Sermon Notes — Medina Community Church

The Passage · ESV

vv. 1–2 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. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple... and said to them, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him." vv. 11–15 But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb... she saw two angels in white... "Woman, why are you weeping?" She said, "They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him." Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?" Supposing him to be the gardener, she said, "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him." vv. 16–18 Jesus said to her, "Mary." She turned and said to him, "Rabboni!" (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, "Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers..." Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, "I have seen the Lord."

My Notebook

Part A

Differing Conclusions

vv. 1–10

Mary comes to the ¹ while it is still dark — not with hope, but to grieve and say goodbye.

She sees the stone moved and draws the most natural conclusion: the body was ².

"Grave robbers do not fold things neatly. John is looking at the evidence of someone who left deliberately — on His own terms, with no urgency at all."

John saw the folded linen and ³. The disciples went home. Mary stayed and ⁴. Same evidence — different conclusions.

Part B

A Misunderstanding of Great Consequence

vv. 11–15

Mary is weeping so hard she does not recognize ⁵ when they speak to her — or Jesus when He is standing right in front of her.

She supposes him to be the ⁶. She is grieving in dead places — looking for the living among the dead.

"You can be that close to a living Jesus — in a church on Easter Sunday — and still be looking for the wrong things in the wrong places."

Reflect · Where have you been looking for life in dead places?

Part C

A God Who Calls By Name

vv. 16–18

Everything changes with one word — He says her ⁷. Not an explanation of the evidence. Just her name — spoken the way only He could say it.

"Do not ⁸ to me" — what is coming is better than what she is holding onto. He commissions her to go and tell.

She came weeping in the dark. She left as the first ⁹ of the resurrection — "I have seen the Lord."

Conclusion

He is calling your name this morning.

Not in an audible voice — through His word, His people, and this story told not as ancient history but as a present and living reality.

You have been looking for something in dead places. The risen Lord steps into that dead place and calls you home. Receive Him as Teacher, Lord, and Savior.

"I have seen the Lord."

My Response · One thing I am taking from this message

Prayer