The Hard Truth Of The Resurrection

He Is Risen!

Every year:

Privilege of this Sunrise service

Privilege of knowing the truth of the Resurrection

Privilege of vociferating: “He is Risen!”

How often do we reflect on the difficulty people have in believing the Gospel?

“Jesus died for your sins and rose from the dead.”

Matthew 7:13–14 The gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.

In John 20, we are exposed to The Hard Truth Of The Resurrection.

Read John 20:1-8

The Body Is Missing

Mary Magdalene goes to the tomb

Matthew 28, Mark 16 & Luke 24 several other ladies went too

Spices to anoint the body of Jesus for proper burial

The body is gone!

Mary reports to Peter and “the other disciple” (John)

Foot race to the tomb (John wins!)

John hesitates (defilement?)

Peter rushes in (who cares about defilement at this point?)

John goes in when it becomes apparent that there is no body

The grave clothes are there, but there is no body.

verse 8 - John saw and believed

What did he believe?

John believed that Jesus’ body was missing!

verse 9 indicates they did not understand that Jesus had to rise again

He told them!

Mark 8:31; 9:30-32; 10:32-34.

John 14:29 And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place you may believe.

Jesus Appears To Mary

Read John 20:11-17

Mary Magdalene loved Jesus

Luke 8 - He cast seven demons out of her

Mary is at a point of hopelessness

Weeping and desperately seeking the body of Jesus… a body presumed to be dead

Only the word of Christ could snap her out of her hopelessness

verse 15 - He forced her to face her grief

verse 16 - He got her attention off the “dead body” and onto the risen hope

Mary clings to Him

Probably a strong embrace

Jesus’ words in verse 17 reveal that His earthly form is nothing compared to His glorified position and work

They must let go of what they have known of Him in order to let Him work from the Father’s side

He offered His blood for atonement (Hebrews 9:12), He makes intercession for believers (Hebrews 7:25), He is preparing a place for us (John 14:2)

Mary is called upon as the first eyewitness to the Resurrected Christ

The Disciples Still Doubt

Read John 20:18.

Mary boldly declared that she had seen the risen Lord!

Great news

Rejoicing?

Celebrating?

Mark 16:10–11 She went and told those who had been with him, as they mourned and wept. But when they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they would not believe it.

They didn’t believe Mary’s report of seeing Jesus.

Mark 16:12–13 After these things he appeared in another form to two of them, as they were walking into the country. And they went back and told the rest, but they did not believe them.

They didn’t believe the men who reported their experience on the road to Emmaus.

The disciples heard these reports of the Resurrection from people they knew well and trusted.

They still didn’t believe

If it was so difficult for those closest to Jesus, to whom He had told what would happen, to believe; then we can expect people who know nothing of Jesus to have a hard time believing it themselves.

Lord,

Thank you that we know He is risen! Thank you that we have the message given to us in your Word, to share with the world.

Help us to be more patient and understanding of those who have a hard time believing the Gospel.

We pray for them, believing that your Spirit is able to convict them of sin and draw them to righteousness.

Bless our time together as we enjoy the meal that has been prepared for us. Guide us in our conversations and put a fire in our bones to boldly proclaim the truth.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen