Word of Salvation – Vol. 35 No. 16 – April 1990

 

Blind Grief Dispelled

 

Sermon by Rev. P. H. Pellicaan on John 20:11-18

Reading: John 20:1-18

Singing: BoW H.401, 361:2, 358:1, 364, 362

 

Brothers and Sisters,

What a privilege that we may believe that Easter is a glorious reality.  To know that the Lord Jesus is with us, risen from the dead, sharing with us the glorious fruits of His work.  What a complete turn-about in the whole order of this world!  What a crushing defeat for the powers of darkness which had made this world a vale of tears.  What a glorious break- through of the light of victory that shines in the darkness of a condemned world.

It’s a stunning message.  Small wonder that many refuse to believe it.  Paul said that the Gospel is not “after man”.  For the natural man it is foolishness.  Unless the Holy Spirit changes our heart and mind we could not believe it.

All the objections raised against the truth of the Resurrection cannot change the fact but if they raise doubts in our heart they make us miserable and desperate.  For if Christ is not risen then our faith is in vain.

Our text deals with such a case.  It deals with a person who had difficulties to believe that the Lord was alive.

It is a peculiar case, this Mary Magdalene.  The Lord had thrown out seven demons who dwelled in her.  She was badly possessed, but her life had mercifully been restored by the Saviour.  Since then she had followed Him.

She could not live apart from Him.  Mark tells us that she ministered to Him.  She was obviously a rich woman and was able to supply Jesus and His disciples with everything they needed.

She was there when Jesus was crucified.  She was heartbroken, in despair when He died.  Her life had lost its meaning.  The Lord saved her out of such horrible need and misery.  She was a dreadful victim of evil powers and she was so completely saved that she became a living example of Messianic power and grace.  On Easter morning she is on her way to Joseph’s garden, accompanied by other women.  She was shocked to find the sepulchre empty.  The seal had been broken and the big stone rolled away.

In confusion and despair she leaves the other women.  She did not look in the sepulchre.  That was not necessary: she already knew!  She had jumped to her conclusions: something terrible must have happened.  She brings her message to Peter and John.  “They have taken the Lord and we don’t know where they have laid Him!”  Mary Magdalene did not report what she had seen – she had not seen much anyhow.  She has her own idea of what had happened.  She completely ignored the message of the empty tomb where everything was neatly arranged.  She did not say, “I think”, no, she knew it all and her understanding of what had happened became to her a fact.  She did not consider other possibilities, she was convinced in her own mind.  Mary was only aware of her own grief, her own loss.  She was like Rachel who refused to be comforted.  She did not seek the fellowship of the other disciples and ignored the fact that their loss was as heavy as her own.  She wanted to abandon herself, lose herself in her grief.  She had the desperate longing to drown in her own sorrow.  In an orgy of self-pity she stirred up her own pain.  She went to Peter and John, not to find comfort, but she wants them to look for the stolen body.  She is blind to her surroundings, refuses to admit anything that would lead to a different conclusion.  She is unreasonable, refuses to listen.

Mary Magdalene goes back to the tomb and stands there as a picture of misery and she intends to stay there till she knows where they have laid her Lord.  She has been pictured as an example of faith and love…  Preachers have exclaimed: Oh, that sweet Mary…!  But is that true?  I don’t think that is true.  There is no reason to say: Oh woman, great is your faith!  She is not an example of love either.  Love is never self-centred.  And Mary is not an example of faithfulness.  She indulges in self-pity because she is so miserable.  And here we find one of the hindrances we have to overcome in order to share in the joy of Easter.

Today we remember the joyful fact of the Resurrection.  That is nice and true.  The ministers have to preach about it.  But our heart cannot be joyful.  We have too many troubles.  We are too occupied with all the cares of everyday life.  How can we be in a joyful mood?  We are worried about our children, our job, about other people who have said nasty things about us.  Don’t expect us to burst out singing.  We would feel hypocrites.

Oh, we believe the Easter message.  We won’t have any of the nonsense that we read about in many papers.  We are told that the tomb was not really empty, that is only a nice legend, or a fib, invented by the early Christians.  But if that would be true, then the priests and Pharisees would be right when they spoke about “that deceiver”.  There are no deceptions in Scripture.

Are we okay then if we are convinced that the Resurrection was a historic event, witnessed by many witnesses and believe – to use Peter’s word that we have not followed cunningly devised fables?  Well, that is something.  But it is not enough.  We can have solid convictions and still have a cold heart…!  It could still be something impersonal, it does not make our heart burn within us.  And would that be faith and love?  Is that what Easter means to us?

No Mary, we do not sit in judgement on you.  We may stand at the same level.  If we would condemn your attitude we might also condemn ourselves.

