THE RESURRECTED SAVIOR

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

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John 20:1–10 ESV

Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead. Then the disciples went back to their homes.

John

John 20:1–10 ESV

Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead. Then the disciples went back to their homes.

“did not understand he must rise from the dead”

awe

wonder

A. THE REALITY OF THE RESURRECTION

1. We’re here today worshipping a God who is alive.

a. Jesus did raise from the dead.

b. Jesus is alive and well.

c. This isn’t something we are ashamed of… this isn’t something we cower away from…

2. How could rational people believe such a thing?

1 Corinthians 15:14 ESV

And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain.

a. Without the resurrection, Christianity makes no sense.

i. Either Jesus is who he said he was, or he’s a liar and we should reject it altogether.

b. Historical Bedrock (Almost 100% of scholars agree on these three facts)

i.Jesus death by crucifixion

ii. Appearances to the disciples

iii. Appearances to Paul

c. Hallucinations: widely accepted naturalistic explanation

i. You cannot share in a hallucination (doesn’t explain the group appearances)

ii. Doesn’t explain Paul (Paul hated Jesus prior to Jesus appearing to him)

d. Literal Resurrection: orthodox Christian belief

i. Combatting “frequency probability” - what happens most frequently will best determine what will happen in the future

ii. External Agent: What if God exists and wanted to raise Jesus from the dead?

iii. Historians and theologians should be able to present plausible explanations for things just like scientists do with things they’ve never witnessed (black holes, quarks, strings, etc).

e. Resurrection is the most probable explanation for what happened

i. Martyrs - “Liars make terrible martyrs”

ii. Paul

iii. Church growth

iv. Jesus family believing he was God

v. Early letters, especially written by Paul (i.e. Galatians, First Corinthians)

3. We have great historical evidence to propose a literal resurrection. This means belief in Jesus isn’t just a nice thing to make life more palatable. It means there is hope beyond our present sufferings and longings.

a.

a. Remember, we’re not saying that it’s normal for people to rise form the dead.

b. We’re saying that Jesus is unique, he’s the Son of God. God had a purpose in raising him from the dead. Jesus is the outlier, Jesus is the exception, Jesus is our hope…

B. THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE RESURRECTION

John 20:9 ESV

for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead.

1. The disciples, Jesus’ friends, they didn’t get it still. Jesus had to die — to atone for our sin (we examined that on Friday).

a. Atonement: Definition

Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Bible Doctrine Atonement

atonement: The work Christ did in his life and death to earn our salvation.

b. But he also had to rise from the dead. Lots of religious leaders have died, right? Muhammed: dead… Buddha: dead… Krishna & Vishnu: demons… Joseph Smith: dead… Jesus resurrected, Jesus is alive, and in that he conquers our sin. He doesn’t just take our sins and then die, he conquers them so that we might have relationship with the God who created all things!

2. Jesus crucifixion and resurrection are genuine truths — but they are in service of communion.

a. Meaning what?

b. Meaning: Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection are a means to an end… Q — What is that end? A — That we might have communion with God, that we might have relationship with God.

i. What makes Christianity distinct from other religions? What makes Christianity distinct from Roman Catholicism? We believe that in the person and work of Jesus, we now have relational access to God… Meaning: God wants to be in a personal relationship with you — because God loves you!

ii. My counselor writes in his book THE RELATIONAL SOUL,

“Loneliness is proof of our relational design. At the core of our being is this truth — we are designed for and defined by our relationships… If we are to love and be loved well, we will have to come to terms with both our relational design and the state of alienation we find ourselves in.”

iii. We are made for relationship with God… We could never achieve that on our own, because of our sinfulness — so guess what? Jesus did it for us. When we put our faith in him, when we believe he is who he said he was, when orient our lives in him — He makes us whole again.

3. Christians worship a Glorious God!

a. Christians worship a God of grace — goodness towards those who only deserve punishment… We got our house broken into a few weeks ago, it sucks to have that happen, not fun… you violated. I was mad at the person/s that did it. I want justice. That’s a normal feeling.

b. Grace means this — essentially our sin makes us guilty and God is right to want justice done. We’ve wronged God, we’ve gone against the way in which he intended for things to be. But what did God do? He paid our debt.

i. God took our penalty on himself.

ii. Who are you mad at? Who has wronged you? Who are you having trouble forgiving because they’ve hurt you in some way? — You want justice, you want them to hurt, you want them to suffer — That’s what we deserve in our sin and look what Jesus did for us!!! Jesus pursued us when we were unloveable, when we were enemies, when we were dead.

iii. Friends, it’s good news! I would hope that you’d want to know this God.

loving patience, carrying for a weeping woman

personal pursuit of Mary

at the very least, he needs to be honored

John 20:11–16 ESV

But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher).

lucy weeping over aslan, now we’re going to go conquer

John 20:11–18 ESV

But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’ ” Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”—and that he had said these things to her.

