Mary Magdalene's devotion to Jesus after his resurrection is presented as a model for believers. The sermon highlights her early morning visit to the empty tomb, her persistent search for Jesus, and her recognition of him despite her initial confusion. This deep love and devotion, contrasted with the disciples' departure, led to her being the first to see and be commissioned by the risen Christ. The message emphasizes that true transformation and a new life in Christ come from a heart overflowing with love and complete surrender, urging listeners to fall in love afresh with Jesus and experience his life-altering power.
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to be able to sing. Paul has thrilled my soul in Jesus. He is more than life to me. Thank you very much, Mr. and Mrs. Huffman. All of you can truthfully say it is well with my soul. Say it? Amen. Now that's pretty weak. If your soul is resting upon the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ and you know him as a reality in that soul being purchased by that blood, then you can truthfully say it is well It is well with my slices. That really is the language of each one here tonight. That it really is well with yourself. Should you not be able to say a glorious amen to that now?
Maybe during the service you'll come to recognize your need of the Lord Jesus and own image of your very own Lord and Savior. Know that God that it is really well with yourself. We're going to sing together. Six hundred and five. Just in case you've forgotten. Now tonight we're not going to preach. We're just going to have a little half-to-heart talk. We want you to open your Bibles at the twentieth chapter of the Gospel by John. John chapter twenty. And I trust our hearts will be strangely warm tonight as again we listen to the Spirit of God through the Holy Scripture speaking to you and speaking to me.
As the Lord Jesus was being hounded to his place of death, Golgotha, all that mortly crowd was shouting away with him, away with him, let him be crucified, we will not have this man to reign over us. Among that crowd were a company of godly women, whose son begged for their anguish in lamentation and in weeping. They were loved to obey this week with their tears of love and devotion and sympathy. Among them was Mary Magdalene, out of whom had been cast seven demons.
She had been forgiven much, and she loved them much. There was Peter's mother-in-law, so Peter must have been married after all, for he had a mother-in-law. She was there. Remember out of her had been cast that terrible fever. The Lord came into that home, they told him of her. He touched her, and the fever immediately left her, and she rose up, and she ministered unto him. The widow's name was there. Her son had been given back to her from the dead. Remember how the Lord Jesus met that pure procession?
He saw the weeping with her mother. He great heart of compassion went out toward her. And he disturbed that funeral procession. He touched the beard and called to say, Young man, I can be a ride. He was dead, sat up, and he began to speak. And I love this at all my heart. He delivered him to his mother. He gave him back to the very soul from when she had come. how understanding, how sympathetic, how compassion is our lovely Lord Jesus Christ. Martha and Mary were there. They had had occasion to visit from the Lord Jesus.
How he loved to resort to Bethany. After the busy day, milling crowds, milling all around him, there was a home where he was welcomed, a family where it was loved, and he loved them. And oh, how he loved to go there. They had occasional visits from the Lord Jesus. Mary his own mother was there. She had the great privilege of the great miracle of that conception taking place within her. The great joy of bringing forth Christ into the world. She was blessed, highly favored among women. She was there. Now let us come back for a moment.
And just see how we fit into this picture. And how we tonight should draw near, and in faith, and in spirit. Just allow our hearts to overflow in gratitude, and in love, and in truth and giving. Out of Mary Magdalene, you were cast seven demons. When I was born again as a boy almost fourteen years of age back, yonder in Scotland, I don't know how many demons was cast out of me. The family said the lion and the house become a lamb. Why? And the wonderful transformation took place because Christ came into the lion.
There was a terrible fever caused by sin in your life and in my life. but we know in the healing touch of our beloved Lord that fear of sin is gone and gone forever. My sin not in part but the whole has been nailed to the cross and I bear it no more. Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord. O my soul. We too have been dead and trespassed and in sin. But now we've been quickened into life. And tonight for the living to praise our lovely Lord Jesus. I trust all in this very fine congregation, I have come to that place.
When you come from a condition of spiritual death, in the spirit of spiritual life, and you are alive unto God, through Jesus Christ our wonderful Lord. Oh, how art we do not withdraw on the earth, and to praise him, and to adore him. and to worship him. Mary and Martha had occasional visits from our lovely Lord. But then on she said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. The same yesterday, and the day and forever, lo, I am with you always into the consummation of the age. Our beloved, I found a friend, oh such a friend.