But in the light of Easter morning it must be said: this attitude does not honour our risen Lord.  We may be so preoccupied with our own affairs that we have no eye for the tremendous facts that are in front of us.

Have another look at Mary: she stooped down and looked into the sepulchre.  Very likely she wanted to see it again and experience again the stunning fact that the Lord was gone.

Then she realised that the tomb was not empty there were two angels clothed in white; one at the head and one at the foot where the body of Jesus had lain.

If this was a case of grave robbery, what would angels be doing here?  Angels cannot acquiesce in an infamous act.  They were quietly sitting there and their presence testified, before one word was spoken, that the Lord had risen from the dead.

To find angels sitting there meant: heaven had interfered.  But Mary was not aware of the implications.  She acted like a woman possessed.  She could not admit the possibility that she was terribly wrong in her conclusion.  She was fully convinced: whatever had happened must be horrible and that opinion was her last word.  She closed her eyes to the reality of the light, the glory in the tomb.  She refused to let go her prejudice, her grief.

The angels asked: Woman, why do you weep?

She had her answer ready and spoke unbelieving, silly words which she had repeated to herself, endlessly: They have taken away my Lord and I know not where they have laid Him.

There is not a sensible word to say about her attitude.  It does not make sense.  It’s plain silly.  She collides head-on with the miracle of Easter.  There is glory shining in the tomb, but she closes her eyes to it and goes on sobbing.

Grief can deteriorate into stubbornness.  You can hear the glorious gospel of Easter and yet be unwilling to let go your worries and problems.  You may think: it is all very nice what is said, but you do not know the predicament I am in.  My problems are so great, so unbearable that nothing else matters – Easter or no Easter, it does not make any difference.

Before the angels can reply Mary walked away.  How blind can you get!  She had been redeemed of seven evil demons and it looks like she’s in their power again.  They go on telling her: How miserable you are!!  What grief you have to carry!  No one can help you.  No one even understands you.  There is no solution for you.  You will never know real joy anymore!

Satan can so lecture us that we are caught like a fly in a spider’s web.

Mary ran away from the tomb… and meets Jesus, the risen Saviour.

What an experience!

But it does not penetrate to Mary.  She is aware that somebody is there, but she does not see the glory of the risen One.

All the facts are cut down to fit her conception.

This person looks like Jesus but she does not want to notice that.  He must be a gardener of sorts.  Sir, she says, if you have taken Him, tell me where I can find him.

We find here in one sentence an overestimation of her own power and an appalling mistake.  It’s incredible!  If we could hear Jesus’ voice, having listened to that voice as often as Mary had, we would have recognised Him.  Would we?  Whose voice are you listening to?  Who was it who promised: where two or three are gathered together in my name, then I will be there too?  Jesus Himself is present here!

He is in our midst and He has longed to meet us to bring the joyful message.  God has raised Him in glory, as evidence of justification, the pardon given to repentant sinners.

A new era begins with His resurrection and all God’s promises will be fulfilled.  He will no longer see sin in Israel or iniquity in Jacob.  His anger is gone, His justice is satisfied.  A mountain of sins has disappeared in the depth of the sea.  Eternal life is given to people living in a state of death with body and soul.

How the Lord has longed to bring this wonderful message to a despairing church.

Here stands Mary, and she does not want to see Him…  She is too much concerned with her own grief.  What a cruel disappointment for our Lord.  It would have been understandable if He would have turned away, grieved by such stubbornness.  How understandable if He would be disappointed by our own affairs.

But Easter means: He overcomes every objection, every failure to understand, every coldness in our heart.  There was only a gentle rebuke in His voice when He said: Mary!  Then the shackles break.  The hoarse voice of tearful self-pity is silenced.  The demons have to yield for the majesty of the Prince of life!

Rabboni, Master!

Here begins the Easter joy for people in deep depression.  He who is of the truth hears My voice.  Do you hear that voice?  The Master is here and He a calls you by name.  Mary only had to open her eyes to see Him.  And it is still like that.  He is here!  I called you, you are mine!  I bought you with my precious blood, I redeemed you out of the dominion of Satan.  I will so preserve you that without the will of my heavenly Father not a hair can fall from your head.

Stop worrying.  All things are subservient to your salvation.  I will assure you by the Holy Spirit of eternal life and make you willing to live unto Me.

Do not think that Mary was more privileged than we are.  She had desired with all her heart to keep the Master with her; that everything would once more be the same as it was before the crucifixion.

But Mary had to realise that the disciples of Jesus now live in a more wonderful dispensation: we may live with His Word and His Spirit.  And in that way He will always be with us.  Mary was sent back to the disciples, to the communion of the saints…!  Exactly where we are!

The Master is here!

Is not your heart burning?

Heaven and earth may pass away but the joy will continue.

Today I want to be in your house!

AMEN