Sermon nuggets Fri Dec 26
Theme Resurrection
Verses- John 20:10-16 Then the disciples went back to their homes, but Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus' body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.
13 They asked her, "Woman, why are you crying?" "They have taken my Lord away," she said, "and I don't know where they have put him."
14 At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus. "Woman," he said, "why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?" Thinking he was the gardener, she said, "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him."
16 Jesus said to her, "Mary." She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, "Rabboni!" (which means Teacher).
From Doubts to Discovery
There are some who delight in Christmas and other for whom this season is nothing more than a secular time to celebrate with loved ones. For some they delight in God and marvel at His wonder and works. For others it is an opportunity for parties, play, presents, and traditions. What makes the difference?
Mary didn’t come Easter morning to see if the tomb was opened. She didn’t come to see if Jesus’ word about his resurrection was true. She had no understanding and expectations of seeing Him alive. She doubted just like all the disciples doubted. This was something far beyond their experience. Yes he talked about resurrection, but no one really believed it.
After she had told the disciples of her discovery, they went to the tomb, saw the empty grave except the clothes and returned to their place. Mary also returned in her doubts. She thought someone stole the body. She was there. There was no question about His being buried there. In confusion and grief she cried and sat there by herself.
When she peered into the tomb she saw two figures in white sitting at the place where the body used to be. They asked, “Why are your crying”? Her disbelief was made plain in what she thought happened. “They have taken away my Lord and I don‘t know where they have put him.”
Mary Magdalene saw what Peter and John didn’t. These angels never appeared to the disciples but they did to Mary. It seems these heavenly beings can be seen and not seen by their will. He didn’t expect to see anything and didn’t recognize them as angels at the time. She didn’t believe, she doubted, but that lack of understanding wasn’t important. God saw her heart.
I am not saying that it doesn’t make any difference what we believe. It has been said that as long as you are sincere God will honor that, even if you are wrong. You might sincerely believe you are on think ice and it will hold you, but sincerity has nothing to do with the actual thickness of the ice. People put their faith in many things, but if it isn’t in the works of Jesus Christ they are lost and without hope. There is no other name given among men whereby you must be saved.
Do you have doubts? I do sometimes. Some times it is easy to trust human understanding instead of what is revealed in the Word of God. But even in my doubts I am in the hands of Jesus, since I have trusted Christ to save me. He holds on to me.
It is like the incident of Peter, who had the right desire, but doubted when he was walking on the water. His doubts caused him to look at the winds and the waves instead of keeping his eyes on Christ. When he was falling he cried out to Christ. Jesus wasn’t going to let Peter drown. He had everything under control He know Peter’s desires and called him to follow. All the doubts of the other apostles kept them in the boat, but that little faith was accepted.
A gentile came to Jesus asking healing for his son. He said, “Lord, if you can, heal my boy from convulsions? Jesus said, “If I can? Everything is possible for him who believes. I liked the father’s response, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief.” Jesus healed his son. The man had the desire and came to the right person. He had little faith but he had the right faith in the right person. It isn’t important how much faith you have, but where that faith is placed. If we have put faith the size of a mustard seed that is enough for your desires. Mary didn’t believe he could rise, but had the desire to see Jesus and He gave her much more than what she even hoped or dreamed.
Tears so blinded her eyes with grief and thinking about her loss that she failed to see the answer that sorrow would turn into joy.
He was standing there. She did not realize it was him. Woman he said, “Why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?” Thinking he was the gardener she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him” Jesus said to her, “Mary”
She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic “Rabboni” which means Teacher. I wonder how many times Jesus speaks to us but we fail to recognize him because we are centered on our own pain? We don’t expect God surprises.
With a deep feeling of faith and loyalty and love she places him to be the object of her worship. It is the desire of her heart to honor her Lord. The resurrection changes doubts to desire to worship and serve Him. It provides for us hope of our resurrection as well.
This is the confidence of one who knew the Savior. Is it your confidence? Yet the resurrected Lord didn’t look at her doubts, but her faith and she was blessed with new discovery. It is faith that moves our doubts to discovery- at Christmas, at Easter and throughout the experiences in the New Year.
Pastor Dale
