Today we’re sharing an excerpt from Lifeway Women’s new Bible study Daring Joy by Nicole Zasowski. Learn more about this impactful new Bible study!
The Joy of Sharing About Jesus
Mary Magdalene only appears a handful of times in the Gospel accounts of Jesus’s earthly ministry, but she is remembered as one of His most faithful followers, and her life was profoundly impacted by her time with Him. To get acquainted with Mary Magdalene and her relationship with Jesus, we’re going to start toward the end of her story.
In John 20, we see Mary three days after the crucifixion of her Teacher, her Friend, and her Lord. She had come to Jesus’s tomb early in the morning while it was still dark to grieve her profound loss. But she noticed instantly that things were not as they should be, or so she thought.
Standing outside the tomb, Mary was talking with Jesus through the limited lens of her human understanding, failing to comprehend the circumstance or conversation. The recognition of her Lord when Jesus called Mary’s name in verse 16 makes me cry every time I read it. To clarify Mary Magdalene’s relationship with Jesus and the love she brought to the tomb, we need to look back at the beginning of her journey with Him.
While the Gospels don’t provide much detail about Mary’s life and story, we see her present at key moments in Jesus’s life. In fact, instead of hiding after Jesus’s arrest as many of His disciples and followers did, Mary Magdalene stood near the cross and bore witness to His death: “Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene” (John 19:25). So, it should not surprise us to see Mary again at Jesus’s tomb.
With her profound love and unwavering devotion to Jesus in mind, let’s imagine ourselves in Mary Magdalene’s place at the tomb.
Mere days prior, Mary watched the brutal execution of Jesus—the One she followed and the One she loved. Mary had likely worn despair like a blanket for three days following the crucifixion of her Friend and Savior, Jesus. She arrived at the tomb, no doubt hoping to exercise some of her grief by properly caring for Jesus’s body, but instead she was met with confusion and more despair as she was left to wonder what had happened to Jesus’s body.
The angels who were present at the tomb confronted her tears not with comfort, but with questions. “Why are you crying?” they asked (v. 13). Mary revealed her assumption that Jesus’s body had been stolen. Then, a man whom she assumed was the gardener entered the conversation. “Why are you crying? Who is it that you’re seeking?” asked the man (v. 15). Mary had not moved past the assumption that Jesus’s body was stolen and even thought this man could be the culprit.
Until He said her name.
“Mary,” Jesus said. And she knew. She heard her own name spoken in a voice that sounded like home. Her heart knew before her mind could comprehend. Jesus was alive. She rejoiced readily because she knew Jesus.
Joy comes quickly in response to what it knows. When you know the voice of God, you recognize it quickly and rejoice readily. When the voice of God becomes more familiar, we become more attuned to the nudge of the Holy Spirit and notice His signature on our joy!
There are so many meaningful and moving moments in this scene, but Mary’s declaration in verse 18 is one of my personal favorites. Jesus told Mary to share with the others that He would be ascending to heaven, but first she burst with joy as she essentially shouted, “I saw Him! He’s alive!” Her love and delight at the resurrection of her Lord couldn’t be contained.
What Mary probably didn’t know but experienced anyway is that spreading joy by sharing the gospel is at the heart of evangelism. It is one of the ways we are invited to partner with Jesus as He transforms lives.
Mary was transformed by the joy of the Lord, and that joy overflowed into the lives of those with whom she interacted.
Telling others about the ultimate joy available to us through Jesus will increase our own joy. Whether we are sharing the good news of the gospel with someone who does not yet know the hope of Jesus or sharing the good news of how He is transforming our hearts, transforming a relationship, or making a way for joy in circumstances that seemed hopeless, spreading the good news of Christ’s presence and power in our lives will increase our joy.
Want to learn more about the Daring Joy Bible study? Watch the short video below or view a free sample and teaching video clips at lifeway.com/daringjoy.
And here are some fun wallpapers for your desktop and phone! Click the text below to download the free wallpapers.
