02 - Mary Magdalene - A Life Transformed by Love

Um I think I uh discharge my burden for this uh concerning this nameless

lady and we can just come to um Mary the Magdalene for this for this meeting. So

you have an outline in front of you. Um

now right after the story that we covered uh in the last session um in chapter 8 which is the immediate

next chapter I want to read to you. Okay.

And this is sort of part of why I feel this there's a small possibility

that um this woman may be Mary Magdalene. I don't know. Okay.

Magdalene. I don't know. Okay.

Uh chapter 8 verse one of Luke. And soon

afterward he journeyed, the Lord journeyed from city to city and village to village preaching and announcing the

gospel of the kingdom of God. And the 12 were with him, the 12 disciples as well as certain women. You know, when

I uh was younger, I didn't know there were women in the crowd that followed the Lord. I always think it's the Lord.

the Lord. I always think it's the Lord.

Then 12, all 13 just this band of men, you know, roaming the cities and uh towns and villages and so on.

Then then I realized that from these verses actually that's not correct.

Not correct. There were a group of women not more than just one.

the number of women [clears throat] that followed him. Then I say, "Aha,

followed him. Then I say, "Aha, it's easy to understand why because they need to eat.

They they they they need to be taken care of uh in their um you know, their daily life and

there's no McDonald's or whatever. Um,

so, so there's this group of vi women.

There's no mentioning of how they got together, how they, the Lord didn't call them, the Lord didn't commission them.

In other words, they were all volunteers.

They were all just volunteers.

Okay? Certain women who were healed of evil spirits.

All right? and infirmities, meaning the sick one way or another, [clears throat] and they were healed by the Lord. Many

uh excuse me, Mary, who was called Magdalene, from whom seven demons were had gone

out. So, so Mary Magdalene, this this

out. So, so Mary Magdalene, this this sister, this woman was particularly singled out as the first one mentioned

in the group. First one. So, this is important. She she she's

important. She she she's special in that kind of a way.

Mdelene, by the way, is based on the word Madala. Madala is a probably a kind

word Madala. Madala is a probably a kind of fishing village. on the west side of the Sea of Galilee goes to Tiberius. You

know, Tiberius is where these 11 disciples went to catch fish and the Lord met them there and fed them. And

that's where the Lord spoke to Peter that he should go and shepherd his sheep

and and feed his sheep. Okay. So um

she hailed from that um that place. So

she's called um uh the Magdalene, meaning she she's from

that place. And um so she's a Galilean

that place. And um so she's a Galilean just like a lot of those disciples were a Galilean. Okay.

a Galilean. Okay.

And there's a certain Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod Stewart. That

means amongst them there were all classes of women. Some

higher class, some sorry to say lower class, uh some wives of high officials, some just probably

from a fishing family.

and Susanna uh and many other women. Many other I have no idea how many. Many other maybe some have to take a break and go home

and another group would come and I have no idea.

they have some coordination who minister to them the Lord and the disciples out of their

uh possessions you know um isn't this a beautiful picture you know just imagine the Lord with his disciples and and there's this

group of women following them um and not only that they ministered They mean they took care of the Lord and

the disciples practically right physically out of their possessions. That means

they all have some means. Some of them definitely are probably uh um

have means uh to uh to to minister, right? Um to buy food and other things.

right? Um to buy food and other things.

So just a very beautiful picture. I

think you sisters should be happy about that. It's always I always exist men.

that. It's always I always exist men.

The Lord is a man. These 12 are men.

That's it. They go around and doing stuff and the women is just probably at home and doing whatever. There's

actually a group of sisters that were getting around with the Lord and his disciples and not just following them,

ministering to them. ministering to

them. So this uh sort of sets an example that even in the later on in the church life in the um early church there were

lot of women mentioned especially if you go to Romans chapter 16 the last chapter of that book you'll

find names of not just brothers but sisters kinds of sisters

um who would some even was Paul's mother you know Paul's Paul had a mom

and this mom probably cooked for him or served him or ministered to him something and then there were others who

actually even contributed in to the work the labor of the gospel supporting uh the apostle so

uh even I take the opportunity to just stress this.