John 20:11–16 ESV

But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher).

John

A. THE PATIENT PURSUIT OF A WEEPING WOMAN

1. We need be reminded that Jesus lived in a time when woman were less than, less important than men.

a. Here, we see another example of why the Bible is so unique and why it isn’t written like a legend or a myth.

b. Because here, right in the midst of the resurrection narrative, Jesus is patiently pursuing Mary.

c. What a beautiful picture… And this is what we often see from Jesus — you’d expect a God, a king, a prophet to fraternizing amongst the most successful and powerful of people — but here he is with Mary.

2. And he doesn’t approach Mary in a boisterous way, in a loud way, in a over-the-top way — he asks, “why are you weeping?”

a. Jesus pursues her personally and relationally.

b. Jesus displays care and concern.

John 20:17–18 ESV

Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’ ” Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”—and that he had said these things to her.

B. THE RESURRECTION ASTONISHES MARY

John 20:17–18 ESV

Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’ ” Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”—and that he had said these things to her.

This is a very hard part of the text to understand.

1. This is a very hard part of the text to understand.

2. Don Carson writes:

The Pillar New Testament Commentary: The Gospel according to John 2. Jesus Appears to Mary (20:10–18)

I am not yet in the ascended state (taking the perfect anabebēka with Porter), so you do not have to hang on to me as if I were about to disappear permanently. This is a time for joy and sharing the good news, not for clutching me as if I were some jealously guarded private dream-come-true. Stop clinging to me, but (de) go and tell my disciples that I am in process of ascending (anabainō) to my Father and your Father.’

3. Carson explains that Jesus is telling Mary: “This isn’t a dream, this isn’t a vision — I am here, I am alive, I am resurrected. Now isn’t the time to mourn. Now is the time to rejoice! Now is the time to share the gospel!”

4.

D. A. Carson, The Gospel according to John, The Pillar New Testament Commentary (Leicester, England; Grand Rapids, MI: Inter-Varsity Press; W.B. Eerdmans, 1991), 644.

John 20:19–25 ESV

On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.” Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “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.”

Jesus pursues him in his doubt

Jesus isn’t offended by his doubt, doesn’t disregard him even though he has doubt

John 20:19–25 ESV

On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.” Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “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.”

John 20:19-2

John 20:19–20 ESV

On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.

A. JESUS ENGAGES OUR DOUBT

1. Jesus goes to the disciples, he shows them his hands and his side…

2. Jesus then explains the purpose of all this: “I am sending you, as the father sent me!”

a. The Christian Mission begins

b. The church is about to begin

c. I have made a way for you to be in relationship with God — go and tell others!

3. THOMAS

a. Thomas has doubts

b. These aren’t simple-minded people… Often, we look back and think these people were simple-minded, gullible, and easy to deceive. Here, right in the resurrection narrative you’ve got this guy Thomas, “I don’t believe...”

c. He basically says, “prove it...”

John 20:26–29 ESV

Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

John 20:26-

John 20:26–29 ESV

Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

d. The beautiful thing is: Jesus isn’t put off by Thomas’s doubt. Jesus doesn’t get angry at Thomas. Jesus pursues him in his doubt!

i. Jesus isn’t offended by his doubt, doesn’t disregard him even though he has doubts.

ii. Jesus IS THE SON OF GOD WHETHER THOMAS BELIEVES OR NOT! Jesus is the Son of God whether you believe or not. But God is gracious and patient in our struggle, which should be a great encouragement to us.

iii. Don’t ignore your doubt. Don’t brush off your doubt. Don’t hide your doubt. Bring it to God, bring it to Jesus — he can handle it. He can work with you, even in your doubts.

Jesus isn’t offended by his doubt, doesn’t disregard him even though he has doubt

John 21:4–9 ESV

Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” They answered him, “No.” He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish. That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea. The other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards off. When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire in place, with fish laid out on it, and bread.

believer, needed forgiven because of sin, had betrayed Jesus

Jesus is the pursuer

John 21:4–9 ESV

Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” They answered him, “No.” He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish. That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea. The other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards off. When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire in place, with fish laid out on it, and bread.

John 21:4-

John 21:15–19 ESV

When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.”

John 21:15–19 ESV

When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.”

