John 20:18 English Standard Version (ESV) Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”—and that he had said these things to her.

This is the gospel truth.

How do we know that this is the gospel truth?

Mary Magdalene was known by the apostles to be with Jesus during His earthly ministry. She would be one who knew Him. Now those who heard her witness must judge her words and ask themselves, does this sound like the Jesus I knew?

Luckily for them Jesus would appear before them that night. They would see the truth for themselves.

What about the rest of us?

John 20:24-25 English Standard Version 

24 Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.”

We were a little like this when we were in sin. We had to see Him for ourselves.

John 20:29, 31 English Standard Version

29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” 31 but these[the gospels] are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

The gospels were given so that we might believe and live in His name.

John 20:11-18 English Standard Version

Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene

11 But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. 12 And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. 13 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.” 14 Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. 15 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.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). 17 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.’” 18 Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”—and that he had said these things to her.

Discover what is the most important thing here by reading this section of scripture over and over again until the Lord says something to you. What I see and hear is for me. What you see and hear is for you.

See and hear the Lord for yourselves.

We have pastors and teachers and shepherds in our lives and each and every one of them are given to us by the Lord with purpose. None of them are given to replace our personal relationship with the Lord.

The Lord was given to us to give meaning to our lives. We have a purpose and the only way we can discover that purpose is to see and hear our Lord.