, but go to my brothers and say to them, 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 that he had said these things to her. Now verse 11 may be a little bit of an awkward place to begin reading this account, so I think it'll be helpful to just remember a little bit of the backstory here.

If you look back at the beginning of the chapter, we discover that Mary makes her way to the tomb early in the morning even before the sun pierced the horizon. She's there to pay her honors. But upon coming to that place, she saw that the that the stone was rolled away and this alarmed her. So immediately, she makes her way back to Peter and John, and she tells them, assuming the worst, they've taken his body. Somebody kidnapped the body of the Lord.

Peter and John immediately make their way to this place and upon arrival, the scriptures tell us that they silently yet carefully investigate the scene. There are the cloths, but there's no body. And quite unexpectedly, the disciples, in a state of confusion, walk away and they go back home. That is how this section concludes before we read what we find in verse 11, but Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. There is something deeply commendable about Mary choosing to stay where Jesus was laid while the disciples walked away.

This in no way is an attack on Peter and John, but you cannot deny that Mary's refusal to leave so quickly speaks volumes about her yearning for Christ. It's a beautiful demonstration of how Mary understood her relationship with the Lord. Her connection to Christ was not reduced to obeying some commands, adhering to some moral code, joining a community of religious people, or even signing up for an exciting ministry. What Mary reveals here is that her relationship with Jesus Christ was rooted in a sincere and genuine love for the person. And the rest of the scene confirms a very powerful truth.

Christ honors those whose hearts yearn for him more than anything else. The fact that Mary was the first person that Jesus chose to reveal himself to means something. It reveals that he blesses those who desire him. This precious woman loved the Lord. She had rich affection for him.

She's broken. In fact, I was struck by her reaction when she eventually looked into the tomb to see what Peter and John saw. And what does she find? She sees two angels in white strategically seated at the slab where the body of Jesus was laid, One at the head and one of the feet, invoking the imagery of the cherubim who were infused on the Ark of the Covenant looking down on the mercy seat. We don't have time to get into that as much as I would like to Because what we wanna consider is what these two angels said or asked Mary while her face was being stained with tears.

Woman, why are you weeping? And her answer moves me. Look again at verse 13. They said to her, woman, why are you weeping? She said to them, they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.

Isn't this remarkable? You say, what's so remarkable about it? Mary, standing in front of angels, is not distracted for a moment. She's unfazed by their mysterious appearance. No curiosity is sparked.

There's no diversion here. Where had they taken him? Why is she not moved by what she's seeing? Because her heart is already consumed with Christ. She's after Christ.

She wants to find Christ. Oh, how easily our pursuit of Christ is interfered, is meddled with, pivots by things, even good things. And yet this woman shows us as an inspiring model that it is possible to not allow anything or anyone get in the way of what should be our greatest goal, getting nearer and nearer to Christ. And notice she boldly calls him my Lord. Do you see that in verse 13?

They have taken away my Lord even though in her mind Christ is dead. Imagine this for a moment. In Christ's greatest humiliation, Mary is unashamed to call him my Lord. When it was very dangerous to be associated with public enemy number one, Mary is unafraid to say he is my Lord even in front of these strangers. And from a human, carnal, unbelieving standpoint, there is no benefit of declaring Jesus Christ is Lord because he's supposedly dead and yet Mary is unwavering in her devotion to Christ.

Where is my Lord? I must find him. This woman loved the lord Jesus. She adored him. And while her standing and her searching is admirable, her weeping is not.

The angels asked a very important question when they asked why are you weeping because her answer reveals that her tears ultimately stem from a misunderstanding of the work of Christ and what he had promised. There is no reason to weep. If Jesus was still in the tomb and that's what you saw Mary, you have every reason to weep and so should we. But the tomb is empty, so why are you weeping? Here's what this shows us.

Mary's tears, like us, are often because we bring unnecessary sorrow upon ourselves, And that sorrow is stimulated because we fail to grasp who Jesus Christ accurately is and what he said to us. How many times did Mary hear it? Surely she found herself around the disciples. Surely she heard what Christ taught about his own death, his own burial, his own resurrection, and she missed it. Her and the other disciples should be at the tomb rejoicing.

He gave him a play by play of what's gonna happen. Instead, she's there weeping. Where did that come from? Unbelief. Where did that come from?

Missing what Jesus said. And listen, we are much more like Mary in this than we would like to admit. Christ's word is right in front of us. His character is spelled out so obviously and yet we still weep for things that we shouldn't be weeping about. This is a common trait of the disciples, by the way.

Do you remember when Jesus sends them off into the sea and a storm comes in and visits those disciples while Jesus stays back on the shore? And the winds are battering them and the waves are crashing up against their vehicle. And all of a sudden in that sight, we find Jesus walking on those very waters in their direction. Do you remember what the disciples said according to Matthew's version of the story? Let me remind you what they said in Matthew 14 here in verse 26.

They said something that I think is quite humbling for us. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified and said, it is a ghost. And they cried out in fear. It is a ghost. And so what we have here is how we can often miss it.

That Christ is present, that Christ is faithful, that Christ is near and we see other things. Mary doesn't see it. And so she's here confused, she's here trying to solve this, she's here trying to make sense of this puzzle. And what's fascinating here is that Christ is gonna show his ultimate patience for this woman. So she's here showing her love, she's here showing her devotion, yes, but her weeping is not justified.

And the one truth that is profoundly powerful enough to purify a perception of everything is this, Jesus Christ is alive. That one single reality can stop many tears from flowing if we really believe it. So let me borrow the the question of the angels and ask each of you in this room. Are you weeping? And if you are, why?

Why are you weeping? And once you've identified the cause of your misery the pain that seems to be so fierce and so overwhelming, let me ask you another question. Have you ever tried taking the object of your sadness and placing it in the light of this glorious fact, Jesus Christ is alive? Have you ever consciously done that? Have you ever intentionally moved your sorrow to that place in your heart?

Because Mary forgot what Christ said, she's weeping. And when we lose sight of that same truth, we too will find ourselves paralyzed, puzzled unnecessarily. Because if he's alive, then he's sovereign over all things including death. And if he's alive, then he is, yes, governing the entire universe, but not just the nations and not just the stars and not just kingdoms, but he promised to shepherd your daily life with his infinite wisdom and unstoppable power. So why are you weeping?

I challenge you. Anything that causes that agony, take it to the Lord and stamp on it. Well, Christ is alive. So my body may be sick. Christ is alive.

I may fear death, but Christ is alive. I may not know the next step in this life, but Christ is alive. Mary, unfortunately, didn't see it. And perhaps you're sitting there today and you're thinking, well, listen, you're preaching to the choir, brother. I believe Christ is alive.

I showed up here. Okay. Maybe you do believe that Christ is alive, but perhaps your stumbling block is not necessarily that event, but the character of the one who did raise from the grave. And if that's you today, then I want you to consider what this risen savior does for this miserable follower of his. Look again at verse 14 of John 20.

Having said this, when she said, they've taken away my Lord. Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking? Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him and I will take him away.

Isn't that something? Mary, what are you gonna do with the body anyway? So much can be said about these verses but let's simply start by acknowledging how Jesus Christ chose to approach Mary. Notice that he didn't scold her. He doesn't even rebuke her.

He shows up, and he tenderly and patiently guides her by way of reflection. She didn't get it the first time. When the angels asked the question, why are you weeping? And so he asked it again. That's patience.

That's kindness. And more than that, he adds to that question to help her investigate her own heart, examine her own soul. I need you to think about this with me. This is the very first encounter that Jesus has with any one of his followers after he vacated the tomb. What does it show?

That Christ prioritized comforting the one who is clearly in the most anguish. The one that we're singing about, Christ who conquered death, is so rich with compassion for every single one of us in this place. The first thing that he does is come and clarify the confusion that is causing internal chaos in this woman's heart. That's the first thing that he does. And the Holy Spirit indicates that here in order for you to know one of the primary truths that I must embrace about the resurrected Christ is that he cares about my tears.

He actually cares. Yes, this one who's in control of all things. This one who defeated death, sin, Satan. One of his top things to do on his list on that resurrection morning is I must comfort Mary. That's the heart of Christ.

And yet Mary in this moment shows us we regularly fail to recognize the Lord as we should. Did you notice here that in the midst of her frantic state, Jesus is right there. So she's looking into the tomb, she sees the two angels, she answers their question, and having said this, she turned. You know, some try to figure out why she turned. Did she hear the steps?

Did the angels motion? This is all speculation. One of my favorite ones though is that the angels in seeing Christ stood up and she looked. You know, Christ is nearer to us in our pain than we think, but we often miss it. We fail to believe it.

We're looking for feeling. We're looking for something tangible, some write it in the sky. And yes, this is a resurrection appearance but it shows us a principle that is true to this day about the resurrected Christ. He's close. And you and I must develop the eyes of faith to see that.

Well, Mary doesn't see that. And there's debate again about why she couldn't recognize him when she turned around. Right? She turns around and she sees him, but she doesn't see that it's Christ. Was it because it was still dark?

Was it because her eyes were filled and blinded because of her tears? Was it because of her hysteria? Was it a combination of both? Some say it's because Jesus cloaked himself, but it doesn't say he did that. So let's not distract ourselves from what this is trying to teach us.

She did not perceive him in the midst of her confusion and turmoil. We often do the same. Again, I alluded to the disciples who are on that water, and it was about to ravish them and destroy them. And here's Christ coming and they say, it's a ghost. It's a ghost.

Hold on. The one who is sovereign over the waves, the one who is unmoved by the winds, the one who is for you, the one who sent you, you see as a ghost? You know, there are many good hearted believers who are more ready to acknowledge the presence of demons and Satan in the midst of their problems. Instead of acknowledging the providence of Christ, instead of acknowledging the power of Christ, we're more ready to say it's a ghost than it's this and you fail to see he's there. He's always been there.

He's not surprised by the storm. You may be, but he's sovereign over it. And here's Mary where she looks at Jesus. He's right behind her touching distance. And what does the text tell us?

She supposed that he was the gardener. Why gardener of all things? You know what John tells us? Why? Are you there in John 20?

Go to John 19. Look at John 19 verse 41. Now in a place where he was crucified, there was a garden, And in the garden, a new tomb in which no one had been yet been laid. Jesus's tomb was in a garden. And so Mary, turning to see this man standing there, assumes that in the early hours of the day, the gardener has come to do his job.

And in her desperation, she looks at the gardener thinking maybe the gardener took Jesus away. Do you do you know where you've laid him? Can you tell me where you've laid him? I'll I'll take him. I wonder if you and I can sense a theme that John is trying to illustrate, obviously, because he is being led by the Holy Spirit.

Think about it with me. Christ was raised from a tomb in a garden because long ago sin entered into the world in a garden. And in that garden long ago, the Lord walked in the cool of the day to do what? To pronounce a curse. A sentence of death that would impact the world forever.

But now on this resurrection morning, the Lord stands again in a garden, not to pronounce a curse, but to send forth a message of hope and salvation until the world is fully restored again. This is a new day, not just for Jesus. This is a new day, not just for Mary. This is a new day for mankind. So Mary thinks it's the gardener, she's just she's falling apart.

And we can applaud it because she loves Jesus so much, but we also have to come gently say, Mary, there's you don't have to weep like this. And everything is about to change. She's about to realize very quickly this is no gardener. Why? Because look at verse 16, Jesus said to her, Mary, you can't be a gardener because you wouldn't know my name.

You're not a landscaper. And I am sure that the way Jesus said Mary's name had a ring of familiarity. The tone, the pronunciation, everything about Jesus saying her name unlocked the revelation and simultaneously flooded her heart with joy and peace. It's an amazing thing to believe that this resurrected Christ knows us by name. Yes.

We are sheep, but guess what? Sheep are named. You don't get a tag on your ear with a number on it. He knew her name. She knew how he said her name.

