Ponder them.
John 20:1-18
Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. 2 So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!”
3 So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. 4 Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, 7 as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen. 8 Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. 9 (They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.) 10 Then the disciples went back to where they were staying.
11 Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb 12 and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.
13 They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?”
“They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.”
14 At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.
15 He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?”
Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.”
16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.”
She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “[my exalted] Teacher”).
17 Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”
18 Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that he had said these things to her.
Mary Magdalene was the first person to venture to the gravesite of Jesus. Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance (John 20:1-18). She went very early and in the dark. Without knowing her circumstances or her personality, we could each surmise her reasons for being out before sunrise—a potentially scary and dangerous time to be out alone.
Is Mary an early riser? Is she one of those individuals, that, if you give her a task she must fulfill it at all costs? Did she wander toward the tomb out of curiosity, sadness, or a sense of obligation? Had she felt that the hasty wrapping of Jesus’ body did not merit the respect that Jesus deserved?
If we are to ascertain a more legitimate understanding of why Mary was there so early in the morning, we need to decipher the person, Mary Magdalene. Her moniker tells us that she was from Magdala—a fishing village just to the West of the Sea of Galilee. Mary is one of the most celebrated disciples of Jesus; she is mentioned 12 times in the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John), which gives her more attention than most of the disciples.
Mary appears to have had a decent amount of wealth at her disposal. Luke 8 records for us that Jesus’ ministry was supported by several women. Mary is the first one listed, meaning that she held a prominent position among these women:
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, 2 and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, 3 and Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod's household manager, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their means (Luke 8:1-3).
Mary Magdalene had enough wealth to be mentioned with two other women as contributing greatly to Jesus’ ministry. The gospels point to Mary as an individual who had wealth enough to share with Jesus and the disciples. Yet Mary had some very pressing issues before following Jesus. Using Luke’s investigative research, we learn that “Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out . . .” (Luke 8:2). Mary was in a battle for her very life. To be possessed by demons means that her life was so filled with combat that demons were literally possessing her and tormenting her. As a side note, this was a fully documented issue in Jesus’ day and even happens today in certain parts of the world. Why?
The answer is very simple. Satan and his throng of fallen angels so thoroughly despise God and all that God loves (“God so loved the world” John 3:16) that they will use any form of terror they can muster in order to inflict pain on God’s creation—especially on the crown of creation, mankind. Satan hates God but can do nothing to damage God or inflict pain on God personally. So he attacks those whom God loves—humans. For Mary, it was demon possession. But what is challenging for us as 21st century Americans? I’ve never met anyone demon-possessed. And I’m guessing you haven’t either.
So if demon possession is not a thing today, then so what? Again and again the Bible says that humanity is subject to this continuous onslaught of dark and oppressive power. Here are several ways that Satan and his fallen angels seek to tear and rip at humans today:
Separation. Satan DOES NOT WANT you connected to other Christians. He knows that God promotes connection with other believers because those connections more greatly add flesh and bones to the Body of Christ. 1 Peter 5:6-8
Pride. Pride is what caused Satan to fall from God’s grace. He knows that pride is a great tool with which to separate us from God. 1 Peter 5:6
Accusations. He will accuse each of us of real sins that we have committed in order to convince us that God can’t forgive us. Those are called fiery darts in Ephesians 6:16. That is why God calls us to have the shield of faith.
Deceit. He is conniving and deceitful; having seen 1000’s of years of human patterns and mistakes, he now understands all too well how to lead humanity away from God. That’s why we need the belt of truth from Ephesians 6:14.
Trickery. We, as humans, are intelligent enough but not intelligent enough to combat Satan. He has 6000 years of tricks in his bag. He has experience on his side. We have the armor of God if we are humble enough to use it. Ephesians 6:10-18
Lack of knowledge about the battle/ ignorance. Most of us are unaware that we are in a battle; and if that is the case, then the enemy has almost won. But he can’t win while you are still alive and Jesus is still risen from the grave.
The miracle that we will focus on for Resurrection Day (Easter) is Jesus coming alive again. But we must also stress why he came alive: to defeat a very real devil. Satan and his pack of ravenous demons are real and vengeful. They tormented Mary Magdalene and they have a plan to torment you. You have already seen some of their plans and battle strategies in place. They are fighting you every day. Do you see it? AND do you see that Jesus’ resurrection secures their defeat?
Jesus used his power to defeat the Devil once and for all—that’s the Resurrection. And he also gave a precursor to Mary Magdalene when he cast out those seven demons. Now, let’s pray and fight as Jesus has called us to do.
Please read the passages below and pray over them. Ponder them. Let them sink into your heart and mind so that Jesus gets the glory, just as he did when he met Mary Magdalene on Resurrection morning near the EMPTY tomb.
1 Peter 5:6-8 (ESV)
6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. 8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
He is seeking to separate you from the pack—at that point he can devour you.
Revelation 12:9
And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.
Ephesians 6:10-19
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.
Schemes - Μεθοδείας - organized evil-doing; well-crafted trickery
12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.
14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
Truth - because Satan lies
15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.
Good news of peace - God is not angry with us
But Satan wants us to believe that God still is.
The cross and the empty grave confirm that God’s face shines on us with divine smiles.
16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one;
Faith - because Satan loves to grow and ferment doubts in our minds and hearts
17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, 19 and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel.