Lessons from the Resurrection Appearances, Part 2: The Resurrection Transforms Grief to Purpose.

Little is known about Mary Magdalene whose name bears her origin, a town on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee. John depicts Mary as a woman of strength, faith, and unwavering devotion.

Before meeting Jesus, Mary was afflicted by seven demons, but afterwards, she became one of His most devoted disciples. Because of her love for Him, she provided and cared for Jesus and the disciples out of her own private means (Luke 8:1-3). While most of the other disciples had left the crucified Jesus, Mary Magdalene remained at the foot of the cross.

The depth of Mary’s love is revealed at the cross, a love which often leads to great pain and grief. We can be encouraged by the life of Mary Magdalene, a courageous woman who exemplifies a nurturing spirit and profound love.

The Resurrection Transforms Grief and Tears to Hope and Mission.

The resurrection transformed Mary’s grief and tears into hope and mission (John 20:11-18).

Mary cared and provided for Jesus in a personal, sacrificial way, and her grief was equal in devotion. In John 20, Mary’s grief is expressed in weeping outside the empty tomb on the first day of the week. She had brought spices early while it was still dark to anoint the body of Jesus (John 19:31) because there had not been enough time before the Sabbath.

Mary’s plans to prepare Jesus’s body are radically changed when she finds the Savior’s body gone. To the disciples, the angels, and to Jesus whom she believes to be the gardener, she expresses that the body is missing and asks where it is.

However, when Mary recognizes the risen Savior, her weeping stops and her plans change because her purpose in life has been transformed by the resurrection of Jesus.

When Jesus comes into our lives, everything changes.

Jesus tells Mary to “go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I ascend to My Father and your Father, and My God and your God (John 20:17).’” This is the first time Jesus refers to the disciples as part of the family.

Jesus’s finished work on the cross transforms who we are, making us family and giving us a new purpose. Mary was to stop grieving and to go.

Today, we gather with hope as a church body, not to grieve, but to worship a risen Savior who lives. We learn from Mary that though we will experience grief, if the most important person in our lives is Jesus Christ, then we cannot be overcome with grief. We can grieve with hope knowing that our victorious Jesus lives.

The Resurrection Transforms Grief and Fear to Peace and Boldness.

The resurrection transforms the disciples’ grief and fear to peace and boldness (John 20:19-23).

The disciples’ fears were not transformed instantly. Mary had already seen Jesus, but the others had not though they had heard He was alive. Because of their fear of the Jews, the disciples were in a locked room on the evening of that day. Even after seeing the risen Savior, John records the disciples are still hiding in a locked room (John 20:26).

In Acts 2 at Pentecost, the disciples are no longer behind locked doors but out boldly preaching the gospel to the Jews and others.

Jesus speaks peace to the disciples and tells them that He is sending them just as He was sent by the Father (John 20:21). There is no new message or mission; Jesus has been on mission as willed by the Father the whole of His earthly ministry.

Jesus, looking to the future, breathes on them and tells them to receive the Holy Spirit (John 20:22). Jesus had said He must go so the Helper could come. The difference between the disciples hiding in the locked room and their bold preaching in Acts is the Holy Spirit at work in them.

The mission of Jesus is that of all the disciples of Christ, to preach the Word of God. As the disciples preach the need to repent of sins and to believe on Jesus Christ who lives, people will be saved (John 20:23).

As faithful disciples, may we go and do as Jesus has instructed, preaching the gospel of peace with boldness.

Application Points

• Believer, do you know what your purpose is on this earth? The most significant thing you can do is to obey Jesus and go, speaking into the lives of those around you that Jesus is alive.

Tools for Further Study

Cross References to Explore

• John 19: Acts 1, 2; Matthew 28:1-10; Mark 16:1-8; Luke 24:1-12