John Chapter 20:15-19

Have you ever heard his voice?

What were those moments? It's kind of like when I was playing as a small child in the summer. I'd be outside playing and I would hear a voice and it would be a familiar voice. But then I'd have to stand still to listen, to hear the voice.

And then I would realize it was my mom or it was my dad calling me home for dinner. They were calling me to be filled and to be blessed. Welcome to Cross the Bridge with David Magee. David is a senior pastor of the Bridge in Kernersville, North Carolina. In this life filled with busyness and commotion, it's important to make sure we have quiet time with the Lord. Today, Pastor David explains the importance of that quiet time as he continues in the Gospel of John, chapter 20.

Now, here's David Magee with part four of the teaching, He is Risen. Verse 15 of John, chapter 20. Jesus said to her, In a moment, why are you weeping?

Whom are you seeking? She, supposing him to be the gardener, said to him, Sir, if you've carried him away, tell me where you have laid him and I will take him away. Verse 16, Jesus said to her, Mary. And she turned and said to him, Rabboni.

Which is to say, teacher. This is interesting because, well, let me give you a little contextual note here. In verse 16, John explains what Rabboni means, which is fairly obvious, I think, to us that it's a version of the word rabbi. Now, this is interesting because we can learn something from the fact that John explained what it was.

Why? Because this is a common Hebrew word, a common Aramaic word, so the only reason he would have been explaining what this meant was for the benefit of the Greek people. The Greek people who weren't Hebrew and really hadn't been following the Lord or knowing the Lord or knowing the Hebrew scriptures. And John explains to them why. Because John wanted everybody to know. John wanted to explain to the people who had been religious and he wanted to explain to the people that weren't religious.

There's a good model in there for us. Because often, you know, we use terms that, you understand, confuse people? I mean, if you weren't brought up in a Christian home and somebody comes to you and says, hey, were you washed into blood?

You know, you'd be like, oh, I don't think so. You know, so we need to watch these words. I call them Christianese. Christianese because it's almost like a language we speak all our own that nobody else understands. Be careful of using those words because people don't understand them.

And if you use them, explain them. But she addresses him as Rabboni. This is interesting to me. Now Rabboni is more intense than just Rabbi. Rabbi would be teacher. Rabboni is more master. This is the teacher I'm following.

This is master here. Jesus said to her, Mary. Look at who Jesus spoke to and spent time with in the Bible.

It's illuminating. Jesus is referred to as the angel of the Lord in the Old Testament. Usually that's in a different kind of time. Depending on your Bible, it's just capitalized or something. It's a special word in the Hebrew. Angel of the Lord is an indication that it's probably Jesus speaking in the Hebrew scripture, speaking in the Old Testament.

You see that with Hagar. Hagar, who had been used and kind of abused by Abraham and Sarah. And Jesus came as the angel of the Lord and spoke to her. And then in the New Testament, you see in John chapter 4, you see the woman at the well. Beat up by life.

Hurt. Had made some fairly serious mistakes. And Jesus spent time with her. And then she went and told other people about Jesus. You look at John chapter 8, and you find I know that commentaries and Bible headings and all that label her as the adulterous woman. I refuse to use that label. We call her here the forgiven woman. See, if you've been set free, you don't have to wear those labels anymore. Do you understand that?

And it's weird that we refer to her as an adulterous woman. And you know what? If there's something in your past that Jesus has forgiven you of, let it go. Let it go. Don't say, Hey, I'm David. I'm an alcoholic. I'm a junkie. I'm this, I'm that. No, you've been set free from all that.

You don't have to use those labels. And then we see Mary Magdalene here. If you've ever been told she was a prostitute, that is outside of what scripture says. Scripture says she was demon possessed. Scripture says she was beat up by life. And this is who Jesus is speaking to.

It's amazing who he is, isn't it? And she recognizes his voice. And she turned to him. Why she turned to him? Because obviously she'd been turned away.

She turned to him to see him. And you know what? That's important for us to realize.

Why? Because we get distracted. We look at other things. Even now, you know, there's people in here and you're thinking about, Hey, you're thinking about, Oh, I've sat there. I know.

I mean, you're thinking about maybe bills you got to pay or what you're having for lunch or whatever, you know. But during this time, we need to be looking to Jesus, turning and seeing Jesus. And when he said, Mary, she knew.

Why? Because the sheep know his voice. Have you ever heard his voice? Now, I don't necessarily mean audibly, but have you ever heard his voice, that still small voice of the Lord, speaking to you?

If you've asked the Lord to forgive you of your sins, you probably have. Because at some point in your life, you know, the Lord said, Man, you need to come to me and you need to tell me you're sorry for your sins. And you hear that still small voice. And then later on, you hear that still small voice as the Lord calls you to serve him, as he calls every one of us to serve him.

Maybe you remember those moments. You know, it's kind of like when you're, when I was playing as a small child in the summer, I'd be outside playing and I would hear a voice and it'd be a familiar voice. But then I'd have to stand still to listen, to hear the voice. And then I would realize it was my mom or it was my dad calling me home for dinner. They were calling me to be filled and to be blessed.

You understand that happens all the time here? Maybe the Lord's even calling your name this morning, calling you home to be filled and to be blessed. But if you're so busy, you might have a hard time hearing him speak to you. The first life lesson is be sure to have quiet time with the Lord. Be sure to have quiet time with the Lord. Now, when I say that, let me, again, I've sat where you sat and I understand. I say seek the Lord and some people go, seek the Lord?

What does that mean? Spend quiet time with the Lord. Quiet time, what does that mean? Some people read the passage about, you know, spending time in your prayer closet and they think they literally need to go into a closet. When I talk about quiet time with the Lord, let me explain. And I'm not talking about you carving out three or four hours a day for prayer. If you can do that, you're probably gifted as an intercessor, so please pray for me in leadership here.

But most of us don't have that gifting. And of course, you know, pastors are so gifted at beating people up in this area. And it comes like this, you know, and I've done this before, but it comes like this. You know, I was praying for you this morning. It was about 6 a.m. I was in the fourth hour of my prayers.

I just want to encourage you guys and I'm praying for you. Now, see, what did you just hear? He prayed for four hours.

And then your eyes are on me. And are you encouraged or are you sitting there going, he prayed for four hours? I can't do this.

There's just no way. No, the reality is I struggle like everybody else does to take time to pray. But you're a pastor. I know, but I wasn't like immaculately conceived or something. I mean, I'm struggling with the same things that you are. Well, perhaps.

Maybe some similar things. Can we say that? And having that quiet time is one of those things.

But here's what I found. Constant communion with God is what we're supposed to be doing. In other words, thanking God, you know, as you get ready to go in conversation. Lord, I thank you that I'm getting to speak to this brother. Lord, I thank you for talking to this sister. Lord, I thank you. I've got to confront my child.

I thank you that I have a child to confront. And just these little one-second prayers. That's not what we think of when we talk about praying in quiet time, though, is it?

That's interesting. It's very interesting in light of what Jesus said. Jesus said don't do like the heathen do and utter a bunch of words that are vain repetition.

And yet what have we done? Oh, if somebody prays a long time, oh, they're spiritual. Those quick prayers and being in constant communion with God. That's what Paul, who was a completed Jew or Messianic Jew or whatever phrase you want, that's what he was talking about when he said pray without ceasing. He didn't mean like go quit your job, quit sleeping at night and pray without ceasing.

Staying in a constant attitude of prayer. So have that quiet time. Psalm 46 10 says be still and know that I am God. Be still and know that I am God. See, when you pray, even if it's a 30-second prayer, and I encourage you to have a set-aside quiet time.

Don't get me wrong. But I also want to encourage you to stay in constant communion with the Lord, not just on Sunday mornings. Be still and know that I am God. And when you utter that prayer, what are you doing? You're looking to the Lord.

And that's what we're supposed to be doing. Hebrews 12 2 says looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Looking to Jesus like Mary did. We'll be right back with more from David Magee on Cross the Bridge. Right now, here's a word from associate pastor D.A.

Brown. We want to take just a couple seconds here to pray for some cities in our listening audience, specifically South Lake, Sun Valley, Tonopah, Wells, Winnemucca, Nevada, and also Cape May, New Jersey, and Farmington, New Mexico. Lord, we thank you for the people tuning in in these cities. We pray that you would pour your Holy Spirit out, that you would fill people with the faith to say yes to what you're wanting to do in their life. People who are downtrodden, they're full of despair. I pray that that would turn to hope and trust in you, Jesus. God, I pray for those in leadership positions in these communities, that you would give them wisdom and discernment, that they would look to your Word for advice and counsel and answers on how to lead. Lord, we pray that they would get plugged in church and receive from biblical authority and direction. Lord, I pray that many people will get plugged in churches and they will begin serving and looking for opportunities to use the gifts that you've given them to be a blessing to other people in the same way they've been blessed. In Jesus' name, amen.

Amen. Thank you, brother. And now, let's get back to David Magee as he continues teaching verse by verse. Verse 17, Jesus said to her, Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father. But go to My brethren and say to them, I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God. What an awesome verse. And this is, speaking of his ascension, this I do not believe is speaking of the first time he's going to the Father after his death.

It's speaking of his ascension in the sense that that which is coming in the book of Acts, his final ascension where he doesn't come back in bodily form. And the reason that's important is because there's cults out there that like to play with this first. And then there's people that get really weird about the do not cling to me thing.

And you can read commentaries with all these theories and the hypothesis. And I think it's a very simple explanation. I've even seen, you know, real Pentecostal people go, Well, you can't touch me. I'm in the spirit right now.

You know, and it's like, what kind of weirdness is that? That's not what Jesus was saying. Jesus was given a don't and a do. Don't cling to Me, do go tell. Mmm. Boy, that's interesting and it's good stuff. There's a time for worship, no doubt about it. We're gathered here together. When we're in here worshipping man, there's nothing like that in the whole world. But there's a time to go and tell.

And our life should be a balance of both things. See, if you're just going and telling and you're not worshipping, there's a problem. If you're just worshipping and you're not going and telling, there's a problem. See, as followers of Jesus, we need to be doing. I mentioned before, believers believe, disciples do. That's what disciples do. They do things as they follow the Lord and they tell people.

Understand, to tell people about Jesus or to invite them to church. And you know, we have the cards that have been made to make that easier. They've got the map on the back. They've got contact information. They even have you are invited on the front of the card. I keep those cards with me all the time.

Why? Because sometimes I can verbally invite somebody and sometimes I don't get the chance. And so I leave a card on the restaurant table or whatever. But we need to be telling people. And perhaps you're sitting there going, well, I'm not really gifted at telling people. I don't think anybody's really gifted at telling people in that one-on-one sense of the word.

Let me explain. Maybe you're sitting there going, wow, I get really nervous about talking to somebody about the Lord. Well, guess what?

I do too. Now, what's weird, let me share this with you. I don't get nervous before I pray and I prepare myself before I come out to teach. I don't get nervous.

When I'm one-on-one with somebody in a restaurant or in a gas station or grocery store, there is that part of me that's like, ooh. But you know what I have to do? When I feel that, I don't respond to that. I respond to what Jesus told me to do. Jesus told me to tell people. So guess what? I step over my fear into my faith.

And that's what we have to do. Well, what if they don't get saved? It's not your business. What do you mean it's not my business? God didn't tell you to go save people, did He?

No, He told you to go tell people. See, this is the trap we fall into. If you share your faith and talk about Jesus in order for people to get saved, obviously that's ultimately the goal, but let's understand the motivation. If that's your motivation for sharing the Lord with somebody, what are you going to do when people don't get saved?

Some of you have gone through this. You share your faith so that people get saved. First person doesn't get saved, you go, bummer. You share it again, next person doesn't get saved, bummer. Next person, you share it. They don't get saved, you go, well, I just don't have the gift of evangelism.