So when he said it, she melts. And once again, Mary's reaction inspires me. The first thing that she does when she hears her name spoken in the way only Jesus can is turn her back to the angels and from her lips cry Rabboni. So the movement here seems to indicate that when she was looking into the tomb initially and the angels were there asking the question, she answered it, she senses the presence of someone else, she I I think this is what's happening, she turns her head only. But then when she hears her name, she turns completely and she says, Rabboni.

And John helps us in the meaning of this title, means teacher. But it's more than rabbi. Rabboni, it's it's a term of, yes, endearment. It's an emphatic way of saying rabbi. It's like my teacher, my master, my Lord.

Listen, although it's personal, Mary shows us something so important. She gives Christ his due, a title of dignity, respect, and honor. That's what spontaneously shoots out of her heart and her lips when she discovers this is him. And it teaches us something very important about how we should and how we must relate to Jesus Christ. Christ is intimate.

Christ is loving. Christ is thoughtful. Christ oozes with mercy. Christ is very intentional with each of us. And Mary who experienced the love of Christ, understand that this is the same Mary whom the gospels tells us Jesus delivered her from seven demons.

She knew the love of Christ. She knew the power of Christ. She knew the rescuing grace of Christ. And she, in this moment, is about to know a fresh revelation of her of his personal love for her and yet none of that diminished her reverence for him. You know, when I first got saved in the early years being a Christian, I noticed how some people act as if the invitation to be close to Christ gives license for us to be cheeky with Christ, to be a little too casual with Jesus, be careful.

Praise God, he is incredibly approachable, but never forget that he is king. He is exalted forever. He is matchless in his majesty. He is infinitely holy. The seraphim dare not even look at him with their bare eyes.

So he is shepherd. He is friend. He is the lover of our souls. But Mary shows us as close as Christ can get to us and longs to be with us, he is to be reverenced. He is to be feared.

Rabboni. And notice, we come to the end of this story, we see Mary moving merely from turning her head to turning her body to now clinging to Christ. And we know that because what does Jesus say in verse 17? Jesus said to her, do not cling to me. Now I'm aware that the King James, which was really the only and the most notable and famous Bible in the English speaking world for hundreds of years, renders this part as touch me not.

So people get the idea that what Mary was doing here was just simply touching him, but the the language and the context suggests, especially in the original Greek, the word more accurately means to fasten oneself to. So you have to understand what Mary is doing here is clutching, grabbing, not just embracing. But what makes this prohibition from Christ more difficult is when we factor in the broader context of the resurrection. Because we heard at the opening of the service that when the group of women who visited the tomb were making their way back to the disciples to say what the angels told them, Jesus appears and he says greetings. I love that.

You know what that means? Hello. And that one hello, obviously, the sight of Christ before them makes them drop to their knees, and it and it says that they held fast to his feet. Why didn't he stop them from doing that? There's no indication at the end of Matthew that he says, don't don't don't grab my feet.

What about Thomas? When he shows up in that meeting because he missed the first one when Christ appeared. And Jesus looks at him and says, Thomas. He extends his wounds. He says, come.

Touch him. He invites him to touch him. What about the end of Luke 24? When Christ has another meeting with the disciples, and he says, look, I'm flesh and bone here. Touch.

So why in this case when Mary Magdalene wants to grab him, the Lord says, do not. And we don't have time today to explore every possible view, but in my opinion, the most convincing is that Jesus Christ understood the intent of Mary's action here. He read the motive. He understood why she was doing this. And the motive behind her clinging is that she wanted to restrain him.

She wanted to keep him. She wanted to have him the way she has always known him before his death. Physically present, practically accessible. And Jesus in the same verse lets Mary know it would no longer be this way. I must ascend to the father.

And in doing so, Mary, along with every other true believer, would experience what Christ taught about and promised after his ascension and his exaltation, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. This is a new era. This is gonna be a big change for Mary and the other followers of Christ. But Christ also assured them that it would be better. Sure it's not physical, sure it's not tangible, but it's going to be spiritual and part of that spiritual blessing is that there is uninterrupted access to Christ.

