Song 1:15
Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair; thou hast doves' eyes.
· A dove is often referred to as a lovebird because it does not have side vision. When a dove fixes its eyes upon its mate, it sees or pays attention to nothing else.
Song 1:7
Tell me, O thou whom my soul loveth, where thou feedest, where thou makest thy flock to rest at noon: for why should I be as one that turneth aside by the flocks of thy companions?
· The shepherd in this verse refers to the Lord who is our Shepherd.
· Note that the shepherd’s companions were away from the SHEPHERD. The principle being, many want to be close to the shepherd on Sunday but stray from Him the rest of the week. On the other hand, there are those that want to be close to the shepherd until things don’t go their way and then they end up going astray.
· Note the heart of this woman who was in love with the Lord. She didn’t care where she had to go to meet with the Lord.
· I think it imperative to point out the two signs of one that has been with the Lord during the week.
· One, they will not be starving when they come into the local assembly on Sunday. John 10:10 bears this out where it reads, “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved (delivered), and shall go in and out, and find pasture.”
· Two, they will not come into the local assembly in turmoil inwardly when things get heated up in their life. Matt 11:28 bears this out where it reads, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest.”
· We will see a striking parallel of such love and devotion in John 20 with Mary Magdalene.
John 20:1-2
The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre. Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, they have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him.
· Note that Mary came seeking the Lord when it was DARK. I think it interesting how determined we are to find the LIGHT when we come in our homes at dark but so reluctant (hesitant and unwilling) to put forth any effort to FIND the LIGHT when we enter into seasons of darkness in our spiritual lives.
· Mary in principle was WALKING in darkness. I am reminded of John 8:12 which reads, “Then spake Yeshua again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”
· As much as Mary loved the Lord – she had come to a place in her life where she could not find him. She could not see him moving in her life anymore. Can you relate? Is it dark in your life right now? Have you asked the Lord to do something and He hasn’t moved on your behalf yet?
· There is a powerful principle hidden here that will help us in this hour of transition. In that Mary knew where Yeshua was, this speaks in principle of us becoming accustomed to the Lord being in the same place. And then suddenly one day – you find He has moved!
· In this case, Mary had enough sense to move forward immediately. However, many today are missing the move of God while hanging out at the MONUMENT of past moves of God. They stand and tell the same old testimony from years ago while those in the midst want to know if the Lord has done anything for you this week.
John 20:3-10
Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre. So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre. And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in. Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie, and the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself. Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed. For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead. Then the disciples went away again unto their own home.
· I think it interesting that Mary ran away from the sepulcher to where the disciples were and the disciples took her (by the hand so to speak) and ran to the sepulcher. They went from walking in darkness to running in darkness. Can you relate? Isn’t it interesting that when you can’t see things happening, it is then that you hasten to make things happen?
· In that she is coming back to the same place she left, this shows us in principle that there are things we run from that the Lord will bring us back to in order that we might overcome them. He wants to reveal himself to you in a way you have not been accustomed to. He wants to do something new in your life (in the place where you can’t see Him moving).
· There is something else interesting about this text. Mary and each disciple respond differently at the sepulcher. Mary saw the stone rolled away and RAN to get the disciples. She didn’t look in! The other disciple looked in - but didn’t go in. Peter went in! Which one do you identify with?
· Mary stood outside awaiting some kind of answer from the disciples. Peter was looking at the clothes lying and wondering what did all this mean. Then the other disciple came in and saw the clothes lying and believed.
· Note that he had already seen the clothes earlier. However, something transpired that’s not mentioned that persuaded him to go into the sepulcher. And this time - he saw with revelation and BELIEVED.
· I’m getting ahead, but I want to give you good news that each one of these three are going to see the Lord, but each one is going to have their own personal revelation and encounter.
· Looking at these three different ones, which one do you relate with? One, Mary who is depending on someone else to get the answers for her. Two, Peter who is looking but can’t see at the moment. Three, the other disciple who sees and no doubt prays and ask the Lord for revelation and presses on until he gets it.
John 20:11-14
But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre, and seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Yeshua had lain. And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him. And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Yeshua standing, and knew not that it was Yeshua.
· Now, let’s get in the mind of Mary. The ones she ran to for help have left her in the same dilemma she had before she went to get them. Have you ever come to someone for help and left feeling the same way you did when you came? How did that make you feel towards them?
· Did you ever stop and think that they were been being used to get you to move on your own into the place where you would have a life-changing encounter with the Lord?
· Remember, the other disciple looked in and saw the linen clothes lying. Peter went in and saw the linen clothes lying. The other disciple then went in and received resurrection revelation.
· Now, Mary stands outside the sepulcher CRYING! Many there are that are crying tears on the threshold of the place wherein you are going to receive a revelation from the Lord that is going to change your mind.
· Principle: If you can’t stop crying – at least stoop down and look in! You may be surprised at what you see.
· When Mary looked in, she didn’t see the linen clothes. She saw two angels, one at the head and the other at the feet where Yeshua had lain. Do you want to know what she saw? We can see in the scriptures below….
Exod 25:17-22
And thou shalt make a mercy seat of pure gold: two cubits and a half shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof. And thou shalt make two cherubims of gold, of beaten work shalt thou make them, in the two ends of the mercy seat. And make one cherub on the one end, and the other cherub on the other end: even of the mercy seat shall ye make the cherubims on the two ends thereof. And the cherubims shall stretch forth their wings on high, covering the mercy seat with their wings, and their faces shall look one to another; toward the mercy seat shall the faces of the cherubims be. And thou shalt put the mercy seat above upon the ark; and in the ark thou shalt put the testimony that I shall give thee. And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel.
· Mary received a revelation of Old Testament Mercy Seat of God. Note however that the Lord isn’t speaking between these two angels to Mary, but the angels are speaking to her.
· Note the question to Mary. Why are you crying? What would your answer be? We whine and cry over the most menial things. I received an email from a Pastor this past week that said their tithes and offerings on Sunday was $2.50 in U.S. currency. He wasn’t crying about money – he wanted to know if I would still come to his church and minister knowing they were POOR?
· What was Mary’s answer? They have taken MY LORD and I don’t know where they have laid Him. Now if the Lord judges the heart and we know He does – He hears Mary saying – I want to be where MY LORD is! I am reminded of James 4:8 which reads, “Draw nigh (approach) to God, and He will draw nigh (approach) to you.”
· Immediately after her answer – Yeshua was standing behind her. The principle being, talk about Yeshua and He will show up. We can see a picture of this in Luke 24:15-17 where it reads, “And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Yeshua himself drew near, and went with them. But their eyes were holden that they should not know him. And he said unto them, what manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad?”
John 20:15-18
Yeshua saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? Whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away. Yeshua saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master. Yeshua saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God. Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her.
· Yeshua asks the same question the angels asked. Why are you crying? Not knowing she is talking to Yeshua – she says, “Tell me where you have laid him and I will take him away.” Wow, can you hear the love this woman has for the Lord? I will TAKE HIM away! While many in the church want Yeshua to take them away – He is waiting on us to TAKE HIM away.
· Mary PROVED her hunger for the Lord and He now calls her by name. She turned HERSELF around KNOWING that VOICE! The principle being, when the Lord really speaks to you – He will cause you to TURN!
· Yeshua then tells her not to TOUCH Him. Once again, many want the Lord to TOUCH them, but few there are that want to TOUCH him. We can see a picture of this in Mark 5 where the woman with an issue of blood pressed through and TOUCHED (to cling to) Yeshua while the multitudes wanted Yeshua to TOUCH them.
· Looking back, at first Mary didn’t look in the sepulcher. Peter went in the sepulcher and left wondering. The other disciple looked in the sepulcher. Later, he went in the sepulcher and received revelation of the resurrection. They went home – Mary stayed behind and received the greatest revelation of all outside the sepulcher. She saw a walking MERCY SEAT and heard the Lord speaking from it.
· Now she can go and tell the disciples that she has seen the Lord and that He had spoken to her.