A. PETER DENIED JESUS TO HIS FACE

1. Here is Jesus again, engaging these men — even though they have consistently messed up, misunderstood, and even in the case of Peter… betrayed Jesus.

a. Here we see Jesus pursuing them, so relationally, so personally… He meets them while they’re fishing and helps them with their catch!

b. So much of what we do as Christians, we over-spiritualize… Here we see Jesus engaging these men in their work… They were fishermen, Jesus is meeting them where they are — it’s a fairly normal convo

John 21:6 ESV

He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish.

c. If Jesus cares about these men so much, that he’s helping them catch fish, why do we have such a hard time thinking that God cares about the small details of our life! God is a relational God! God wants to be in relationship with you.

2. And look — Peter denies Jesus — and Jesus is the one who is pursuing Peter, not the other way around.

a. Often, when others betray us, we write them off… they are dead to us, we move on because we’re hurt… LOOK AT JESUS HERE!

b. Jesus pursues Peter… “Simon, Son of John, do you love me?” — Three questions correlating with Peter’s three denials. And what does Jesus ask of Peter?

c. The same things he says earlier

John 20:21 ESV

Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.”

John 21:17 ESV

He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.

d. The sheep being likened to God’s children — Jesus tells Peter, “tell people about the good news you have received… Essentially he’s telling Peter, I’VE SHOWN YOU THE WAY FORWARD!” GO AND DO LIKEWISE!

e. GO AND DO LIKEWISE!

Jesus is the pursuer

B. THE RESURRECTION CHANGES EVERYTHING

1. If the resurrection happened, it changes everything...

a. “you run from him or run to him...”

“you run from him or run to him...”

b. If Jesus raised from the dead, then he can ask anything of us — HE IS GOD!

If the resurrection happened, it changes everything...

c. And friends, Jesus did raise from the dead — and the way to true life is HIS way.

John 21:25 ESV

Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.

John

d. We worship a glorious God. We worship a patient and compassionate God. We worship a God who engages with and is gracious with doubters… We worship a God who pursues sinners and strugglers like you and I.

John 14:6 ESV

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Weeping Mary

Doubting Thomas

Betraying disciples

COMMUNION

L: In the night in which he was betrayed, Our lord Jesus took bread,He gave thanks; broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying: Take and eat; this is my body, given for you.Do this for the remembrance of me.

L: Again, after supper,He took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it for all to drink, saying; this cup is The new covenant in my blood, shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin.Do this for the remembrance of me. Silent Reflection – to prepare our hearts toCome to the Lords table

L: Jesus' death brings us life and this meal reminds us that we are fed by Jesus and forgiven because of Jesus.

C: We rejoice that You have died, have risen, and are now with the Father advocating for us. Amen.

L: With our money, time, and talent we give generously, knowing that through Your Son, Jesus, You have generously given to us.

C: We rejoice that You have given everything and we joyfully give everything back to Your care. Amen.

L: If you believe Jesus died to forgive you your sins you are welcome to come,

L: Come for all is ready

BENEDICTION

May you go forth with joy because Jesus our Savior lives!

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NOTES:

Mary - weeping, hopeless, Jesus is dead

Thomas - doubted, skeptic

Peter - believer, needed forgiven because of sin, had betrayed Jesus

awe of resurrection, to pathetic people

He has defeated death, risen from the grave and will one day soon return to gather his church to himself!

JOE

the resurrection happened

implications

because of the resurrection...

— evidences, heavily on woman (patriarchal society),

BRAD

glorious God ()

“did not understand he must rise from the dead”

awe

wonder

weeping woman (mary) ()

loving patience, carrying for a weeping woman

personal pursuit of Mary

at the very least, he needs to be honored

lucy weeping over aslan, now we’re going to go conquer

doubting disciple (thomas) ()

Jesus pursues him in his doubt

Jesus isn’t offended by his doubt, doesn’t disregard him even though he has doubt

falling fisherman ()

believer, needed forgiven because of sin, had betrayed Jesus

Jesus is the pursuer

“you run from him or run to him...”

Go resting and rejoicing in what Jesus has done for us, and living for his glory in all that we do. Peace be with you.

If the resurrection happened, it changes everything...

THE RESURRECTED SAVIOR

I. GLORIOUS GOD (20:1-10)

II. WEEPING WOMAN (20:11-18)

III. DOUBTING DISCIPLE (20:19-20)

IV. FALLING FISHERMAN (21:1-19)

APPLICATION

1. We believe in a literal resurrection.

2. Since Jesus resurrected, he can ask anything of us. Jesus is our glorious God.

3. Jesus pursues broken people and he calls us to do the same.

COMMUNITY GROUP REFLECTION: Reflect on the resurrection: (1) Why is it significant that Jesus rose from the dead? (2) How can we better heed Jesus’ call in ? (3) Do you relate to Weeping Mary, Doubting Thomas, or Peter?