The group of women, the group of women who took care of the Lord and uh and his

um uh and the apostles, his the Lord's workers right?

Um you know even in the Lord's recovery we we have this we have absolutely seen this uh over time um in a very very

wonderful I use the word very very be beautiful beautiful way beautiful no arrangement no no pay you know no salary

just out of their uh the abundance of their heart the love for the Lord uh and their oneness with the Lord's

ministry. They took care of the Lord

ministry. They took care of the Lord practically. We need this in the church

practically. We need this in the church life everywhere. Everywhere in a hidden

life everywhere. Everywhere in a hidden way, in a way not mentioned except here.

Of course, as we get to Mary Magdalene now, we'll find out that those group of women actually followed the Lord

from the beginning all the way to the end.

Even you know at the cross at the cross the men fled the men they all ran away including I

mean all the the Lord's disciples all ran away but the women were still there.

Some even were at the cross. You

remember in John at the cross including the Lord's mother and a few other Marys right at the cross and then then later

on they were watching the L probably after the Lord died uh uh from a distance and even watching how

uh even the Lord's body was collected by two rich men right Joseph and then there's uh Nicodemus us, right? And uh

how they prepare a tomb and they uh bury him there and this is how they knew how to find the tomb on the morning of the

third day of resurrection. They would

know if they were not following this.

So somewhere uh I might have shared something here um I don't know where is it in the

ministry. It was really brought up that

ministry. It was really brought up that it was a group of w women that followed the Lord from the beginning of

this ministry to the end. Not men but women. Meaning that they identate

women. Meaning that they identate witness the Lord's um um ministry, the Lord's crucifixion,

the Lord's burial, right? the Lord's resurrection

burial, right? the Lord's resurrection and for sure eventually the Lord's ascension by being witnesses of all of

this they themselves became witnesses of the Lord actually physically

they by being close to the Lord in this way you have to believe they also heard the Lord's teaching when the Lord taught they were actually

there listening. Not just the 12

there listening. Not just the 12 disciples, the women were there. Uh you

know uh Mary uh of Bethany who broke the box also um um

the Lord say she did it for my burial.

You know she this Mary did for my burial. Well how did Mary know about the

burial. Well how did Mary know about the Lord burial? Because this all this

Lord burial? Because this all this happened before the Lord died. Okay?

Because in those days the Lord spoke repeatedly about his death and resurrection.

Repeatedly. You you will find it in the Gospels that he's going to go to Jerusalem and die and be resurrected, buried and be resurrected on the Lord's

day. All right? And we know later on the

day. All right? And we know later on the brothers didn't get it or they heard it but they didn't

get it.

>> This woman Mary of Bethany, not this Magdalene, she anointed the Lord and and and waste

everything on the Lord because she heard it and she got it. She may not understand all the things but he heard the Lord. She heard the Lord. You know

the Lord. She heard the Lord. You know

Mary Bethany, she's the one who sat at the Lord's feet.

Unlike her sister Martha who was busy about, you know, she was the one who sat at the Lord's feet to listen and the

Lord say she has the better part or even the best part.

And you have to believe the Lord was speaking about these things.

You see sisters, you know the difference between the brothers and the si and the sisters. So I'm going to say something

sisters. So I'm going to say something good about the sisters.

The brothers, they are usually not emotional or less emotional.

They are more mental. Uh okay. And also

they are more into you know who's number one, who's number two and all of that stuff. And um um uh and it takes them

stuff. And um um uh and it takes them longer time to believe something. They

to figure it out before they you know they believe.

Sisters are different. All right.

Sisters they are what? They are um more emotional. That's that's a fact. And

emotional. That's that's a fact. And

they are not as into like facts, you know, figures, statistics, you know, they are they they

so so so they believe more easily. Now

that that's may not be always good, but in this instance with the Lord that is much better than the brothers. They just

simply believe and they simply love.

And there's another thing with these sisters is they took action.

The men didn't take action. The men

eventually followed the sisters.

They I mean the the 10, okay, I'm a brother. If I'm called, I have to

brother. If I'm called, I have to follow, right? The Lord called me, so I

follow, right? The Lord called me, so I have to follow him. These women, they were not called, they were not commissioned, they didn't have a job.

They just tacked along. They just

volunteer themselves because they want to, because they believe and they they they love the Lord. And no, no. Uh no um

um um goodness, what should I do?

Um I'm sorry this is a call. Okay. Uh

where was I? Uh so [clears throat] they they just tacked along volunteer and even even get themselves involved in serving and

ministering to the men including the Lord himself. [snorts] So you you see

Lord himself. [snorts] So you you see the difference here.

Although much is mentioned about the men, the apostles and all of this uh not that much about the women but I mean if you read the gospels just taking this

line okay about the sisters you will be impressed. I am extremely impressed. I

impressed. I am extremely impressed. I

mean their role their their their service their heart their love I mean is superior to the brothers. in

many instance superior to the brothers and I say this not to make you feel good th this this is the record but if you don't study this you won't you won't

know that that happened see in the church life it's always men is more prominent they sit in the front row they speak they do this or that and bear

responsibility there's there's that's they have to do that but I'll tell you all of these things that are less known

less prominent, less spoken about are actually so important to the Lord and his ministry.

Paul was fair to mention name after name of sisters, not just brothers in Romans 16. And of course, even in Romans 16, in

16. And of course, even in Romans 16, in the beginning, the first person she mentioned was what?

The deaconist.

Phoebe, right? Okay. And of all the people, many people that he he is greeted and this and that, the first one

was Phoebe, who was known to be what? To

be a uh what is the word? Um

>> um what is the word? Help me. Um a

deaconist. Okay. I commend to you Phoebe, our sister, a deaconist of the church which is in Sria, that you would receive her in the Lord in a manner

worthy of the saints and assist her in whatever matter she may have need of you. So she's visiting Rome. So Paul was

you. So she's visiting Rome. So Paul was telling the Romans to take care of her for she herself has also been the patronist. This is the word the

patronist. This is the word the patronist. That word means pro

patronist. That word means pro protectress. Someone who protects. All

protectress. Someone who protects. All

right? It's a word of dignity.

What it means is it's a person that helps. Okay? I want you to to remember

helps. Okay? I want you to to remember these words. Helps, a person person who

these words. Helps, a person person who sustains other people, sustains them.

And a person who supplies people's need mostly in the physical sense. mostly,

not entirely but mostly.

So to such a one Paul place had high esteem for such a sister Phoebe

and had and re and and and told the saints that she should be well regarded because of her service in the church life.

Sisters, I just want to by the way mention this just how important sisters are. Maybe not so,

are. Maybe not so, you know, prominent you know and outward my behind the scenes in almost every

single way.

The sisters are indispensable more necessary than the brothers in the church life. and Mary the

Magdalene took the lead in Luke in in the order of mentioning she was the first one. Now she's a from a

first one. Now she's a from a fisherman's village and she's doesn't have a good past. I don't know where she where what where she work and where she

get the money. She just have the heart for the Lord to follow the Lord and do what she could.

Love prevails sisters. I mean if there is a sign of love it should be manifested in the sisters first. The

sisters in the church life should take the lead to love the Lord without any expectation of return

of recompense of reward. They just love the Lord.

of reward. They just love the Lord.

Period.

Period.

And so they serve my I if the church is like this, we're we're okay, brother. We're we're just okay. We really are.

okay. We really are.

Okay. Now, let's uh come to Mleene. I

have 35 minutes. I'll do my very best.

I'd like to give you a list of verses that mention I'm not going to talk about all of them. I just want to give you a list of scriptures that mention Mary the

Magdalene for you in the gospel. So,

Matthew uh chap 27 verse 56

and verse 61 and then Matthew 28 verse

1. verse one, Mark chapter 15 verse 40

1. verse one, Mark chapter 15 verse 40 and verse 47.

And then the same book of Mark chapter 16 verse where verse 1 and 9. I think I'm correct. You have to check. Then Luke

correct. You have to check. Then Luke

8:2 and chapter 24 10.

Finally John 19 chapter 19 verse 25 and chapter 20 verse 1. Now in the sharing

this morning we are going to mainly concentrate on Mary the Magdalene's

story as it relates to the discovery of the empty tomb. All right. And that is of course mainly discovery in other

gospels as well. Um, but we will mainly use the Gospel of John chapter 20. All

right.

A woman with seven demons is what we're talking about here.

[clears throat] demon-possessed lady became a top one in

following loving and serving the Lord. Okay. All right. One,

I'm going into the outline. Mary the

Magdalene had been possessed by seven demons, and those demons were cast out by the Lord Jesus. she was released. You

know, the demons basically um shackle you, enslave you, right, um

possess you um and in so doing harm you and hurt you and destroy you. Okay? So

she was released from those demons and from that time she became a real seeker of the Lord. One who loved the Lord love him very much.

Wow.

I mean today if there's a sister who had seven demons cast out, I would be a little bit afraid to sit close to her.

Oh my goodness.

Seven demons cast out. This is the woman. This is the example. This is the

woman. This is the example. This is the pattern. [clears throat]

pattern. [clears throat] All right.

You know, demons are related, you know, in in our experience number one to idolatry. Idolatry.

And also, wherever there's idolatry, fornication prevails.

So, I have to believe there's something here. All right? that she's uh such a

here. All right? that she's uh such a not just a demon-possessed person but a sinner as well. Okay. Two, after the

Lord Jesus resurrected from the dead, he manifested himself first to Mary the Magdalene. So, uh there there you can

Magdalene. So, uh there there you can read all the verses, but let's just concentrate on chapter 20 of John. Now

again I want to uh remind you that this these women were roving around with the Lord three and a half years or three

years however long okay all the way to witnessing the Lord's death on the cross for 6 hours the Lord's arrest the Lord's you know the

Lord's crucifixion I don't know about the arrest but for sure the crucifixion burial Um,

you know, let's talk a moment about love here. Okay.

here. Okay.

Mary Oh, the Bethany of Bethany, she she what? She um

what? She um uh it say she had a pound in one record.

one pound of 12 oz in those days of ointment that she pour on the Lord's body

after the Lord died and they were scared. No one want to get close to the

scared. No one want to get close to the body of the lord's until those two followers of the lord or you can say

disciples of the lord went and ask pilot to to get the body and it says they rich people right it says they brought 100

pounds of spices as in the as is the was the uh the practice in those days especially with rich people the more

ointment, the more spices, the the more honorable and you know high class you are. And they embombed the Lord or or or

are. And they embombed the Lord or or or uh anointed the Lord with 100 pounds.

And then they wrapped him in in their grave clothes and put them in a brand new tomb, a wealthy man's tomb, which was also prophesied,

I think, in uh in uh in Psalms or in Isaiah. Okay.

Isaiah. Okay.

One is one pound, one is 100b.

What's the difference?

Yeah. 100 times 10 100x difference, right? But that's not my question. It's

right? But that's not my question. It's

not the difference in weight in cost of course 100 times difference.

I'm talking about the time of the anointing.

The one pound before the Lord died, the 100 pounds after the Lord died.

You see the difference? This is big difference here. This is key.

difference here. This is key.

The one pound was by this woman with little means pouring out all she had. That's all she had. The Lord said, "Leave her alone.

had. The Lord said, "Leave her alone.

Don't Don't bother her. She did what she could and she done a good work on me.

Poured it all out.

These two rich men probably little change, small change, 100 pounds. I

don't know sisters. I like to say this.

sisters. I like to say this.

is not how much objectively you have given to the Lord.

It's when you give it to the Lord.

And number one, number two, how much of what you have given relative to your possessions.

Do you follow me? Those two things are what is more important.

We have a song in the hymn though. If ever I love thee, Lord Jesus, it is now.

It is now. Dear sisters,

when we talk about here loving the Lord.

We'll all love him in that day. Every

knee will bow, every tongue confess.

Like it or not, we will all love him in that day when the Lord comes.

But I wouldn't say that it's too late.

But that's different.

What makes this woman not Meline but Bethany so special is because she loved the

Lord. Now before the Lord died

Lord. Now before the Lord died and so the Lord said the poor you have always but me you don't what does what did he

me mean by that he didn't just mean that you always think about the poor you don't think about me maybe but there's another meaning and that is

you can give to the poor any time 100 years from now 200 years from now the poor will still be there But me,

me what? Me living in the flesh still

me what? Me living in the flesh still among you before I'm crucified. You will

not have me always because probably in a couple of days I'm going to be arrested and I'll be crucified and I'll be gone.

I won't be in my flesh like this now.

And this woman, this crazy woman, heard that and just did something crazy, wasteful.

She just went out there, spent all that she could, and bought whatever she had.

I I don't know. I don't know. And just

pour it all out.

Timing is important, sisters.

Don't say, "I will love the Lord when my kids all went to school or went to college. I'll love the Lord and I will

college. I'll love the Lord and I will serve the Lord this and that when uh such and such happens when when I'm

when I'm my situation is better.

I'm going to I I love the Lord when I'm maybe a little older. I I still have things to do." Sisters, if you ever love the Lord Jesus, it is now.

Now sisters now. Don't be cheated.

now. Don't be cheated.

This love today means a lot more than the love on that day.

Today before the Lord comes back during that time before the Lord die. Today

before the Lord comes back love him now sisters love him with everything. So the

second thing was while we love him today, we will give him our all today.

And like this woman like that widow with a might. Huh? You remember? Put it drop it

might. Huh? You remember? Put it drop it into the in the temple.

The Lord was watching. The Lord was behind a wall watching and she saw that woman widow just a little might I don't know

a dollar whatever and then the rich people also walk in like big checks you know the Lord say look at that

she gave all of her life you know that word is biological life bios she gave all of

her life her physical possessions into the book.

That is a lot more than what the rich people gave out of the abundance. You

know, sisters, the Lord wants this today.

>> Amen.

>> From all of us.

>> Amen.

>> Not tomorrow, not another day. There

won't be a better day than now to love him, to follow him, and to serve him. Amen.

>> All right, I digressed.

So, so they were just there with the Lord for those three years. These are

sisters that with the Lord.

I don't know, maybe some one or some two, some three, but for a long time and they saw everything

and they even managed to know where the Lord was buried. The the brothers all fled. They have no idea what what what

fled. They have no idea what what what burial they would just they just ran off the sisters at least from a distance.

Make sure they they saw what was done to him and probably followed those people until the Lord was in tuned and marked

that spot. And in the third day, the

that spot. And in the third day, the Lord talked about in the third day, you know, the the the Sabbath day, uh he he

will be he will rise up. Okay.

But the brothers just got that in their head and file it away somewhere and they're still at home you know whatever scared and fearful and just going to

like this but these women again led by Mary the Magdalene led by her she was the leader of that group of women many Marys different Marys including the

Lord's mother who was also at the cross and who was also there part of that group that went to brought spices to to

to the tomb to find the Lord's body to to anoint but be Mary of Bethany did it already.

So they are little bit late but anyway they they they did that they they these sisters you know what they

didn't care about anything nothing they just care for him

just just him as you will see you know you know later on he was she was at the tomb and then there was a the Lord came and she thought it was a gardener.

Remember that >> and all of that?

>> Uh was probably she was crying so hard she couldn't see who's who.

He said, "Sir," she said, "What, sir?" Gardner, if you have carried him [clears throat] away,

tell me where you have laid him and I will take him away.

That's all she could care for. She she

didn't have the the doctrine, the uh the the prophecies, the the uh you know what I mean like the brothers. In fact, the

brothers were somewhat disbelieving. It

says in a certain place they they they didn't believe these women.

[snorts] >> They care less. They just want him. Even

life or death. Even his dead body. We

want if he if he's dead, give me his dead body. And and he she said, "Well, I'll

body. And and he she said, "Well, I'll take him away." I mean, how how how tall are you? How big are you? You going to

are you? How big are you? You going to carry a dead body to another tomb? What

What are you going to do? Do you have the money to buy a tomb for this person?

She didn't care. She Those were not in her thinking at all.

those issues, those details.

She just him she just always have him. You know the Lord say you don't have me, right? You

have cool people this that you don't have me.

I tell you, they just she just have me.

This demon-possessed sister, just me.

I I I want to see a revival of this love in the Lord's recovery. I tell you, when there is this revival,

there will be a revival. There will be a powerful revival.

Not just the truth that you know we need to know the truth. Okay, I'm not I'm not against that. But I feel in these days

against that. But I feel in these days along with the truth, we need the love and in a sense more than the truth

because the truth is good and needful.

But the driver, the strength, the consecration, the intensity, sisters, is not over there. It's with

love and with only one thing you care for in life or earth or heaven. I don't care

where you are. It's just him. As long as I am I have him, I'm satisfied. As long

as I have the Lord, I'm okay. Dead or

alive, I don't care. As long as I see him, as long I can take care of him, as long I can just like I minister to him, as long I can bury him,

I'm satisfied. Everything is okay.

I'm satisfied. Everything is okay.

Sisters, this kind of love, how about this? Amen.

>> This kind of love [clears throat] will fill our lives and fill our church life.

>> That church would be hot. That church

would be powerful. That church would be filled with impact.

I feel this is our need today more than anything else. We have all the truth,

anything else. We have all the truth, right? All the truth.

right? All the truth.

too much and praise the Lord for that.

Of course, we need to be constitute with that truth. We need to know that truth.

that truth. We need to know that truth.

Yes, for sure. For sure. But I am just burdened these days as far as the Lord's recovery to be the testimony of Jesus to preach the gospel

to those around us. Love is the greatest need right now.

And that's why in I inserted this other woman in the first session.

All right, let's let's go with the story here with um just in chapter 20 of John.

Okay.

After the Lord Jesus resurrected from the dead, he manifested himself first to Mary the Magdalene. You know, um um

brother brother, um watchman knee had a very powerful message on on this on on Mary the mine

um I think 12 baskets for wherever you can find it. Okay. He talked about the Lord wants really

wants to manifest himself after he resurrected to all his believers. You

know in one place in Mark the angel told the told the women go tell them and Peter remember that because the Lord

loved Peter and Peter just made the biggest mistake in denying the Lord. He

was wretched in a wretched in a very bad condition. So the Lord pro wants to show

condition. So the Lord pro wants to show himself, manifest himself to Peter to strengthen him, right? His faith and all

that. The Lord wants to show himself to

that. The Lord wants to show himself to probably all the disciples. You know,

she eventually met too, right? on the

way to Emmas. Emmas,

whoever they were, the Lord wanted to probably forneew that and wanted to meet them and talk to them and and and reveal

himself to them for sure. The Lord

showed up the second time or third time, I forgot second time because Thomas was missing you know Thomas doubting Thomas was missing. So the Lord must want to

was missing. So the Lord must want to also manifest himself to strengthen uh the the the faith of Thomas

and and then and then you know always hear uh John wrote this he always say the disciples that the Lord loves that's him

>> that's he's talking about himself. So

the Lord surely wants to reveal to to uh to to John.

But here's what watchmany said.

The Lord didn't appear to any of them first, but to Mary Magdalene.

So much so that the Lord even broke the prophecy, if you will,

before he ascended to the father. That

is supposed to be the Lord's first manifestation or presentation of himself, not to any man, but to the father himself as the first fruit.

Right? We know this. He even broke that.

Can you believe it?

broke that protocol, whatever it is, and couldn't wait as it were, but to reveal

himself to one woman.

One woman and that's and that's this woman.

Now, if that is not because of love, I don't know what it is.

So here what we see is not just listen the Lord's I mean

Mary's love for the Lord that to pursue and run and and follow the Lord in this way. I tell you, the Lord's revealing

way. I tell you, the Lord's revealing to her to be allowed to be discovered by her in person

with words is a sign of how much the Lord loved her in response.

Kiss me with the kisses of your mouth.

That's what the beloved, not the beloved, the lover said. The lover said that to

said. The lover said that to [clears throat] the beloved. Chulamite

said that to Solomon, so to speak.

And then Solomon, the beloved, responded. Right? You have to read Song

responded. Right? You have to read Song of Songs.

love. Our love for the Lord would make the Lord do crazy things. How

about that?

>> Yes.

>> How about that? I mean,

broke the protocol, change the rules because of love.

I mean, we talk about we'll be the bride and we're being adorned.

