April 15, 2026 - I want to talk to you about Mary Magdalene, who did a lot of waiting. You see, we are always in a rush to get things done, only to find that when we reach our destination, we have to wait. As a kid, did you ever get a toy and get excited, only to find out that Santa forgot to bring batteries for it? Maybe you have been running late to get to work, only to run into a traffic jam or get behind a chicken truck! There is always something. We hurry from task to task, appointment to appointment, hoping life will finally “start” when the next thing arrives. But spiritually, many feel stuck in a waiting room of some sort, waiting for healing, answers, and a breakthrough. The life of Mary Magdalene shows that while we are in a hurry, God often does His best work in the seasons when we are forced to stop and wait.
The Bible introduces Mary Magdalene as a woman who had been tormented and possessed by seven demons until she encountered Jesus Christ. He delivered her completely, transforming her from a captive into a free and devoted follower of Christ. Her story reminds us that some of our longest, darkest seasons of waiting are the ones that end in the greatest freedom. Many people today are hurrying from solution to solution, but still waiting for real change. When Jesus intervenes, the waiting for true deliverance is over. His power still sets people free!
Mary also appears at the cross of Jesus. While others ran and scattered, she remained at the feet of the tortured and lifeless Jesus. Standing near the cross, she could not change what had happened to her Lord and Savior. She could only stay, watch, and wait through the deepest pain of her life. Jesus was more than just a great mentor and teacher to her. He was her Deliverer, Savior, Teacher, and Friend. That image is familiar to anyone who has waited by a hospital bed, a graveside, or a broken relationship, wondering why God allowed such sorrow. Mary’s faith teaches us that real devotion does not waver when life makes no sense. It holds fast to Christ even at the place of suffering.
On the first day of the week, Mary rose early and hurried to Jesus’ tomb, only to find it empty. Confused and grieving, she stayed outside the tomb, weeping. In that moment of waiting and heartbreak, Angels and Jesus appeared. She did not recognize Him until He spoke her name, turning her mourning and sorrow into joy and peace. The empty place where she feared all was lost became the very place she encountered the resurrected Christ.
Many of us today live in that state of being. We are always rushing things and want the imminent answer to our problems, only to find ourselves in the waiting room of sorrow and grief. We are in a hurry for life to change, but unsure how long we have to wait. The good news of the gospel is that, because of the death and resurrection of Jesus, we do not have to wait for Him to show up. He is already here. The wait is over! You do not have to wait for peace, deliverance, joy, strength, purpose, and confidence anymore! Jesus has all of that and more ready just for you. Does that mean that we are exempt from heartbreaks and hard times? No. But it does mean that He will never leave us nor forsake us.
Revelation 3:20 gives us His invitation when it says, “ He stands at the door and knocks.” He is calling each of us to open our hearts to Him.” I always tell my congregation that Jesus is at the door, knocking. He is not going to force His way in. He is not going to bust the door down. We have to hear it and answer it. We may still wait on God’s timing for certain answers, but we do not have to wait one more minute to come to Christ.
Mary had to “hurry up and wait”, but all that waiting led her to the feet of Jesus. Jesus is here today. You can hurry to Him now. The wait is over!
God Bless,
Josh Crawford
Pastor, Pleasant Grove MBC
-1 Timothy 4:12-
