Is Seeing Believing?

SERMON NOTES ON JOHN 20:1-31

Title: Is Seeing Believing?

Opening

Have you ever heard the expression “Seeing is Believing”? (Show Slides 1 & 2) Is the saying actually true? Let’s put it to the test. As we look at these next two images you decide which one is true? (Show slides 3 then 4 on cue) What we see or experience shapes our reality. Is seeing believing? Not necessarily. Visual illusions can distort our perception so that, what we “see” does not correspond with what is physically there. That is why a lot of illusionists can trick their audience into thinking that what they are seeing is actually real. I came across a video on Youtube and it was impressive to see the reaction of the people in the store as the man was levitating while shopping. Have you seen this illusion? You can check it online. (Show slide 5) As many of you who are watching this picture, I was very skeptical and wanted to know the secret. Do you want me to reveal it? If we apply the law of gravity, in actuality it would look something close to this (Show slide 6). In the history of mankind there have been many famous people who have done incredible things. One such man was a Frenchman daredevil, a great circus acrobat known by the professional name of Charles Blondin. He who would be the first person to cross the Niagara Falls on a tightrope in year 1859 (Show slide 7).

“…Blondin stretched a long steel cable across Niagara Fall. During high winds and without a safety net, he walked, ran, and event danced across the tightrope to the amazement and delight of the large crowd of people who watched.” (Show slide 8 & 9 on cue) Charles Blondin was known for his amazing stunts on the tightrope. “Once he took a wheelbarrow full of bricks and amazed the crowed by pushing it effortlessly across the cable, from one side of the falls to the other. Blondin then turned to the crow and asked, “Now, how many of you believe that I could push a man across the wire in the wheelbarrow?” The vote was unanimous. Everyone cheered and held their hands high. They all believed he could do it! “Then,” asked Blondin, “would one of you please volunteer to be that man?” As quickly as the hands went up, they went back down. Not a single person would volunteer to ride in the wheelbarrow and to trust his life to Blondin.” (Rice, pgs. 206-207)

Some 25,000 people saw with their very own eyes the talent displayed, they believed he could do the stunt and still they failed to put their faith in action and get on the wheelbarrow. Is seeing believing? (Show slide 10). Many of us think so but when it comes to faith in Jesus it’s totally different.

We are approaching the end of the gospel of John and for some time we have been looking at the life of Jesus from John’s perspective. Today we find ourselves reading about the most important event in human history. We have arrived at the pinnacle of it all…The Resurrection Story.

The Resurrection account found in John 20 and the other Gospels is the central doctrine of the Christian Faith. It is an essential part of the Gospel message! Without it the story of Jesus’ sacrifice would make no sense and the Gospel would be no good news at all! Prominent contemporary theologians and scholars have said this about the Resurrection…

“Gunther Bornkamm agreed that without the message of Jesus’ resurrection there would be no church, no NT, and no Christian Faith even to this day. Jurgen Moltmaan clearly stated that Christianity either stands or falls with Jesus’ resurrection.” (EDOT, p. 939). The Apostle Paul, who was once a skeptic wrote this to the Christians in Corinth: “And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless, our faith is worthless and we are still (lost/dead) in our sins” (1 Cor. 15:14-17). Think about the last 2000+ years of history since Jesus’ death and all the people who have died for His sake. We don’t have an actual number, but if there was no Resurrection they would have died in vain. There would be no reason for us to meet here today and so we can just go home and live for the moment as Paul writes: eat, drink for tomorrow we die (v. 32)” There would be no hope for all of humanity! However, Jesus did come back to life and because of this undeniable truth, we one day will be made alive because Jesus defeated the grave. HE IS RISEN! AMEN!

“Walter Elwell, wrote: Clearly, early believers such as Paul realized that this event provided the central claim of Christianity. With it the Christian message of eternal life is secure, resting on the reality of Jesus’ victory over death. Without it the Christian message is reduced to that of one of man’s philosophies.” (EDOT p. 939) The Resurrection of Jesus separates Christianity from any other religions in the world.

See when Jesus said “It is Finished” on the cross, His perfect sacrifice, atonement and payment for everyone sin was completed, but His mission on earth was NOT yet finished!

