I would encourage you to open up your Bibles, if you would please, to John chapter 20.
! John chapter 20. If you're using the Pew Bible, it's on page 906 in the Pew Bible, 920.
John chapter 20.
Any of you who've been a part of the church for any length of time, probably have those memories,
those memories as a child, perhaps especially of Easter, those traditions that maybe your family had.
One of those traditions our family had was Easter baskets on Sunday morning,
and the kids were allowed to try to go and find those baskets,
and it was just one of the ways that we anticipated the wonder of what Christ did in terms of rising from the dead.
And those early morning experiences of the women who went to the tomb to look for the Messiah in the tomb,
but he wasn't there.
Those early childhood memories run deep, don't they?
And I think a lot of the experiences that we have as Christians are formed and deepened in our childhood.
I think of the time, the things that I was taught in Sunday school, for example.
The things I was taught at VBS, the things I learned in Awana, those verses that became familiar to me.
Those experiences of faithful men and women who taught me as a child, but also into my teenage years.
All the benefits of those formative years of learning the scripture for men and women who love Jesus.
And I would just say, we are so blessed here at Maranatha.
All of the men and women at Maranatha who invest in our children, I'm grateful for you.
Thank you for this ministry.
But those of you who kind of remember back to your time as a child,
and you remember those stories that you were taught,
the themes that seem to stand out about those stories are those significant events.
Those heroes of faith, those epic moments as it were,
of people who are living for God and seeing great things take place.
Maybe you remember Noah and the flood.
Or you remember Abraham, he's offering his son Isaac on the altar.
Maybe Joseph in his coat of many colors,
or rising to a place of second in command in Egypt.
Perhaps you might remember Moses leading the children of Israel out of bondage and slavery in Egypt.
Or you remember David, of course, David in Goliath.
Or Daniel in the fiery furnace.
And there Daniel is in the lion's den.
His friends were in the fiery furnace.
And all of these epic stories of notable faith seem to stand out.
Those characters, those themes, those men and women of the scripture
who seem to have it all together.
There seem to be a steadiness about their faith.
There seem to be a resilience about them.
They never seem to have a moment of failure.
At least in these epic stories that we remember.
And somewhere along the way, we come to be formed and fashioned by those stories.
And we think that if we ever experience times of brokenness,
times of doubt, times of failure, times of sorrow,
times of bewilderment, times of hurt, times of pain,
that somehow we're failing in some way.
And those stories that have become so familiar to us now seem so distant.
These men and women of the faith never seem to have baggage.
They never seem to fail.
They always seem to have it together in some way.
And so when we evaluate our lives,
we wonder if there's something wrong with our own understanding of the scripture,
our own faith that we bring to the table.
As children, what grabs our attention are those mountain peaks.
We seem to forget that these are real people who are experiencing real pain.
And that's what John, the gospel writer, wants to remind us of this morning.
John does such an amazing job throughout his gospel,
drawing attention to people.
He draws attention to individuals.
He wants you to see that there are people, real people,
who have real struggles, who really need to be encouraged,
who really need and have gone through hard things
and really need to meet with Christ,
who really need a Savior.
And so we come this morning to John chapter 20.
If you're there with me,
I would encourage you to turn there if you're not there already.
But what we find throughout the gospel of John,
the purpose for his writing is to draw people to a Savior,
to draw people to faith.
He says in John chapter 20, verse 30, he says,
Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples
which are not written in this book,
but these 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.
We saw last week as we were evaluating the triumphal entry
that Jesus had come.
He had come to Bethany.
He had raised Lazarus from the dead.
This amazing sign that demonstrated to a nation
that Jesus was in fact the person he claimed to be.
They've been looking for signs.
They've been looking for the testimony,
the convincing testimony that Jesus was in fact the Messiah.
And so when Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead in this public way,
so close to Jerusalem,
at least in that moment, the nation received him.
They agreed that he was this Messiah figure.
The entire nation recognized him as this one.
Whereas John chapter 12, verse 18 says,
The reason why the crowd went to meet him
was that they heard that he had done this sign,
this sign of raising Lazarus from the dead.
And not only did the nation believe,
but the religious leaders,
they couldn't deny that something had happened.
John 11, 47 says,
So the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the council
and said,
What are we to do?
For this man performs many signs.
This nation celebrates the Messiah.
The religious leaders are grumbling
because Jesus had done this sign.
And here is Lazarus right in their midst.
This undeniable, unmistakable sign
that Jesus was in fact the resurrection and the life.
Jesus had power over life and death.
But there was one more sign.
One more sign that Jesus had promised.
This ultimate sign as it were.
This ultimate evidence that Jesus was
not just a miracle worker.
Not just a resurrection and a life for someone else.
But that Jesus was in fact
the one sent from God.
The son of God himself.
John chapter 2, verses 18 to 22.
This is the very beginning of Jesus' ministry.
And he is foreshadowing this future work.
This future sign.
When he says,
So the Jews said to him,
What sign do you show us for doing these things?
Jesus answered them,
Destroy this temple,
and in three days I will raise it up.
The Jews then said,
It has taken 46 years to build the temple,
and you will raise it up in three days.
But he was speaking about the temple of his body.
When therefore he was raised from the dead,
his disciples remembered that he had said this,
and they believed the scriptures
and the word that Jesus had spoken.
Again,
Jesus' resurrection from the dead
proved once and for all
that Jesus is the resurrection and the life.
He is the Messiah.
This final, epic, ultimate sign
is what everyone was waiting for,
everyone was looking for.
And so John doesn't want to just take us
to the empty tomb
and expose us to the facts,
to the details of the resurrection.
He wants us to encounter a person.
He wants us to encounter a Savior.
He wants to welcome us,
to evaluate for ourselves
the evidence of the empty tomb,
and not just be amazed
at the details of a resurrection account,
but to encounter the Savior himself,
the one who has come to seek
and to save the lost.
So we find in John's account
a focus on people.
It's a different perspective
that John wants to draw us to,
looking at people,
not just the events,
because the resurrection
changes everything.
As we look this morning
at the empty tomb,
there are some lessons here
for all of us,
not just in looking
and evaluating the account itself,
but to be reminded
of what the account
is meant to do for us.
It's inviting us to respond.
How will we respond
to the empty tomb?
This morning,
we're going to look at five ways
that we need to respond.
First,
we need to come and see
the empty tomb.
Come and see the empty tomb.
John begins with a very simple statement
in verse 1 of chapter 20.
He says this,
Now,
on the first day of the week,
Mary Magdalene
came to the tomb early
while it was still dark
and saw that the stone
had been taken away
from the tomb.
One verse.
One,
a couple of phrases here
that we find,
and this is the resurrection account
that's given to us by John.
This resurrection account,
simple to understand,
so sparse in detail
as you compare it
to the other gospels,
Matthew,
Mark,
and Luke.
Mary came.
It was dark.
The stone was rolled away.
That's it.
And if we know
the other gospel accounts,
Matthew,
Mark,
and Luke,
we understand
how different this is.
And John is doing this
for a reason.
Like,
where are the other women,
John?
Where are the spices
that are prepared?
Where are the guards
that were standing
at the tomb?
Where are the earthquake
and the angels
and the shining garments?
Where is all of that,
John?
Where's the announcement
he's not here?
He's risen,
just as he said.
So Matthew,
Mark,
and Luke
give us those details.
Was John
just confused?
Was John
just didn't understand
the details
of this account
and forgot
to capture it
for us?
No.
John understood
the details,
but he wants
to drive us
to something.
He wants us
to see the personal
element here.
He is spotlighting
individuals.
He wants us
to recognize
that this
resurrection account
is for you.
This resurrection story
is for me.
It's for us
in this room.
It's written
for individuals
so that we can come
and believe
who Jesus is.
John is driving
at this purpose
and if we come
to understand
the rest of
John's gospel
account,
we'll see all
of these stories
that are so specific
to individuals.
John is the only
account that tells
us about Andrew
who brought
his brother
Peter to Christ.
John is the only
gospel record
that talks about
Philip who brings
his brother Nathaniel
to Christ.
It's only in the
gospel of John
we see Nicodemus,
the ruler of the Jews
who meets Jesus
by night.
Where we see
the Samaritan woman,
the nobleman's son,
the lame man
who's at the pool
of Bethesda,
the woman who's
caught in adultery,
the man who's
born blind,
this raising of
Lazarus from the dead,
Thomas who will
ask this question
the night
before Christ's
crucifixion,
and then this
here in John
chapter 20.
Mary Magdalene,
a single
lone individual
who's here
at the tomb.
Jesus cares
for individuals.
And of course
we understand
that Jesus
came for the world.
We know
for God so loved
the world
that he gave
his only begotten
son.
And yet he came
for individuals.
Jesus came
for Mary.
And each of us
are personally
responsible
for what we do
with the news
about Jesus.
It's important
here because
in this opening
scene,
Mary's devotion
is obvious,
but it's still,
her faith is
still incomplete.
She shows up
early.
She comes
prepared.
She demonstrates
her loyalty.
We see this
overflow of love
in this narrative,
but for all
of her devotion,
we find
her conclusion
in verse 2.
So she ran
and went
to Simon Peter
and the other
disciple,
the one whom
Jesus loved,
and she said
to them,
they have taken
the Lord
out of the tomb
and we do not
know where they
have laid him.
For all of her
devotion,
she is still
operating under
the assumption
that Jesus
is dead.
She's not
expecting a
resurrection.
She's not
looking for
triumph.
She's not
standing in
faith.
And John
is already
reminding us
of something
that's really
important,
that for all
the devotion
that we bring
to the table,
it is
insufficient
in what
Christ is
offering,
the faith
and personal
relationship
that can only
be true
when we come
to Christ
in the right
way.
Mary acknowledged
the empty
tomb.
Now she's
invited Peter
and John
to do the
same.
She's
come,
she's
seen for
herself,
she's spoken
with Peter
and John
and we're
going to
find that
they also
come and
they're going
to see for
themselves.
And for all
of us,
we need to do
the very same
thing.
We need to
come and
see.
Come and
see the
empty tomb.
Take a look
for yourself.
See the
evidence that's
in front of
you,
the tomb
that still
remains empty.
Tomb that
is a symbol
and a
stature of
Christ who
has been
raised from
the dead.
This is the
first step
to the faith
that God is
inviting us
to enjoy.
Come and
see.
In verses
3 to 10
we see
this next
step.
The next
step is to
believe the
testimony of
the empty
tomb.
It says in
verse 3,
So Peter
went out
with the
other
disciple
and they
were going
towards the
tomb.
Both of
them were
running
together
but the
other
disciple
outran
Peter
and reached
the tomb
first.
In stooping
to look,
he saw the
linen cloths
lying there
but he
did not
go in.
Then Simon
Peter came
following him
and went
into the
tomb.
He saw
the linen
cloths
lying there
and the
face cloth
which had
been on
Jesus'
head.
Not
lying with
the linen
cloths but
folded up
in its
place.
Then the
other
disciple
who had
reached
the tomb
first also
went in
and he
saw
and believed
for as yet
he did not
understand the
scripture
that he
must rise
from the
dead.
Then the
disciples
went back
to their
homes.
Where Mary
runs to
tell Peter
and John
Peter and
John
then in
turn
make their
way in
hurry
to the
tomb.
Now this
was something
that was
very uncharacteristic
in first
century.
Men
in that
day did
not run.
It was
undignified.
But this
was not
like any
other day
and this
was not
like any
other news
that they've
heard.
John
we find
outruns
Peter.
He gets
to the
tomb
first but
he stays
there outside
and he
takes a
look inside.
But Peter
as one
might expect
he bursts
straight through
he runs
right in
this boldness
and he is
unhindered.
Here he is
running into
the tomb
he wants
to see
things for
himself.
They observe
the scene
that Mary
described.
This stone
that's rolled
away,
the linen
cloths
that are
lying there,
the face
cloth that's
been moved
and folded
and put
away in a
different place.
Jesus is
gone.
But this
is not the
scene of a
robbery.
The cloths
are not
torn.
They're not
scattered.
There's no
sign of chaos.
There's no
sign of
panic.
There seems
to be no
sign that
this body
of Christ
had been
manhandled
in any
way and
wrestled
out of
these grave
clothes.
No.
There is
order in
calm.
There's
evidence
that's
here.
But notice
in verse
8 it
says,
the other
disciple who
reached the
tomb first
also went
in and
when he
saw he
believed.
He
believed.
What did
he believe?
Well the
next verse
tells us a
little broader
picture of
what he
believed and
helps us
understand,
for as yet
they did not
understand the
scripture that
he must rise
from the
dead.
From these
two verses
we see that
believing a
truth or
believing in
a truth,
believing in
facts is not
the same as
believing in
a savior.
This is
foundational to
John.
Some 98 to
102 times
throughout the
gospel of
John,
John will
use the
word believing.
And yet in
almost every
case we
find this
believing is
defective,
it's deficient,
it's devoid of
something,
of substance.
And here is
the same for
John.
He believed
in facts.
Jesus was
not there but
he needed to
believe more.
And his
believing needed
to be informed
by the
scripture.
Notice,
as yet they
did not
understand,
the scripture
that he must
rise from the
dead.
Now that's
important.
Faith will
need to include
the most
important piece.
Not just that
Jesus' body
is missing,
but that Jesus
himself is
risen.
The empty
tomb had
confronted Mary
and Peter
and John
and that's
important because
biblical faith is
not irrational,
it's rooted in
evidence.
But their faith
needed to be
informed by the
word.
God's word
is true
and because
God's word
is true,
it rests
in the
evidence
of the
facts that
God has
assembled.
The truth
statements,
the prophecies
that Christ
has given
needed to be
confirmed in
order to know
for a fact
that Jesus
had risen
from the
dead.
On at least
three occasions
Jesus had
prophesied,
they're going
to crucify me.
They're going
to scourge
me.
They're going
to take
me.
They're going
to kill
me.
But on the
third day
I'm going
to rise.
And those
statements
proved out
true to the
very end.
And so the
stone is
moved,
the body
is gone,
the grave
clothes
remain.
And this
ultimate piece
of evidence,
this ultimate
sign of
Jesus'
resurrection
is bearing
out in front
of them.
But they
need to
understand that
evidence is
not enough.
The evidence
is not enough.
They needed to
understand the
scriptures,
they need to
be exposed
to the
word of
God,
they need
to be
informed
by the
scriptures
in order
to be
led to
true faith.
Faith only
becomes
complete when
Christ allows
us to
understand the
scriptures for
itself.
So we
come and see
the empty
tomb.
We believe
the testimony
of the
empty
tomb.
Next,
we bring
our sorrow
to the
empty
tomb.
Bring your
sorrow to
the empty
tomb.
And so the
events of
Peter and
John now
shift again
and the
story turns
and focuses
again on
Mary who
becomes the
main character
of the
narrative.
And we
see in
her,
in verse
11,
Mary stood
weeping
outside the
tomb.
And as
she wept,
she stooped
to look
into the
tomb.
This word
for weeping
is used
eight times
throughout the
gospel of
John.
Three times
it's used
during the
narrative of
Lazarus who
was raised
from the
dead.
Once it's
used to
describe the
disciples in
the upper
room as
Jesus is
describing to
them the
weeping and
the grief that
they will
experience at
the loss of
Jesus in
his death.
And now
four times
John focuses
his attention
on the
weeping of
Mary here
at the
tomb.
It's a
word that
describes
anguished
crying or
wailing.
It was
something that
gripped an
individual.
It was this
external expression
of grief.
We find it in
verse 11,
Mary stood
weeping and
then as she
wept she
stooped looking
into the tomb.
Then in
verse 13
the angels
will ask
woman why
are you
weeping?
Then in
verse 15
Jesus himself
will ask
woman why
are you
weeping?
See Mary's
love for
Christ was
real.
She had
experienced
the liberating
power of
Christ for
herself.
She had
had seven
demons cast
out of her
during Christ's
ministry.
She experienced
real bondage and
real deliverance
from him.
Her name
Magdalene
was not a
family surname
but it
identified her
with a small
village fishing
community named
Magdala.
It was on the
northwest shore
of the Sea of
Galilee.
This region had
been particularly
gripped by
demonic activity
in Jesus as
he crisscrossed
the region of
Galilee.
What would often
be seen throughout
the narrative as
casting out demons
and liberating
those who had
been in bondage
to demons and
Mary was one
of those.
He had taught
there.
He had healed
there.
She had heard
Jesus teach
there.
She had heard
the preaching
of the kingdom
of God there.
And Mary was
not some random
face in the
crowd.
Mary had an
encounter with
Christ, a
friendship with
the Lord Jesus.
In Luke chapter
8 we find that
she was also a
faithful supporter
of Christ's
ministry.
Luke's account
lets us know
that she is
financially vested.
She along
with many other
women are
sponsoring Christ
as he is
carrying out
this public
ministry.
She's part of
the group who
also traveled
with the
disciples.
She's part of
the group that
was on this
pilgrimage as
this final
trek into
Jerusalem during
the time of
Passover.
It was Mary
Magdalene and
many other women
and the disciples
who would make
their way together
up to Jerusalem.
It's Mary
Magdalene who's
at the cross.
It's Mary
Magdalene, one
of the very few,
two ladies who
lingered long
enough at the
cross to see
where Christ
would be taken
and buried.
Mary Magdalene
would see that.
And here she is
again.
In her devotion
she's lingering
at the tomb.
Hanging on to the
moments and the
memories that she
had with this
one that she
cherished.
There's no wonder
why Mary is
crying.
Jesus was not a
distant figure to
her.
Jesus was one who
delivered her from
darkness, who had
given her dignity,
who had received her
devotion, who had
changed the entire
course of her life.
And now in her
mind he's gone.
Overcome by grief
she looks into the
tomb one more time.
Notice in verse
11, 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.
I don't know if
you've ever been
struck by these
verses but here
here's Mary Magdalene
she's looking at
angels.
They're there in the
tomb and she seems
to be totally
unfazed by their
presence.
How is that
possible?
Not surprised,
not startled,
not frightened,
just has this
blindness in her
heart.
She's overcome
by grief.
She cannot see
what's right in
front of her.
The grace of God
sending his angels
to minister to her
to give her hope
to let her know
about the risen
Lord and all she
can say is they've
taken the Lord out
of the tomb and we
do not know where
they have laid him.
Then John gives us
one of the most
remarkable details in
all of the
resurrection narrative.
Verse 20 says
having said this
she turned around
and saw Jesus
standing but she
did not know that
it was Jesus.
Can you imagine?
Think of that.
She sees him.
She speaks to him
and she misses him.
In spite of all the
personal experience
that Mary had had,
she had observed
his ministry,
she had heard his
teachings,
she had enjoyed
the benefits of
the deliverance
that he gave,
she had watched
his life,
she had stood
at the cross,
she was there
at the tomb,
she hears him
speak and she
misses him.
See that's how
deep human
blindness can be.
And that's why
salvation is never
merely the product
of nearness.
It's never merely
the product of
proximity.
It is always
a product of God
opening blind eyes.
See,
pay attention
to this now
work of Christ
in the response
of Christ
in verse 15.
woman,
why are you
weeping?
Whom are you
seeking?
I love the
tenderness of our
Savior.
We don't see
any harsh rebuke.
We don't see
the condescending
glare.
We don't see
the disapproval
or the disgust
in Christ's
response
to Mary.
But what you see
is compassion.
You see the
same Savior
who wept
with Mary
at the tomb
of Lazarus
and is now
entering into
the grief
of another
disciple,
another Mary
here at the
empty tomb.
