Mary Magdalene; She Understood It!

Mary Magdalene was the grateful woman who knew what agape love was. She had no choice. It overwhelmed her from the beginning of her walk with God. It absolutely did a major overhaul in her life. She went from turmoil to total peace. She understood what Jesus taught about agape. She found it to be a sweet solace to her spirit.

Mary was targeted early on in Jesus’ ministry. She was a prostitute, a woman of the street, a lady of ill repute. She was a member of the world’s oldest profession. She had no self-esteem. She had no respect from the community. She was just rubbish in the eyes of the religious world.

However, Jesus recognized that she had a problem. It was a huge problem. It wasn’t that she was intent on continuing her business out of greed and lust. It wasn’t that she felt this was the only thing she knew to do in life. No, it was because she was the carrier of seven demons inside of her. She was being controlled by the adversary. Jesus recognized this by His agape for her.

He didn’t need to go to some ministerial conference on how to win the un-churched and make the sinner feel comfortable. He didn’t need to evaluate the problems of evangelism and how to attract more people to Him. He didn’t try to figure out ways to stomp out prostitution in the city. No, He just agaped her. He knew she needed God; plain and simple.

When will we, as the church and church leaders, comprehend that it’s not about solutions and programs? It’s simply what Jesus said, “Agape people.” See, people want agape. People need agape. Agape is what altered Mary Magdalene’s life.

Jesus agaped Mary and cast the seven demons out of her life. She felt the agape and returned it to her Master. It changed the way she worshiped Jesus. Again, she didn’t have to have a worship leader telling her how to love and worship the Savior. She agaped Him with reckless abandonment of image and feelings. She wept over his feet and her tears washed the dust off. She dried them with her hair. That is agape.

She was the first at the tomb early before daylight came. Her actions show she understood it. She got it. She knew what agape was, and she lived it. She was moved with compassion toward her Savior. She knew her Lover’s voice. She knew the look in His eyes. She felt and knew His agape.

Jesus showed agape and she realized it was the ingredient that was missing in her life. It was the essential that would change her world; the very world as she (and everyone else) knew it.

Mary went from being a prostitute to being the first to see Jesus after the resurrection. How in the world could that happen to anyone, especially her? It’s called agape. Jesus wants His people to understand it, enjoy it and show others what it is. Like Mary, it will change you too. It will, in fact, change all of us.

That’s what I think about it.

DTW – http://www.exaltationchurch.com

Was It Over? Absolutely Not! It Was Just Beginning!

The cross is iconic to most people as a symbol of our freedom from sin. Interestingly enough, many men (before Jesus) also died on a cross. Somehow we might need to remember that Jesus was the only one who came out of his own tomb without anyone calling Him out. Maybe the tomb should be the icon. It is the symbol of life. It is the symbol of victory. However, the cross was the instrument on which His blood had to be shed.

Early Friday morning, Jesus realized that He would be suffering more pain than ever. Not only did he endure physical pain, but he suffered spiritual pain as well. He was taking every nasty sin and detriment of health on his body. Imagine what it would look like for a man to have every disease known to mankind on his body. Imagine seeing a man who had placed upon Him the sins of every person that had been alive and those to come. Isaiah the prophet said no one could look at Him. He was too hideous.

Now, what about all the blood that was shed in order for us to have life? Blood shed for us that would extend for eternity after we leave this time on earth? He lost a lot of blood at the beating of His back. More blood loss came when they put the thorny crown on His head. Even more when the nails were drive into His hands and feet. However, the ultimate insult came when the soldier pierced His broken and battered side.

Then it was over. But what about the blood?

They took His body down off the cross, the method of state execution. They took the body of the One who had done nothing but was betrayed, bruised, beaten and bludgeoned. And then He was gone. It seemed to be over.

In the book of Revelation, there is a passage where the Bible says that there was silence for about 30 minutes. Why? What would there be in Heaven that would stop all glorious praise and worship to God? What event would have occurred that would demand that all keep silent? I’m not so sure it was as much a demand as it was that everyone was speechlessly in awe.

I can’t prove this because we just don’t know. But could it have been the time when the victorious Savior, the One who took the keys of death, hell and the grave away from His adversary, the Lamb that was slain before the earth was ever created, the King of kings and Lord of lords entered the gates of heaven carrying a bowl with Him? And what was in that bowl?

As He slowly walked down the streets headed toward the throne room of heaven, I believe heaven got brilliantly quiet. Seeing the One who had laid down His glory to go to earth had now returned with His sacrifice of blood. Then He reached the throne room and began to satisfy the demands of His father as He poured His own blood over the Mercy seat of the altar. That’s where the blood went. Hallelujah!

Silence!

Now? Eternal rejoicing.

The party wasn’t over. It was just beginning, and it will never end.

That’s what I think about it.

DTW – http://www.exaltationchurch.com