As we look at the Resurrection of Jesus, we will unpack the truths that support it as we try to answer a few questions: Did it actually happen? How did people respond to such news? How did the event change their outlook in life?... and eventually this will lead us to a personal response. What is my response to Jesus? What do I believe about Him? Have I placed my faith in the totality of the Gospel message?

Today, we will look beyond the Gospel of John and see what the other Gospel authors had to say about such historical event. The reason for this is that John does not include every detail of this account, so to get a better understanding we will refer to other writings in the Scriptures. In John we find some differences in comparison to the other Gospels. However, these minor differences do not discredit the resurrection story. John wrote from his own perspective and thus did not feel the need to include every detail and every person.

My goal is not to go into too much depth for time’s sake but to provide some proofs that support the Resurrection of Jesus and show that the Biblical Account is indeed true. Now, we cannot prove Christ’s Resurrection by “original” images, pictures or video footage. We weren’t there when it first happened some 2000+ years ago. The technology we have today did not exist, however, we do have an authoritative historical book (The Bible), whose historical writings and records help support the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. But, before we get to the Resurrection story, let’s quickly recap the death & burial of Jesus.

As we saw last week, Jesus was crucified and buried in the tomb of Joseph of Arimethea. His death on the cross and burial was witnessed by many and it cannot be disputed. Who was there to witness such events? The disciples, the women, Joseph of Arimethea, Nicodemus, the Jewish people & rulers. Also, Roman authorities (Pilate, soldiers at Golgotha, Roman Centurion) all witnessed and heard about the death of Jesus on the cross. The death is very important to note because it’s a prequel to the Resurrection story. Jesus has to die in order to fulfill the Scriptures, in order to prove that He indeed is the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of God!

In John 19:31-35, we read that upon confirming Jesus’ death, Pilate grants permission for the body of Jesus to be taken down from the cross because it was the day of preparation and so that the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath. He is buried inside a rich man’s tomb and the very next day Matthew tells us that Pilate orders for the tomb to be sealed and guard to be put on duty to protect it. This was to address the concern that the religious leaders had about the body being potentially stolen by the disciples (Matt. 27:62).

As we read the gospel accounts of Jesus on the cross, we can all agree that He died a gruesome death, a criminal’s death and that he was buried. John reminds his original audience by writing this : “And he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you also may believe.” (19:35) (Show slide 11).

John tells us about the death, burial and Resurrection because he wants his audience to believe who Jesus is. He was a witness to all these events. He shares his testimony of how he came to faith in the Resurrection of Jesus by providing undisputed evidence of those who saw the empty tomb and the eyewitness account of the disciples. So, let’s address the first question: How do we know that the Resurrection of Jesus is True? (Show slide 12)

Let me provide a few historical facts (proofs) that support such claim:

1. The Stone was Taken Away (Show slide 13)

All the gospel writers record the removal of the stone at the tomb. John in 20:1, uses a different Greek verb, airo, which means “to pick something up and carry it away.” The women saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. This was impressive because the stone was very heavy, extremely large and out of position. It would have taken a lot of man power to remove and lift the stone away from the original position. This would have been a very dangerous task for the disciples. The stone had been set in place and it was also sealed. The seal represented the power and authority of the Roman Empire. Measures were taken to keep the body of Jesus as secure as it could be! The disciples, robbers, or anyone else for that matter would have never thought about breaking the seal to remove the stone. Anyone who tampered with the Roman seal would face severe punishment, even death! (Show slide 14). The removal of the large stone would have caused a loud commotion and it would have taken lots of time and effort if we are to believe the conspiracy theory found in Matthew 28:11-15.

The disciples of Jesus did not in fact remove the stone! So who did? In reading the account of Matthew, we know who rolled the stone away. He tells us that a severe earthquake took place early that morning and an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled away the stone and sat upon it (28:1). The guards who were watching the tomb were terrified of the angel and passed out (28:2). It was God who intervened on that Sunday morning! The soldiers at the tomb witnessed such event and leaving the tomb they go and tell the chief priests and elders who bribed them with a large sum of money to lie and say “His disciples came by night and stole Him away while we were asleep” (Matt. 28:13).

