A New Name

May 9/10, 2015


READ Luke 8:1-3
What was Mary Magdalene like before she found Jesus? Scripture says she was possessed by seven demons, but let's imagine what that would look like. DISCUSS with your group:

• What would her behavior maybe have been like? 
• How did she speak? 
• How did she dress? 
• To whom did she relate with? 
• What would her attitude have been like? 

It's important to understand what she was like before she met Jesus to understand how great her transformation was after she began to follow Him. Jesus was someone, maybe even the first person, who valued her and allowed her to Be-loved. He spoke to her, looked her in the eye, found the best in her so that she could find the best in herself. He forgave her, and she could let go of her past. There was nothing she could do to make Him love her more. There was nothing she could do to make Him love her less. Beloved.

READ John 19:25
We can see in this one verse that Mary Magdelene didn't just follow Jesus, but she followed Him right up to the cross. Many of His disciples didn't even make it that far. We can sense her desperation in this verse. Women in this day and location didn't have rights. They depended on parents or a spouse to take care of them. She not only didn't have family or a marriage to fall back on, she had a questionable background that would have kept her at a distance from most people. Jesus had given her hope to rise above all of those limitations, and now He was gone. She didn't want to go back to who she used to be, but she didn't know how to go forward without Jesus.

• Have you ever felt that alone?
• Have you ever been that desperate?

READ John 20:1-16
And so Mary Magdelene was out walking to the tomb in the dark of the night. Had she slept at all in the past couple of days? How great was her despair? What drew her to the tomb of Jesus? What questions were going through her mind as she came upon the open tomb? Could the others help find the body of Jesus? And then, when the others simply gave up and went home, the layers of despair were overwhelming and she began to weep.

Many of us have been in this place of being overwhelmed. THINK back on a time when life brought more than your coping skills could handle. SHARE with your group how you got to that place and how you were feeling.

* * * * *

And then He called her name. IMAGINE the shock and wonder and joy that she would have felt all at once. It's no wonder the first thing Jesus said to her was, "Do not cling to me." In other words, "I'm here but I'm not staying long." Instead, He gave her an errand. He sends her off to bring hope to others. 

Mary had hope again. She was still beloved. She didn't have all the answers, but Jesus still loved her. He was still alive, and she was still dear to Him.

• Do you feel this way too? Do you have the sense that you're dear to Christ?
• Do you feel that you have to earn His love?
• Do you feel that you can lose His love by doing or saying the wrong thing?
• Do you stop during the day to sense His love for you?

TALK with your group about where you're at on your journey. Is there someone in your group who needs to know that they are beloved? Precious? Cherished? 

TAKE a moment to pray together as a group. SIT for a moment. TAKE a deep breath. LISTEN for His voice. THANK Him for His love and His presence. FEEL His love for you. You are beloved!

 * * * * *

By giving her the new name Beloved, Jesus filled Mary Magdelene with joy and hope and sent her off to share it. We're called to do the same. When we're empty, we don't have any hope to share. REMEMBER to continue coming back to the presence of Jesus to be renewed. SEEK Him. READ His word. FEED your soul.

next steps

     worship
Be intentional this week about finding some quiet time with God. Schedule it on your calendar. Make time to pray and be in His presence. You're His beloved, and He wants to spend time with you even if it's in short moments. 

     belong
Calling all seasoned veterans, athletic newbies, and everyone in between! Want to play some softball on one of the Jacob’s Well coed softball teams this summer? NEW CO-ED TEAMS are forming now! Sign-up at www.jacobswellec.org or contact Matt Bartelt at 715.833.2050 or mbartelt@jacobswellec.org.

     grow
DivorceCare is a DVD-based divorce recovery support group to find healing for the hurt of separation and divorce. Hear from leading experts on divorce and recovery. Learn how to overcome the challenges divorce brings and how to   rebuild your life. Don’t isolate yourself; come be part of a caring group who will take steps together toward wholeness. No need to sign up, just show up. Workbook cost is $16. THURSDAYS @6:30pm in the  Fireside Room. Contact Lauri Gulotta for more information at 715.833.2050 or lauri.gulotta@jacobswellec.org.

     serve 
Find some people this week who need to know they're beloved. Invite them for coffee or dinner. Bake them some cookies. Share what you appreciate about them. 

     share
Invite a friend to church.