RESURRECTION MORNING.

THE EMPTY TOMB.

JOHN CHAPTER 20.

MARY’S JOURNEY

FROM DESPAIR

*

TO DELIGHT

MARY’S JOURNEY

FROM DESPAIR

VIA DEVOTION

TO DELIGHT

DESPAIR

• Mary has experienced forgiveness and unconditional love.

• She had seen Jesus arrested, beaten and crucified.

• She came to the tomb in despair.• She came overwhelmed with sorrow.• She came with no expectation of any

good news.

MARY’S RESPONSE

• They have taken the Lord out of the tomb and we don’t know where they

have put him!

BACK AT THE TOMB

• John arrives first.• Peter goes in first.• Not down to grave robbers.• John enters and believes.

MARY’S DEVOTION

• One of the last to leave the cross.• One of the first to arrive at the tomb.• The others went home – Mary

remained.• Devotion clings.

• A sight of angels and their smiles will not suffice without a sight of Jesus.

• A sight of angels and their smiles will not suffice without a sight of Jesus.

• None know, but those who have tasted it, the sorrows of a deserted soul, which has had comfortable evidences of the love of God in Christ, and hopes of heaven, but has now lost them, and walks in darkness; such a wounded spirit who can bear?

MARY’S GRIEF

• “Woman, why are you crying?”

• “They have taken my Lord away, and I don’t know where they have put him.”

JESUS APPEARS

• Mary assumes he is the groundsman.

• “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.”

• “Mary.”

• “My sheep know my voice.”

ONE MORE ‘FIRST’ FOR MARY

ONE MORE ‘FIRST’ FOR MARY

• Mary was the first to be commissioned to preach the Gospel.

• “Go and tell.”