This brings us to another fact:

2. The Tomb was Empty (Show slide 15)

The women that went to the tomb on Sunday morning, while it was still dark outside, did not expect the tomb to be empty. They went to the tomb and brought with them spices to place on the dead body of Jesus. John chose to only include Mary Magdalene, who goes to the tomb but we know from the other gospel writers there is a group of women that went with her. Mark tells us in (16:1) that the women went to the tomb to anoint his body. As they are traveling together, they were wondering how they were going to gain access to the tomb. They were saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb? (Mark 16:3). As they arrive at the tomb, the soldiers are not there guarding the tomb. If the tomb was not empty, they would have been there still not allowing anyone to gain access. The Roman guard left the scene because there was nothing there to protect! They left their post to tell the authorities the supernatural phenomena that they had experienced earlier on that Sunday morning. The women went to find a dead body but instead found no body!

Now, is it possible that the women went to a different tomb since it was dark outside? Did they mix up the location where Jesus lay dead? These are questions that a skeptic might bring up, but we know for sure that the women as well as the disciples knew the location where Jesus was buried. They knew that the tomb belonged to the rich man Joseph of Arimathea and they were present at the burial site (staying on the opposite side of the grave) when the rock was rolled to close the entrance to the tomb (Matthew 27:60-61). In Mark 15:47, we learn that Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses/Joseph and James were looking on to see where He was laid. The women went to the right tomb that Sunday morning! The angels told them that He has risen! He is not here; behold, here is the place where they laid Him (Mark 16:6). (Show slide 16). Now, if it wasn’t the right place, the angels would have told them sorry ladies, wrong tomb! They believed the proclamation of the angels and thus told the disciples the great news.

The women were not the only ones who saw the tomb empty, Peter & John also saw the tomb empty. (Show slide 17) Also, upon hearing the news from Mary Magdalene later on, both disciples Peter and John run to the same tomb without having Mary guide them to it. They saw the linen wrappings that covered His body & face which were still left inside the tomb. As for the body being taken away, if the dead body of Jesus was to be stolen or removed from that tomb, those handling the body would have not removed the linen wrappings and face-cloth and handled a dead body especially on the Sabbath. This was not permissible and it would be considered a defilement by Jewish law. Touching a dead body was considered the highest grade of uncleanness and it required for the individual to follow a 7-day purification period after making physical contact with a dead human body (Numbers 31:19). It was considered “the Father of all Fathers of Uncleanness” according to Jewish Law (Wikipedia)

It would have not been worth it for the disciples to go to such lengths and risk being defiled or unclean. Jesus’ body was not removed or stolen as some critics may conclude! The tomb was guarded for that very reason and sealed by the authorities! The tomb was empty because Jesus had risen from the dead just as the angels proclaimed.

Another historical fact No. 3: The Eyewitnesses’ Account and Testimony (Show slide 18)

How do we know that events in past history actually took place? We weren’t there! We know they happened because people saw such events and they wrote about what they saw. We trust the witness of others and when the events are supported by many sources, we consider the evidence to be trustworthy.

None of us witnessed the resurrection or the resurrected Christ with our own eyes, so we turn to the source that we turn to for all historical events—eyewitness accounts. The Resurrection of Jesus is an historical event, and being such, it is supported by the writings of the Gospel authors and later on by Paul himself. So, who saw the empty grave? Who saw the Resurrected Jesus?

When we read all the gospel accounts, we find out that there is a group of women which includes a lot of Mary’s. In John 20:2, Mary Magdalene says, “we” (meaning plural) don’t know where they have taking him out of the tomb and where they have laid him? as she is talking to Peter and the rest of the disciples. The author’s eyewitness testimony & accounts do not include every name or person but it’s strongly supported by other writers. This does not change the fact that Jesus was Risen! They all are in agreement!

The resurrection story, includes first a group of people that society would not deem reliable, women. In the time of Christ, women had a low status as citizens. Jewish law did not permit them to provide testimony in a court of law. This meant that the apostles would not have used the women’s testimonies in order to prove something true. However, in their writings, the gospel authors did indeed include the testimony of the women, because the resurrection of Jesus is true! (Show slide 19) The women were first:

to discover the empty tomb.

to see the empty tomb

to witness the angel(s) at the empty tomb

to receive the great news from the angel(s)

to believe in the resurrection of Jesus

to share the report with the disciples

The women told the disciples not just once but twice the news about the risen Lord. Mary Magdalene, was the first woman to see Jesus alive (Let’s go back and read this account from John 20:13-18). She is searching for a dead body but instead finds a living body. In verse 18, she goes back to the disciples (after Peter and John had left the tomb) and tells them “I have seen the Lord,” and shares what Jesus told her at the tomb. The women later on see Jesus and they bow at His feet and worshiped Him in Matt. 28:9-10.

Peter & John also saw the empty tomb in the early part of chapter 20. The Bible tells us that John upon seeing the empty tomb and the linen wrappings inside the tomb, believed. John believed, even though he did not fully understand the Scriptures (vv.8-9) like many of the disciples. Jesus had to explain it to them. In his ministry, Jesus constantly had to teach the disciples and help them understand His teachings. They did not fully comprehend the Scriptures nor at times did they believe what Jesus was saying (John 2:19-22). It was the resurrection that brough clarity to their faith. Don Carson wrote this in his commentary: “It was not that for the first time they were then exposed to a distinctive way of reading the Scriptures. Far from it: Jesus had been teaching them throughout his ministry. But the resurrection of Jesus opened a door of understanding. It proved to be the decisive step; and, aided in due course by the Paraclete (The Holy Spirit), the disciples remember what Jesus had taught (14:25-26; 16:12-15) and embarked on their new integration of understanding, including a fresh grasp of Scripture and the articulation of their faith.” (Carson, p. 632)

Sunday night Peter & John see the resurrected Jesus in person (John 20: 19-20) when they were in hiding behind closed doors. Cleopas and the other disciple saw Jesus alive earlier that Sunday as they were traveling to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-16; 31). Once their eyes were opened and they recognized Jesus, they left Emmaus and head for Jerusalem (a 7-mile journey) to tell the eleven and the rest of the people with them about what they had witnessed firsthand (Show slide 20). In Luke 24:34 as they are telling the disciples, Jesus appeared in the group. The disciples were startled (shocked/alarmed) and frightened and thought that Jesus was a ghost, but Jesus shows Himself to them and tells them to “See” and “touch”. “See My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself; touch Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” (Luke 24:37-39). Their fear, disbelief turned into joy and amazement. I like what Jesus does next…He asked them to “Have you anything here to eat?” again to reveal to them that He is in a glorified human form. He was hungry and ate before their very own eyes (v. 43). He was not a ghost!

The disciples also witness the Resurrection of Jesus, not just Sunday night but also 8 days later with Thomas present this time. Show slide 21 & 22 Paul in his letter to the Corinthians writes: “For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 After that He appeared to more five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep; 7 then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles; 8 and last of all, as to one untimely born, He appeared to me also.” (1 Corinthians 15:3-8 NASB)

Notice also how Paul proves the Resurrection of Jesus: He tells his audience that the Resurrection of Jesus was fulfillment of Scripture! The O.T. prophesies and Jesus’ predictions were fulfilled in his death, burial and resurrection. As he meets Jesus, his life is changed from a sceptic and persecutor of Christians to becoming one of the most prominent figures of the Christian faith and movement (Acts 9).

This brings us to the last important fact to consider: 4: The Resurrection Changed Their Lives

How did the eyewitnesses react & respond? How were their lives changed because of the Resurrection of Jesus?

As we look at the four gospels of the Resurrection narrative, we learn that the women & disciples were engulfed in a variety of human emotions. The events of Sunday morning and what followed, however changed their outlook in life from discouragement to faith.

The disciples of Jesus at first doubted the resurrection. They were told multiple times from the women and the two about the risen Lord, yet they did not believe right away. Mark tells us that Jesus reproached them for their “unbelief and hardness of heart”, because they failed to trust the ones that had seen Jesus alive earlier. (Mark 16:14) In Luke 24:44-45, Jesus reminded the disciple of His words and what he had spoken of, so that all that was written in the Law of Moses, the prophets, the Psalms must be fulfilled.” Then in vvs. 45-46, He “opened their minds” to understand the Scriptures. He did the same thing He had done earlier with the 2 disciples in the Emmaus village. Jesus told them that “you are witnesses of these things (v. 48).

Thomas gets a bad rap in comparison to the rest of the disciples. He is unfairly criticized for not believing the words of the disciples. I think many of us would naturally respond the same way. I will not believe….until I see it with my very own eyes. Thomas did what any normal human being would do, but in “seeing” Jesus face to face, He saw Jesus for who he truly was… “My Lord, and My God!” (20:28).

