First Baptist Church
April 12, 2026

      • 1 Peter 1.16-18ESV

      • 1 Peter 1.19ESV

  • Fairest Lord Jesus (Schönster Herr Jesu)
  • Who Is This
  • Holy Forever

      • 1 Peter 2.25ESV

  • Show Us Christ
  • Intro:
    One Easter Sunday, a teacher asked her Sunday School class, “Why do we celebrate Easter?”
    A little girl raised her hand and said, “Because the bunny hides eggs for us!”
    Her answer is cute — but it reminds us how easily the world’s symbols can overshadow God’s truth. The Easter Bunny didn’t roll away the stone. The Easter Bunny didn’t defeat death. Jesus did. It’s not about some silly bunny that “comes once a year.” It’s about a Savior who made possible a permanent relationship with God. It’s not about an easter bunny that can bring “pretend” to bring treats, but about Jesus who brings eternal life. That silly bunny isn’t supposedly bringing happiness for a day. But Jesus actually does bring joy that is unending.
    But isn’t it all too easy to push aside the factional for the fictional. To focus on the silly & cute, rather that the eternal and wonderful. To miss out on the star in the heavens because we are impressed by the telescope.
    This morning, we will be spending our time in meditation, looking at the verses from John 20:11-18, but we will begin reading at the start of the chapter to get a clearer picture of what is taking place. John chapter 20 describes the resurrection of Christ.
    Read John 20:1-18
    Starting in verse 11… Who is this passage about…
    This might be a tricky question.… if you answered Mary Magdalene, that may seem to be correct but it wouldn’t be the right answer. If you answered that way, don’t feel bad, on first read thru I did the same thing. It’s easy for us get caught up in the featured cast but miss the star of the show. And that’s what this is.… Mary is the featured SUPPORTING cast, but Jesus is always the star of the show. Just like the easter bunny, actually the easter bunny is far worse, but similarly, in this way, we can be easily be distracted from keeping our focus on the one who deserves our attention and give it to something or someone who is far less worthy.
    We said Friday during our gathered time to observe the Lord’s death, that sin- any sin, is the despising and/or rejecting of the truth, beauty, and worth of Jesus. By looking at this passage and failing to see Christ’s truth, beauty, and worthy, well we are continuing to follow a path that Jesus did not intends us to follow. The scriptures are always written so that we might know Him.
    So today, as we consider a story that features Mary, the real question we must ask is what does this passage reveal about Christ! What wonders are revealed about Christ thru His resurrection. How does this passage help us understand that Christ is beyond compare. Today, we will look at 7 things that reveal the truth, beauty, and the worth of Christ following His resurrection from John 20:11-18.

    1. Christ is Trustworthy (v.11-13)

    Reading John 20:11-13
    John 20:11–13 ESV
    But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.”
    Looking at this text on first glance.… we might miss one of the most important things this text communicates to us about Christ. John 19 had just described the brutal crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ, with the end of chapter 19, spelling out the details of His burial in the tomb. Chapter 20 begins with a stoned that is rolled away, Peter and John rushing to it and finding it empty, and Mary weeping… Why is Mary weeping? She says it herself… when the angels ask her why she is weeping.
    “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.”
    When others question the validity of Christ’s resurrection… this passage provides 2 of the most critical things needed to prove it’s truth. Evidences.… number the empty tomb.… 2 the eyewitness accounts.
    But why is the tomb empty.… the obvious answer is that.… He is not here but He is risen. What does that tell us about Christ… He is a promise keeper. What He says He will do… doesn’t matter how bleak things look… What Christ says… He will do. Probably the hardest thing that these followers of Jesus haven’t believed is that He indeed could rise from the dead. No one has ever raised themselves back to life. That would be an impossibility. But Jesus did it and proved that He is a reliable source of truth. What He says will come to pass. So when He says He is coming back soon, do we believe it! Do we live like we believe it. What other promises of God has He shared with us that we need to put our money where our mouths are. The resurrection informs us that despite the odds… what we may deem as unlikely or impossible… Jesus will do if He has said. Today, the resurrection should give us more compelling reason to cling to all the promises of God.

    2. Christ is Relational (v.14)

    John 20:14 ESV
    Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus.
    If you are think that this next point has to do with Jesus being mysterious, that’s not the message He is trying to convey.
    Rather this entire scene underscores that the resurrection of Christ is relational. Notice how He reveals Himself to mankind having just rose from the dead. Jesus does not unveil that He is alive with blinding light and glory. H doesn’t ascend up to the peak of the capital in front of all and declare that He is risen. Instead, He appears to the world through a personal visit.
    This tells you a lot about our God. He is a relational God. From the beginning of creation… mankind was not created merely as entertainment for our God to be viewed from a distance. No, mankind was created in the Image of God and was placed in the garden to walk with God. To have a relationship with Him. At one of Christ’s most greatest moments of glory, He choses spend that moment with those whom He loved, in a personal one on one way.
    We have done nothing to earn the attention of the King… yet His very nature is inclined to us. How extraordinary is our Savior?
    That He would chose to reveal Himself that way in this momentous event. It speaks much to His character and challenges us in our own moments of glory. How we view others in that moment.

