Compelled By Love

Read

John 20:1–10 LSB

1 Now on the first day of the week,

Allow me to call our attention to the that Jesus was raised from the dead on the first day of the week.

And, so we, His people, celebrate His resurrection eachfirst day of the week.

During Old Testament times, and specifically under the Mosaic covenant, the Sabbath [day of rest] was the memorial of God’s finished work in the old creation.

In New Testament times, and specifically under the New Covenant, the Sabbath [day of rest] is the memorial of Christ’s finished work from which issues the new creation.

John 20:1–10 LSB

Mary Magdalene came early to the tomb, while it was still dark, and saw the stone already taken away from the tomb. 2 So she ran and came to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.” 3 So Peter and the other disciple went forth, and they were going to the tomb. 4 And the two were running together; and the other disciple ran ahead faster than Peter and came to the tomb first; 5 and stooping and looking in, he saw the linen wrappings lying there; but he did not go in. 6 And so Simon Peter also came, following him, and entered the tomb; and he saw the linen wrappings lying there, 7 and the face-cloth which had been on His head, not lying with the linen wrappings, but folded up in a place by itself. 8 So the other disciple who had first come to the tomb then also entered, and he saw and believed. 9 For as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead. 10 So the disciples went away again to where they were staying.

Opening Prayer

Jewish Mourning & Tomb Visitation

In Jewish custom, there was an initial seven days of mourning.

Family members would usually leave home only to visit the tomb.

Those mourning would usually visit the tomb within three days after the burial.

There was a second period of mourning of 30 days in which those mourning would not engage in work, social gatherings, or leave town.

This 30 day period of mourning could be extended up to a year if the deceased were parents.

In this time period, visitations to the tomb would be expected less frequently.

After a year passed there would be a scheduled tomb visitation in which the bones of the deceased would be put into a special box, called an ossuary.

This would allow for future family members to be buried in the tomb and the tomb to be continue its usefulness to future family members burial.

In our passage, we would be in the first stage of mourning…

In which visitation would be expected and regular.

In our passage, we see three disciples who do what they do, because they are…

Compelled by Love

Mary, Peter, and John all go to the tomb.

And, we see different ways in which they did so because they were each, individually, compelled by love.

First, I want us to see the behavior of…

Mary Magdalene

John 20:1–2 LSB

1 Now on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene came early to the tomb, while it was still dark, and saw the stone already taken away from the tomb. 2 So she ran and came to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.”

John only mentions Mary Magdalene.

Matthew includes Mary, the mother of James in his details.

Mark, includes both and adds Salome to his details.

Luke adds Joanna, and other women.

On their way, an earthquake happened, and the soldiers who were guarding the tomb feared greatly, and left the scene.

It’s a beautiful thing to see the way in which God works to strengthen our faith.

According to Mark, these women had wondered how they would roll the stone away…

By the providence of God, an angel opened the tomb so that all could see what had occured.

It’s important to note, there’s a great risk taken by these women who were traveling without men…

And, additionally during the dawning of light…

That greyish light before the sun truly peaks the horizon.

It was very dangerous for women to travel alone in the day time…much less in times of darkness.

But, Mary’s love for her Lord compelled her to go.

She couldn’t wait any longer.

Mark tells us they’d bought spices to place around the body of Jesus.

It seems that the women, now that Sabbath is over, and the sun is close to rising…

They couldn’t wait any longer to visit the body.

Another note of risk, was going to the tomb with a Roman Guard enforcing it.

The Romans hated the Jews, and that hate reciprocated.

The women couldn’t be certain how they would have been treated and certainly couldn’t expect that the Roman Guards would open it for them.

Being compelled by love, she and the other women put caution to the wind because they wanted to visit and honor their Lord.

But Mary shows us, by additional behavior, her care and love for her Lord by her immediately running to Peter and John and informing them of the body being missing.

She quickly assumed…

with the stone rolled away

no Roman Guards present, the tomb empty…

the body must have been stolen.

Cave robbers, although rare in Judea, did exist.

It could have been, in her mind, that a band of robbers were still in the tomb.

So, she runs, not walks…

She doesn’t delay.

She doesn’t wait for the group.

She doesn’t take her time.

Mary feels the urgency, the hurt in her heart.

Somehow, she feels, some persons had robbed her of:

the chance for visitation

for honoring the Lord’s body

for mourning the death of her Lord

And, she wanted it investigated.

She wanted to know where she may go to visit her Lord…

And, so she runs with urgency, compelled by love.

So, we see the risks Mary takes to honor her Lord…

We see the urgency in her behavior.

All compelled by love for her Lord.

Her urgency is greeted by the ears of Peter and John.

And, so we see Peter and John’s behavior to Mary’s news…

Peter & John

John 20:3–8 LSB

3 So Peter and the other disciple went forth, and they were going to the tomb. 4 And the two were running together; and the other disciple ran ahead faster than Peter and came to the tomb first; 5 and stooping and looking in, he saw the linen wrappings lying there; but he did not go in. 6 And so Simon Peter also came, following him, and entered the tomb; and he saw the linen wrappings lying there, 7 and the face-cloth which had been on His head, not lying with the linen wrappings, but folded up in a place by itself. 8 So the other disciple who had first come to the tomb then also entered…

They both heard the news and out of concern for the body of the Lord…

Out of a concern that something awful could have occured to the Lord’s body…

They both put caution to the wind and run as fast as they can to the tomb to investigate.

