John 20: 1-23 What does the resurrection mean? (a lot of running?) Looking for Peace? Why do you weep? They start to Believe?

John 20: 1-23 What does the resurrection mean? (a lot of running?) Looking for Peace? Why do you weep? They start to Believe?  

Last week I pointed us to believe and celebrate that Jesus said it is finished, that Jesus had lived his life according to what God told him and when he had done that and fulfilled all the things about his life in the Old Testament, he said it is finished and bowed and gave up his spirit, - Jesus laid down his life for his sheep Jesus is the true good shepherd. Died for sin, taking the wrath of God on him, paying the price for sin.

But the mood of Jesus’ followers at that time was different, Jesus was dead, like very dead, - and there is nothing in the Bible that indicates that any of his followers were running to the grave Sunday morning to greet Jesus as he would take up his life again and walk out of the grave. No instead, they are afraid, they are mourning. But then John starts believing, what makes him start to believe? And this question will be asked 2 times Why are you weeping?

Let’s us read.

As I said in the beginning there is no indication that Mary Magdalene is expecting to find Jesus alive, - she finds the stone rolled away (John assumes that the reader knows there is a stone before the grave because he did not write about the stone before). Her response in verse 2 is to assume that someone took the body of Jesus not that he had risen.

She Runs to Peter – and John, they run to the tomb, John is faster – and looks in and he saw the linen cloth lyingt here and the face cloth, folded up in a place by itsself, - after going in John and seeing then the texts say he saw and believed. What did John believe? They did not understand before this point that Jesus was to rise again as the Old Testament scripture said – And Jesus had said he would – it was hidden, but now it was starting to be revealed and John, might now start to be able to remember what Jesus had said. That he would take up his life and rise again. What should they do now? (Jesus is still gone) 10 is a funny verse, he is risen – what do we do? I guess we go back home and see what happens.

John does not share what he believes with Peter or with Mary M. (or anyone yet) Because Mary M is weeping outside the tomb, because Jesus is dead and his body is missing. She bows down and looks in the tomb, and saw angels, one at the head and one at the feet – of where Jesus was laid, - Why are you weeping? The angels ask.  (This is a day for great rejoicing). She explains again that she is weeping because someone must have stolen Jesus body her Lord, she turns around and Jesus is standing there, and he asks the same question why are you weeping? And another question we talked about a few weeks ago: Whom are you seeking? She thinks Jesus is the gardener, and asks where he might have laid Jesus body, - 16 a Key verse in Salvation also for you and everyone else. Jesus said her name Mary (his sheep knows his voice), she turns and knows who Jesus is, Rabboni the one who was her teacher, - her Lord as she had just stated, is resurrected alive! Now Great joy is expressed and worship, and as we read in the next verse, she might have taken ahold of Jesus, and clung to him, - so Jesus would not leave or disappear again.

Jesus said don’t cling/touch me, I have not yet assented to the Father, Jesus instructs Mary to go tell the brothers; that Jesus is ascending to his Father and your Father and my God and your God. This is amazing, your Father is my Father we are brothers, in the same family, and our Father is God. Adoption in to Gods family. God in the flesh, inviting his people in to Gods family. To not be left alone again, in grief and sadness and death, but to be with God and God be with them, in Jesus Christ and as we read later, have the power of the Holy Spirt, to share the good news about Jesus and offer forgiveness for all that believe, as Jesus did in his life.

Mary shares this and she is the witness that Jesus is alive, (many say it proves the truth of the account because, at this time a woman’s testimony would not count in court, so the disciples would not have made this story up, the same with the 4 woman named Mary, If made up they likely would have different  names these are some reasons that the story is true Jesus did rise from death), -  and Mary says to the brothers she has seen Jesus alive.  

Even with this testimony the disciples are still afraid of the Jews and have locked all the doors, because they still don’t know where Jesus is.

But in verse 19 they But Jesus came and stood among them and said “Peace be with you”. (Peace in Jesus is  very different than fear – Jesus and his words can encourage us in our daily life – words to rebuke us – lift us we can find Jesus’ words in the Bible and we can hear from him every day in just the way we need to live for and in Jesus). Peace be with you, what wonderful words from the risen Lord, in day and life where so many events and things are not at peace, and even in us, in our minds. I saw a (well two) programs where a standup comic, was talking about rest and peace. We can rest with no peace, sleep with no rest, the mind not able to stop, (Jesus can give true peace not just rest) - peace /the old testament shalom, peace as was in the beginning, - true peace with God and man. Jesus’s resurrection is also showing that can be true in Christ, like Joy that it comes from Jesus and is not dependent on our circumstances. Peace is not the absence of trouble in our daily life it is, peace in the life we live knowing that Jesus is resurrected – and accented on the throne, and with us, an in him we can have peace and Joy everlasting, 

20 Jesus shows his wounds, they can know it is really Jesus, - response they were glad, when they saw the Lord.

21 Jesus repeat his Peace, be with you,

Now then - Jesus sends the disciples out (restate from 17:18), as he was sent from the Father, - Jesus now sent his disciples, as he was sent from the Father. (Noet the trinity is here Father sends, Jesus sends Jesus gives the Holy Spirt, like in Jesus baptism, Father, Son, Holy Spirt, they all are part of Gods plan, working together).

As someone wrote, we are saved, redeemed set free, have peace, and joy, - and we are sent, by Jesus to do as he did; bear witness about God, about Jesus, what he did and that he is alive, and our Lord, God and savior. We are to do and say what the father tells/Jesus us to do, walk in the good works laid out for us to walk in. You might say that is a big and impossible task, and you are right, at this moment the disciples are still afraid, - but something will change.

Jesus breathed on them and said receive the Holy Spirt, - and give the ability to forgive or withhold forgiveness from people.  Bound in heaven and on earth, keys of the kingdom.  In Luke and Acts we see this explained in more detail. The work of the Holy Spirt – in salvation and redemption and restoration and forgiveness of sin. They get the ability and power to live the life God had for them, we see the change it brings later in their lives.

That is the same for us,

When Jesus calls us by name (We hear his voice), and then he sends us out he give us the Holy Spirt to impower us to indwell us, that we can know that God is with us, that we can have joy and peace in Jesus Christ when it should not be possible, that we can live as witnesses of the resurrection, - and Jesus’ life and that he is coming back. God is indeed with us. 

John starts to believe in Jesus’ teaching, recalling what he said about his death, and his resurrection. What about you?  Do you believe? That Jesus lived, died, and rose again?

As we read about Jesus’ resurrection, what is happening in you? Are you glad – full of Joy, - or sad frustrated – what is going on, what is the Holy Spirt doing?

Let us look at a few things that Jesus’ resurrection makes possible:

It shows that Jesus words are true, he did was he said he would, - lay down his life and take it up again.

It shows that Jesus has power over death, and death has no power or hold on Jesus. (us in Jesus).

It shows we don’t have to fear death in Christ,

It guarantees our resurrection with Christ, as we die in him, we rise in Christ – picture of baptizem, 

It shows new life new creation, - new heaven new earth,

Eternal life with God,

The resurrection should bring us joy, as the citation from Spurgen. – knowing we are sent to be witness of Jesus resurrection, - and his good news. PPT Slide.