    3. Christ is Gracious & Patient (v.15)

    John 20:15 ESV
    Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.”
    Notice how Jesus approaches Mary… He addresses her with a question. My parental brain is already blaring once again. I see in her very much the likeness I see in my own kids. They are stressed out about something that there is absolutely no reason for them to be alarmed about. What do I mean when I say this.… Luke captures what I’m talking about well.
    Luke 24:1–9 ESV
    But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.” And they remembered his words, and returning from the tomb they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest.
    And they remembered his words....That informs us that Mary Magdalene very well knew the words that Jesus had spoken about His resurrections. In fact, even the scribes and pharisees knew about it and wanted to prepare for it. So His followers knew better. He told them what was to be.… so why the need for the immense sobbing....
    This is more alarming if we understand how these things may have panned out chronologically.
    Luke records the ladies coming to the tomb first, greeted by the angel, then running to tell the disciples, Peter returning to see the empty tomb.
    John includes those details some of those details, with Mary telling the disciples, Peter and John returning to the scene and leaving, but Mary staying behind. Luke tells us that the angel spoke to Mary about Jesus rising from the dead then going and telling the disciples, John filling in the details makes it seem she came back...
    So is it possible that she came back to the scene even after hearing the angel speak and still sobbing. The details of how these gospels narratives can be a bit confusing… but either way...
    When Jesus comes onto the scene.… notice the grace and patience He gives to Mary. He doesn’t scold her though she probably deserved it.… in fact, His calm nature is cleaning scene in what Mary did next… it says she clung to Him. I never once had my child embrace me and cling to me in joy when I’m giving off the vibe of anger and frustration at their lack of obedience.… unless they are trying to get out of something… not the case here. His tone welcomed her in and drove her to cling to her lover.
    And why does Christ act this way… it’s revealed in our next point.

    4. Christ is Pastoral (v.16)

    John 20:16 ESV
    Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher).
    When His own are in distress, He comes to their aid, and He calls them by name.
    Doesn’t that very much describes what The Good Shepherd does.
    John 10:3 ESV
    To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
    When Jesus utters “Mary!” (20:16), He perfectly embodies the Good Shepherd who intimately knows and restores His flock.
    The sheep know my voice… and they follow me… Notice what happened when He spoke her name. The shroud that masked His identity, the blindfolds that hid who He was came off.… My Shepherd… My teacher.… Rabboni is a form of Rabbi… meaning teacher but it’s a much higher expression than simple teacher. In fact, this term was rarely ever used of men… primarily used as speaking of God. She’s acknowledging who He is… and with that acknowledgment...
    Notice what else went away....One word and all the tears, anxiety, confusion are gone… The Good Shepherd restores His flock. Peace, rest, hope… all are found when we run to the Savior and embrace His pastoral care...
    -You cannot help but feel as they fell, and sense something of the thrill, joy, and love that pervades this scene.
    -It perfectly foreshadows what we get to look forward to when we see Christ on our resurrection day.

    5. Christ is Rewarder of the Faithful

    Who was the first person the risen Savior appeared to?
    Mark 16:9 ESV
    [[Now when he rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons.
    But why appear to Mary first? Wouldn’t have made far more sense to appear to His chosen leaders, His disciples, His apostles, those upon whom would build His church and lead it in truth.
    Consider Mary Magdalene for a second. Who is Mary?
    She is recorded quit a few times in scripture… mentioned more than half of the 12 disciples.
    Luke 8:1–3 ESV
    Soon afterward he went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with him, and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, and Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s household manager, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their means.
    Mary was apart of the traveling companions of Jesus! Her part, it appears, was to assist Jesus in whatever way possible…
    “who provided for them out of their means...” can imply that she was wealthy though it doesn’t necessarily have to mean that. Either way… she willfully sacrificed her life in service of Jesus.
    Our text today reveals much about who Mary Magdalene was… her faithfulness to her Lord.
    She sat long enough in her tears to witness something the men did not...
    And this is the consistent practice of her life… while other male leaders fled… she stayed.
    There is no account of women at the last supper or on the night of the arrest (doesn’t mean they weren’t there). But the next time women they are potentially mentioned again was on the next day when Jesus carried His own cross on the way to Calvary following his false trial.
    Luke 23:27–28 ESV
    And there followed him a great multitude of the people and of women who were mourning and lamenting for him. But turning to them Jesus said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.
    Though Mary isn’t specifically named here, it seems in line with her character that she would be part of this. It would certainly have shown some level of courage and devotion for her to do so. The majority of the crowd was against Jesus… and was for his execution…
    We see her involvement at the cross.
    John 19:25 ESV
    but standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.
    They were standing so close to Jesus that He actually is able to speak to them and tells the only disciple recorded there (John) to take care of His mother for Him.
    Following this, Mary was intricately involved in the burial of Jesus.
    Luke 23:53–55 ESV
    Then he took it down and wrapped it in a linen shroud and laid him in a tomb cut in stone, where no one had ever yet been laid. It was the day of Preparation, and the Sabbath was beginning. The women who had come with him from Galilee followed and saw the tomb and how his body was laid.
    This tells us a lot about Mary. She seems pretty faithful, right? But what does this tell us about Jesus.
    Hebrews 11:6 ESV
    And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
    Christ rewards faithfulness. And what is the reward… it’s Himself. Where else would we rather receive a reward from… the fact the Christ is a rewarder should encourage us. It tells us a lot about who He is. To reward someone is an expression of gratitude and recognition, it’s an other’s first mentality. Jesus once again shows that He is the ultimate expression of humility and service… by how we recognizes and rewards those whom do right.