He loved me ere I knew him. He drew me with a cord of love, and thus he bound me to him. Around my heart were closely twined, those ties which not can sever. For I am his, and he is mine. And to know it something, it's forever and forever. Every friend will fill and leave. The one day sue, the next day grieve you. But this friend will never deceive you. Oh, how he loves. Oh, the constant companionship of a lovely Lord Jesus. They're living in the awareness that is with us every moment of every day.
Do you know that, George and I? Oh, it fills my soul with Jesus. Do I know this moment by moment, day by day, filling my soul, flooding my whole life? There's a new connection. Mary had the great honor of bearing the Lord Jesus. Bring him forth into his world that where we are concerned as believers on the Lord Jesus, Christ has been born in us. He's come into our spirit life by his spirit. He's taken up his abode in our life. And oh, it's the great desire that he might be formed in you and formed in me.
And Paul said in Galatians four, nineteen, that great pastoral prayer, his whole heart moving up, I travel in birth again, and will Christ be formed in you. Christ in you, the earth of glory. Oh, friend, have we not called tonight to draw near, and in spirit of bed, his feet with our tears. and prostrate her whole being before when cry was all concerning. And really mean it. Oh, precious Lord Jesus, how lovely thou art. Come on abiding, ruling my heart.
Break every fetter. Thy face let me see. Then thou shalt ever be precious to me. Is Christ a reality in your life right now? But all that before you, come now to this great classic, the twentieth chapter of the Gospel by John. And just know there's a very first there. The Thursday of the week comes Mary Magdalene Ehrlich. When it is yet dark, under the sepulchre, and she is a stone taken away from the sepulchre. Now here you think of this lone timid woman.
Sometimes the women are referred to as the weaker vessel, but I wonder very often, is that really true? Is that really true? Also when it comes to courage and bravery, we outshine we men too. And here we find a case right here. Mary has been forgiven much, and she loved her much. And one John four, eighteen says, Preferred love cast at all here. There is no fear in love. Here she's rising early in the morning. While it is yet dark, they go the place of burial. Her love and divorce is urging her on.
Love knows no fears. Love goes through all the barriers. We find it right here. When she arrives, what she found, she finds that, oh, they've been rolled away. Aren't you glad about that, eh? Doesn't that be a sermon to you and he lives in the light of age? Oh, I'm sure it does. Now look at verse two. Then she runs and comes to Simon Peter and to the other disciples. I like the way John writes about those other disciples whom Jesus loved. You could put your own name in there too, eh? He loved you, you know. Oh, he loved you. And he understands you. I'm so glad about that, aren't you? Now see this. And say it unto them.
They have taken away the Lord. Notice the expression. The Lord unto the sepulchre. And we know not where to lead him. Peter therefore went forth and other disciples and kings of sepulchre. So they ran both together. And the other disciples did outrun Peter and came first with sepulchre. John the younger man outrun Peter. See the old laborer coming along, the old fishermen. The young John runs along there, gets first with the sepulchre. And he's sitting down and looking in, just a casual look. Just a casual look. Saw the women close line, yet went he not in. There he comes Simon Peter, following him, just as impetuous as ever.
Peter's out impetuous. We know that. We've got one. and went in the sepulchre and see the linen clothes large, and a neck that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, wrapped together in a clade by itself. Even then he must have the three eminence. Even then he must have the three eminence. Here we find now the linen band is lying as if the body is still lying there. And now we find the napkins not a balance, but a line by itself, are plagued by itself. Listen to McCartney, who we called him to see on her way down, he has written a tract on this, while the napkins are plagued by itself. And he brings it out of the woman's covering.
The bandage was there, never to be removed again. But the Lord in his own glorious way, his own glorious way, and the one preeminent on day. He takes time to fold that net and place it by itself. And we are going to be used again. When? When the women cover their heads when they come in church capacity. The wonder of it all. Now isn't that just precious? The angel saw. The angel saw and looked down. There's the whole thing right there. Isn't that just precious? Doesn't it do something to your heart with my heart? Nine more is what this is. The Lord in all things must have the preeminence. He'll never use those bandages again. And Christ, in clear and in light, Christ, preeminent and dead.
I love that with all my heart. But John takes time to record that. See, others didn't even mention it, but John noticed it. I am of great interest. He noticed, and he records it. Is there a message for your heart and my heart here tonight? I'm sure there really is. Oh, Father, shall we? Then went in also the other disciples, which came through the sepulchre, and he saw and believed. For as they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the day. Then the disciples went away, unto their own home, but Mary too. I won't underline these three words.
I encircle the little box. But Mary too. The disciples went away to her own home. As if unconcerned. But not Mary. Mary loved them much. Her whole being is moving out toward the Lord. She has come to meet the Lord and she is not going to go away without meeting her Lord. What happened? We find her whole heart deletion. Complete devotion. Our whole beings moving out toward him. And while the apostles placed at hold and moved.
And they turned to earth home. For they wore Mary God. But Mary too. She shows to her whole heart of allegiance. Her complete devotion. Her heart warm love for the Lord Jesus. But Mary too. to don't remember an old Tasman character in group. He went all the way with me, O my, the third to be her deliverer. Alpha goes back to tomorrow, the land of the nativity, back to God, back to the own people. But Ruth said, And treat me not so easy, or they turn from falling after me.
Will I go as I will go, will as well as I will dwell. Thy people shall be my people, thy God shall be my God. Whether I will die, and there will I be buried. for the wonderful baptismal death. Where thou doth I will die, and there will I be buried. And she goes all the way with me, O my, the clothes we heard deliverer. What do we find? She has introduced a man whose name is Boa. Boa means a strong man. He's also a mighty man of wealth. A mighty man of wealth. And because of young Ruth's utter devotion and love and affection for Nehemiah, she's gloriously rewarded.
She comes in contact with Boa. She comes in all her impotence and powerlessness. She finds in both her abundance of strength. She comes in all her penultimate and poverty. She finds in both her abundance of wealth. And Mary Magdalene too. And because her husband leaves and she too. has a wonderful reward. What happened here? But Mary stood without the sepulchre weeping. And as she wept, she stood down and looked into the sepulchre, and seemed to angel in white sitting, the one that they have in the outer feet, where the body of Jesus had laid, and your heart shouts, What?
Hallelujah! The body has laid. Thank God the body is no longer there. Aren't you glad about that tonight? Aren't you glad the cross is empty and the tub is vacated and the crone is filled? I never again standing in this grave. I can't sing. You can make a noise, but I certainly can't sing. if he gives you to say there's plenty of volume but the very little melody so there's the whole thing i i want to get resounding in that grave i'll never know never forget this in all my life resound i serve the risen savior he's in the world today you ask me how i know he lives he lives within my heart that we came out from the tomb it was pouring of rain people standing outside want to get in I couldn't contain myself again.
He started, low in the grave he laid, Jesus my Savior, awaiting the coming day, Jesus my Lord. And up from the grave he arose, with a mighty triumph, all his pearls. And just that psychological movement, up in Golgotha, another great crowd of people stood there, and the joint right in this crowd. Hallelujah! Christ arose, and all through the valley. I was showing my pictures on this in Brisbane in Australia a few months ago. The man from the congregation said, James, I remember that well, but I didn't realize it was you who started it. We all joined in that very day. Hallelujah. Christ of earth.
Did your heart see him into that? Eh? Ah, we don't present a key, not a clue, not a catechist, not a church membership. Well, that answered John anything. We're asking to receive a living Lord. And he by his birth contains your life. You transform your life. You become a new creation. In Christ Jesus. Then you're saying, He lives. You know He lives. He lives within my heart. Your heart too. Amen. Amen. Right over there. When the body had laid. I like that. Oh, how do you do? A little fun, shall we? There's thirteen. And they say unto her, Woman, why weep is thou? She says unto them, because of taking away another change here, my Lord.
First to it, the Lord. First number. Well, there it is in it, my Lord. I know not where they've made him. By the way, there were two in that sepulchre, one at the bottom, one at the head. I wonder who they could be. Who were they? Did you know that two appear with Christ on the Mount of Transfiguration? One with Moses and the other Elijah? Could this not be? Could these not be the same two? Moses and Elijah?
Do you remember the two on Acts chapter one, verse eleven, who came back saying, Ye men of Galilee, why stand you gazing up into heaven? The same Jesus was just taken up from here to heaven, shall Saul come and lighten, and he's going to go, Who are they? Could they not be Moses and Elijah? Who are going to be the two witnesses in the coming days? Are they not Moses and Elijah? If you're not quite sure, I mean, I suggest you leave a similar backstory to wake my heart. If you haven't got that book, do get it. You can tell me if you really get it, I'll get it too.
