SCRIPTURE: John 20:1-18 (ESV)
DATE: 4-12-20
I want to welcome all of you who are joining us online this weekend for Easter. He is risen! Kind of strange saying that to you virtually — hope you all said “He is risen indeed.” And isn’t this an interesting year that we’re having? I’ve got a friend — who late last year — maybe it was early this year — I can’t remember which — but he was certain that 2020 was going to be a great year. Right now he’s probably thinking “I sure hope Josh doesn’t say my name.” And I’m just gonna leave him wondering if I am going to say his name or not.
But let me tell you what’s happened since his wonderful announcement that 2020 was going to be a great year. He’s had unexpected surgery — don’t worry — he’s recovering now — had a slight hiccup this week — but for the most part — is doing fine. My son had his first car accident while driving my car. And we’ve got this whole coronavirus thing going on. So we’ve joked about his wonderful prediction for 2020 quite a bit. And you better believe that I told him to keep his yearly predictions to himself from now on.
And speaking of the wonderful start we’ve had to 2020, given that for many of us we’ve been social distancing and staying at home for weeks now — eventually there’s an emotional toll with all of this. Now don’t misunderstand me — social distancing and staying at home are necessary to help slow down the spread of the virus — but there’s a very real emotional consequence to all of this.
For example, loneliness is something we’re all experiencing to some degree or another. Some of us are wrestling with a sense of emptiness. Others are dealing with anxious thoughts. Many are struggling with depression. So starting next week, we’re going to look at these emotions with the Bible as our guide. And my hope is to offer all of us some encouragement as we face these tough emotions together.
Alright — with all of that out of the way — there’s one last thing I want you to know before we get to the sermon — and this is the one thing that I always want you to know — I want you to know that God loves you and that I love you too.
SERMON INTRODUCTION
And so here we are — Easter 2020. Where we remember and celebrate that Jesus came to live and die for our sins — but today — we particularly rejoice not just because Jesus lived and died — we rejoice because Jesus defeated sin and death through his resurrection.
So let’s turn to our passage for this Easter weekend. John’s account of the resurrection of Jesus.
ANNOUNCE THE TEXT
If you have your Bible please turn with me to the gospel of John chapter 20. We’ll be looking at verses 1 through 18.
RE-ANNOUNCE AND READ THE TEXT
Here are the words found in John chapter 20. Beginning in verse 1.
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. 2 So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” 3 So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. 4 Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, 7 and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. 8 Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; 9 for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead. 10 Then the disciples went back to their homes. 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. (John 20:1-18 ESV)
We’re going to keep things fairly simple today. I want us to notice three things from what we read in these verses. First, I want us to see the connection between Jesus’ resurrection and the Bible. Second, I want to show you the connection between Jesus’ resurrection and him calling your name. And — finally — I want to show you what we’re to do with the news of Jesus’ resurrection. So what’s the relationship between Jesus’ resurrection and the Bible? Second, what’s the importance of being called by Jesus? And third, what are we to do with this news?
THE RESURRECTION AND THE BIBLE
So throughout these verses we find that confusion and misunderstanding abound. Mary’s confused when she first arrives at the tomb because the stone is rolled away and Jesus’ body is gone. Peter and John are confused when they see that the tomb is empty. And when Mary talks with the angels — and even to Jesus — well — she still…doesn’t…get it. But John — who’s written this gospel — he gives us a clue as to why he and Peter were confused about what was going on.
So Mary’s already been to the tomb and ran back to tell them that something has happened. And so Peter and John take off running. And John — because he’s younger — takes off at a sprint leaving Peter behind — but John stops before going into the empty tomb. And when Peter catches up to him — well — he goes straight into the tomb — passing the finish line first — take that you young whipper snapper — and wins the race. Well it wasn’t really about who got their first, now was it? Because neither of them understood what was going on. And John tells us why in verses 8 and 9.
Then the other disciple (that’s John), who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; 9 for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he (Jesus) must rise from the dead. (John 20:8-9 ESV)
They did not understand the Scripture. You see, to understand the resurrection they had to understand the Scripture — that would be the Old Testament for them. But the same principle is true for us today. In order to understand the resurrection, we have to understand the Scripture as well — but for us — that’s both the Old and New Testaments.
This is something we’ve been learning in our Finding Jesus series that we just finished. In that series I emphasize that the whole Bible is telling one story — the story of Jesus. That the whole point from Genesis to Revelation is Jesus. So for us to really understand the resurrection — understand its importance theologically — understand its importance practically — understand its importance for every single person on this planet — we have to know the Scripture.
For in the Old Testament we are pointed ahead — to a future point in history — when Jesus would come. And in the New Testament, we’re either pointed to the time when Jesus came — in the four gospels — or we’re pointed back to the time when Jesus came — in the book of Acts, and most of the other letters. But also — in the New Testament — we’re pointed forward to the time when Jesus will come again — the book of Revelation.
But here’s the deal. Like Peter and John, we can see evidence of Jesus’ resurrection and have no idea what the evidence means because we do not understand the Scripture. And I’ll go ahead and throw this in for good measure — because I’m seeing all sorts of folks wanting to know if what’s going on in the world right now — this worldwide pandemic — can all of this be found in the book of Revelation? Well the truth is, you won’t understand the book of Revelation without understanding the rest of the Bible.
Now — obviously — the Bible’s a big book. So there will always be parts of it that may be a bit fuzzy or less familiar to you. But my point is this: What are you doing to understand the Bible? Are you reading it? Studying it? Memorizing it? Meditating on it? Listening to others teach it? Applying it to your life? Or are you simply looking into an empty tomb — like Peter and John — seeing evidence of a resurrection — and yet have no idea what it’s supposed to mean for you?
So Peter and John go back home. Why? Because they don’t understand what’s going on. Why don’t they understand what’s going on? Because they don’t understand the Scripture.
Now that’s something we can work on — understanding the Scripture. But there’s more misunderstanding going on in our story and this next misunderstanding isn’t something we can work on.
THE RESURRECTION AND THE CALL
As I said — Peter and John went back home — but Mary sticks around. And she’s at the tomb all by herself. And she’s weeping.
And she sees two angels — but she still doesn’t know what’s going on. And…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.” (John 20:13-16a ESV)
And after he said her name — she was able to see that it was Jesus that she was speaking to. You see, that was her misunderstanding. She was looking right at — even talking to — Jesus and yet she didn’t understand that it was he. Not until he said her name.
And this is something else that’s true for all of us. No one understands the resurrection unless Jesus first calls them by name. We — like Mary — can be sitting at an empty tomb, talking to angels, talking to Jesus face to face — and not understand what’s going on — because we need Jesus to first call out to us — by name — awakening our mind, soul, and spirit so we can understand what his resurrection means.
And this is so humbling. Because we like to think that we can figure out anything on our own. Or — this may not be humbling to you — maybe it’s revulsive or insulting — as you can’t stand the idea of your not believing in Jesus’ resurrection to be anything other than a rational conclusion that you’ve come to all on your own.
But the reason why we need Jesus to call out to us is because we all need to experience a resurrection of our own. You see, due to sin — every single person — including you — including me — are born spiritually dead. We know this by understanding the Scripture — back to my earlier point — because — in the Bible — this is what we’re told about ourselves. We’re told that Adam and Eve’s sin brought death into our world. And not just physical death — but spiritual death.
And when Jesus calls out to us, our spirit experiences a resurrection. And — like Mary — when Jesus calls out to us — we see him for who he is — for the very first time. We begin to understand who he is and what he accomplished in his life, death, and resurrection after he calls our name.
Now — as I said earlier — though we can work on understanding the Scripture better — only Jesus can call out to us by name. “But Josh, surely there’s something I can do here, right? Because I’m sort of feeling on the inside — right now — that I want to understand who Jesus is. I don’t want to be looking right at him and not see him — so Josh what am I to do?”
Here’s what you do. Though Jesus calls out to us by name to give us spiritual life — we can call out to him — in faith — in belief — in trust — we can call out to him and say, “Jesus, I need you to give me life. I know I don’t deserve it. I know I can’t give it to myself. But would you please call me by name so I understand who you are and what your resurrection means for me and for everyone?”
And let me tell you something. Jesus loves to answer that prayer — man he loves to answer that prayer.
THE RESURRECTION AND OUR MISSION
One final observation — and this is for those of us who have been called by name already.
Did you see what Jesus told Mary to do after she understood that it was him? He told her to…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. (John 20:17b-18 ESV)
Those whom Jesus has called by name — go and tell others the News about his resurrection. This is what Jesus told Mary to do — and this is what she did. For she went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord.” And believers in Jesus — followers of Jesus — Christians — no matter what we’re called — our mission is the same. We’re to go and tell others that Jesus lived, died, and rose from the grave for the sins of the world — including their sins. And we’re to tell them that — through faith in him — the forgiveness of their sins is possible. And we’re to announce to the world that God loves to save sinners. For he is a loving Father who leads the rejoicing in Heaven when one sinner repents and believes.
CONCLUSION
So do you believe in Jesus? Do you understand the significance of his resurrection for your life and for the world? If your answer is yes, then who are you telling about it? For this is what God’s people do. We go and we tell others that we have seen the Lord. And we tell them that life and hope and joy and peace are found through faith in Jesus alone.
My hope and prayer this Easter is that you would understand who Jesus is and what his resurrection means for your life and for the world. Let’s pray.
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, give everyone who’s listening to me right now — an understanding of who Jesus is and what his resurrection means for their life. Give them a supernatural determination to know the Bible so they do not misunderstand who you are, who they are, and what Jesus’ resurrection means. Jesus, I ask that you would call each person listening to my voice by name — open up their eyes so they see you for the first time. Give them a spiritual resurrection for that is what they need in order to understand who you are. And Holy Spirit, I ask that you would give all of us a humble boldness so we share the News of Jesus’ resurrection with others. That we would tell others that we have seen the Lord and have found life, joy, peace, and hope — even in these uncertain days. And that we would tell them that Jesus can give them the same life, joy, peace, and hope if they would respond to his call. So Jesus call out to people. Call them by their name. And help them to respond to your call, believing in you and in your resurrection. And we pray all of these things in your name. Amen.
BENEDICTION
May you go seeing Jesus for who he is — responding to his call — and telling others that you have seen the Lord. Amen.
God loves you. I love you. You are sent.