Better Than a Second Chance

John 20:1–10 (ESV)

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.

Title: “Better than a second chance”

Prayer

Intro: I wonder if there has eever been a time you can rememver where you wished you could have had a re-do, a re try…. be able to go back and do something over again. take another shot at that test, that job interview…. that relationship… that thing. I think we all have a memory like that. A “wish i could get another chance at that”

One could say that EASTER is about a new chance, a second chance. But thats not quite right - because Easter Sunday is about a new beginning

And as we all Pause and reflect, we get to again remember what was BIRTHED on the very first ressurection SUNDAY: Truly the dawn of a new age

A new time

A brand new covenant

A new life, to all who believe.

There is a difference between a second chance, and a new beginning: A SECOND CHANCE IS ONE THING.

Second chances are usually:

About not messing up again

Based on a promise to do better

On a hope that’s placed solely on Me and my ability to prove myself… and use there resources and gifting that i possess to do better this time around….

A NEW BEGINNING IS WHAT GOD HAS DONE AND WHAT GOD DOES.

New beginnings are inherently different

They are fresh

They have no past experience or record

They have no back drop of disappointment or a history to deal with

1 Peter 1:3 ESV

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

When i am born… naturally speaking… I am not dealing with a past i once had. My life has no past. Are you with me?

ive just been born.

I have no experience, i have no knowledge to set up, i have no idea of anything. Im just starting

This is what is the essence of our FAITH

A BRAND NEW BEGINNING

This is the crucial part of new birth, being born again. This is the beauty of ressurection sunday - That IN JESUS we dont have to worry about a past that we might have had previoulsy - the slate is wiped clean!

This is what Paul Write about isnt it?

2 Corinthians 5:17 “17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”

Jesus said “I make all things NEW” / Revelation 21:5 “5 And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.””

That’s not a second, third fourth chance

That’s a new beginning.

because its BRAND NEW

Maybe your here today because this is about a second chance. Promising God, I’ll do better

I’ll behave better

I’ll go to church to try to be a better person

I believe God is moving people today to understand that it’s not about second chances it’s about a new beginning

1.The Resurrection, is the dawn of the NEW

The First Day.

a New day

Not the OLD way

This was something entirely NEW

never been seen before. Anticipated, Yes, Expected, YES. Hoped for - YES.

But never seen with HUMAN EYES

Back to our TEXT:

The clothes are mentioned here & this is why. One reason is that it was there to PROVE that he was no longer there.

the clothes being discarded is synonymous with Jesus no longer needing HUMAN THINGS.Yes he came in HUMAN form, FUlly God and FULLY man - But this was now a clear signal that he was in his divine state. In the scope of heaven and eternity - the things of this world are no longer needed

It was also a reference to a resurrection greater than that of LAZARUS

John 11:11–15 ESV

11 After saying these things, he said to them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I go to awaken him.” 12 The disciples said to him, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover.” 13 Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that he meant taking rest in sleep. 14 Then Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus has died, 15 and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.”

Then when he raised him:

John 11:43–44 ESV

43 When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.” 44 The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”

When he came out, his hand and his feet were bound. His face was wrapped

(here is the thing, and the difference)

Lazaus was given a second chance. Another shot at this life. Which is a gift. Life is a gift. and He would go on to then live on with his life whcih was a second chance,…

Lazarus would need his burial clothes again…. JESUS would not.

SO his clothes were discarded in the Tomb, and the Face Cloth was folded, and seperate. (this symbolizes that His body wasnt stolen, It was different to Lazarus & a symbol that He is also coming back)

Jesus ushered in… a BRAND new beginning

Life with God is about the BRAND NEW THING

WHAT OLD THING, FROM YOUR OLD LIFE…. ARE YOU TRYING TO CONTINUE TO BRING INTO YOUR NEW LIFE? Friend according to God - He chooses to remember it no more, It no longer exists. Why do you keep bring it up? Why do you keep allowing it to HOLD YOU BACK?

. God redeems some things but when we are given a new birth, when we are BORN AGAIN. WE have no past

Psalm 103:12 ESV

12 as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.

Resurrection life

Ushering in the New covenant. It’s a brand new day.

2.The Resurrection means a new beginning for me, if i will believe

John 20:8 ESV

8 Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed;

Today & every day

But did you know that every day could be a resurrection day?

Lamentations 3:22–23 ESV

22 The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; 23 they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

But…. will you believe?