I don't know if it's called them. I'm never tired of the way that book from the Desi Bolsheviks can ever get. Get five hundred choice words each morning. Not some fragmentary thing, but five hundred words of choice Bible teaching. Now he agrees with me. Moses and Elijah. I will not be like the chaotic preacher who says, I will not be dogmatic, but I'm absolutely certain. Now, will you forget about that and think about it later now? Come back with me when I study, will you? And after it says here, and then she turned herself back and saw Jesus standing and knew not that it was Jesus.
Now, don't blame Mary. In the disciples in chapter twenty-one didn't know it was Christ standing on the sea shore. They didn't know. But love recognized them, you know. Two said unto her, Woman, why weepeth thou? And he added something. Whom seeketh thou? The two remembered earlier said, Woman, why weepeth thou? And less there. But now the lower said, Whom seeketh thou? And all the time he knew he should seeketh thou. or a whole heart moving out toward him. Oh, the joy and the encouragement that must be brought to the heart of a lovely Lord that day. Where are the apostles?
Where are they? This lone woman, there she is. Ah, what a reward she gets. First to hear his voice on resurrection ground. First to see him on resurrection ground. And tell me more. Just since what happened here, Jesus told him to be in the garden of Strait, answer him, sir, if thou go and hence tell me where thou has laid him, and I will take him away. Whatever she's going to do with a dead Christ, I certainly don't know. But dead are alive. She wanted Christ. Now let me ask you lovingly, is this your heart's devotion? Do you love him like this?
Do you know him like this? Is your whole being moving up toward him in whole hearty, complete, surrendered, devotion to him? Can you look up tonight and say, I've no one in heaven but Jesus, no one on earth I desire beside me. Lord, thou art enough to mind and heart to fill, and fix my eyes to the holy law of me. That with thy beauty occupies I elsewhere none make thee. And all the gloriously wore here. Jesus says unto her, Mary. And you've got a way of saying that, you know.
Oh, he alone with me. And as he said it, her whole being got thrilled within her. Mary! She turned herself and said, Rabboni, my own dear master. And she said to her, what they clasped him to learn, they taught me not. I am not going to send to my father. But go to my bread. She is a first person commissioned by the Lord. And he commissioned her. They go and tell my bread. Oh, I know some people tell me. Mary Magdalene was not very intelligent. Had she been more intelligent, she wouldn't have been there. I would father have some person who got a cruel head.
and a warm heart and a cold heart and a warm head, wouldn't you? Wouldn't you? Wouldn't you rather have someone whose heart love with the Lord Jesus? Their heart white-hot in love and devotion and surrender, in selfless sacrificial service in his name. And someone to be so correct in orthodoxing, correct regarding church truth, regarding church principle, regarding doctrine, and be as cold as ice. Pray in the grave revival needed a day.
is not more ministry, is not more manpower, not more money, not more new message, not more modern music, not more modern version, but for the individual believer to fall in love afresh with Jesus Christ. And friend, if that happens here during these days, you are coming together, you're going to be reading what's why. You're my friend, you hear such a lot of Bible teaching, beautiful exposition to God's word. my humble desire and prayer long before coming here, that each of us are going to have a fresh vision of Jesus Christ and fall in love with Christ with him. The impact is going to have such a terrific impact, it shall be felt to the uttermost part of the earth.
Do you love him? Do you love him? Does he mean everything to you? Go and tell my brethren for heaven and say unto them, I say unto the My Father the first time you ever come across His expression, Knowing now a resurrection power is My Father and your Father, my God and your God. Young Ruth said, Thy people shall be my people, Thy God shall be my God. And she goes and tells the disciples, She has seen the Lord and has told all these things. And with such a transformation in Mary's life, they couldn't deny it.
Friends, you can't come in contact with Jesus Christ be the same man or woman, boy or girl again. You just cannot. Our life is transformed by the written Christ. I want to teach the name Mary. The capital A-M-A-R-Y just tells Mary, doesn't it? Right over there. Her name, her name was marred. Her life was marred because of sin. How life was marred because of sin. A. How life was altered because of contact with Jesus Christ. First, we're going to teach them, oh, and that goes something like this. I'm not going to sing it, but don't worry. It's a new life, oh, how he changed me.
It's a new life. He rearranged me. It's a new life, richer and fuller. It's a wonderful, wonderful life. And it goes on from there. And when Christ comes to life, He really changes you. He completely transforms you. You become a new creation in Christ Jesus. Your life is altered. Then our life is remained. All of your life regenerated. Remain a new creation altogether. And lastly, her life is yielded. Her life is yielded. Mary, her life is marred. Her life is altered. Her life is renewed. Her life is yielded. Maybe for a chance not to some life here just like that.