I'm afraid a lot of us are going to get our wedding dress, you know, getting tucked and all this, all this. We forgot

to love the Lord.

>> Oh, Lord.

>> Oh, I'm getting prepared. We're all

getting prepared. The day is coming.

Wedding day is coming. Oh, we better get ready. You're all just thinking about

ready. You're all just thinking about how beautiful you will be.

And I'm not saying we shouldn't be prepared. I'm not saying we shouldn't be

prepared. I'm not saying we shouldn't be adorned.

You know, I'm not talking about that.

But I am talking about what first.

>> I mean, I don't think she was that beautiful. She probably many days

beautiful. She probably many days without a shower, you know. [laughter]

Do you know what I mean?

It's not that that she's adorned. I tell

you sisters, we are adorned by love.

>> Love adorns us.

The Lord doesn't want beauty. The Lord

doesn't want, you know, a fancy dress.

The Lord doesn't The Lord wants that.

And this is what Mary the Magdalene's story is about. Okay, let's let's just quickly here if I can finish I'll find another way to finish. Okay, why did the

Lord this is actually watchman knee? Why

did the Lord manifest himself first to Mary the Magdalene before Peter, John, Thomas and other disciples and the people? Be only Mary the Magdalene came

people? Be only Mary the Magdalene came early in the morning at dawn to the tomb to seek the Lord because she marked the tomb. She knew where to go. Only she

tomb. She knew where to go. Only she

knew where to go. She received the best portion, a portion which we may not have. We may not have sisters. Her

have. We may not have sisters. Her

better portion was her love for the Lord. Every Christian should desire and

Lord. Every Christian should desire and pursue after this. See, first we become the Lord's believers. Then we become the

his lovers. First we believe in the

his lovers. First we believe in the Lord's work. She saw all of that. The

Lord's work. She saw all of that. The

Lord did this, the Lord this, the Lord did that.

We know we only know the grace we have received but not the loveliness of the Lord. Do you see this? We may we we we

Lord. Do you see this? We may we we we we know the Lord's grace for us, the Lord's the Lord's uh uh the Lord's mercy upon

us and his goodness towards us. All this

we know. But we may not love the Lord or know the Lord's loveliness to this

degree. And that's him. That's him. Who

degree. And that's him. That's him. Who

do you care for?

Just give me him. That's okay. That's

it.

Two, [clears throat] the difference between Mary the Magdalene and the others was that she not only appreciated salvation, she also treasured the Savior.

Mary's heart was a heart completely occupied by the Lord the person. Mary's

heart was a heart captured by the Lord and hence that hymn captivated by his beauty.

You know it says the heart that wept with Mary is the face that Steven saw actually it's here because she because she couldn't find and even the brothers

came and check out the tomb. Okay. Okay, we got it. She probably rose or something

it. She probably rose or something happened. Okay, see you later. So the

happened. Okay, see you later. So the

brothers all went home and she stayed because she must get to the bottom. She

must find him and she was there weeping.

Maybe that's why I have another thought that she is the woman there that we talk about. just weeping and weeping,

about. just weeping and weeping, washing the Lord's feet. [clears throat]

Indeed, Mary was the first to receive the revelation that Jesus was born as the firstborn son of God and we all were born with him for she was not satisfied with the fact but was seeking the

experience of Christ. tends Mary

Magdalene is a sign of those who love the Lord and seek and experience him.

Because she waited because she wanted him because of all of that. The Lord not

only showed himself or manifested himself, the Lord gave her the sister, the greatest of revelation related to

the truth of resurrection and that is now God is our father and we are born of him. What a revelation that

is. Go tell my brothers. Now you're no

is. Go tell my brothers. Now you're no longer just my disciples and believers.

You are my brothers because you have the same life that I have.

What tremendous revelation that was. But

that was reserved not for Peter, not for John, but for this woman. Go tell. I

want you to go tell because they left.

They didn't see me. You are still waiting here for me. So I'm giving you this tremendous revelation

sisters. When we love the Lord to this

sisters. When we love the Lord to this degree, we will receive certain revelation because

even we were not praying for revelation but because our heart is so desperate to experience the Lord. Not just know

the Lord, hear the facts, the truth, but to have the person, the presence of the Lord, the Lord saw fit to even pass on

the deep revelation to such a one. Three, there are three key points in the account of Mary seeing

the Lord Jesus.

