Mary Magdalene's Story - Pastor Robert Morris

all right I want you to turn the two passages of scripture John chapter 14 and Daniel chapter 7 John 14 and Daniel 7 when I say turn two maybe I should start saying click two if that's the way you read the Bible that's fine as long as you read the Bible so John chapter 14 and Daniel 7 we're in a series called face to face divine encounters and this week I want to share with you Mary Magdalene's story now I relate to Mary Magdalene a lot and you may not know why unless you've been here for a while but the reason I relate to Mary Magdalene is not because she was the first person that talked to Jesus after the resurrection that's not why here's the reason I relate to her we'll get to John 14 in a minute I relate to her because of this verse mark 16 verse 9 now when he rose early on the first day of the week he appeared first to Mary Magdalene out of whom he had cast seven demons that's why I relate to Mary Magdalene she had seven demons cast out of her I didn't have just seven I had seven categories of demons but I still relate to her it's very important for us to understand this and I want to share with you about the conversation the divine encounter the face-to-face encounter that Mary had with Jesus own the very first Easter morning ever but in order to do that let me back up a little bit years ago many of you know I was a traveling evangelist and I would travel and preach revivals and churches one summer I had no revival meetings for the whole summer June July or August no meetings I had meetings in May and meetings in September none in the summer and I said to the Lord Lord what do you want me to do this summer and he said I want you to meet with me he said I want you to go in a room at 8:00 in the morning and not come out until 5:00 in the afternoon you can come out at noon and have lunch from 12:00 to 1:00 but from 8:00 to 12:00 and 1:00 to 5:00 I just want you to meet with me that's all I want you to do all summer and so that's what I did every day 8:00 to 5:00 I met with the Lord worship prayer and the word and the very first day I was reading the scripture early this was probably just a little bit after 8:00 and I was reading about a verse about the father and as I read that verse it seemed like Jesus was just standing right there beside me and he asked me a question that took me off-guard he said to me have you ever met my father and I said well yes and he said well when did you meet my father and I said well when I got saved and he said no that's when you met me when did you meet when did you meet my father now I'm not trying to start a new doctrine I know that the Trinity is three-in-one but I also know that they're three persons and what I realized the Lord was saying to me was this summer I want to take you on a journey to meet the Father and that's going to be the thesis of your study this summer is to study about the father so I stuck the whole summer and read the word and studied about the father that led me to Mary Magdalene's encounter in John 20 so we'll get to that in just a moment but I just want you to know that as I was going through this I realized that the father is more elusive in Scripture than what we think many times when we think it's the father it's actually the son for instance the burning bush God talked to Moses I always thought that was the father but if you remember Moses said what's your name he said I am and then think about this scripture john 8:58 jesus said to them most assuredly I say to you before Abraham was I am I think that was Jesus I think it was Jesus that visited Abraham when Sarah conceived the child I think it was Jesus in the lion's den with annual when Shadrach Meshach and Abednego were cast into the furnace and I heard one preacher he preached on that he got it all messed up he preached on my Shack yo Shack and a bungalow but never kamesha looks into the fire and he says didn't we catch three men in I see four and the fourth man looks like the Son of Man it's Jesus the midst of the fire all through Scripture we see Jesus the father is very elusive but I'm going to show you today why the father is so elusive and where he actually is in the scripture and I'm going to show you what Jesus did on Resurrection Sunday that allows us to have a relationship with the father but before we get to John 20 which is where we're going in a moment which is where Mary has her encounter with Jesus we got to back up to John 14 John 14 15 and 16 is the record of the conversation of the Last Supper Jesus is telling his disciples I'm going away and coming back here's the problem many of us relate that to the second coming but some of those passages are not talking about the second coming he's talking about the three days and the resurrection so let me show you John chapter 14 look at verse 1 John 14 verse 1 and he says let not your heart be troubled let me tell you why he's saying that because of the crucifixion he said you believe in God believe also in me in my father's house are many mansions if it were not so I would have told you and I go to prepare a place for you now this word mansions in the Greek means dwelling places as a matter of fact it's the exact same word later in the verse where he says I go to prepare a place for you well it's it's the same word place a dwelling place for you everywhere in the Bible it's translated a dwelling or a place a home but for some reason the old King James here and some of the newer versions translates it mansion now please don't get upset with me if you want to have a big house when you get to heaven okay if your belief great you can have a big house it's fine with me but it may be that there's something deeper in this passage than whether or not you get a big house one day it may be Jesus is saying guys understand something you can't have a relationship with the father yet but I'm about to take care of it so that you could have a relationship with the father but listen to me guys you need to understand that you're going to be troubled something's about to happen and you're going to have sorrow but your sorrow is going to be turned in joy he's talking about the death the burial and the resurrection I'm going to go and prepare a place for you so you can have a relationship with the father now let's keep reading look at verse 25 John chapter 14 verse 25 these things I've spoken to you while being present with you but the helper the Holy Spirit whom the father will send in my name he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you peace I leave with you and my peace I give to you not as the world gives do I give to you now let me just tell you a couple things he talks about the Holy Spirit and peace that's very important to remember because of what happens the first time he sees the disciples after the resurrection okay he talks about the Holy Spirit and peace and then he goes right back to the same conversation of verse one watch this let not your heart be troubled neither let it be afraid you have heard me say to you I am going away and coming back to you he just he just said that too if you loved me you would rejoice because I said I'm going to the Father so he tells them where he's going I'm going to the father for my father is greater than I now watch verse 29 carefully this is a key and now I have told you before it comes that when it does come to pass you may believe okay look at that verse I've told you this before it happens so that when it happens you will believe okay listen we know for sure now he's talking about the resurrection not the second coming because no one is going to have a problem believing after the second coming he's not saying I'm telling you about second coming so that after it comes you'll believe we're not going to have a problem but listen even atheists are going to believe after the second coming every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord to the glory of God the Father everyone will so he's not talking about the second coming here he's talking about the rest of the crucifixion and the resurrection he says I'm telling you this before it happens so that when it happens you'll believe and he some will give you two signs to know to remember this conversation piece and the Holy Spirit now look at John chapter 16 just flip over maybe a page or two there John chapter 16 verse 16 a little while and you will not see me and a little while and you will see me and you will see me okay this isn't thousands of years this isn't Second Coming this is three days a little while and you will not see me and again a little while and you will see me because I go to the Father now notice he's saying I'm going to the Father it's very important then some of his disciples said among themselves what is this that he says to us a little while and you will not see me and again a little while and you will see me and because I go to the Father they said therefore what is this that he says a little while we don't know what he's saying now Jesus knew they desired to ask him so he said to them are you inquiring among yourselves about what I said a little while and you will not see me and again a little while and you will see me most assuredly I say to you that you will weep and lament he saw about the crucifixion but the world will rejoice and you will be sorrowful but your sorrow will be turned into joy he still meant the resurrection a woman when she's in labor has sorrow because her hour has come but as soon as she has given birth to the child she no longer remembers the anguish for joy that a human being has been born into the world therefore you now have sorrow now watch carefully but I will see you again he's how much a resurrection I will see you again and your heart will rejoice and your joy no one will take from you in a little while you won't see me in a little while not thousands of years not to say it coming just a little while the resurrection you're going to see me again you're going to be sorrowful but then you're going to rejoice and no one will take your joy from me and when I come back I'm going to bring peace and I'm gonna bring the Holy Spirit and I'm telling you this before it happens so that when it happens you will believe alright now look at John chapter 20 here is this face-to-face divine encounter with Mary Magdalene and the resurrected Lord she's the first one to talk to him after the resurrection John 16 verse I mean John 20 verse 1 now the first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early while it was still dark and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb and then she runs back tells us eiffel's Peter and John run in and then look at very then they leave and she's left alone there in the garden look at verse 11 but Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the tomb verse 12 is a tremendous spiritual analogy that a lot of people miss and she saw two angels in white sitting one at the head and the other at the feet or the body of Jesus allay that is a spiritual analogy of the Ark of the Covenant the Ark of the Covenant had two angels one at the head and one at the foot of