No, no. Jesus gives the increase. Isn't that what He told us? God gives the increase. We're supposed to tell. So whether that person comes to the Lord at that point or not, none of our business. The average American hears the gospel seven times before he responds. You don't know if you're number one or you're number seven, God's in charge of that whole thing.

And I'm grateful He's in charge of it. And there's a freedom now in sharing. Why? Because you're no longer like this vacuum cleaner sales. If you sell vacuums, I didn't mean that as a slam. But of the old adage of, oh, the door's open, put my foot in the door.

This is it. Be careful, guys, because what you can do is slam the door shut for the next person who might be number seven. That's why we share our faith. That's why we tell people. And you know what? There's opportunities to tell people here.

I talked about that last week. There's lots of opportunities to serve here and to share with people. And we're supposed to be doing.

Supposed to be doing. Now, the life lesson here is the follower of Jesus always has places to go and people to see. One of my often prayers is, Lord, give me divine interruptions today. You know, if you go to a restaurant and the waitress or waiter is struggling, your food's late, there might be a reason for that.

And the reason is not necessarily for you to yell at the waiter or waitress. Say, wow, I see you're having a tough day. Can I pray for you?

Oh, sure. And now they're thinking you're going to pray later or something. This is a cool thing to do. Say, okay, and then bow your head and just start praying. I've done that and people are like, you know, because they're not expecting you to pray in a restaurant, really, but it's an opportunity to share the good news with somebody that needs to hear it. You know what's cool, too?

There's so many awesome, deep things. He calls them brothers. Go tell my brothers. Are you aware of what's going on with the brothers at this point? The brothers have disbanded.

They left in the garden. They're hiding in the upper room. One of them has denied him. And yet he still calls them brothers.

And what does he say? Go tell them. What do you think he's talking about, go and tell them? Go tell them I'm alive. Jesus is alive. Do you understand? Whatever trial, whatever tribulation you go through, Jesus is alive.

It's going to be okay. What did he not say? See, it's interesting because sometimes you can get as much or even more out of what Jesus didn't say than what he did say. What didn't he say? He didn't say, you go tell them rotten scoundrels left me hanging in the garden.

I'm looking for them and I'm mad. He didn't say that. Do you realize sometimes that's the good news we share with people? You rotten scoundrel, God's looking for you and he's mad. The Bible says it's the goodness of God that brings people to repentance. If you're wondering why I don't do the fire and brimstone thing and throw Bibles at people, I just don't think that creates a lot of fruit.

I've never seen it create fruit in my life. And Jesus had this opportunity, but he didn't say that. All is forgiven. You guys can be restored. Heaven's gates are open to anybody whosoever will come.

That's why it's called the good news. Verse 18, Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord and that he had spoken these things to her. Mary was obedient. What if Mary had said, oh no, Jesus, I'm worshiping right now. Just let me worship. She would have been disobedient.

Why? There was a time to worship and there was a time to do, and there's a balance between these two things. Part of worship, I believe, is serving. That's just what disciples do.

Yes, we talk about it a lot. You know why? Because of this misconception that happens in the American church that 5% of the church is supposed to serve the other 95%. Let me take that one step further. And understand, if you're here for the first or second time, you're still making the decision. See, here's what's happened. Especially in the American church, we've gotten into thinking that the people sitting out here are customers. You're not customers. You're supposed to be servants.

Where did we get that? I'm a customer. I'm going to write down what I don't like about you and about this church. Well, you can do that and take your time and your energy to do that, but you can help us and join with us in reaching people that don't yet know the good news.

That's where I would rather spend my time and energy. Mary went and did. And you understand, Mary was one of the first evangelists. I don't know how that messes with your theology, but Jesus told her to go tell people, and that's what she's doing. She's going to tell people.

And what's she talking about? The resurrection. 1 Corinthians 15, 12 says, Now if Christ has preached that He has been raised from the dead, how do some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there's no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen.

And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty. I used to say something. I don't say it anymore.

And if you say it, please stop. Well, you know, even if Christianity is not real and Jesus didn't die and raise from the dead, it just helps you live a better life here. I'd rather be wrong about that. That's not what Paul said. Paul said if all this is false, the preaching is empty and the faith is empty.

You know what? All you've got to do is look at places that now reject the resurrection of Jesus Christ to see the truth of that. There are churches that say, well, there's no real resurrection of the dead and the preaching is empty and the faith is empty.

The resurrection changes everything. You see, we're not following somebody who died in a moment of valor or scandal or heroic act. We're following somebody that died and didn't stay dead.

Do you understand that? The tomb's empty. He's not there. He is alive. He is risen. See, in all these other religions and stuff, following these people, they're following dead people. They're dead and they stayed dead. I won't follow a dead guy. Jesus is alive and that's who I'm following.

The resurrection changes everything. Why? Your biggest foe in your life will be death. It will be death, but guess what? You can have the victory.

Why? Jesus beat death. You're following the one and only guy who beat death. He died and he didn't stay dead.

I mean, we're so familiar with that, we don't think about the content of what that's saying. Jesus, the Son of God, who when he died didn't stay dead. There's no more fear of death.

We can walk in victory. Verse 19, Then 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 and said to them, Peace be with you. Now notice it says the first day of the week. That day would be Sunday.

This is an interesting thing. The Jewish people had been meeting on Saturday. It was their Shabbat, Sabbath. From this day forward, the Christian church, which was comprised mostly of Jewish people for the first 50 years or so, from this point forward, worship happened on Sunday. The resurrection of Jesus changed the day the church meets forever.

You know why we meet here on Sunday? Because of this verse. And let me explain to you, it says, for fear of the Jews. What were the disciples? They were Jewish. Okay, so it would probably be more exacting to say the Jewish leaders who had executed Jesus. And why were they afraid? Because they thought the same thing was going to happen to them, that they were next. These are these great superheroes of the faith that we never think have a struggle.

They're hiding in a room. And this is important. What's the first thing he says to them? Peace be with you. Or peace be unto you.

This is really important. Jesus said it. It was the first thing he said to the disciples. Friend, do you know for sure that your sins have been forgiven?

You can know right now. I want to lead you in a short, simple prayer, simply telling God you're sorry and asking Him to help you to live for Him. Now, God wants you to pray this prayer so much that He died to give you the opportunity and the ability to ask Him to forgive you.

Please pray this prayer with me out loud right now. Dear Jesus, I believe you died for me, that I could be forgiven. And I believe you were raised from the dead, that I could have a new life. And I've done wrong things. I have sinned. And I'm sorry. Please forgive me of all those things.

Please give me the power to live for you all of my days. In Jesus' name, amen. Friend, if you prayed that prayer, according to the Bible, you've been forgiven. You've been born again. Jesus said He would not turn anybody away who comes to Him.

And He came for those people who knew they needed forgiveness, those who were sick, not the righteous. So congratulations, friend. You just made the greatest decision that you will ever make. God bless you. If you prayed that prayer with David for the first time, we'd love to hear from you. You can visit crossthebridge.com to receive our First Steps package with helpful resources to help you begin your walk with Christ.

Or you can write to Cross the Bridge at P.O. Box 12515, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, 27117, and share how God is working in your life. You know, the Bible tells us that the free gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord. But it does cost for us to come and bring that message to you and to others in your neighborhood through radio, through the internet, and through the mobile technologies that God has gifted us to be able to use. So if you'd like to support this ministry, please go to crossthebridge.com, click on the donate button, and ask God how much He would have you give, either on a one-time basis or a continuing basis each month to help ensure that the teaching of God's Word continues to go out through Cross the Bridge.

Thank you so much. Well, D.A., before we go, what are some ways that we can bless our listeners? Each day you can wake up with encouragement from Pastor David through the Word of God with his email devotional, life lessons to consider, a daily reading plan, and a thought to meditate on throughout your day from the heart of David McGee. Those are terrific, and it's easy and it's free. So, folks, sign up today at crossthebridge.com. Thanks again for listening, and join us next time as David McGee continues teaching verse by verse in the Gospel of John.