    6. Christ is Prudent & Wise (v.17a)

    To be prudent is to have or show deep understanding as well as act with or show care and thought for the future.
    Notice this is exactly what Jesus displays… after a show of deep concern and grace....
    John 20:17 ESV
    Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father;
    That seems like a really odd thing perhaps to read. Is Jesus pushing Mary off Him? Is He rebuffing her affection?
    No just Jesus is prudent. He is wisdom personified. He knows His mission & He knows what is best.
    That’s why He gave the reason He did. “For I have not yet ascended to the Father.”
    In essence, He is saying… “Mary, I can’t stay with you like this...” I have other important things that I must accomplish. I must ascend to my Father… where scripture reveals that He constantly intercedes for us as our Great High Priest. But He didn’t leave us high and dry. But it would be advantageous for us for Him to do so… as He himself has said.
    John 16:7 ESV
    Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.
    Jesus’ words to Mary reaffirm what He said to His disciples in the upper room. Christ remains prudent and wise. What He reveals to us at times may remain a mystery. Can you imagine… Mary just got Jesus back and now He is saying that He is going away again.… Mary would not understand this nor the disciples until the Holy Spirit came… but Christ once again revealed that His plans are greatest.

    7. Christ is Exalter of the Humble/Outcast (v.17b)

    John 20:17 ESV
    Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’ ”
    I want you to consider how significant & unique this command was from Jesus.
    Mary’s past—“from whom seven demons had gone out” (Luke 8:2)—marked her as formerly marginalized. The Lord exalts the humble (1 Samuel 2:8; Luke 1:52), and His choice of Mary highlights redemptive reversal.
    In that time, women were considered lowly. Second-class citizens, they had less legal rights than men. They were forbidden from participating in synagogue worship and not permitted to enter the Temple beyond the Court of the Women. On top of that, women were not allowed to testify in a court of law: They were considered unreliable witnesses. Yet when Jesus was raised from the dead, and He wanted this fact proclaimed to the world, He first commissioned one of His women followers to spread the news.
    Mary became the apostle (lower case) to the Apostles (upper case).
    That doesn’t dismiss that God’s chosen leaders of the church would be male.… His elders and pastors… but what it does affirm is that every disciple, no matter of status or gender… is called to proclaim the gospel. He sets the standard… and He pushes against a culture norms.

    Application:

    It you are struggling with grief, let the example of Mary give you hope. Honest lament, followed by an encounters with Christ through His word, then carrying out His commission to serve. Mary’s history did not disqualify her; God’s redemption did.
    Does your ministry life feel dry & redundant? Do you lack motivation to carry out the Great Commission? Let Mary’s encounter with Jesus be the example.
    Do you know Christ? Is it more than factual knowledge or is it life changing knowledge?
    Mary’s encounter with Christ proves a prerequisite. Revelation precedes Proclamation. Her experience models the pattern: personal meeting with the risen Christ → instruction by the Word → testimony to the brethren. Your ability to carry out God’s task is directly linked to how much you know and love Christ. We said before… that to reject or despise the truth, beauty, worth of Christ results in sin… therefore the opposite is also true.… to love, accept, and appreciate the truth, beauty, worth of Christ results in obedience.
    Christ’s resurrection proved Him to be the Son of God, proved that His sacrifice was accepted, proved that He has the power to conquer death and bring salvation to those that call on His name. He is the firstfruits of many to come. Many supposed "followers” gathered the day that He rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, just a week prepare He was crucified… all hailing Him as king. They pretended to know God but many of them would never truly follow Him. They were all for it when the excitement was there, but they didn’t remain.
    What about you? Are you one who proclaims to know Jesus? Jesus died and secured Victory for those that are His, but not all are His. Only those who place their faith in the Lord Jesus… repent of their sinful lifestyles.… that means a turning away from what you once were.… will receive Jesus Christ as their Lord. The Lord came to save us from our sins… if there is not change in your life-style yet you proclaim to be His child, it’s unbiblical and perhaps proves that you never really knew Christ. Christ offers is a free gift. He gives you eternal life… and a soul-satisfying relationship with Him. Today, you can receive that gift, that relationship and know the wonders of Christ that are beyond compare.
        First Baptist Church
        howardcitybaptist@gmail.com
        2319374809
        https://fbcohc-howard-city.faithlifesites.com
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