Yesterday was Easter, and I had the privilege of visiting my parents’ church and sitting with them for a service on Jesus’ resurrection from John 20. But to be completely honest, I do not remember a single word the pastor said because, as we read through John 20 as a congregation, God revealed himself to me through the life of Mary Magdalene.
Here is the backstory. Jesus had healed Mary Magdalene from demonic possession and diseases mentioned in Luke 8:1-2. From that moment on, when Mary Magdalene is talked about in Scripture, she is in the presence of Jesus. In Matthew 27:56, Mark 15:40, and John 19:25, Mary is spotted near the cross of Jesus as he is dying. Then, at Jesus’ burial recorded in Matthew 27:61 and Mark 15:47, Mary is found at the tomb.
Then we get to John 20:1, which says, “Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb”. Once again, Mary is seeking the presence of Jesus, but this time she is met with the first evidence of his resurrection. She runs to gather the disciples to look at the empty tomb. Upon investigating the tomb, the disciples end up going back home. But Mary Magdalene stays. She is so grieved by the missing Jesus that she stands at the tomb weeping. As tears fall down her cheeks, she looks up to see two angels where Jesus had once lain. They ask her why she is crying, and she responds with “they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” (John 20:13) She then turns and comes face to face with the resurrected Jesus. She does not immediately recognize him until Jesus calls her by name. He says, “Mary,” and she responds with “Rabboni!” (John 20:16) meaning teacher in Aramaic.
Mary was the first person to encounter Jesus after his resurrection because she sought out his presence. Mary experienced the healing power of Jesus, and after that moment, she became obsessed with following him. She was not content with a distant relationship. She wanted a close and personal one. She was present during Jesus’ ministry, present for his suffering, present for his death, present for his burial, and present for his resurrection. In that hunger, God met Mary with a personal encounter of himself. The resurrected man of Jesus walked up to Mary and called her by name.
Encounter means to have a significant meeting or experience with God that leads to transformation, revelation, or deeper understanding of God. A few examples found in Scripture are when Moses encounters God through a burning bush in Exodus 3. Jesus’ mother, Mary, encountered God through an angel, bringing comfort in Luke 1. Here in John 20, Mary Magdalene encounters Jesus alive at the tomb where he had once been dead.
As I was studying the life of Mary Magdalene on Easter, I recalled the numerous moments God had encountered me. In most of those instances, I was simply seeking the presence of Jesus like Mary. And God kindly and graciously met me in that with Himself. One specific memory came to mind from college. The summer between junior and senior year, I lived in Sweden with a small team doing evangelism on college campuses. My team was incredible, and because we had so much fun together, it was hard for me to find moments to be completely alone with God. Finally, on my third week there, I knew I needed to spend time in the Bible and prayer in total isolation. My heart was craving intimacy with just Jesus. I hid in a tiny Swedish basement next to a washer and dryer that were rumbling loudly the entire time. I sat in a small black chair and started speaking to God. I said a simple prayer like this, “God, I’m in Sweden to serve you, how do you want to use me next? I will do anything, just tell me what it is”. I had no idea what God wanted to do with my life after Sweden, and so I asked. And then I listened, and let me tell you. God encountered me. He spoke to me through a knowing in my spirit. He put a heavy weight on my heart for the continent of Africa. God had called me to missions before, but he had never put a specific location on my heart the way he did on this day. In an instant, I went from having no idea how God wanted to use me next to knowing exactly what he wanted me to do. He was asking me to go to Africa and share his gospel. I didn’t know why, but I trusted his voice, and the next summer I lived in Ghana, Africa, doing ministry. I could go down a long rabbit trail about how God used Ghana, but I will save that for a future post. For now, I will end with to encounter God, all you have to do is be like Mary and enter into the presence of Jesus. You will never miss what God is doing if you are sitting with Jesus. James 4:8 says, “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you”. In John 6:36, “Jesus said to them, ‘I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst’.” If you come to God hungry for more of him, he will always fill you.
Grace
A photo of the Swedish basement God met me in on May 28, 2022.
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