Well, it's not hard to feel like we need good news, is it?
If you've seen the news this morning,
Egypt, airliner, hijacked in Lanarka and Cyprus.
! We've looked at the news over the weekend.
I don't know if it's been the storms.
I think of the bomb in Lahore.
I think of the ongoing devastation in people's lives
leading from the bombs last week in Belgium.
The ongoing hunt.
And that's not even to mention our own personal situations.
Maybe a bad diagnosis.
Maybe a death in the family.
The death of a loved one.
Or just difficulties and sadness you've lived with for years.
We all need some good news, don't we?
Perhaps you feel a little bit like Mary going to the tomb that morning.
It was still dark, John tells us.
Emphasising the bleakness, the hopelessness of the situation.
It was still dark.
She was in confusion.
She arrives and sees the stone rolled away.
And does not know what has happened.
She automatically thinks someone's taken Jesus' body.
What she's longing for at this stage is just to see Jesus' body.
To be with the body.
To take it away.
Brings embalment if necessary.
And then there's distress, isn't there?
Where's this body gone?
What has happened?
And so she does the only thing she can think to do.
She runs to get help.
She runs to the disciples.
To Peter and John.
And do you notice, as John tells us this story,
we see their emotions as well.
What do they do as Mary comes to them?
They run to the tomb.
I'm not even sure they necessarily know what they're running for.
Just think of all this emotion, all this grief, all this frustration.
And now confusion.
Where's this body gone?
But they're not really much help to Mary, are they?
See what happens as they run to the tomb.
We'll look at them and then we'll look at Mary.
And then we'll look at what Jesus says to Mary at the end.
So look, they both run to the tomb.
I don't know how you imagine this.
I imagine John to be the thinner one.
Peter to be the big burly one.
Of course, they're both fishermen.
So John gets there fast first.
He's the sprinter.
Peter, a bit heavier, but he gets there eventually.
When John gets to the tomb, verses 4 and 5,
he kind of holds back.
He looks in.
He reflects on what is going on.
He sees the linen cloths, but doesn't go in.
But Peter?
Well, it's characteristic Peter.
He blunders straight in.
He wants to see what's going on.
Maybe he's a typical man.
Mary's come to him with a problem.
He wants to solve the problem.
Where's this body gone?
So he goes into the tomb.
He says he sees the face cloth.
The face cloth that should be on Jesus' head.
Not lying with the linen cloths, verse 7,
but folded up by itself.
What does Peter see?
Well, he doesn't see anything, in a sense, does he?
He sees a problem that needs to be solved.
What he doesn't realise yet,
is that his greatest problem has been solved.
Because Jesus has risen from the dead.
What do you see,
as you look at the resurrection story?
Like Peter, do you see some bits of evidence
which don't quite add up?
Do you see a problem that needs to be solved?
Do you see a nice story that just gets told every year?
Or do you see something more?
See, some people approach Christianity
a bit like Peter approached the tomb.
Run in, have a quick look,
and then kind of go away
without ever really having reflected on it,
having ever really made sense of it.
Just heading off again.
I hear people say,
I've tried that,
I went to church for a while,
I went to a camp as a kid.
I've tried Christianity.
What do you make,
if you look at the tomb?
What do you think of it?
There's a contrast between Peter and John here,
isn't there?
Peter blunders in and runs off again.
John,
well, look at verse 8.
The other disciple,
that is John,
who reached the tomb first,
also went in,
and he saw,
and he believed,
for as yet,
they did not understand the scripture
that he must rise from the dead.
It's a funny way of putting it, isn't it?
What did John believe?
Well, he must have believed
that Jesus had risen.
That must be what he believed.
Later on in the chapter,
we'll see that's part of what belief is about.
And how did he come to believe it?
Well, in a part,
on the basis of what his eyes could see,
he could see the folded grave clothes.
No grave robber had done this.
Because no grave robber
would leave a face cloth
nicely folded away from the others.
So he must have believed
that Jesus had risen.
But he didn't actually understand.
What he's telling us here
is actually you can believe that
if you really understand
what the Old Testament is about.
You will understand
that the Messiah,
God's rescuer,
must rise from the dead.
At this point,
John,
writing honestly,
did not understand that.
But he saw with his own eyes
that the tomb was empty.
And so he believed
Jesus must have risen from the dead.
And of course,
he had Jesus' words
echoing in his ears,
no doubt.
Jesus had told the disciples
many times he'd rise from the dead.
So, for example,
back in chapter 10,
verse 17,
Jesus had said this,
For this reason,
the Father loves me,
because I lay down my life
that I may take it up again.
No one takes it from me,
but I lay it down
of my own accord.