The Lord is
not irritated
by weak
disciples.
Be blessed
that God
is not irritated
by weak
vacillating
disciples.
He is not
unmoved
by your tears.
He understands,
He cares,
His heart
is full of
compassion
for those
who are broken,
for those
who are hurting,
for those
who bring
their sorrow.
Bring your
sorrow,
your pain
to the Lord
Jesus.
He will
meet you
there.
See,
she knew
what Christ
had done.
She knew
the truths
that Christ
had shared.
She even
had recounted,
probably was able
to share
the verses
that Christ
was offering
her to understand.
And yet,
there's still
here in this
moment
confusion.
You see,
we might
know all
of the
theology,
we might
know all
the facts,
but unless
we come
to know
the person
of Christ,
we'll never
come to
enjoy salvation.
We learn
from Mary's
story that
the risen
Christ is
still full
of compassion
towards those
who carry
sorrow,
who carry
burdens.
So come
and see
this empty
tomb.
Believe
in the
testimony
of the
empty
tomb.
Bring
your sorrow
to the
empty
tomb.
But this,
perhaps most
important,
meet your
Savior at
the empty
tomb.
We see
this in
verse 16,
but the end
of verse 15
says,
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.
One word
is all
it took,
Mary.
He says
her name,
and with
this one
word,
the darkness
breaks,
the confusion
lifts,
the blindness
turns to
sight,
and the sorrow
gives way to
recognition.
What was it
about this
one word?
And I
think there
are two
reasons why
this word
was so
important.
first is
because we
need to
hear the
word of
God to
be changed
by the
word.
You know
what Paul
says in
Romans
chapter 10
verse 17?
He says
faith comes
by hearing
and hearing
by the
word of
Christ.
Mary,
like the
disciples,
needed to
be informed
by the
scriptures.
Sometimes a
very simple
word,
Mary,
brought the
rest of
his words
come flooding
back to
her memory.
She needed
to hear the
word of
Christ.
And second,
she needed
to hear a
word that
was personal
to her.
The Lord
knew her
name.
He said
it in
only the
way that
the Savior
could say
it.
It reminds
me of what
Christ says
of him
being the
good shepherd
in John
chapter 10.
He says
this,
he who
enters by
the door
is the
shepherd of
the sheep.
The sheep
hear his
voice and
he calls
his own
sheep by
name.
He goes
before them
and the
sheep follow
him for
they know
his voice.
I am the
good shepherd.
I know
my own
and my
own
know me.
This was
not just
mere
recognition
of Mary.
This is
revelation.
She sees
Jesus for
who he is
and the
good shepherd
called her
by name
and she
understood
his voice.
What happened
for Mary
is what
must happen
for every
one of
us at
some point
because the
gospel is
meant to be
personal.
It's meant
to be
individual.
It's meant
to call
you as
an individual.
Not merely
the subject
of stories.
He's not
merely the
object of
admiration.
He's not
merely the
center of
arguments but
he must
be known.
He must
be heard.
He must
be worshipped.
This is why
the resurrection
matters so
deeply because
it not just
proves that
his death
and resurrection
were real but
it proves that
he offers
life.
He offers
life to
everyone who
will believe
in his
name.
He will
come to
understand what
he has come
to offer.
And Mary
here is
delivered again.
She was
delivered first
from the
bondage of
demons.
Then she
was delivered
from the
bondage of
sin.
She is
enjoying the
benefits of
faith.
Faith has
become sight
and it now
leads her one
more step.
It's one more
step we find
in verses
17 and
18.
Share the
news of
the empty
tomb.
Share the
news of
the empty
tomb.
Find in
verse 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 to
your father
to my
God and
to your
God.
Mary Magdalene
went and
announced to
the disciples
I have seen
the Lord
and that he
has said
these things
to her.
Mary doesn't
want to let
Jesus go.
She is
clinging to
him for
all she is
worth.
She doesn't
want to
lose him.
But Jesus
wants to
redirect Mary's
focus.
Wants to
help her
understand the
whole purpose
of his
coming.
He says
I am
ascending to
my father.
Mary I'm
not staying.
I never
planned to
stick around.
I'm departing
just like I
told the
disciples that
the whole
purpose for
me coming
and dying
and rising
again is
not so that
I would be
a permanent
fixture here
but that
you would
be able to
enjoy the
benefits of
the indwelling
Holy Spirit.
The Spirit's
presence will
be among you.
Look to
him.
So don't
relate to me
as though
things are
simply going
back to
how they
were.
My death
and resurrection
have changed
everything Mary.
Understand
things are
different now.
Don't set
your hope
merely on
my physical
presence but
understand the
greater spiritual
reality that
is possible
because of
what I've
accomplished
for you.
A greater
presence,
an indwelling
presence.
Mary recognize
the wonder
of that.
And now
this relationship
that's changed
notice how
Jesus says
go and tell
my brothers.
That is
striking because
before he
had called
them the
twelve.
The disciples
were the
twelve.
Or they
were little
children.
Or they
were servants.
Or they
were friends.
But now
Jesus is
referring to
them as
brothers because
everything has
changed.
He describes
this now
profound
identity that
they can
enjoy because
of what
Christ has
accomplished.
I am
ascending to
my father
and to
your father
to my
God and
your God.
There's now
this personal
nature.
this shared
relationship
that we
get to
enjoy.
This new
identity
that's
possible
because of
Christ.
Of what
he's
accomplished.
He's your
God now.
He's your
father now.
The wall
has been
torn down.
The veil
has been
ripped in
two.
Access
to the
Lord is
now possible
for those
who believe
in him.
In this
new saving
faith it
will do
something.
Well what
does it
do?
Well it
sends
them.
Notice
Mary is
sent.
Jesus
commands
her go
to my
brothers
and say
to them
Mary go
and tell.
Tell them
everything
that you've
heard.
This is the
beginning of
the promise
of what we'll
see as now
we turn the
page to this
church.
This church
age we've
been studying
over the
past couple
of weeks.
The death
and resurrection
of Christ
has changed
everything for
us.
Remember this
promise in
Acts chapter
1 verse
8.
You will
receive power
when the
Holy Spirit
has come
upon you
and you
will be
my witnesses.
This
twofold
promise of
what will be
accomplished for
those who
believe in
Jesus.
This
indwelling
power you
will receive.
This
mission now
you will be
witnesses and
Mary now
becomes this
first witness.
witness.
Mary obeys.
We find that
in verse 18.
Mary Magdalene
went and
announced to
the disciples
I have seen
the Lord.
And what a
beautiful thing
it is that
Jesus now
uses Mary
as this
first mouthpiece
of this gospel
message that's
being shared
now to the
disciples and
will now make
its way as we
find we turn
the page to
the book of
Acts.
We'll make
its way to
Jerusalem and
to Judea and
Samaria and
the uttermost
parts of
the earth.
We are
beneficiaries of
this gospel
witness that
started because
of Christ
encouraging Mary
to be in the
first in line
to share this
amazing message
of the risen
savior.
One who had
been bound by
demons is now
freed.
Freed by the
resurrection and
the life.
So what lessons
do we learn?
What lessons do
we need to
take to heart?
Well first we
need to come
and see.
See the gospel
of John has
been intensely
personal.
It requires a
personal decision.
No one can
make a decision
of faith for
you.
No one else's
faith can be
credited to your
account.
You must
believe.
You must
confess.
You must
worship the
Lord for
yourself.
You cannot
rest in your
devotion.
You must
hope in the
savior.
Second believe
the testimony.
The resurrection
has been
attested to
and the empty
tomb remains
empty today.
The grave
clothes were
there.
The eyewitnesses
testimonies were
given.
The works of
Christ attested
to the divinity
and identity
of who he was.
The signs
that Christ
promised
were given
so that you
might believe.
And that those
who were closest
to him,
Mary,
the disciples,
and then 500
that would see
Jesus in
Galilee,
we find in
1 Corinthians
chapter 15,
they all gave
and bore
witness to the
credibility of
this message.
The risen Lord
had in fact
risen from the
dead.
Believe the
testimony.
You see,
Christianity is
not built on
wishful thinking.
it's actually
built on
grounded,
testifiable
facts that
God has given
to us.
This historic
triumph of
Jesus Christ.
We learn the
lesson of being
able to bring
our sorrow.
Bring our sorrow
to him.
We see in
Jesus one who
sympathizes with
sorrow.
He has been
touched with the
feelings of our
infirmities.
His compassion
is real.
And some of you
this morning
may need to be
encouraged by the
fact that Jesus
cares about your
hurt and your
pain.
Jesus can
sympathize with
the heartbreak
that maybe you
are experiencing
even now.
Maybe you're
weary.
Maybe your
emotions are
raw.
Maybe you have
felt the
injustice of
those around
you.
Maybe life
has been
very, very
hard and
Jesus cares.
Bring your
sorrow to
him.
Remember Mary
at the tomb.
Jesus did not
shame her.
He met her.
He spoke her
name.
He called her
to himself.
And he invites
her to enjoy
fellowship with
him through
Christ.
The same kind
of fellowship
that we can
experience as we
bring our sorrow
to Christ.
Fourth, we need
to meet our
Savior.
Jesus stands
ready to save.
He stands
ready to save.
The Son of
Man has
come to
seek and
to save
those who
are lost.
Are you lost
this morning?
Jesus wants
to save you.
He wants to
be your
Savior, your
deliverer.
He wants
to unlock
the door of
your heart
and let you
experience the
freedom that
only comes
through knowing
and experiencing
Christ.
He wants
to save.
And this,
he's the only
means of rescue.
He's not a
backup plan.
He's not life
insurance as it
were.
He's not one
of many
possibilities.
Cast yourself
entirely on
him.
Abandon
self-rescue.
Reject every
other promise
of deliverance
Jesus alone
can save.
Finally,
share the
news.
Share the
news.
I'm struck
with Christ's
two-fold promise
here.
You will be
filled.
You will
receive power
and you
will be
witnesses.
Those who
believe in
Christ will
be changed.
And one of
the greatest
ways for us
to understand
and see the
change that
Christ has
produced in
us is that
now we can't
help but speak
about what
he's done.
I'm reminded
we're those
who proclaim
the praises
of him,
who called
us out of
darkness,
into his
marvelous
light.
We can't
help it
because the
spirit indwells
us and
makes us
witnesses.
It's one
of the
beautiful
confirming
signs that
you belong
to him.
It's you
delight in
speaking about
him.
So what do
we do with
this?
Well, we
don't stand
at the empty
tomb nearly as
observers today.
we're not
to admire
this story
from a
distance.
We're not
to be content
with devotion
that never
becomes real
enduring faith.
We're not
to settle
for religious
familiarity
without a
personal trust
in Jesus
Christ.
We don't
celebrate the
sign of
his resurrection
while refusing
the Savior
himself.
Come to
the risen
Christ.
And like
Mary, go
and tell.
There is a
world full
of weeping
people in
empty places.
Be changed.
Allow the
miracle of
Christ's
resurrection
to activate
in your life
a message,
a witness
of change
of what
Christ has
accomplished.
Let's pray.
Father,
thank you
for this
amazing work,
this final
sign that
Christ is
in fact
the one
who raised
from the
dead.
And Father,
I pray that
you would
not just
lead us
into faith,
but that
you would
help us
to be a
mouthpiece
of the
message so
that others
can enjoy
the faith
that you
offer.
Thank you
that you
are the
seeking
Savior.
You've
come to
seek and
to save
those who
are lost.
And Lord,
this morning,
if there's
anybody who
does not
know you
as their
Savior,
I pray that
they would
find someone
that they
know who
loves you,
who can
share with
them how
to have a
relationship
with you.
Don't let
them go away
without knowing
the Savior
themselves.
Pray these
things in
Jesus' name.
Amen.