The Resurrection

The Resurrection

John 20:1-18

I. Introduction

A. The Resurrection Makes Christianity the Most Irritating Religion on Earth

II. Peter’s Hope (1-7)

A. Explanation

1. Mary came to the tomb on the first day of the week.  The other gospels tell us that she was with other women at the tomb with the intention of anointing His body with spices, part of the burial process and a way to honor Him one last time.  When she arrives, the tomb is unsealed and empty

2. She runs to tell the disciples.  John is quick to say that He beat Peter to the tomb. 

3. Peter immediately enters the tomb while John stays outside looking in

4. Peter sees the linen cloths lying there with the face cloth folded and placed in another place

a. If the body was robbed, why would the robbers take time to take off the cloths?

b. They certainly would not have taken the time to fold the face cloth!

c. This had to get Peter thinking – He had heard Jesus make the claim of resurrection several times

5. In this moment Peter would have gone from fearful hopelessness to ultimate hope

a. Peter had felt sorrow and without hope after the crucifixion – If he did not yet understand the resurrection there would be the hopelessness of believing that Jesus could not fulfill all the things He suggested as the Messiah

b. Yet, seeing the cloths gives Him a real hope that Jesus is alive, and He is the King, much more so than he could have ever imagined before

B. Illustration - Christopher Hitchens Considers Christ's Resurrection

C. Application

1. The Resurrection should fill us with hope

a. If Jesus is alive still, He is still doing something about our eternal life

b. If Jesus is alive, He has defeated death for us

c. If Jesus is alive after claiming death and resurrection, then He is to be trusted with everything!

III. John’s Faith (8-10)

A. Explanation

1. Then John entered the tomb to see - He must have been filled with fear, also, since he did not quickly enter

2. When he entered it says he saw and believed

a. It is more than just believing that something has happened

b. It is more a deep faith in Jesus because he has seen the evidence of the resurrection

3. John further explains – For as yet they did not understand the scripture, that He must rise from the dead

a. Psalm 16:10

b. Isaiah 53:7-12

4. In that moment John saw and He believed that Jesus was alive – This changed everything

B. Application

1. Faith changes everything!

a. Not a simple belief, but a true faith based on the evidence and a willingness to trust and follow Him

2. If Jesus truly bore our sin on the cross and arose from the grave there is reason to completely trust Him – He has given us the hope of real and eternal life with Him

3. Our salvation begins with faith – trusting that Jesus died on the cross fro you and rose from the grave to give you eternal life

IV. Mary’s Love (11-18)

A. Explanation

1. Mary sat outside the tomb and wept – For the death of Jesus and the trauma of believing His body was stolen

2. She stoops to look into the tomb and sees two angels in white where Jesus was lain asking “Woman why are you weeping?”

a. This would have been an odd scene – They were dressed in all white?

b. Who were they and where did they come from

c. Yet she answers them so naturally – They have taken away my Lord and I do not know where they have laid Him

3. Then she turns and sees Jesus, but doesn’t realize who He is –

4. After their interchange He calls her name – “Mary!”

5. She turns and calls to Him – Rabboni – My Master

6. Jesus must tell her not to cling to him - This would have been her natural inclination – to grab him and not let go from gratitude and love

7. Then he commissions her to go and tell which she quickly does

a. She is obedient to Him as a sign of her love

b. John 14:15 – If you love me you will keep my commands

8. This scene is that of a woman who deeply loves Jesus and her emotion comes from the thrill of knowing that He is still alive

a. He accepted her as a sinner

b. He saved and redeemed her

c. He loved her and kept her in the company of the disciples

d. He arises from the dead and He reveals Himself to her first

B. Application

1. We should have the same love for Jesus – He has done all the same for us

2. He is alive and still working in our lives

3. His life allows us to have a real and personal relationship with Him as we place our hope and faith in Him

V. Conclusion

A. 1 Corinthians 13:13: So now, Faith Hope and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love

B. He addresses these three gifts of the Spirit – Each seen as a result of the resurrection

1. The love of Mary – clinging o the one who saved her

2. More importantly the love of the Savior – He died for us, he conquered death, he came to His people

C. So what does the resurrection mean to you?

Ps 16:10

For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption.

Is 53:7–12

7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth. 8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people? 9 And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth. 10 Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. 11 Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities. 12 Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors.

The Resurrection Makes Christianity the Most Irritating Religion on Earth

Timothy Keller in his sermon: “Jesus Vindicated: The Resurrection Makes the Future Certain, Personal, and Unimaginable”:

We should be more sympathetic to our skeptical friends. The resurrection makes Christianity the most irritating religion on the face of the earth, and the reason is because how do people decide what they believe? They decide what they believe by reading it and saying I like it or I don't like it. Over the years I've had so many people say, "Well, I could never be a Christian." I say, "Why?" "Well, there are parts of the Bible I find offensive." I remember years ago it had to do with money. In my little church in Virginia, people were often offended by what the Bible said about money. Today in New York they are much more offended by what the Bible says about sex.

I usually say, "Let me ask you a question: Are you saying because there are parts of the Bible that you don't like, that Jesus Christ couldn't have been raised from the dead?" They say, "Well, no, I guess I'm not saying that." I said, "Well, every part of the Bible is important, but would you please put the ethical teaching aside for a minute, and here's the point: If Jesus was raised from the dead, you're going to have to deal with everything in the Bible. If Jesus wasn't raised from the dead, I don't know why you're vexing yourself over that. But the fact of the matter is Paul was more offended by Christianity than you. He was killing Christians, and we don't advise that. But when he realized Jesus had been raised, it didn't matter what offended him anymore. It didn't matter, because it was true." And we have to keep that in mind. The resurrection is a paradigm-shattering historical event.

Source: Timothy Keller in his sermon: “Jesus Vindicated: The Resurrection Makes the Future Certain, Personal, and Unimaginable,” PreachingToday.com (March, 2014)

Christopher Hitchens Considers Christ's Resurrection

The publicist for the late author and debater Christopher Hitchens asked Christian author Larry Taunton to arrange a series of debates between Hitchens, an outspoken atheist, and Christian thinkers. Over the ensuing years, Hitchens and Taunton developed an unlikely friendship. Hitchens stayed in Taunton's home, and prior to Hitchens' death from cancer, the two friends took two long road trips across America. Here's how Taunton describes what happened on one of those trips:

My mind goes back to the Shenandoah. The skies are clear, the autumn leaves are translucent in the early afternoon sun, and the road ahead of us is open … In a strong, clear voice, Christopher is reading from the eleventh chapter of the Gospel of John. Reaching the twenty-fifth and twenty-sixth verses, his face lights up with recognition.

He stops. "I know this one too," he says. "I did not recall its connection with the resurrection of Lazarus."

"It's a great verse," I add, sensing we have reached a defining moment. "Yes, Dickens thought so," Christopher says, and then, taking his reading glasses off, he turns to me and asks: "Do you believest thou this, Larry Taunton?" His sarcasm is evident, but it lacks its customary force.

"I do. But you already knew that I did. The question is, do you believest thou this, Christopher Hitchens?" As if searching for a clever riposte, he hesitates and speaks with unexpected transparency: "I'll admit that it is not without appeal to a dying man."

Source: Larry Alex Taunton, The Faith of Christopher Hitchens: The Restless Soul of the World's Most Notorious Atheist (Nelson Books 2016), pages 168-169