the Ark of the Covenant and here we have Jesus who is our Ark of the Covenant and that's why the two angels were sitting right where they were then they said to her woman why are you weeping she said to them because they've taken away my Lord and I don't know where they've laid him then when she said this she turned around now watch this and saw Jesus standing err and did not know that it was Jesus okay that's very strange to me she traveled with him for two and a half years she met Jesus in his first year of ministry John chapter 8 tells us that there were women that traveled with the disciples and provided for them I mean many people don't know that I think it was just Jesus or twelve guys running around what common sense would tell you twelve men could not travel around and take care of themselves there had to be some women there Mary Magdalene was one of those swimming so she's traveling she traveled with Jesus two and a half years why would she not recognize him there's something different about his appearance let me tell you another thing some I heard one pastor say well she didn't recognize him because his body had been so badly beaten that that it was unrecognizable there's only one problem with that she helped take his body off the cross she helped prepare his body for burial she knew what he looked like there's something different about his appearance right now and let me just remind you he said I'm going to the Father and let me remind you what Hebrews says Hebrew says he entered the holiest once holy place once for all with his own blood he's going to make a sacrifice for our sin before the Father in heaven in the holy place in heaven and she doesn't recognize him right now because there's something different about his appearance now look at verse 15 jesus said to her woman why are you weeping whom are you seeking she supposing him to be the gardener now that's strange because gardeners are normally dirty but remember he's going to make a sin-offering right now said to him sir if you carried him away tell me where you've laid him and I will take him away jesus said to her Mary I think he opened her spiritual eyes at this moment she turned and said to him rebel and I which is say teacher jesus said there do not cling to me and will come back this word clean in a moment do not cling to me now watch very carefully what Jesus said for I have not yet ascended to my father I've not yet ascended to my father remember he say he was going to the Father I haven't yet gone to the Father but now watch this carefully go to my brethren and say to them I am present tense I am ascending to my father now watch this and your father for the first time he's your father growing going to be your father to my father and your father and to my god and your God okay now this this word clean it bothers me that they translate it clean because in the Greek this word it should be translated touch it's in the authorized version 36 times 36 times in the authorized version it's always translated touch never translated clean I don't know why newer versions do this I have no clue why they do this because every other time they always translate touch and that's all it means it doesn't mean grab hold of it just simply means touch when the Roman touched the hem of His garment she said if I might just touch the hem of His garment that's the same Greek word same one she didn't say if I might hold onto her clean just touch and matter of fact Jesus turns around and uses the exact same Greek word again and says who touched me doesn't say who who held on to me who was clinging to me he says who touched me I felt virtue go out of me see it's the same word say so let me tell you what Jesus actually said he said don't touch me don't touch me don't don't touch me please let this dawn on you don't touch me I have not yet ascended to my father I told him I was going to the Father but I haven't gone to the Father yet I say we think when we think of the word ascension we think of 40 days later please don't think of that there's simply the word of sins you simply means to go up listening he said I haven't yet ascended to my father but go tell my disciples I am ascending I am ascending to my father and to your father for the first time okay so this is in the morning in the morning he says don't touch me I haven't ascended yet okay look at verse 19 now looking verse 19 then the same day at evening okay let me just ask you a question where has he been all day well where did he say he was going say he's going to meet with the father watch the same day at evening being the first day of the week when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews Jesus came and stood in the midst of them and said to them remember this watch peace be with you when he said this watch this he showed them his hands and his side this is different that morning he said to Mary don't touch me that night he said to the disciples touch me did you just read on down he says to Thomas stretch your hand here put your hand right here touch touch my put your hand in my side touch me that morning he says don't touch me I haven't ascended yet that night he says touch me look look at me to me then he showed him his hands and his side then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord so jesus said to them again he gives them the two signs that he told them earlier watch peace to you as the father has sent me we could just say right now as the father had just left the father as the father has sent me I also send you and when he said this he breathed on them and said to them receive the Holy Spirit okay let's go back he gathers he's in the upper room right before the crucifixion having the Last Supper he said guys I'm going away just for a little while not thousands of years just a little while you're going to be sorrowful but your sorrow is going to be turning to enjoy a little while and you won't see me and then a little while you will see me again I will see you again I'm telling you this before it happens so there when it happens you'll believe and when I come back I'm going to talk to you about peace and the Holy Spirit you'll remember this conversation and then he sees Mary in the garden and he says to me he says the disciples I'm going to the Father you cannot dwell with the father you can't have a relationship the father but I'll go I will present myself before the father and I will make it right so that he won't only be my father from now on he'll be your father too I'm going to take care of it for you guys I'm telling you all this before it happens so when it happens you'll believe and then he says to Mary don't touch me I haven't ascended yet well when did he is sin well let me tell you why if even says in Ephesians you got to understand where was he for those three days for those three days he descended into the lower parts of the earth he went to gray to the grave he went to hell he went to Hades and he released the Old Testament Saints for those three days but what did he do with those Old Testament Saints then he took them into heaven and he did that on Sunday let me read it to you Ephesians four verses eight nine therefore he says when he ascended on high that's Sunday he led captivity captive that refers to the Old Testament Saints and gave gifts to men now this he ascended what does it mean but that he also first descended into the lower parts of the earth when he died for those three days he went into the grave and he took the keys of the grave hell and death back from Satan and he released those Old Testament Saints and then he ascended and he took those Old Testament Saints into heaven which I will show you in just a moment but when he took them into heaven he said to them I need to stop by the earth just for a moment and talk to Mary because I told the disciples to meet me in Galilee but everybody knows if you want something done you're going to have to talk to a woman I told those guys over and over and over again but I'll have to stop by and get a woman to take care of it for me so I'm going to stop by just for a few moments and we'll talk to Mary and the Old Testament Saints you know what they said would it be all right with you with if while you're talking to Mary if we walked around the streets of Jerusalem son it's been a long time since we've seen the old city I'm not I'm not making this up Matthew 27 52 and 53 and the graves were opened and many bodies of the Saints had fallen asleep were raised and coming out of the graves after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many Abraham was walking around the streets of Jerusalem and saying you see where that Walmart is that's where I use play ball right there right where that Walmart is there wasn't a Walmart there when I was here and Jesus tells Mary I'm ascending I'm a sinning this is at this section 40 days later this is when Jesus went into the Holy of Holies when did he go he didn't do it during the three days cuz that's when he descended this is when he went into the Holy of Holies and presented himself as a sin offering to God and he tells Mary don't touch me don't touch me I haven't ascended yet or you go tell my disciples I'm ascending right now and then the same day TV shows up he says disciples touch me I've done it as the father has sent me I send you I've taken care of it everything that needs to be done for sinful man to have a relationship with holy God has been done I've done it okay now I see this in Scripture this is on the last day of my three months is when I get to John 20 and I remember thinking to myself you know I wonder if there is a description somewhere in Scripture of what happened when he entered the holy voice of what happened on that day when he ascended and met with the Father and I remembered this scripture in Daniel Daniel chapter 7 if you want to flip over there Daniels chapter 7 is the most descriptive passage of the father that I know of in Scripture before we read it let me read you one more back in John John 12 verse 31 jesus said now all this is very important to word now this is right before he goes to the cross now is the judgment of this world now the ruler of this world will be cast out I just want you to notice he didn't say it in two thousand years or three thousand years he didn't say it the Second Coming he said now the ruler of this world is about to be cast out in other words I'm about to get back what Adam lost Adam lost it I'm about to go get it back boys Daniel chapter 7 if you want to see the father in Scripture here's the father verse 9 I watched until Thrones were put in place and the Ancient of Days was seated that almost makes just chills run up my spine because that's him this is the one that's very elusive in Scripture his garment was white as snow and the hair of his head was like pure wool his throne was a fiery flame its wheels a burning fire a fiery stream issued and came forth from before him a thousand thousands ministered to him ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him the court was seated and the books were opened now look at me just for a moment when we read something like