We live in a superstar world. Everyone wants to be one. And if you can’t be a superstar, then you follow one. We have superstar entertainers and superstar athletes. Rich sports team owners pay hundreds of millions of dollars to stack their teams with superstars, believing such a group of elite athletes will surely bring victory. We all suffer, whether openly or secretly, from the superstar syndrome.
But then we come to Jesus – yes, the same Jesus whose resurrection we celebrated last week. He’s different, he doesn’t care about superstars. He doesn’t curry their favor. He doesn’t show them favoritism. In a sense, he almost shows disdain for superstars. Nowhere is that made clearer than when he first made himself known to a human being after he physically came back to life! This first appearance would seem crucial. Get it right and the world would be at Jesus’ feet. But instead of appearing to someone with international renown and prestige, Jesus shows himself to a messed up woman whose credibility everyone questioned.
It wasn’t to Caesar Augustus or Pontius Pilate or even Caiaphas the High Priest to whom Jesus appeared. No, he revealed himself to a woman named Mary Magdalene, a demon possessed individual he had cured some time earlier. Why? It seems like a waste of a huge opportunity! The “why?” is answered by Mary’s heart. She was the last one with Jesus, having witnessed his crucifixion and burial. She was the first one to the tomb. Mary didn’t have anything to offer Jesus and she knew it. She needed him, she needed him desperately. And that is exactly why Jesus appeared to Mary first. Jesus doesn’t care about reputations. He cares about hearts. And that is the best news for most of us average people who will never be stars much less superstars.
If you are looking to lead an
extraordinary life but don’t have the talent or ability of a superstar, join us
for one of our weekend services. Jesus is THE Superstar. You don’t need anything
or anyone else but him.
Weekend worship service time: Saturday: 6:00 pm &
Sunday: 10:00 am