First, Mary the Magdalene was attracted by the Lord's love.

A even after the Lord Jesus was buried, Mary the Magdalene was so attracted by his love that she had to go to his tomb.

Everyone else went home, but she went to the tomb to find the Lord be. On the first day of the week, the

be. On the first day of the week, the third day after the Lord Jesus had been buried, Mary the Magdalene went to the

tomb early while it was yet dark.

Once she did not go there to work, she went there because she was attracted by the Lord's love. She loved and missed the Lord so much that she could not help

but go to his tomb, too. Mary's going

early while it was yet dark shows that she loved the Lord and miss him so much that she did not wait until daylight.

She eagerly went to the Lord's tomb early in the morning with the hope of finding the Lord. Sisters, I like the word here. She missed the Lord. She not

word here. She missed the Lord. She not

only loved the Lord, she missed the Lord. You know all the good songs and

Lord. You know all the good songs and hymns and inspiring hymns about the Lord's return. You know the Lord's

Lord's return. You know the Lord's coming back is not prophetic hymns. You

know when this happened the Lord will come. When this signs happen Jesus will

come. When this signs happen Jesus will be is near. Uh amen hallelujah. No no

no. The best hymns, for example, is the one written by Sister Barbara.

Um, from Bethany. What is that song?

from Bethany. What is that song?

>> Huh? You know the the hymn [clears throat] >> from Bethany? When you departed. Can you

find that song?

You know that one?

>> 958.

>> Huh?

>> 958.

>> Take a look. 958. I'm not going to finish this message. It's okay. Okay.

958. Um, this is I'm sorry. This is not Sister Barbara. This is

Sister Barbara. This is >> Brother Knee.

Uh, go home, please, and read it. This

is missing.

This is someone who is missing someone.

This is Mary the Magdalene missing the Lord. Not

only loved the Lord, she missed the Lord. It's only 3 days. She's already

Lord. It's only 3 days. She's already

missing the Lord. And and this is this is um watchmanie very influenced by sister barber who lived her life missing

the lord and she wrote hymns about the lord's beauty and loveliness and the hymns about the lord's coming back to

her it is not so many prophecies fulfill Jesus is coming it's not in that realm is she missed the lord's presence physically

You remember she was and and brother Knee were walking on the street in Fua whatever and she would come in to brother Knee

maybe when we turn this corner the Lord will be there to meet us that's missing that's not prophetic prophecy

study that's missing today just When we talk about the Lord's coming back, are we in that kind of

feeling or just, oh, we better do this and that?

I better be an overcomer.

Well, I'm not saying that's wrong. Huh?

You you understand?

But where's the missing? Where is that pining? Where is that yearning

pining? Where is that yearning to see the Lord face to face which we have not done?

We have not done. What would she she he promised to do?

So this hymn please go back and read it.

Can we say sisters? Oh, you know that song. Oh, how I love him. How I adore

song. Oh, how I love him. How I adore him. How about we change? Oh, how I miss

him. How about we change? Oh, how I miss him.

The feeling is different.

The feeling is different. Okay, I

covered this four and then we're done.

Let me see here. You know what? I think

I better keep the promise of ending at 12:15.

Um, we made the promise. We should keep the promise. And this rest of this, I'll

the promise. And this rest of this, I'll find a way to uh speak it and maybe uh record it and we can put it up uh

somewhere in the church website along with these two sessions. How about that?

All right. So that you can go early today. Um I don't know what to say. I

today. Um I don't know what to say. I

hope sisters I transmitted some burden within me uh that is not so much of the doctrinal kind um and not just even just stories

inspiring stories but something that would affect our lives our love for the Lord today.

>> Amen. May made may this may this love this love burn oh love within our heart burn fiercely

night and day till what all the draws of everything earthly love is burned and burned away.

May the Lord do this among us. I'll stop

here. Um

uh you may have just maybe 30 seconds of just uh some closing prayer with your neighbor. How about that?

neighbor. How about that?