Introduction: Here in John we have accounts of the resurrection of Jesus that are based on the stories of three people or groups of people: Mary Magdalene, the Disciples as a group, and "Doubting Thomas." Today we are going to take a look at Mary's story.

I. Who was "Mary Magdalene?"

A. There are many Marys in the New Testament: Jesus' mother; Mary of Rome; the mother of John-Mark; the sister of Martha and Lazarus; the mother of James and Joses; and finally "Mary Magdalene."

B. "Mary Magdalene" is not really her name, and should have been translated "Mary from Magdala." Magdala was a small village on the SW coast of the Sea of Galilee.

C. This Mary from Magdala was a person who had been severely demon possessed. We read in Luke 8:1-3 that Jesus had cast out seven demons from her. She watched Jesus die, and she watched His burial by Joseph of Arimathea (Matt. 27:55-61).

D. John the Apostle tells the story of what happened to her on Easter morning: what she saw, how she met Jesus, and how she told the disciples.

II. Mary Magdalene's story reminds us of some important truths:

A. First, God doesn't hold your past life against you. Mary had been possessed by seven demons. She must have said and done some very sinful things. Yet, Jesus cast out the demons, and forgave her, and she was granted the privilege of being the first human being to see the risen Christ.

In Psalm 103 we read these wonderful words:

8 The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.
9 He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever.
10 He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.
11 For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.
12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.
13 Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.
14 For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.

B. Second, the quality that God looks for in us, more than anything else, is the virtue of love. What set Mary apart from the rest? Why was she the first person to see the risen Christ? She was intensely grateful for what Jesus had done for her, and her heart was overflowing with love for Jesus.

Most Christians are not very grateful, in spite of God having showered blessings on us. I am reminded of the story of the ten lepers, and only one returning to say "Thank you." We read it in Luke 17:

11 And it came to pass, as he went to Jerusalem, that he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee.
12 And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off:
13 And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.
14 And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed.
15 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God,
16 And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.
17 And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?
18 There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger.
19 And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.

Paul the Apostle wrote that the most important thing for a Christian to have was love (I Corinthians 13:1-3):

1 Cor 13:1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.
1 Cor 13:2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
1 Cor 13:3 If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.

C. Third, Mary Magdalene is a lesson to us about the place of knowledge in the Christian life.

1. Knowledge is very important and useful, and not to be scorned in any way: All through the Bible, we are taught to seek wisdom and knowledge. But we are also taught that salvation does not come from knowledge ABOUT Jesus, but from FAITH.

2. Without a doubt, Mary Magdalene was a Christian. She loved Jesus, she followed Him all over Galilee and Judea. Her heart was filled to overflowing with faith. Yet notice: she did not understand or believe in Jesus' resurrection until she actually met the risen Christ. Neither did the disciples understand or believe until Jesus appeared to them in the flesh. Yet they were already Christians. They were already saved, because of their faith in Jesus Himself, not in doctrinal knowledge about Him.

3. This says something to us about our fellowship in the Lord. Christians from all around the world, and in many different denominations, are at very different levels of doctrinal knowledge about Jesus. As Presbyterians, we believe in the doctrines of the Westminster Confession of Faith. Methodists and Baptists disagree with us strongly about predestination, election and freewill. Pentecostal Christians disagree with us about speaking in tongues and faith healing. We have intense doctrinal differences with the Roman Catholic Church. BUT: Mary Magdalene and the disciples, and their inability to understand even such an important concept as Jesus' resurrection, are a warning to us that we should beware of rushing to judgment about who and who is not a true Christian. There is such a thing as "cold, dead orthodoxy." The Pharisees and Scribes were truly experts in the Old Testament, but they were far from God. What God is looking for is more a heart full of faith and love, than a head full of doctrine, useful though that may be.

Summary and Conclusion: The story of Mary Magdalene is a story that teaches us some really important Christian truths: First, that God graciously forgives our past. His kindness is overflowing! Second, that God is looking for people who will love Him with all their hearts, as Mary did. Are we grateful for what God has done for us, as she was? Third, we should beware of making judgments about anyone's standing with the Lord, based solely on their doctrinal knowledge or lack of such. Knowledge is wonderful, and useful, and we are enjoined to study the Word, and seek it, But what makes us Christians is not our heads full of knowledge, but our hearts full of faith and love for the Lord. As Jesus told us, the first and greatest commandment (Mark 12:30):

"And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment."