John 20 - August 28, 2006

Rev. Benjamin L. Andrus, Senior Pastor of Hope Fellowship

• John 20:30-31 - John chose not to record everything that the writers of the other gospels did, but instead concentrated on things that show Jesus as the Son of God.
• Women were not honored back then.
• Women wore everthing that they owned in case they went home and were devorced and sent away with only what they were wearing.
• One would think that John would use a man as the one who discoveres that Christ was risen in order to get the most acceptance. Instead he told about a woman that Jesus had caste 7 demons out of, Mary Magdalene. You wouldn't want to use here as a witness in a courtroom.
• The culture disped women, Jesus elevated them.
• The church elevated women to a place of honor
• Husbands are supposed to treat as precious and cherish their wives
• John 20:6-8 - John saw the strips of cloth lying there. He saw and believed.
• For John all of the things he had heard and read about Jesus fell into place and he believed. It was an epiphany.
• Both the angels and Jesus asked Mary Magdalene why she was crying.
• We can instantly recognize our family on the telephone by their voice
• Jesus must have not wanted her to recognize him at first
• Once Jesus calls here by name she instantly recognized Jeus.
• Have you ever heard Jesus speak to you when you were crying or in dispair and heard Jesus call your name?
• John looked, understood and walked away. Mary looked and hrabbed ahold.
• John 20:17 - Jesus told Mary not to grab a hold of him because he still had more to do, it was only the beginning.
• Think back to the time when you came to understand and believe in Jesus.