Mary!

TEXT:

‘“Mary!” Jesus said. She turned toward him. “Master!” she exclaimed’ (John 20:16 TLB)

THOUGHT:

The previous Today’s Teaching theme was “Jesus is Greater!” We see the truth of this in the life of Mary Magdalene. What a wonderful Jesus we have, so loving and caring.

• Her Demons – ‘Mary called Magdalene, out of whom had come seven demons’ (Luke 8:2)

Mary had seven demons. What they were, how they had affected her and for how long she had had them is not known. The Bible does make clear that demons are unclean, destructive and create untold misery to those they possess. Life is never pleasant when they are around. Most people feel powerless to overcome a demon but not Jesus!

• Her Deliverance

What Mary had suffered from for years, Jesus delivered her from in a second! The Bible has many accounts of people in pain and misery for years, even from birth, yet Jesus was able to set them free in no time at all. How? ‘God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil’ (Acts 10:38). As Jesus is the same, yesterday and today and for ever, what He did then He can do today for you!

• Her Despair – ‘Why are you weeping?’ (John 20:15)

Life had been wonderful following Jesus, but now He was dead and even worse His body had been moved, so she had no place to grieve. None of Jesus’ followers really understood He would bodily rise from the dead. They believed in life after death but not that life coming back to earth again. Perhaps she feared with Jesus now gone, the demons would be able to come back and torment her again.

What are you crying over? Is it for yourself or a loved one? Has Coronavirus and its devastation made things worse? Do you fear for your future? Take comfort from God’s promise, ‘Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you’ (1 Peter 5:7 NLT).

• Her Delight

There are two things in particular I want to emphasise.

1. Mary recognised His voice

Jesus said, “Mary” and immediately she exclaimed, “Master”, and fell in worship at His feet. Jesus said, ‘My sheep hear My voice’ (John 10:27). Out exercising last week, we walked through a field full of sheep and lambs. As we neared a sheep, she bleated and two lambs immediately ran to her, although the others (over one hundred and sixty) remained unmoved. Why? They recognised her voice!

The disciples were struggling, rowing against a contrary wind, when Jesus suddenly appeared, walking on the water.¹ Some thought they were seeing a ghost. Peter said, ‘Lord if it is You, tell me to come’. The moment Jesus said, ‘Come’, Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water. He willingly risked his life only because he recognised the voice of Jesus.

2. Jesus knew her name – ‘Mary’

She was not a nobody, she was someone to Jesus! ‘He calls His own sheep by name’ (John 10:3). The very first task the women were given by the angel on that resurrection morning was to tell His disciples and Peter, that He had risen. The one who had denied knowing Jesus was referred to by name. Jesus even called Zacchaeus by name when everyone else would have used a derogatory term instead.

Those in authority often think it’s beneath them to use a person’s name but not Jesus! Sometimes God changes a name for a better one. Simon became Peter, Abram became Abraham and even cheating Jacob became Israel!

The first thing that struck me when a friend said, “Why don’t you give God a chance?” was, “You’ve got faith to believe that God would even know about me with six billion people on earth!” How I thank God a lapel badge with the words, “Jesus is alive today” resulted in me knowing God knew my name! That was in February 1973 because the Easter message is just as real any month of the year.

Finally, Jesus gave strict instructions to His disciples to tell everyone the good news of how they could be set free from sin, sickness and Satan. After the infilling of the Holy Spirit and power on the Day of Pentecost, they did just that and the church has continued with the same message ever since.

Jesus knows your name and everything about you. You do not have to give Him all the information, just the affirmation that He is Lord. Then ask Him to become your Lord and see His power and authority set you free.

Endnotes

¹ Matthew 14:22-33