Any place, anywhere, all of us at the same time can have Christ one on one. Mary, this whole thing is not done yet. Don't think that it's gonna be the way it was these past few years. It's going to be different. Don't cling to me.

But we have to be careful because although Christ has risen and he's ascended to heaven and though we are enabled to engage with him on a spiritual level, the Lord Jesus Christ, pay attention please, is still flesh and bone. Understanding that important theological truth helps us make sense of what Jesus says in this verse. Notice this, he tells her to relay this message to the disciples. I am ascending to my father and your father to my God and your God. So those who deny the deity of Christ will often come to this text and corner Christians and ask the following, if you claim that Jesus Christ is God, how can he claim that he has a God?

Resurrection is a very emotional experience, but brothers and sisters we have to be able to explain why we believe what we believe. He says, my God. And this statement would have been easy to explain had he made it before his death and resurrection because we would, I hope, be able to say that the reason why Christ can say my God is because the father is his God by virtue of his humanity. Jeremiah thirty two twenty seven tells us, the Lord who is the God of all flesh. And remember that verse.

The Lord who is the God of all flesh. That's what the Lord says. So when Christ, the second person of the trinity, takes on flesh, he assumes that the father now is his god by virtue of his humanity. Great. But here's where people stumble.

Jesus made this declaration, made this statement after his death and resurrection. If it was before his death, I could just say yes. He became man. Because of that, he relates to God as his God. But now he rose from the grave.

And if you found yourself troubled by this or maybe confronted not knowing how to answer, today is a day where it changes. It's very simple really. Because what we have to understand about the resurrection is that when Christ did indeed defeat death, when he did walk out of that tomb, he did not do so spiritually as some cults claim. He did not ascend invisibly as some assume. He did both with a glorified body.

Christ physically arose. Christ physically ascended. You ready for this? Christ is physically seated at the right hand of God. So that same body that was pierced, that same body that was beaten, that same body that was hung, that same body that was prepared to be buried, that same body that went into the tomb is the same body that came out of the tomb.

What does that lead to? Well if he is still flesh though glorified, then the truth of God being his God as a man still remains. And that's why even after his resurrection, that's why even after his ascension where we find in Revelation where Jesus is giving letters to the churches, he still says in some of those places, my God. Why? Because he is flesh forever.

The God man seated at the right hand of power for eternity. We often think that when Christ came into this world and took on flesh, he unzipped the flesh and he just moved on as though things are going back to the way they were in eternity past. Not so when Christ came in the flesh, he added to his divinity humanity forever. That's the extent of the price that Christ paid paid for us. I wonder what a sight it was when Christ ascended to heaven and he went up to those gates And for the first time ever, flesh and blood, glorified, entered into that place.

And not just entered into that place, but walked up to the father and sat beside him, and the father accepts it because his son accomplished his will. Oh, there's more to to be said about this. Let's land it soon here. Notice that Jesus also said, yes, he is my father, your father, my God, and your God. But one might wonder, why didn't he just say our father and our God?

That would have simplified the message. Right? Jesus is very careful with his words. Do you believe that? I believe that.

With his recorded words in red and with his entire word from Genesis to Revelation. He's very precise when he needs to be. The reason why Jesus makes this distinction, my father, your father, my God, your God is because he wants to teach something very important about his status before God and that of the disciples. He does now invite the disciples to understand that he is your father and he is your God. But he also wants to make clear that God being father to him has always been from eternity past.

God being father to Christ is because of Christ's nature. That has never changed. But God being father to the disciples and us is not because of our nature, it's because of adoption. He is my father by virtue of my standing as the Son of God. It always was.

He is your father because of grace. And you are invited into that relationship because my resurrection seals that status. And that's why he can say what he said to Mary about how he identified these disciples. Look at it again in verse 17. Do not cling to me for I have not yet ascended to the father, but go to my brothers.

