Lord, we celebrate life after death.

Warren Brosi

April 20, 2025 (Resurrection Day)

Dominant Thought: Lord, we celebrate life after death.

Objectives:

I want my listeners to understand how Jesus meets us in different situations of life.

I want my listeners to find encouragement from the Risen Jesus to meet our needs.

I want my listeners to respond to the commands the Risen Jesus gives.

Lectionary readings for Easter Sunday: Acts 10.34-43; Isaiah 65.17-25; 1 Corinthians 15.19-26

A friend shared with me the following.

Jesus Son Of God Obituary

Jesus Christ, 33, of Nazareth, died Friday on Mount Calvary, also known as Golgotha, the place of the skull.  Betrayed by the apostle Judas, Jesus was crucified by the Romans by order of the ruler Pontius Pilate.  The causes of death were crucifixion, extreme exhaustion, severe torture, and loss of blood.

Jesus Christ, a descendant of Abraham, was a member of the house of David.  He was the son of the late Joseph, a carpenter of Nazareth, and Mary, His devoted Mother.  Jesus was born in a stable in the city of Bethlehem, Judea.  He is survived by his mother Mary, His faithful apostles, numerous disciples, and many other followers.

Jesus was self-educated and spent most of His adult life working as a teacher.  Jesus also occasionally worked as a Medical Doctor and it is reported that He healed many patients.  Up until the time of His death, Jesus was teaching and sharing the Good News, healing the sick, touching the lonely, feeding the hungry, and helping the poor.

Jesus was most noted for telling parables about His Father’s Kingdom and performing miracles, such as feeding over 5,000 people with only five loaves of bread and two fish, and healing a man who was born blind.  On the day before His death, He held a Last Supper celebrating the Passover Feast, at which He foretold His death.

The body was quickly buried in a stone grave, which was donated by Joseph of Arimathea, a loyal friend of the family.  By order of Pontius Pilate, a boulder was rolled in front of the tomb.  Roman soldiers were put on guard.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that everyone try to live as Jesus did.  Donations may be sent to anyone in need.

That’s how it would have read if it was printed on that Friday night or Saturday morning.

Today, we pick up the story in John 20.1-10.

In our time together, we will look at how the Risen Jesus meets people in three different situations.

First, The Risen Jesus meets us in our sadness (John 20.11-18). We meet Mary Magdalene outside the tomb of Jesus “crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb” (John 20.11). The two angels greet Mary with a question, “Why are you crying?” (John 20.12). She responds, “They have taken my Lord away and I don’t know where they have put Him” (John 20.13).

Then, she turns around and sees Jesus but she does not recognize Him. He greets her with the same question as the angels, “Woman, why are you crying?” (John 20.15). She thought Jesus was the gardener. Earlier, John reminded us the place where Jesus was crucified was a garden, and in the garden was a new tomb (John 19.41). So, if you have a garden, the reason stands that you may find a gardener there. John may want his readers to think back to another garden because he begins his gospel, “In the beginning...” (John 1.1). In the beginning God placed the man and the woman, Adam and Eve, in the garden. And now here in the first day of the week, we find a woman in a garden with the Risen Jesus.

Mary thought Jesus was the gardener and asks Him what appears to be a strange request, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him and I will get him” (John 20.15). Most people I know don’t make it a habit to move dead bodies. It’s generally not a good idea on lots of levels.

As we observe from this initial scene, Jesus meets Mary in her sadness. The Risen Jesus meets people in their sadness and grief. He meets them in the tears. Years ago, David wrote down a Psalm describing how God saw his tears.

Psalm 56:8 ESV

You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book?

The Risen Jesus meets people in their sadness, grief, and tears. We need the message of Easter when we meet with the funeral director to talk about burying our loved one. We need the message of Easter, when the doctor says the report is cancer. Or we hear the words divorce, downsizing, or drugs. We need the Risen Christ when life does not go as planned.

The risen Jesus meets Mary and then calls her by name. In John 20.16, “Jesus said to her, ‘Mary.’” Something about how she said her name triggered her memory. She called out and called Jesus, “Teacher” or “Rabboni.”

