For Dear Life | John 20:1-2, 11-18 | Duane Brooks

Scripture

• John 20:1–2

About this sermon

Have you ever experienced tenacious, relentless love? Mary Magdalene loved Jesus a lot. People who are forgiven much love greatly. The first to see Jesus after the resurrection, she held on to Jesus like her life depended on him. Imagine being loved that much. Ponder a love that will never let us go. What if Someone loves you like that? Message based on John 20:1-2, 11-18. #easter #community #faith #resurrection #connection Quotes: Duane Brooks: There is something about Mary Magdalene; When you lose something you go back to the place you last saw it. Duane Brooks: Mary loved a lot. Her love would not let Jesus go. Charles Spurgeon: In thinking over this subject, I have come to the conclusion that Mary Magdalene was selected to see Christ first because she loved him most. John loved Jesus much, but Mary loved him more. John looked into the empty sepulchre, and then went away home; but Mary stood there, and wept, until her risen Lord appeared to her. Love, you know, is a keen-eyed grace. Love will look for Jesus, and discover him where none else can. Mary stayed right there. Eugene Peterson: Following Jesus doesn’t get us where we want to go. It gets us to where Jesus goes, where we meet him in Resurrection surprise, “My Lord and my God.” Those who expect Easter, experience Easter. Peter Larson: Despite our efforts to keep him out, God intrudes. The life of Jesus is bracketed by two impossibilities: a virgin's womb and an empty tomb. Jesus entered our world through a door marked "No Entrance" and left through a door marked "No Exit." G. K. Chesteron: On the third day the friends of Christ coming at daybreak to the place found the grave empty and the stone rolled away. In varying ways they realized the new wonder; but even they hardly realized that the world had died in the night. What they were looking at was the first day of a new creation, with a new heaven and a new earth; and in a semblance of the gardener God walked again in the garden, in the cool not of the evening but the dawn. Herman Bavinck: The image of God is much too rich for it to be fully realized in a single human being, however richly gifted that human being may be. It can only be somewhat unfolded in its depth and riches in a humanity counting billions of members. George MacDonald: Troubled soul, thou art not bound to feel, but thou art bound to arise. God loves thee whether thou feelest it or not. Duane Brooks: God’s grip won’t slip! Who is holding on to you? The Risen Lord of Life is holding on to us to give us life. Because he is holding us, we may release all of our fears. Duane Brooks: Christ is risen truly, indeed, he is risen. And because Christ lives, we can face tomorrow.