Take Another Look

“Three Ways to See an Empty Tomb”

Paradigm or Point of View

Ephesians 1:11–23 CSB

11 In him we have also received an inheritance, because we were predestined according to the plan of the one who works out everything in agreement with the purpose of his will, 12 so that we who had already put our hope in Christ might bring praise to his glory. 13 In him you also were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and when you believed. 14 The Holy Spirit is the down payment of our inheritance, until the redemption of the possession, to the praise of his glory. 15 This is why, since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, 16 I never stop giving thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers. 17 I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, would give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him. 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened so that you may know what is the hope of his calling, what is the wealth of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the mighty working of his strength. 20 He exercised this power in Christ by raising him from the dead and seating him at his right hand in the heavens— 21 far above every ruler and authority, power and dominion, and every title given, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22 And he subjected everything under his feet and appointed him as head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of the one who fills all things in every way.

John 20:3–10 CSB

3 At that, Peter and the other disciple went out, heading for the tomb. 4 The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and got to the tomb first. 5 Stooping down, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. 6 Then, following him, Simon Peter also came. He entered the tomb and saw the linen cloths lying there. 7 The wrapping that had been on his head was not lying with the linen cloths but was folded up in a separate place by itself. 8 The other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, then also went in, saw, and believed. 9 For they did not yet understand the Scripture that he must rise from the dead. 10 Then the disciples returned to the place where they were staying.

INTRODUCTION

Good morning, church—He is risen!

Let me ask you something: Have you ever looked at something and not really seen it?

You saw it with your eyes… but you didn’t perceive it with your heart.

That’s what happens in John 20.

Two disciples run to the tomb.

They see the same tomb.

They see the same evidence.

But they don’t see it the same way.

Because the resurrection doesn’t just change what’s in the tomb—

it changes the way you see everything.

The way they saw things, the paradigm, was the result of the encounter they had…and

Encounter leads to enlightenment

They encountered the Word…

What He told them…

When He called her name

The encounter we have won’t always be the same, and my experience with Him is different than yours. He will meet us where we are now and speak to our needs, pain, misunderstanding…to enlighten us with the truth of His power that has already been provided for us. Feeling-based encounter will lead you the wrong way if not founded and anchored with the Word…feelings are fleeting and fickle, but truth, the Word doesn’t change. In difficult times, it changes us to be what He called us to be.

RUN TO THE RIGHT PLACE

Mary comes with the report: “The stone is moved, the body is gone.”

So Peter and John run.

And I love this—because even when they’re confused, they run toward Jesus.

They don’t run to speculation.

They don’t run to gossip.

They run to the place where the truth is.

Church, when life confuses you—run to Jesus.

When grief hits you—run to Jesus.

When things don’t make sense—run to Jesus.

JOHN LOOKS IN (NOTICING WITHOUT ENTERING)

John gets there first.

He stoops. He looks. He sees linen cloths lying there.

But he doesn’t go in.

And that’s some people today:

They come close enough to notice…

Close enough to listen…

Close enough to feel something stirring…

But they stay at the doorway.

They see facts but haven’t stepped into faith.

TM1] In Greek, this “saw” is tied to blepō—a noticing, a basic look. [23

John sees something happened… but he’s not sure what it means.

PETER GOES IN (EXAMINING WITHOUT CONCLUDING)

Then Peter arrives—because Peter is Peter.

John looks in. Peter walks in.

Peter sees the linen cloths. He notices the face cloth set apart.

Peter is doing what many people do: He’s processing.

He’s analyzing.

He’s trying to figure out what could have happened.

TM2]Peter’s “saw” is tied to theōreō—to observe carefully, to behold attentively. [45

Peter is studying the evidence.

But listen—the text still doesn’t say Peter believed yet.

Because you can investigate the resurrection and still not surrender to it.

You can be around church and still be unchanged.

You can analyze Jesus and still not worship Jesus.

JOHN ENTERS (PERCEIVING AND BELIEVING)

Now John finally steps inside.

And the Bible says:

“He saw and believed.”

That’s the turning point.

John doesn’t just see cloth.

He doesn’t just see an empty space.

He sees meaning.

TM3]John 20:8 uses εἶδεν (eiden)—and that word is tied to the deeper “seeing” of horaō—perceiving clearly, grasping what it means. [678

So here’s the message:

Resurrection faith happens when God shifts your sight from “what happened” to “what it means.”

BELIEVING BEFORE FULL UNDERSTANDING

Then John says something important:

They didn’t fully understand the Scripture yet.

That tells me something: Sometimes you believe before you can explain.

Sometimes you trust before you can trace.

Sometimes faith comes first, and clarity comes later.

And that’s okay.

Because Easter is not the day God gave us all the answers.

It’s the day God gave us a living Savior.

So let me ask you:

Which one are you today?

Are you like John at first—looking in but not stepping in?

Are you like Peter—analyzing but not surrendering?

Or are you ready to be like John in verse 8—to see and believe?

Because the tomb is still empty.

Jesus is still alive.

And resurrection still demands a decision.

“Lord, don’t just let me notice—let me perceive.

Don’t just let me observe—let me believe.”

He is risen!

1) “Same evidence. Different sight. But the same Savior.”

2) “The resurrection doesn’t just move the stone—it moves the heart.”

3) “Faith is when God turns facts into revelation.”

Are you hesitant because of your past, or your reputation…because of your pain…

MARY AT THE TOMB — SEEING JESUS CHANGES EVERYTHING

(John 20:11–18)

After Peter and John leave, Mary stays.

She stands outside the tomb…weeping.

She has already looked into the tomb.

She has already heard angelic truth.

But she is still stuck in grief.

Because knowing about the resurrection

is not the same as encountering the risen Jesus.

(pause)

Mary turns—and she sees Jesus.

But she doesn’t recognize Him.

She thinks He’s the gardener.

Because resurrection sight often begins

through tears, confusion, and pain.

Jesus asks her two questions:

“Why are you weeping?”

“Whom are you seeking?”

And then He says one word:

“Mary.”

And everything changes.

When Jesus calls her by name,

her eyes are opened.

Her grief turns to joy.

Her confusion turns to clarity.

She came looking for a dead body,

and she encountered a living Lord.

She sees Him—and she is changed.

KEY SEEING TRUTH FROM MARY

Mary teaches us this:

You don’t truly see Jesus

until you realize He sees you.

The resurrection becomes personal

when the risen Savior calls your name.

Mary goes from:

• mourning → mission

• tears → testimony

• grief → gospel proclamation

Jesus sends her with a message:

“Go tell My brothers…”

The first preacher of the resurrection

is a woman who truly saw Him.

Peter saw evidence.

John saw meaning.

Mary saw Jesus—and everything changed.

Because resurrection faith is not just:

• an empty tomb to analyze

• or a truth to believe

It is a Person to encounter.

(pause)

EPHESIANS 1

And what Mary experienced personally at the tomb,

Paul explains theologically in Ephesians 1.

The Jesus Mary saw—

is now the Jesus who reigns.

The risen Christ who spoke her name—

is seated above every power and authority.

The resurrection isn’t just a past victory… it is a present reign.

Everything He did in the resurrection was directed toward us.

He is speaking to you this morning

He is calling you by name

He sees your pain, emptiness, and guilt, and asks, "Why are you weeping?"

Believe