My what? My brothers. So if you're sitting there today as we wrap things up and you think to yourself, that's a wonderful, wonderful explanation of how Christ is so soft and patient towards Mary Magdalene. But I'll admit, preacher, my devotion to Christ is nowhere near Mary's. I'm more like those two disciples on the road to Emmaus who are making their way back home.

Like, well, I guess he wasn't the hope. A little bit of sad sadness there, but I'm ready to move on with my life. Mary can't seem to function here. And if that is what you're thinking in this place, remember where the 12 disciples were at this point. Judas is gone, yes.

Thomas is who knows where. The others, obviously fearful. The greatest failure that the disciples committed was walking away from Christ in his greatest time of need. Denying him, walking away from him, and not believing what he had said about his own resurrection. This is the lowest of the low for the disciples.

You know what Christ tells Mary to tell them? Go tell my brothers. If he said my servants, I would have been happy with that. If he said my anything, we can praise Christ for his acknowledgment. But of all things, he says, go tell my brothers.

The disciples walked away. The other disciples are hiding. They're still my brothers. They're still mine. They still belong to me.

Who is this Jesus? You know, I'm fully aware that there are people in here who might wanna be somewhere else. It's possible that you're here physically, but your heart is in a different place because you're perhaps disappointed with God, angry at God, living in sin with all that you know about God. But you know what the resurrection does for those who believe it and those who have put their faith and trust in it? It secures a relationship with Christ that is unfathomable.

That even in your distancing and your separation and your back turned on him, if you belong to him, the Lord looks at you with eyes of love. Go tell my brothers. He doesn't give up on us. We give up on him. He's never failed us.

We fail him. He's never told us anything that was untrue. We don't believe him. And yet in this pathetic display of devotion on the part of the disciples, Jesus says, go tell my brothers. And what does Mary do in verse 18?

Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, I have seen the lord and that he had said these things to her. Can you imagine? This woman who had seven demons living inside of her, delivered from Christ. And because of her love for her, though though her faith was not fully developed, though she didn't have all the answers, Christ honored her longing, and he came so carefully and so lovingly to help her get out of this darkness. And more than that, he gives her a message to give to the apostles.

Everything about Jesus in his resurrection appearances shows grace upon grace. I mean, think about it. You would think that Christ might make an appearance to Pilate after he rose. Hey. Remember me?

What about the religious leaders? What are you gonna say now? He doesn't do that. What does he go to? The first person, Mary.

Lost, bewildered, heaving, Mary. What about the disciples? Go tell my brothers. This amazing God that we serve, that we can know, that we can draw near to, that we can experience made what I am speaking about available because he chose to come into this world, take on flesh, to be killed and crucified so he can purchase what we've always needed. Friday, we recognize the bread and the cup.

And in God's providence, as we always do in the first Sunday of the month, we recognize the bread and the cup. But with an added reminder, that flesh of his was broken on our behalf, but that same flesh rose, glorified. And Jesus Christ one day will come back bodily, and we will be with him forever. I wonder if you know this Jesus of whom I speak. I wonder if you've experienced this Jesus.

These are not just nice stories that people put together. These are historical accounts, and they are meant to show you who Jesus is and what he is like. Are you not drawn to him? Are you not moved by him? Do you not want to have him?

He Do you not want to have Him? He is available and the way you access Him is by faith. The way you experience Him is in a moment, you realize I am a sinner. I am vile. I am guilty.

It was my sin that put him on that cross, but he paid for it. And so I received this gift, Lord, forgive me. I repent. If you're willing to make me an enemy into a brother, into a sister, into a child of God, if I can, through you, be able to call God the holy one enthroned in heaven as father, I receive it. Why would you not?

What's better than that? And believer, maybe today you're like Mary. You have an intense love for Christ, but you're confused about some things. Jesus is near to you than you imagine. And if you never wanna fall into that place again where you're weeping tears and staying up and losing sleep for things that you shouldn't, get into the word.

Know what he has said. Know who he is, and you'll save yourself from unnecessary tears. Or maybe some of you in here are like the disciples. You're here. You're not really here, actually.

So be it. He still loves you, and he summons you. He doesn't want you to live another moment outside of His perfect will. Would you respond to His conviction today? So this is a table of remembrance of what Christ has done for us, and it is prescribed for Christians, those who have put their trust in the message that these emblems represent.

So if you are a Christian here, you are invited to eat at this feast. But if you're here today visiting us, we're so glad that you're here. But know this, we honor Christ. We believe his word. We want to love him and obey him above all else.

And what he asks is that you would not partake if you do not belong to him. However, you can belong to him. And while you see people taking these elements and you sit there, realize that these people are making a declaration, I've been saved by grace, and you can be saved by that same grace. Every person walking up here is not holier than thou. Every person that's making their way up here saying, I've been forgiven.

Jesus is real to me. And I'm here to remind my own soul that it's because of what he has done that I am redeemed forever. So let's prepare our hearts, shall we? And ask him to make himself more real to us by faith. We thank you, father, for these truths, just a glimpse of what you are like.

Because when we see Christ, we see also who the father is. Distinct, yes, in persons, but one in entity, one in being. And, Lord, we've come yet again to the table to partake of the truth of what Christ has done for us two thousand years ago. Help our hearts savor these things with the revelation that the Christ who appeared to Mary, the Christ who asked for the disciples is the Christ who loves us and sees us no differently. We rejoice in these things together in Jesus' name.

Amen. Amen. Here's how we're going to do this. We're going to approach the table. We will invite you right away.

Hold on to those elements. Don't eat them immediately. Bring them back with you to your seat. We will pray for the bread and the cup. Drink and eat and sing our hearts out.

Amen? Thank you for your patience. On the night that Jesus was betrayed, he sat with his disciples and he took bread, he blessed it, and he broke it. And he said, take, eat. This is my body.

But before we eat, let's give him thanks for his body. We thank you, Lord, that you are the bread of life. You've come down to this world to fulfill and satisfy our souls at the price of your body being broken. We thank you, Lord, that the same body that was broken came out glorified. And we will one day, with the rest of the nation, see you come again.

Until then, Lord, we are grateful that our future is secure because you took our place by becoming like one of us. And as we eat this, we savor it remembering your great sacrifice. In Jesus' name, amen. Let's eat. And then he took a cup, and he looked at his disciples, and he said, drink in remembrance of me.

This is the blood of my covenant, and it has been poured out for the forgiveness of many. Let's give thanks for the cup. Lord, we thank you that you shed your blood. We thank you that you spilled your blood as a ransom, as a payment for our redemption. Thank you that we don't have to spill our own blood.

Thank you that we don't have to lay on any altar. Thank you that we don't have to get up on any cross for our redemption. You did it on our behalf. May this news never become stale. May it never become old.

May it never become so familiar that we lose the wonder of it, that God shed his blood. And, Lord, as we drink this, we too savor what cost you so much in order for us to fellowship with you for all of eternity, and we are eternally grateful for it. We pray these things in the living name of Jesus. Amen. Let's drink.

There is a day coming where all of the redeemed will be gathered with Christ. And we're going to eat and drink with him again, realizing that he has been faithful. All of these communion services are leading up to one feast that is gonna be real and it's gonna be enjoyed for eternity. Let's sing about it together. Let's stand now in these final songs.

Rose Christ Jesus from the dead lives in us. May the resurrection power of Christ rest upon each of you. May his resurrection power rest upon your marriage. May it overshadow your children. May it overshadow your body.

May it go before you in all your ways. Wherever you go, may his presence be your portion. Lord, we thank you that we have a living Christ. May we see more and more manifestations of his power, of his wisdom, of his provision for this church, for every ministry represented here, for every household, even the broken households. We pray that, Lord, you would enter into all of our brokenness, and you would mend it.

You would enter into all of our confusion, and you would clarify. You would enter into even our condition of unfaithfulness, and you would make us faithful again. We love you, Lord, and we thank you. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

Christ is risen. Amen. Amen. Hallelujah. We're celebrating with food downstairs.

Join us. God be with you. We will see you next week should the Lord tarry. The Lord will get through. Bye bye now.