Your life is marred because of sin. But Christ is here tonight. Dearest to you to your neighbor. Looking right down deep into your heart right now. put up the empty hand of things, and just touch millions. Lord, I do believe you died for me. I believe you shared your precious blood for me. And Lord, I own you, is my Lord and Savior. Come into my heart, Lord Jesus, and your life will be remade. You become a new creation, Christ Jesus. All things will be passed away. You become a new creature altogether. and your life will be healed.
You can't hold that. Oh, no. You recognize his Lord. You belong to him. And from your very heart you'll look up and say with all concern. Rain over me, Lord Jesus. Rain over all within. Make me a loyal subject to thee. It's everything. All it means. O Jesus, Lord and Savior, I give myself to you. For thou in thine atonement, just give thyself to me. I all know our master.
My heart shall be thy growth. My life I give. Head forth to this. O Christ. Amen. Will you do not? So you tonight, right now, you sit there, the Lord is in there. The Lord who became dead, who is alive forevermore, neither to you nor your neighbor, who just wants to say, Lord, I believe, and I will see you coming to my heart, Lord Jesus. Will you? And those of us who do praise his name, may I ask you lovingly, have you seen the Lord?
That he has everything to you right now. If not, he's saying to you now, Love is on me more than. Love is on me more than. And will you turn away from your heart with all your heart and say, I'm really weak. Love so amazing, so divine, shall have my heart, my life, my all. Your life once marred by sin will be altered by your contact with Jesus Christ.
Your life will be remade, regenerated, and your life will be healed. Lord, I yield myself to thee. I've heard thy call, come, give me thy all. Lord, I gladly kneel for thee. That's only part of my measure. I intended to finish in the chapter tonight, but we must close right there. I see my time's almost gone. Three hundred and fifty. There's no button holding, nor endure pressing, and not as you stand up or to raise your hand or come to the front, but you're concerned about spiritual matters, and please don't go away. We're going to help you be partly cared.
Maybe your friend will help you and help you come and talk to us. If you tonight are a professing Christian and you're living a defeated life, now that is a contradiction in terms. There's no need for any Christian to live a defeated life. There's complete victory for you tonight in Christ Jesus, our wonderful Lord. Many here confess this part of that, as I've entered in by simple faith the teaching of Romans six. This can be your job, who here comes after. Three hundred and fifteen I see the faith of Jesus.
What? Stop saying prayerfully. I see the face of Jesus, He smiled in love on me. It fills my heart with rapture, My soul with a dark flame. The scars of people's anguish were lost in very bright I see the things of Jesus, it was a wondrous sight.
The blurred space of beauty, the gentle plush of beauty. If here it is so blessed, What will it be? And since I've seen his beauty, All else I count the cross. The world, his feeling pleasure, is now to me but brought. His light dispelled my darkness. His smile was old to see. I've seen the face of Jesus.
I've had. It is me. Do you know him like this? The third verse from our heart. I hear the voice of Jesus. He told me of his love. And call me his own treasure. He confided his love. It came like salt, as you did, Across the Lucian town.
The glorious way of you be, of gentle God shall care. In here it is so blessed, what will it be of? I know it's coming shortly to tell us all about. You'll sing Redemption's story, the story of his life. Are you going with us? Should the Lord burst across the mountain be slain there, and he may? Are you going with us?
Oh, please make sure that before you leave tonight, and sing with all your heart, it is well, it is well. Good morning. Glad to talk with you. Thank you. I know in coming something to take trouble. We'll take pretensions during the ferry of his love. I'll hear the advice of your lips. We'll fill his hand of care.
He'll never rest his face down until he has not there. Oh, glory's faith all to thee. Oh, gentle God shall care. If he resists our blessing, will it be our prayer. We thank thee for the wonderful provision of it made for all mankind, blessed God, in the person and work of our lovely Lord Jesus.
Now by the divine operation of the Holy Spirit in his immediate congregation, through thy holy word. Pray thy word tonight. They become alive. As many believe thy word, receive thy word by simple faith. Then on the Lord Jesus, the very own Lord and Savior, they shall know their joy. They are alive to praise him. Play to God this assembled company. From the youngest to the elders, there not one may leave in that blood, having seen our lovely Lord, having heard his voice, and felt his glorious touch, and responded with a glad assurance, Lord Jesus, thou art mine, and I am thine forever and forever.