March 12, 2016

The Shepherd's Corner

THE SHEPHERD’S CORNER
Easter Time - The Women

No one went to the tomb. No one was brave enough. No one had enough faith. No one was willing. No one except a couple of faithful ladies.
while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. John 20 THE SHEPHERD’S CORNER
Easter Time - The Women

No one went to the tomb. No one was brave enough. No one had enough faith. No one was willing. No one except a couple of faithful ladies.
while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. John 20
The first person who went to Jesus' place was Mary. Mary had 7 demons cast out of her. She is mentioned more than some of the disciples in the Gospels, and she is central in the crucifixion story of Jesus, but there's something else that's special about Mary. After she went and told the disciples that tomb was empty, the disciples came and left, and she stayed, she got the best gift.
17 Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me... Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” John 20
So Mary didn't just discover the empty tomb, but she was the first to see Jesus. She was the first to tell the disciples, "I've seen Jesus!" This woman who was possessed by 7 demons. She had come so far from who she was when she first encountered Jesus. She was honored because of her faithfulness and commitment. She was honored with being the one to find the tomb. She was honored with being the first person Jesus revealed himself to. She was honored by going and telling Jesus' closest followers: I've seen the empty tomb! I've seen the Lord!
When all the people who should have been faithful and committed - the disciples - didn't have the faith, commitment, and courage they should have - one group of ladies did! Let's have the faithfulness, commitment, and courage the women did and we will see Jesus!

Pastor Steve
The first person who went to Jesus' place was Mary. Mary had 7 demons cast out of her. She is mentioned more than some of the disciples in the Gospels, and she is central in the crucifixion story of Jesus, but there's something else that's special about Mary. After she went and told the disciples that tomb was empty, the disciples came and left, and she stayed, she got the best gift.
17 Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me... Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” John 20
So Mary didn't just discover the empty tomb, but she was the first to see Jesus. She was the first to tell the disciples, "I've seen Jesus!" This woman who was possessed by 7 demons. She had come so far from who she was when she first encountered Jesus. She was honored because of her faithfulness and commitment. She was honored with being the one to find the tomb. She was honored with being the first person Jesus revealed himself to. She was honored by going and telling Jesus' closest followers: I've seen the empty tomb! I've seen the Lord!
When all the people who should have been faithful and committed - the disciples - didn't have the faith, commitment, and courage they should have - one group of ladies did! Let's have the faithfulness, commitment, and courage the women did and we will see Jesus!

Pastor Steve

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