Easter Reloaded

John 20:11-1811 Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb12 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?” 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 “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.Jesus is risen! I Corinthians 15:55-57“Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?”“The sting of death is sin and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”  The scene of Jesus appearing to Mary Magdalene Who is Jesus and How does He deal with His people?  1.     Jesus meets where we are.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?”2.  Jesus teaches us about faith. 15 He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?”3. Jesus knows us by name!       a.   16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned toward him and cried out in           Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”).4.Jesus focuses on the glory of God        a.    17 Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Jesus did not come only to save people. He came to fulfill God's mission.  Consider: Crucifixion and Resurrection Crucifixion: “Did Christ die for us or for God?”Romans 3:25-26 God put Christ forward as a propitiation (atoning sacrifice) by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.Christ died as the ultimate sacrifice to vindicate the righteousness of God, appeasing God’s holy wrath against sin.       Resurrection: Did Christ rise again for us or for God?  Jesus resurrected to fulfill God’s promise to save God’s people.  Jesus came for God to fulfill God’s redemptive plan to saveFor God so loved the world, He gave His one and only Son…  5.     Jesus sends all of us for His purpose which to proclaim the Kingdom. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”Jesus does not discriminate in choosing the people to serve His purpose!