that in Daniel we think well let's tell Matt the book of Revelation and that's end times okay let me remind you of the scripture I read right for this jesus said now is the judgment of this world now the ruler of this world will be cast out okay there was a court that happened when Jesus died on the cross and rose it's very important to understand that verse 11 I watched in because of the sound of the pumpa swards which the horn was speaking I watched till the beast was slain all right look at me just for a moment again when we receive the word beast we think okay that's revelation that's the beast in Revelation okay hold on in Daniel there are four beasts therefore be stunned Daniel this is just the first one and by the way if you don't know death was destroyed 2,000 years ago this beast has already been destroyed Jesus has already destroyed death death has no more victory over the believer it's already been destroyed Jesus destroyed that when he rose from the grave he destroyed it I watched till the beast was slain and its body destroyed its exact same word the New Testament uses and given to the burning flame as for the rest of the beast okay notice I told you there are three others they had their dominion taken away yet their lives were prolonged for a season at a time okay now watch here's what happened when Jesus left Mary here's what happened I was watching in the night visions and behold one like the son of man that's him coming with the clouds of heaven coming with the clouds of heaven you ever read Hebrews where it talks about the great cloud of witnesses what's it referring to the Old Testament Saints here's Jesus bringing the clouds to bringing the Old Testament Saints with him he came to the Ancient of Days and they brought him near before him then to him this is very important to understand this happened 2,000 years ago then to him was given Dominion and glory and a kingdom that all peoples nations and languages should serve him his Dominion is an everlasting Dominion which shall not pass away and his kingdom the one which shall not be destroyed now most messages I give you like three points I don't have three points this time I really got one point here's what I want you to hear more than anything this weekend Satan has been lying to you and he's been telling you that he still has Dominion but I'm telling you his Dominion was taken away 2,000 years ago Jesus got it back and Jesus now has all authority and all Dominion and that's what he said right before he did ascend on the forty days all Authority has been given to me in heaven and earth I've gotten it back I've taken care of it I've entered the holy place once for all and presented myself as a sacrifice to the Father and he has accepted my sacrifice and now you can be accepted also because of that he can be your father also Satan's been lying to us it says that they had their dominion taken away but their lives have been prolonged for a season at a time yes Satan is still active but if you're a believer he has no more dominion over you Romans Romans 6:14 says for sin shall not have dominion over you first John 3:8 for this purpose was the son of God manifested that he might destroy the works of the devil Colossians 2:15 having disarmed past-tense disarmed principalities and powers he made past tense a public spectacle of them triumphing over them Mary Magdalene's encounter with Jesus is so important because Jesus says you need to let my disciples know that I'm about to ascend to the Father right now and I'm going to take care of it let me show you one other thing that happened Daniel 7 verse 21 and 22 I was watching in the same horn was making war against the Saints and prevailing against them until the Ancient of Days came in and a judgment was made in favor of the Saints of the Most High and the time came for the Saints to possess the kingdom that happened 2,000 years ago as the saint i can possess the kingdom now i can walk right in and lift i've been translated from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of his dear son already because of what Jesus did here's what happened 2,000 years ago the demons were there and thus and Jesus comes with the saints presents himself as a sacrifice the father the Ancient of Days walks in sits on his throne takes his gavel and hits it like this and makes a judgment this was his judgment demons lose Saints win demons lose Saints you win and it's done here's the question of whose team are you playing for because it's your choice it's your choice and you're yielding Dominion to someone right now you're either yielding Dominion to Satan or you're yielding domine ninh to the one who has Dominion and that's Jesus Here I am after three months eight hours a day studying the father last afternoon I get to Daniel 7 and right before I read Daniel 7 it was just like the Lord stepped right back in that room and said to me Robert I'd like you to meet dad because of what I did you can have a relationship with the father now that's what he wants to do for every person in the world that's the story of Easter that's the reason he came the reason Jesus Christ came in this world was to die for your sins and present his own blood as an atonement for our sins so that he could introduce us to the Father I want you to bow your heads and close your eyes and I want to introduce you to Jesus today who can introduce you to the Father Jesus also said in John 14 no one no one comes to the Father but through me no one I'm the only way to get there someone helped me years ago when I accepted Jesus as my