Jesus knows us by name, too. Mary wants to hold on to Jesus and savor this moment, but Jesus tells her not to hold on to Him because He has not yet ascended to the Father (John 20.17).

Instead, Jesus commands her to go and tell the brothers, “I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God” (John 20.17). Mary Magdalene becomes one of the first preachers of the Christian gospel. She went to the disciples with the news, “I have seen the Lord!” The English Standard Version says Mary “announced to the disciples.” It is the same root for our word, “angel.” This word for announce is used later in the New Testament to describe proclaiming the good news of Jesus.

The Risen Jesus meets us in our sadness. He then comforts and commissions us with His message of life and reign. In other words, tell them I’m alive and ascending as King.

Second, The Risen Jesus meets us in our fears (John 20.19-23). Later that evening of the first day of the week, the disciples were together. They were afraid of the Jewish leaders so they locked the doors. It makes sense. They just killed your leader, mentor, rabbi. You are his followers. They may want to kill you. In fact, Jesus warned them a couple nights ago which now seemed like an eternity. He said in John 15.20, “If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also.” So, if they killed Jesus, then they may want to kill His disciples, also. They are huddled in a room with the doors locked.

Jesus mysteriously appears. Something special about the resurrected body of Jesus is that he could come through wall. He could appear and disappear, but as we will see in the next scene he is flesh and blood. He has a physical body and not a ghost.

Then, Jesus comes and stood among them and greeted them, “Peace be with you” (John 20.19). Jesus may have given them a general greeting. But again, back in that upper room, He told them He gives them peace.

John 14:27 NIV

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

And when he concluded his teaching to them in the upper room that Thursday night.

John 16:33 NIV

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

The Risen Christ meets people in fear and gives them His peace. In fact, two times in this scene Jesus says, “Peace be with you” (John 20.19, 21). If it is repeated it is important.

The good news of Jesus is a good news of peace. “Peace cannot remain where it is not welcomed” (Dictionary of Biblical Imagery, “peace.”)

Jesus meets them in their fears. For them it was the fear of being arrested, persecuted, and killed for their faith. They are hiding.

Let’s be honest. Many of us have fears. At this time, we may not have to fear physical persecution, but many fear social pressures to compromise our faith. It is easier to stay home where it is safe instead of risking our reputation for the cause of Christ.

The Risen Christ meets us in our fears. He gives us peace in the midst of our fears. In our text it was a double helping of peace. Then Jesus says, “As the Father has sent me, I am sending you” (John 20.21).

Jesus breathes on them the Holy Spirit. Maybe this scene is preview what will happen in a few weeks when the Holy Spirit comes.

The Holy Spirit is a gift that lives in all followers of Jesus. Listen to how Paul describes the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer of Jesus. He says in Romans 8:11 “If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.”

Then, He gives the disciples a commission. For Mary, Jesus said, “Tell my disciples, I’m ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.” Tell them, “I’m going up to be crowned king.” In this scene, Jesus commissions them with a message of forgiveness.

John 20:23 NIV

If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”

The disciples are called to give a message of forgiveness. Christ has forgiven our sins. He calls us to live and forgiven others’ their sins. For many, that my be a scary thought. For others, that may be a freeing thought.

Third, The Risen Jesus meets us in our unbelief (John 20.24-29). Thomas, the twin, who was a disciple of Jesus did not see Jesus that first time. The disciples told Thomas, “We have seen the Lord” (John 20.25). Thomas, who may have been from Missouri. He said in John 20:25, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.”

We give Thomas a hard time, but remember earlier in John’s gospel. Jesus is called to Bethany and the home of Lazarus who is sick. The disciples warn Jesus saying, “a short while ago the Jews there tried to stone you, and yet you are going back?” (John 11.8). Shortly after that, Thomas says, “Let us also go, that we may die with Him” (John 11.16).

Eight days later, again the doors are locked. They must still be afraid. Jesus appeared and stood among them and said a third time, “Peace be with you” (John 20.26).

