2025.04.20 CALLED: to Celebrate

John 20:1–18 NLT

1 Early on Sunday morning, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. 2 She ran and found Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved. She said, “They have taken the Lord’s body out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!” 3 Peter and the other disciple started out for the tomb. 4 They were both running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 He stooped and looked in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he didn’t go in. 6 Then Simon Peter arrived and went inside. He also noticed the linen wrappings lying there, 7 while the cloth that had covered Jesus’ head was folded up and lying apart from the other wrappings. 8 Then the disciple who had reached the tomb first also went in, and he saw and believed— 9 for until then they still hadn’t understood the Scriptures that said Jesus must rise from the dead. 10 Then they went home. 11 Mary was standing outside the tomb crying, and as she wept, she stooped and looked in. 12 She saw two white-robed angels, one sitting at the head and the other at the foot of the place where the body of Jesus had been lying. 13 “Dear woman, why are you crying?” the angels asked her. “Because they have taken away my Lord,” she replied, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” 14 She turned to leave and saw someone standing there. It was Jesus, but she didn’t recognize him. 15 “Dear woman, why are you crying?” Jesus asked her. “Who are you looking for?” She thought he was the gardener. “Sir,” she said, “if you have taken him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will go and get him.” 16 “Mary!” Jesus said. She turned to him and cried out, “Rabboni!” (which is Hebrew for “Teacher”). 17 “Don’t cling to me,” Jesus said, “for I haven’t yet ascended to the Father. But go find my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’ ” 18 Mary Magdalene found the disciples and told them, “I have seen the Lord!” Then she gave them his message.

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CALLED: to Celebrate

Imagine the sorrow of that morning…

Jesus was crucified on Passover, so the women couldn’t anoint the body and prepare it for burial the way it was supposed to be prepared. In Jewish culture, 3 days is important regarding death. Jews believed that the soul “lingered” around the body for 3 days (Job 14:22). So if resurrection was possible, it had to happen prior to the third day.

Remember Lazarus’ death in John 11? When Jesus asked to have the stone removed, Martha warned him “he has been dead for four days.” Part of that was for fear of the smell, but it also seemed hopeless to her … because Lazarus had been dead longer than 3 days.

April 19, 2011, we buried my mother. Five days later, I preached an Easter sermon, and drove to my dad’s house to celebrate Easter. As my brothers and I gathered with Dad, of course we were reminded of our loss, and grief was heavy in the room. But gathered around Dad’s table, we also told stories. We enjoyed each other’s company. We even laughed together.

When the women went to the grave that day to prepare Jesus’ body, they expected a smell. They expected to be reminded of their loss and continue their grief.

John’s version is greatly abbreviated, but the women are confronted by an unbelievable scene. They anticipated asking for help rolling the stone, but the stone was already rolled away. They expected to anoint a body, but the body wasn’t there. They expected to encounter guards, but instead they encountered angels. They expected to mourn their loss of Jesus, but instead they encountered Jesus … ALIVE!

My Superintendent told me I should have let him preach for me that Easter Sunday. I told him I couldn’t. My mother, who had lived her life in the hope of resurrection, was celebrating her first Easter FACE-TO-FACE! How could I NOT tell my people of the glory she was now seeing!

Jesus’ birth ushered in the Kingdom of God on Earth and so we celebrate! Jesus’ life taught us what it means to be God’s children and so we celebrate! His death is for the forgiveness of our sins and so we celebrate! But His resurrection is special. According to Paul, If Jesus didn’t raise from the dead, our faith is in vain! Jesus performed countless miracles in His earthly lifetime, but the whole of Christianity hangs on THIS DAY’s miracle!

Paul also wrote that all have sinned and fallen short of God’s standard.

Pope, you and me!

He continued that sin’s penalty is death … spiritual death, eternal death!

So every one of us deserves death, and will receive that penalty if nothing changes.

Hebrews says that there is no forgiveness of sins without the shedding of blood.

Paul calls Jesus’ death a propitiation for us. (to make favorably inclined … appease)

His blood cleanses those who accept it, and it’s available to ALL!

What happens to a wound when it bleeds? (purpose of blood)

Blood carries nutrients throughout the body (oxygen, antibodies [immunity], energy)

A cut bleeds – body’s method of cleansing!

Blood carries platelets, which cause clotting, and permit healing

If Jesus’ blood clots, it means His blood is not available for us who come after His time.

The Resurrection, though, makes Jesus’ blood still fresh, still potent, and still available

Jesus died once ... for all sin. His blood is made available in the Resurrection. He conquered death and the grave, and He makes that victory available to all of us.

We are called to CELEBRATE, but if you have not accepted His sacrifice for yourself, you don’t yet have reason to celebrate.

Jesus’ ministry begins with a personal encounter with Satan. His earthly ministry concludes with a devastating blow to Satan’s hold on humanity.

Are you celebrating today, or are you still asking why you’re here this morning? Are you a believer who has been knocked down? Won’t you accept His sacrifice for you this morning and celebrate with us?

Christ is risen…He is risen indeed!

And we are CALLED: to Celebrate!