How were they (the women and disciples) changed? Their… (Show slide 24)

Fear turned to joy which led to response in obedience

Doubt turned to faith which led to response in believing, acknowledging and worshipping the Risen Jesus

Cowardice turned to courage as they continually praised God at the temple (Luke 24:53) after Jesus left.

Despair turned to Hope in the Jesus, which led to the spread of the gospel message

The disciples were changed from a frightened group of men hiding behind closed doors (fear of the Jews v. 19) to being emboldened disciples of Christ in spreading the good news of the Gospel. Their change and transformation proved that the Resurrection of Jesus was indeed true. They did not become believers prior, but after the Resurrection. For John and the early Christians, the resurrection of Jesus was the unchanging fact which their faith was based on. This faith was depended on the testimony and transformed lives of those who actually saw the resurrected Christ. The resurrection proved that Jesus was vindicated by God, and therefore He was the Messiah, the Son of God he claimed to be. Their willingness to die for Jesus as his followers is also proof that they believed in the Resurrection. They were not afraid to die! The resurrection changed their perspective of Jesus’ true identity. As a result, when Jesus ascended to heaven, they worshipped Him and returned back to Jerusalem and were continually in the temple praising God (Luke 24:53). If Jesus had not risen they would have gone back to their old lives. Instead, they left all behind and carried on His mission!

Jesus told his disciples that blessed are those who do not see and yet believe (v.19). Believing is fully trusting in the completed work of Jesus on the cross, resurrection and His ascension. Believing is not just seeing but trusting your life to Jesus and being completely devoted to His cause. The Resurrection and the gospel message have to the power to transform lives. It has the power to change your life! What is your response to the Resurrection? Do you believe in Jesus? Have you believed the Gospel message? (Show slide 25 & 26) Without the resurrection of Jesus there is no gospel and without the gospel there is no Salvation and Eternal life. Jesus said I am the Resurrection and the Life! He is the only one who defeated sin and death and has the power to raise you from the dead!

John in 20:31 tells us this: “but these have been 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.”

For many of us, just like the disciples, we need not just our physical eyes but also our spiritual eyes opened to the Truth of the Gospel, to the True Identity of Jesus. Do you believe in the real Jesus of the Bible? Are you willing to demonstrate your belief by trusting your life completely to Jesus? Are you willing to get in the wheelbarrow and to risk everything (even your life) for Jesus? That’s what it means to believe. Wayne Rice wrote this: Faith is not just an intellectual exercise. It involves total commitment.” (Rice, Hot Illustrations for Youth Talks, pg 206-207)

Let’s Pray:

Lord Jesus, you took the curse that was rightly mine and you died for me and everyone in this room, a real, human death. But you didn’t stay dead. The victory of the Resurrection belongs to you and you alone! And by faith in you, it belongs to me and anyone who trusts in you today! Help us not to fear death, but to live confident that you have promised eternal life to those who believe in you. As we endure sufferings in our lives, may we find joy knowing that you have overcome sin and death and that you are Alive today. Thank you Jesus for redeeming us from the power of sin! What joy is to know that we are free from the bondage of sin & death. Help us to rely on you and be committed to your cause. Deepen our faith and give us the courage to share the good news of the gospel with those who have yet to believe.

Bibliography & Study Resources:

Habermas, R. G. Edited by Elwell, A. Walter. Resurrection of Christ: Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, pgs. 938-941 Baker Books Publishing, 1984

Life Application Bible Study: New Living Translation 2nd Edition (Footnotes p. 1800), Tyndale House Publishers, 2004

Rice, Wayne. Hot Illustrations for Youth Talks: The Tightrope and the Wheelbarrow (pgs. 206-207), Youth Specialties, 1993

Carson, A. D. The Gospel According to John: The Pillar New Testament Commentary William B. Eerdmans Publishing, 1991

Richards, O. Lawrence. Bible Teacher’s Commentary, Victor Publishing, 2002

Hale, Thomas. The Applied New Testament Commentary. Chariot Victor Publishing, 1996

Blum, A. Edwin: The Bible Knowledge Commentary. NT Edition. Walvoord & Zuck, Chariot Victor Publishing, 1983

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corpse_uncleanness article