Mary came to Jesus' tomb in despair after his crucifixion, expecting no good news. Upon finding the tomb empty, she was distraught and assumed his body had been stolen. When Jesus appeared to her, at first she did not recognize him. He called her name, and she realized it was Jesus. He then told her to go and share the news of his resurrection with the disciples, making her the first person commissioned to preach the gospel.

1. RESURRECTION MORNING.
THE EMPTY TOMB.
JOHN CHAPTER 20.

2. MARY’S JOURNEY
FROM DESPAIR
*
TO DELIGHT

3. MARY’S JOURNEY
FROM DESPAIR
VIA DEVOTION
TO DELIGHT

4. DESPAIR
• Mary has experienced forgiveness and
unconditional love.
• She had seen Jesus arrested, beaten
and crucified.
• She came to the tomb in despair.
• She came overwhelmed with sorrow.
• She came with no expectation of any
good news.

5. MARY’S RESPONSE
• They have taken the Lord
out of the tomb and we don’t
know where they have put
him!

7. BACK AT THE TOMB
• John arrives first.
• Peter goes in first.
• Not down to grave robbers.
• John enters and believes.

8. MARY’S DEVOTION
• One of the last to leave the cross.
• One of the first to arrive at the tomb.
• The others went home – Mary
remained.
• Devotion clings.

9. • A sight of angels and their smiles will
not suffice without a sight of Jesus.

10. • A sight of angels and their smiles will not
suffice without a sight of Jesus.
• None know, but those who have tasted it,
the sorrows of a deserted soul, which has
had comfortable evidences of the love of
God in Christ, and hopes of heaven, but
has now lost them, and walks in
darkness; such a wounded spirit who can
bear?

11. MARY’S GRIEF
• “Woman, why are
you crying?”
• “They have taken
my Lord away,
and I don’t know
where they have
put him.”

12. JESUS APPEARS
• Mary assumes he is the groundsman.
• “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell
me where you have put him, and I will
get him.”
• “Mary.”
• “My sheep know my voice.”

13. ONE MORE ‘FIRST’ FOR MARY

14. ONE MORE ‘FIRST’ FOR MARY
• Mary was the first to be commissioned
to preach the Gospel.
• “Go and tell.”