Mary

Message by Josh Mutter– May 8, 2022

Who are the women in your life that have helped you follow Jesus?

Big Idea: The women in the Gospels show us what it looks like to follow Jesus

Observation #1 – Jesus’ followers humbly acknowledge their need for Jesus.  

When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.

When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.” Luke 7:36-39 NIV

Your sins are forgiven…Your faith has saved you; go in peace. Luke 7:48 & 50 NIV

After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; Joanna the wife of Chuza, the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means. Luke 8:1-3 NIV

Observation #2 – Jesus’ followers invest in his mission. 

How are we using the good things God has given us?

Observation #3 – Jesus’ followers practice faith through tears and uncertainty.

Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.

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.” At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.

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.”

Jesus said to her, “Mary.”

She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”).

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.’”

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.

John 20:11-18 NIV

Observation #4 –  Jesus’ followers share their experience with Jesus with others.

Next Steps:

  1. Pay attention to the stories of those people in scripture who are on the outside of mainstream society.
  2. Pay attention to the stories of those followers of Jesus in our lives who are outside the mainstream of our society.

The Kingdom of God often flows through those who are left out by the majority of society.

You can watch the sermon on Youtube here.

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