From Lost To Found

St. Charles | Bob Ingle
April 12, 2026

John 20:11-18

“But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”—and that he had said these things to her.” John 20:11-18 (ESV)

* The Progression of Salvation:

1. LOST IN CONFUSION

“But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.”” John 20:11-13 (ESV)

“…the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ.” 2 Corinthians 4:4 (ESV)

Sin doesn’t just make us BAD; sin makes us BLIND.

2. FOUND BY GRACE

“Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.”” John 20:14-15 (ESV)

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8 (NIV)

“For it is by grace you have been saved…” Ephesians 2:8 (NIV)

“The Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” Luke 19:10 (ESV)

Grace is not YOUR pursuit of God; it is GOD’S pursuit of you.

3. CALLED BY NAME

“Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher.)” John 20:16 (ESV)

“He calls his own sheep by name…” John 10:3 (NIV)

“He saved us and called us…” 2 Timothy 1:9 (NIV)

“I have called you by name, you are mine.” Isaiah 43:1 (ESV)

Salvation is not just INFORMATION learned; it is a REVELATION received.

4. SENT WITH PURPOSE

“Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”—and that he had said these things to her.” John 20:17-18 (ESV)

“Go therefore and make disciples…” Matthew 28:19 (ESV) “As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” John 20:21(ESV)

“And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us.” 2 Corinthians 5:19–20 (NIV)

You weren’t saved to SIT; you were saved to GO.