I have authority to lay it down,
and I have authority
to take it up again.
This is the charge
I've received from my Father.
So perhaps as John
is in that shadowy tomb
on that first Easter morning,
maybe those words
are ringing in his ears
as he sees the folded glazed clothes.
So he believes
Jesus has risen from the dead.
But he still doesn't understand
why it was necessary
for Christ to rise from the dead.
Now, why is it important
we think about that?
I think it's important
for a number of reasons.
Firstly, we've got to remember
these are normal men
witnessing these events.
They weren't pre-scientific simpletons
as some people accused them of.
John wasn't going to believe anything
unless he had something to see.
It wasn't that they naturally believed
dead people came back to life.
Of course they didn't.
They're more familiar
with people dying
and staying dead than we are.
They didn't have
intensive care units
and defibrillators
and resuscitation techniques.
They knew that when people died
they stayed dead.
They were not gullible.
But they had heard
what Jesus had said.
They'd heard Jesus say
that while the world rejoices
you will weep.
They just hadn't really understood.
Now that can be
encouragement to all of us.
It may be you're looking
into the Christian faith.
It may be you've been
a Christian for years
and the things you just
don't understand.
What do you see
here?
The apostle
doesn't understand everything
but he still believes.
Saint Augustine said
I believe
in order to know.
You can trust
that Jesus is alive.
You can trust
what the scriptures say
even if you don't have
everything
taped down
and understood.
That is okay.
Where's Peter and John?
Peter who looks quickly
runs away.
John who reflects
and believes
without fully understanding.
I wonder how Mary
felt at that point.
She'd gone to get them
in her distress
and when we read
verse 11
or verse 10
they scarf her off home
meanwhile Mary
verse 11
stood weeping
outside the tomb
and as she wept
she looked into the tomb.
So these disciples
haven't been much help
to her have they?
She's still weeping
she's still looking
for Jesus' body
she still doesn't understand
what's happened
and she still has
no expectation
of finding him alive.
So she looks
into the tomb
well verse 12
she sees two angels
in white
and they said to her
verse 13
woman why are you weeping?
Jesus then asked
the same question
why are you weeping?
That's exactly
the kind of question
my wife and I
ask our children
when they're all upset
about something.
Joel, why are you crying?
Why are you crying?
It's actually a gentle question
to encourage them
there's no reason to weep
and that's how
the angels
and how Jesus
is asking a question
to Mary
why are you weeping?
There is actually
no reason to weep now
as you will find out.
Then Jesus asked her
another question
verse 15
whom are you seeking?
Who are you seeking?
Mary what is it
that you're looking for
that you hope
will put an end
to these tears?
I guess if we could
stop the camera there
and ask Mary
what are you looking for?
Well she would have told us
I'm looking for Jesus' body
that was the whole point
of running to the disciples
wasn't it?
It's what she says
to Jesus
who she thinks
is the gardener
there in verse
verse 15
Sir if you've carried him away
tell me where you've laid him
and I will take him away
what she wants
what she thinks she wants
is the body of Jesus
in her grief
that would in doubt
be a comfort
maybe she wants to
embalm his body
with spices
we read that
in the other gospels
she wants to do
a last act of service
for Jesus
she thinks
that will bring comfort
but do you notice
Jesus had something
much better for her
than that
Jesus had something
much better for her
than that
and I wonder how true
that is for each one
of us as well
don't we often think
I'll feel better
I'll be comforted
when
dot dot dot
how do you finish
that sentence?
I'll feel better
when
I've got through
this treatment
I'll feel better
when
the kids
are safely grown up
and left school
I'll feel better
when
the child
is currently
running away
comes home
I'll feel better
how would you finish that?
see Jesus
has a better way
of ending
those tears
and wiping them up
we see that way
in verse 16
Jesus said to her
Mary
she turned
and said to him
in Aramaic
Rabboni
which means teacher
what a moment
you know how precious
it is when someone
you love calls your name
someone perhaps
you haven't even seen
for a while
someone hears your name
being called by them
you turn around
it's a wonderful thing
perhaps you think of a
a reunion
after a long separation
think how it was
for Mary
to hear the very words
of the master
speaking her name
Mary
now Matthew tells us
that at this point
Mary
and there are probably
other women there
fell down at Jesus' feet
and grabbed hold of him
Matthew 28 verse 29
they came up
and took hold of his feet
and worshipped him
they fell down
prostrate before him
no doubt that's
what's going on
it's a wonderful moment
isn't it?
