Sunday Morning Podcast April 1, 2018. Bro. Dave Goble.
TEXT: JOHN 20:1-16
1 The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.
2 Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him.
3 Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre.
4 So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre.
5 And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in.
6 Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie,
7 And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself.
8 Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed.
9 For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead.
10 Then the disciples went away again unto their own home.
11 But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre,
12 And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.
13 And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him.
14 And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.
15 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.
16 Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.
Mary, like many, was in the depths of grief over Christ’s crucifixion. It was a very real time of trouble. She hadn’t fully realized Christ’s prophecy had come true. When she came to the empty tomb, with the linen clothes left behind, she felt somewhat hopeless. She hadn’t perceived that the empty tomb was a sign of hope. She thought someone had removed his body. When Jesus spoke to her while she cried in her grief, she thought it was the gardener. When His loving voice said her name, she then recognized Him.
Life demands an answer from us. If ever there were a need of hope and help, it is today! This dramatic moment after Christ’s resurrection gave that. For Jesus is representative of that hope! There are many on a daily basis that love to greet the day. Yet there are also many that dread and feel threatened by each one. It is the latter that need hope the most. For hope is only hope, when there is an opposition to it. Take away hope, and we become nothing more than the existence of an animal. It is God’s conversion of a soul out of sin, that creates hope!
Jesus died so all could be free from the guilt of sin. To live free from sin and with the hope, strength, and help only found through Salvation. Then if you ever find yourself in trouble, there is a “just in time” help for you! Psalms 46:1 “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Psalms 46:4,5 “There is a river the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High. God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early. But God sometimes needs to confront us to get our attention! “Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalms 46:10
A Very Present Help In Time of Trouble…..