savior I was actually in a motel room and someone helped me I want to help you I want to just lead you in a prayer if you need to give your life to the Lord you might say pastor I've tried religion it didn't work I'm not asking you try religion I'm asking you to meet Jesus I'm telling you the one who died for you can save you but you're gonna have to give him Dominion you're gonna have to yield your life to him who's in control who's in charge in your life who's in charge will you give control of your life to the Lord Jesus Christ I want to help you right now at every campus every overflow room if you'd like to give your life to the Lord I'd like to just leave you in a prayer and as I pray out loud will you just repeat this prayer after me in your heart and I promise you even though you're repeating the phrases after me you mean it from your heart God will hear you and God will forgive your sin and come into your life and change your life and give you the power to change I know some of your thinking you know I can't change I tried I tried this I can't change I'm not asking you to change I'm asking you to come to the one who can change you so as I pray this prayer if you want to give your life the Lord no matter which campus you're attending or if you're watching on the internet or on television if you want to give your life the Lord as I as I just pray this prayer will you just pray right now we're just in your heart will you just say dear God just tell Matt in your heart dear God I ask you to forgive me telling that I asked you to forgive me for all of my sin and I receive Jesus as my Lord and my Savior they tell them that I receive Jesus today maybe your parents are saved maybe they're Christians maybe you believed in Jesus since you were a little girl but you've never really given your control of your life do you do it right now I receive you today now no one's looking around at any mere campus says I'm trying to give you just a moment alone with the Lord I'm looking I want to know though how many of you will be honest to say pastor I prayed that prayer right now and I really meant business with God would you put your hand up right see it at every temp let's put it way up high way if I ought to be proud to put it up put it way up high put it way up high come on don't be embarrassed y'all be proud to put love way if I ever campus god bless you put your hands down many people you can put you have many many many people many people I'm going to ask you to do one more thing and this is very very important please do not let Satan win this victory right now please this is very important and it won't take more in just a few minutes if you raise your hand and you said I prayed that prayer and I gave my life the Lord no matter which campus you're attending here's what we're gonna do we're gonna have one more worship song we're gonna have leaders here at the front I'm asking you to come to one of the leaders and just say to one person just to one of these leaders I gave my life to the Lord today it's very important let me tell you why Jesus said if you'll confess me to someone I'll confess you to my father in heaven here's what he's saying I'll introduce you to my father that's what he said the Bible says if you believe in your heart and confess with your mouth you'll be saved so it's very important if you prayed that prayer and gave your life Lord as soon as we stand up no matter which campus you're digging as soon as we stand up you just stand up and you just step out just step out the valve and you come to one of the leaders and safe I gave my life for Lord today you make up your mind you're going to do it don't let anything stop you if you're on the second level at South Lake we have every exit there are four exits up there we have leaders there you can go to one of the leaders you don't have to come all the way the front if you don't want to make up your mind because there are many in the second level so don't let don't let anything stop you right now no matter which campus you're attending or if you're in an overflow room you come to the front of the room and just test say to one of the leaders I gave my life to the Lord and let me tell you you won't be the only one because there are many many hands certainly many people coming Holy Spirit I pray you'll draw every person right now every person will give him courage in Jesus name Amen I was 19 years old when I gave my life to the Lord and everything changed I didn't have any desire to go back to that old life I wanted to walk with the Lord and learn more about him and some people helped me to learn the Bible and to learn how to pray and to learn about my new life in Christ and that's what we want to do for you I am so excited that you've given your life to the Lord he's forgiven all of your sins and you're on your way to heaven but we need to learn some things now about the Bible about prayer about some basics of the Christian life so that you can be victorious and live for the Lord like I know you want to so we've designed the class called fresh start and I want to encourage you to sign up for this class because we want to help you grow in your walk with the Lord now I love you and I'm so proud of you

Channel: gatewaychurchtv

Views: 150,483

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Keywords: Mary Magdalene's Story, Mary Magdalene, Face To Face, Robert Morris, Pastor Robert, gatewaypeople, Gateway Church, Easter, 2013, DFW, Southlake, Texas, New sermon

Id: 3ZQBwOpcvtQ

Length: 38min 18sec (2298 seconds)

Published: Wed Apr 03 2013