Then Jesus said to Thomas, in John 20:27, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” (Show picture, “The Incredulity of St. Thomas” by Caravaggio)

We don’t know if Thomas places his finger into the hands of Jesus. I like how the painting, “The Incredulity of St. Thomas” by Caravaggio shows Jesus guiding Thomas’ hand into his side. In this painting, Jesus invites Thomas’ questions and want him to explore the evidence.

Did Thomas thrust his hand into the side of Jesus? We don’t know. We do know how he responded, “My Lord and my God” (John 20.28). Or, “My King and my God.”

Then, Jesus asks a question as the English Standard Version translates it, “Have you believed because you have seen me?” Then, Jesus says, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” (John 20.29).

Jesus meets people like Thomas who have boasted allegiance to Jesus, but still have questions. Those who are skeptical. Jesus meets skeptics with proof, evidence. He shows them His nail marks and the spear thrust. He offers His body for investigation.

Friends, there were people who saw the risen Jesus and had questions, doubts, and didn’t believe. It’s okay to have questions, 2000 plus years later. However, let the risen Jesus and the testimony of faithful Christ followers lead you to the truth.

Jesus tells Thomas and all who will follow after him that there’s a blessing for those who believe in Jesus who trust the testimony of others.

Three scenes: weeping, fear, and unbelief. Jesus meets people in their hurts, anxiety, and questions. He offers what is needed, and then invites them on a deeper journey. How will you respond to the Risen Jesus today? In invite you to pray with us, “Lord, we celebrate life after death.”

This week, one of the teachers at Ozark Christian College, Andy Nichols, shared the story of Blandina. Andy served as the preaching minister at a church north of here in Greenview. Blandina was teenage follower of Christ in Lyons, France in the second century (died in 177 A.D.). During that time a persecution against Christians erupted and Blandina and others were asked to recant their faith in Jesus or be tortured and killed.

Here’s how her story is recounted (Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History 5.1.19ff).

Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers 2.1: Eusebius: Church History, Life of Constantine the Great, and Oration in Praise of Constantine Chapter I

Blandina, through whom Christ showed that things which appear mean and obscure and despicable to men are with God of great glory, through love toward him manifested in power, and not boasting in appearance.

18 For while we all trembled, and her earthly mistress, who was herself also one of the witnesses, feared that on account of the weakness of her body, she would be unable to make bold confession, Blandina was filled with such power as to be delivered and raised above those who were torturing her by turns from morning till evening in every manner, so that they acknowledged that they were conquered, and could do nothing more to her. And they were astonished at her endurance, as her entire body was mangled and broken; and they testified that one of these forms of torture was sufficient to destroy life, not to speak of so many and so great sufferings.

19 But the blessed woman, like a noble athlete, renewed her strength in her confession; and her comfort and recreation and relief from the pain of her sufferings was in exclaiming, ‘I am a Christian, and there is nothing vile done by us.’

Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers 2.1: Eusebius: Church History, Life of Constantine the Great, and Oration in Praise of Constantine Chapter I

“But Blandina was suspended on a stake, and exposed to be devoured by the wild beasts who should attack her. And because she appeared as if hanging on a cross, and because of her earnest prayers, she inspired the combatants with great zeal. For they looked on her in her conflict, and beheld with their outward eyes, in the form of their sister, him who was crucified for them, that he might persuade those who believe on him, that every one who suffers for the glory of Christ has fellowship always with the living God.

Blandina eventually was killed for following Jesus.

The account concludes as follows.

Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers 2.1: Eusebius: Church History, Life of Constantine the Great, and Oration in Praise of Constantine Chapter I

“The bodies of the martyrs, having thus in every manner been exhibited and exposed for six days, were afterward burned and reduced to ashes, and swept into the Rhone by the wicked men, so that no trace of them might appear on the earth.

63 And this they did, as if able to conquer God, and prevent their new birth; ‘that,’ as they said, ‘they may have no hope of a resurrection, through trust in which they bring to us this foreign and new religion, and despise terrible things, and are ready even to go to death with joy. Now

The Romans and others since have put that question to the test. Let’s see if they will rise again and if their God is able to help them...” Blandina’s story inspires others that we serve a living God, one who conquers death. We have a Risen Savior who meets us in sadness, fear, and unbelief. One in whom we can pray, “Lord, we celebrate life after death.”