MARY MAGDALENE: THE SEEKER

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Today’s Reading:

John 20:1-18

“Then they said to her, Woman, why are you weeping? She said to them because they have taken away my Lord and I do not know where they have laid him. (John 20:13)

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Someone said your life now will be the same in the next five years except for the kinds of books you read and the people you meet. The kind of encounter you have in life is a major determinant of how your life will be. Some experiences in life are unforgettable either for good or for bad. Mary Magdalene sought the Lord and her life never remained the same. Who or what are you seeking for? We are in a generation where a lot of people are seeking wealth, material things, fame among other things, but they have forgotten that all those things are ephemeral. The only thing that outlasts this terrestrial is our relationship with Jesus and this must never be taken lightly rather with the whole of our being. There is a need for us to look at who Mary was.

She was delivered of seven demons Luke 8:1-2. She was from Magdala, Magdalene was not her surname but rather the place she came from. After her deliverance, she followed Jesus and ministered to him from her substances. We have about six Marys in the scripture: Mother of Jesus, Mother of James, Mother of John Mark, Mary of Rome, Mary Magdalene and Mary of Bethany.

Who is a Seeker?

• Someone who makes an inquiry

• Someone who digs deep to come up with something

• Someone who doesn’t take no for an answer

• Someone who pushes further where others stop

Jesus had died and the disciples were puzzled on the next line of action. These women were so bold that they went to the tomb seeking for Jesus. But in the record of John, it was only Mary Magdalene who went to the tomb. When she saw that the stone had been rolled away, she ran and came to Simon Peter and the other disciples. The two disciples came to the tomb, they saw linen cloth and they went back. In verse 11, the Bible says, But Mary stood outside the tomb weeping. And as she stooped down and looked into the tomb, what other disciples didn’t see, Mary saw it. What Mary did was a characteristic of seekers. Let’s look at some of the things she did and saw. One, she stayed back. When others have given up and gone back home she refused to take no for an answer. She refused to leave the tomb. Two, she wept. Weeping is a sign of longing for something better. When last did you cry unto heaven for a revelation that will draw you closer to Jesus? Three, she looked again and again. She felt something could still come out of the tomb. Others looked once and went away but she persisted and looked intently. For one to catch a deeper understanding of the scriptures, there is a need to look again and again. There are levels in the scripture the deeper you look the deeper meaning you get. Fourth, she was not satisfied with anything less than the original.

Permit me to put all that Mary Magdalene saw into different categories. She saw linen and cloth, that’s just a peanut to her. She saw an empty Tomb, which represents Power and Popularity. She saw the Gardener which could mean Protection, she saw Angels which could mean the Personality of Men of God. All of these couldn’t quench the thirst of Mary. Maybe that is the reason Jesus had to come back and reveal himself to Mary. Jesus was probably on his way to reveal himself to God. In verse 17, Jesus said to her, stop clinging to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My father… Are you a seeker? Do you dig deep where others think there is nothing to get out of it? For you to get deep things of the Spirit, there is a need for you to be a seeker. You can’t compare a Christian who reads the bible like a newspaper to that individual who reads, memorizes, studies and meditates on the scripture. The deeper you seek him, the more you get from him.

JAMES ALADE

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To surrender your life to Christ, say this prayer aloud. “Father, I acknowledge my sin against You. I repent and ask for forgiveness, in the name of Jesus. I surrender to the Lordship of Jesus. By the power of Your Holy Spirit, take control of my heart and lead me in Your path of righteousness. Thank you, Lord.”

If you said the prayer, Congratulations! Prayerfully look for a living church and report to the resident reverend, pastor or priest.

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Prayer:

1. Lord take me deeper with you in the school of the Word

2. May my spirit not have rest daily until I eat from your table in Jesus’ name

3. Inject in me Oh Lord the spirit of longing for more of you in Jesus’ name

4. Whatever is taking the place of God in my life, be consumed by fire in Jesus’ name.