Mary doesn't understand
everything
but Jesus is alive
and has spoken to her
but as John tells
this story
he wants to focus us
on what Jesus says
next
because this is where
the good news lies
for you and me
this is where we can
have our Mary moment
as it were
where we can fall down
in worship
at the feet of the
risen saviour
and know that one day
not today
but one day
he will wipe
every tear away
when he returns
John wants us to know
this because he wants
us to believe
he tells us that
at the end of the
chapter
let's go on
and look at
Jesus' response
there
in verse 17
Jesus said to Mary
do not cling to me
remember she's
holding on to his feet
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
what's Jesus saying?
do not cling to me
now Mary
don't indulge in this
don't just enjoy
this spiritual experience
you're having
but I've got a job
for you to do
I'm going back
to the father
I'm not going
just yet
you'll see me again
and everyone
will see me one day
but right now
I've got a commission
for you
I've got a job
for you
so don't just enjoy
your own private
spiritual moment
go and tell this
good news
to other people
as well
and for all of us
who are Christians
this good news
that Mary has to
announce
is news for us
if we've trusted
in Jesus Christ
this is good news
for us
and so the message
for us
is the same
as it was for Mary
don't just enjoy
your spiritual high
don't just enjoy
your own spiritual
moment with Jesus
tell this good news
to others
tell it to yourself
to other believers
and to those
who do not know
I am ascending
to my father
and your father
to my God
and your God
that's the good news
message Jesus had
for his disciples
and throughout this gospel
John has made it clear
two things
well a number of things
where Jesus has come from
and where he's going to
so back in chapter 3
Jesus said
John recalls Jesus
whereas only I
have come down
from heaven
and as we go
through the gospel
we read that Jesus
is going to go back
to the father as well
now what does that
mean for the disciples
what does it mean
for us who believe
well as we tease out
this my God
and your God
my father
and your father
I want us to see
three things
it means vindication
welcome
and renewal
vindication
welcome
and renewal
think about vindication
first of all
think about those
poor disciples
they followed Jesus
around for three years
they left their homes
their families
and their livelihoods
to follow him
and they'd just seen him
three days earlier
nailed to
on a Friday
nailed to a cross
crucified
under the
desires of the
religious leaders
it looked like
the religious leaders
had won
it looked like
the God they served
was the powerful one
they must have
the disciples
must have worried
have we got it all wrong?
have we wasted
the last three years?
have we misunderstood?
have we misread Jesus?
Jesus says
I'm going back to
my God
and your God
Jesus died
as a humiliated
criminal
on a cross
hanging on a cross
was a sign of being
under God's curse
as Deuteronomy tells us
from the Old Testament
he looked
utterly despised
and rejected by God
and yet God
has raised him to life
so Jesus says
he's my God
and your God
if you trust in me
he is your God too
you may feel
oppressed
you may feel
downtrodden
you may feel
like a loser
you may wonder
whether this was
worthwhile
maybe even to us
today
we think
maybe I shouldn't
take Christianity
too seriously
especially given
the way the world
looks at those
of us who are
Christians
fundamentalists
idiots
whatever the words
are
maybe
maybe I shouldn't
take it too
seriously
Jesus says no
I've been raised
from the dead
I'm going back
to my God
and your God
Jesus' resurrection
is his vindication
proof that the
father loves the
son
proof that the
father accepts
the son
proof that the
humiliation
of the son
was for our
sake
so that we
could become
his children
so Jesus
says he's my
God and your
God
if you trust
in me
and as the
father has
raised me
from the dead
so he will
raise you
from the dead
so you will
be vindicated
too
you're truly
on God's
side if you
trust in
Jesus
you see why
that's important
in a society
where people
think all
religions are
equally valid
in a society
that thinks
taking anything
too seriously
is just a bit
silly
in our own
lives when it
can be hard
to be loyal
to King
Jesus
we need to
see the
resurrection
is the
vindication
of Jesus
and therefore
the vindication
of all who
trust in
Jesus
but John
goes on
Jesus goes
on
I'm attending
to my
father
and your
father
my father
and your
father
now let me
make one
thing clear
here
nobody
has God
as father
unless they
trust in
Jesus
nobody
has God
as father
unless they
trust in
Jesus
it is only
in Jesus
we can call
God
father
we're all
God's
creatures
we're all
made in
God's
image
but we're
not all
God's
children
in fact
by nature
we're children
of wrath
the new
testament tells us
by nature
we're cut
off from
God
it's only
in Jesus
that we can
call God
father
now
what are
the implications
of that
let me draw
up two
first
is we're
welcomed
by the
father
back in
chapter 14
verse 6
Jesus famously
said
I am the
way
the truth
and the
life
no one
comes to
the father
except through
me
there are
all sorts
of ways
people try
to get
connected
with God
aren't
there
you get
your
eightfold
path
in Buddhism
you get
the five
pillars
of Islam
you get
the secular
equivalence
of being
a nice
upstanding
person
being tolerant
and giving
to charity
and caring
about the
environment
people do
all these
things
to try
and gain
some sort
of contact
some sort
of
acceptance
by God
but Jesus
says it's
only
if you're
trusting in
my life
and death
and resurrection
that you can
call God
father
I am the
only way
to the
father
Mohammed
does not
provide a
way to the
father
Buddha
does not
Hinduism
is not
a way
of being
connected
with the
father
being a
nice
moral
person
is not
a way
of being
connected
with the
father
it only
comes
through
believing
in Jesus
it's only
through
Jesus
we can
call
God
father
it's only
through
Jesus
we are
welcomed
Jesus
said
through
disciples
in John
14
that he
was going
to the
father
but in
his
father's
house
there were
many
rooms
he'd
gone
there
to
prepare
a
place
for
them
and
he'd
come
back
and take
them
with
him
he's
coming
back
for all
who
believe
to give
us a
place
in his
father's
house
I was
just
staying
a
recent
weekend
in my
mother-in-law's
house
it's always
nice to go
there
we go to the
guest room
we always feel
at home
we're always
welcomed
it's a place
where we can
belong
how much
better
to belong
to be
welcomed
by our
heavenly
father
because we
received
his son
but there's
a second
implication
of Jesus
saying
my father
and your
father
what does
it actually
mean to be
able to
call God
father
what needs
to happen
in our
lives
in order
to be
able to
call God
father
what is
it that
can make
us
children
of God
well
John tells
us right
back at the
start of
his gospel
chapter 1
verse 12
he says
to all
who did
receive
Jesus
to all
who believed
in his
name
that is
to all
who believed
Jesus was
who he said
he was
the eternal
son of
God
come to
die
and rise
again
for sinners
whoever
believed
in his
name
he
gave
the
right
to become
children
of God
children
who were
born
not of
blood
nor of
the will
of the
flesh
nor the
will
of man
but of
God
how do we
become
how do we
become God's
children
by believing
and as we
believe
Jesus does
something in
us
he changes
us
Christianity
isn't merely
about
believing
certain facts
although it
does include
believing
it isn't
merely a matter
of behaving
in certain
ways
or it
does affect
our behaviour
it isn't
merely about
having a
certain ethical
code
although one
will do
that if
one is
following
Jesus
it is
fundamentally
about a
change that
happens within
us
as God
by his
spirit
makes us
his children
gives us
new life
as he
raised the
son to
new life
in the
resurrection
so he
can raise
us to
new life
renewal
inside of
us
making us
new people
it means
complete renewal
God
changes us
from the
inside out
so as
Jesus says
to Mary
go to my
brothers
those who are
part of my
family
and say
I'm ascending
to my God
and your God
my father
and your father
he's telling us
we can celebrate
vindication
if we trust in
Jesus
we are gods
and he will
vindicate us
one day
entirely
when Jesus
returns
it means
welcome
we're accepted
and loved
by the
heavenly father
and have a
home with him
forever
and it means
renewal
he's changing
us now
making us
new people
see what
difference
that message
made to
Mary's life
we contrast
in the start
and the end
she turns up
with tears
she leaves
with joy
she arrives
in darkness
but her life
is flooded
with light
as she leaves
she came
hopeless
and leaves
knowing
she's a child
of God
who will
one day
be with
Jesus
forever
now what
difference
does that
make for us
she'd make
all sorts
of differences
shouldn't it
I got an
email yesterday
I think it was
from some
friends of mine
who work
with or have
dealings with
those who work
with Syrian
refugees
fleeing the
whole horrible
conflict in
Syria
we all know
from our TV
screens don't we
how awful it
is
and yet
some people
fleeing that
conflict
have turned
their back
on Islam
have risked
the wrath
of their
family
and their
communities
and have
come to
faith in
Christ
they might
think that's
like jumping
from the
frying pan
into the
fire
yet these
people say
this
the most
important
thing is
that we
know Jesus
Christ as
our
saviour
thank God
for the war
in Syria
it brought
us to
Jesus
thank God
for the war
in Syria
it brought
us to
Jesus
now that
confounds
my wisdom
and yet
isn't it
true
these poor
persecuted
people
know they
will be
vindicated
because Jesus
is alive
know they
have a welcome
from the
father
even when
they're hated
by their
families
know they
have renewal
now
which enables
them to
rejoice
in the
midst of
horrendous
suffering
that's
what the
difference
the
resurrection
makes
to them
what
difference
does the
resurrection
make
to me
and to
you
let me pray
for us
thank you