Sunrise Service 2022

John 20:1–9 NIV

Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!” So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen. Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. (They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.)

2000 years ago, at sun rise, the Son rose. We have the privilege of celebrating that this morning. What a beautiful morning!

We are able to see the beauty this morning, but 2000 years ago, Mary and the other ladies did not see the beauty. They were in morning, because they thought that everything they had hoped for had ended.

Yes, Jesus had raised people from the dead. But, he is the only one they knew who could do that. So, his death had to be permanent. No one had ever raised themselves from the dead before. It doesn’t happen.

So, much to the ladies’ surprise, the tomb is empty. Mary Magdalene runs back to the disciples, not understanding what is going and tells Peter and John that Jesus’ body is stolen.

Even though they had sat under Jesus’ teaching for 3 and a half years, they didn’t understand that Jesus had to rise from the dead.

1A. But he did have to rise from the dead

If he had stayed dead, our salvation would be moot. Nothing.

As Paul wrote:

1 Corinthians 15:14 NIV

And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.

1 Corinthians 15:19 NIV

If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.

The resurrection proves our salvation. If Jesus rose from the dead, that means we will rise from the dead as well. If Jesus after having taken all of our sins on himself, went through the wrath of God, that means we do not have to.

Our salvation is proven by the resurrection.

Jesus’ identity is proven by the resurrection.

Paul wrote:

Romans 1:4 NIV

and who through the Spirit of holiness was appointed the Son of God in power by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord.

His resurrection proves his identity. Truthfully, only God could raise himself from the dead. Being dead means you can’t do anything. Your body is done. Your spirit has left. Decay has set in.

But, in fulfillment of Scripture, Jesus raised himself from the dead.

Both Isaiah in chapter 53 and David in Psa 16 prophesied that the Messiah would rise from the dead.

Jesus, himself, promised in Mark 8 that he would not stay dead.

The resurrection proves his identity. The resurrection proves his salvation.

The resurrection gives us a living hope

I love what Peter says… and not just because he was named after me:

1 Peter 1:3 NIV

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

Through the resurrection we have a living hope.

That means in the face of death, as we stare it in the eyes, we don’t have to be scared. We have hope. We have hope for ourselves, that when we breath our last we will join those who have gone before, waiting for our own resurrection.

We have hope for those around us, as we hold their hand and Jesus grabs their other, we know that death is not the end.

We do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope.

Each and everyday, we remember: Jesus is alive. And we praise him that not only am I alive now, but one day those I love, together with myself, will truly be alive.

1 Corinthians 15:54–55 (NIV)

“Death has been swallowed up in victory.”

“Where, O death, is your victory?

Where, O death, is your sting?”

The resurrection proves his identity, guarantees our salvation, provides living hope.

The resurrection gives us new life.

Remember what my namesake said?

1 Peter 1:3 NIV

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

We are given new birth.

That’s what Nicodemus learned when he met up with Jesus in the middle of the night. Jesus said:

John 3:3 NIV

Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”

In Christ, because of the resurrection, we are given new life, an abundant life.

We are able to have joy in the midst of pain, wisdom in the midst of confusion, hope in the face of chaos, purpose when surrounded by irrelevance.

When confronted by temptation and sinful behavior, we are able to stare it in the eyes and say: no.

All because of the resurrection.

The resurrection guarantees our salvation, proves Jesus’ identity, provides us a living hope, and sets us on a new life.

2A. He did rise from the dead

So, yes, Jesus had to rise from the dead. Not only did he have to rise from the dead, but he actually did rise from the dead.

No one stole his body.

The disciples didn’t move it to another tomb.

We cannot visit his actual grave and put flowers on his tombstone.

Our Savior is alive. The impossible happened. The Son of God died and the Son of God raised himself back to life.

I imagine Peter and John standing at the tomb, saying: You go in first. No you go first.

Finally, Peter tiptoes into the tomb, looking for evidence, and all he sees is the burial clothes crumbled where Jesus’ feet should have been, and the cloth that was on Jesus’ face was nicely folded up right there.

Peter looks with confusion at everything.

And John finally ventures in, hearing nothing from Peter, because Peter is absolutely shocked.

John looks at everything and believes.

What did he believe? He didn’t believe what Scripture said, because he didn’t understand the prophecies yet.

He believed what he saw. He believed that Jesus was alive, which means he believed that Jesus was who he said he was. That Jesus did what he said that he would do. That John would have access to that new life and new hope.

John believed because he saw the empty tomb, even before he saw the risen Jesus.

He knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that Jesus was alive.

3A. What are we going to do?

How about us? Do we believe?

What are we going to do with the information?

This morning that we celebrate that he is risen!

We can have three responses to what we are celebrating.

We can have the response of Mary: disbelief. She looked at the empty tomb and said: someone has stolen the body.

We can look at the teaching of Scripture and say: I don’t believe. We can look at the evidence around us in our life and other’s lives that Jesus is alive and he is working and changing lives right and left, and we can say: I don’t believe. I won’t believe.

The new life and the new hope is not offered to those who refuse to believe.

We can have the response of Peter. We can see the evidence, acknowledging that it could be true and very well might be, but still stand confused, not allowing the truth to change us.

These are people who have attended church all their life. They know the stories. They know the rituals. They go through the motions, but they have never made the decision to trust Jesus for their salvation. They are just standing there, doing nothing.

The new life and the new hope is not offered to those who will not make a conscious decision to trust Jesus for their salvation. Standing in the midst of religion doesn’t save.

Then, there are people like John, who look, see, and believe.

They may not have all the evidence. They may not have all the understanding. But, there is one thing that they know. They know that Jesus is the Son of God who died to save them. They know that he is alive, which proves that what he is offering is real. They know that they need him, because they cannot save themselves, they cannot live this life on their own. So, they believe.

The new life and the new hope that is offered is theirs, because they made the decision to turn from everything to the one who is everything.

So, what about us? What have we done with Jesus? He is risen!

He offers us himself. His salvation. His hope. His life. Will we be John and take it, or will we be Mary and Peter and let the gift slip through our fingers.

Mary and Peter got another chance and turned to Jesus. We might not be so lucky.

He is risen! Let us celebrate in the joy of the Lord.