They’re not concerned with what may confront them at the tomb.

They’re not strategically planning each step or what they’ll do if situation A, B, or C are awaiting them.

They just respond out of love for Christ.

We read…

John outruns Peter

But, John doesn’t enter the tomb, he stoops and peers in…but cautiously doesn’t enter.

Peter catches up

And Peter just thrusts himself into the tomb

not caring what may await him in there.

Once Peter enters the tomb…John enters.

So, we see the behavior of Peter and John being compelled by their love for the Lord.

A care and concern for His honor and dignity.

Application:

I’d like us to see several things in this scene that can glean from…

We see such devotion in these acts of courage.

We see such love for Christ in these caution-less behaviors.

But, oftentimes in the Christian life we see our devotion wane.

What is it that causes our devotion to Christ to rebound from waning to waxing?

What is it that sparks our hearts back to fervency for the Lord?

To a risk taking life?

To a zeal for the Lord to be honored in our life?

Answer: The gospel…REMEMBERED.

As Christians, we know the Gospel.

But, what has been lacking in these times of waning affections…

Is the truth of the gospel being a felt reality in our life.

What does the gospel declare to us to shake us from our waning affections?

Let me answer that question with Jesus’ own words…

Luke 7:40–43 LSB

40 And Jesus answered and said to him, “Simon, [this is a Pharisee named Simon] I have something to say to you.” And he replied, “Say it, Teacher.” 41 “A moneylender had two debtors: one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 “When they were unable to repay, he graciously forgave them both. So which of them will love him more?” 43 Simon answered and said, “I suppose the one whom he graciously forgave more.” And He said to him, “You have judged correctly.”

Now this is the purpose of what Jesus is saying…

We love Christ much when we see ourselves as needing forgiveness for much.

And, so the counter part to this truth is when you are feeling like you are not in need of much forgiveness, you’re love for the Lord wanes.

And, as our love for the Lord wanes so does our love for others.

However, when you are feeling the truth of yourself…

That you are in need of much forgiveness…

And, have been granted much forgiveness…

You love the Lord with a greater zeal.

That’s what Jesus is saying.

You are compelled to love much when you properly see, that in Christ, you are forgiven of much.

So, how does the gospel shake us out of waning affections?

By reminding us of the great, full forgiveness we have in Christ…

Our sins are so horrific…

So worthy of condemnation…

That it took the spotless, infinite in value, blood of Christ to redeem you and grant you forgiveness.

The Felt Reality of Forgiveness Compels Us to Gratitude & Praise

Preach the gospel to yourself daily, and throughout the day to remember the great forgiveness we have found in Jesus Christ.

Another truth I want us to see is…

The Work of Christ Secures Us in Our Waning Moments

There is no doubt that at this time, the disciples of the Lord we’re feeling:

Saddened by Christ’s death.

Questioning whether they’re hope was real.

Wondering if three years of their life was wasted.

Thinking about next steps.

Fearing the naysayers.

Curious as to what the RL’s would do with them now.

A proclivity to examine themself as to whether they could have done something different that would have kept this from happening.

But, what it is that keeps us from waning completely away from grace?

Answer: the good Shepherd keeps His promise to never leave us nor forsake us.

To come after the one who is waning, wondering.

What happens is the Good Shepherd introduces things in our life that stir us out of waning affections into waxing affections.

And, as we see here…it can be as simple as the honor and dignity of the Lord being threatened.

But, also, I want us to see that God uses the means of the body of Christ.

We notice that Peter, although certainly in anguish due to his denial and betrayal of Jesus…

Well, Peter wasn’t alone.

John was with him.

I think John was most likely ministering to Peter.

Peter feeling deep sadness for his failure.

Peter remembering that he’d proclaimed that he would lay down his life for Christ.

Yet, now, in Peter’s mind, Christ is dead and Peter is alive.

And, most likely Peter is regretting this and ashamed of his cowardice.

Most likely John was reminding Peter of Jesus’ words…

Luke 22:32 LSB

32 “But I have prayed earnestly for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, once you have returned, strengthen your brothers.”

Reminding Peter of his security in Christ.

Christ’s unconditional love for him.

You may say, how can you know this?

I can’t know for sure.

But, I know John is with Him.

John’s not rejecting the company of Peter.

John’s not looking down his nose at Peter.

And, I also know that reminding each other of Christ’s word is what we are called to do for one another in all times, and especially times of suffering.

Another truth I want us to see is…

Personalities and Giftedness Differ in the Church

Mary wanted to visit the tomb urgently and soon.

Peter and John evidently did not.

At least not as urgently as Mary.

Different expressions of the same love for Christ.

Peter and John ran to the tomb at different speeds.

Nothing more than giftedness and age.

Not unequal love.

Peter burst into the tomb not caring what awaited him on the other side.

Just like Peter, to think afterwards.

John cautiously peers in to the tomb, but doesn’t enter until after Peter.

Not unequal love, but different personalities.

Our temptation when we see differences in personalities and giftedness is to start building our resume of righteousness.

Rather than see equals with varying personalities and giftedness.

We also need to recognize that we cannot readily know the weaknesses or strengths of other’s personalities and giftedness because their personality and giftedness equals them, not us.

One who seems patient can struggle with confronting…when necessary.

Which can be hurtful to the one needing to be confronted.

One who seems to lack patience can be confrontative…at the wrong times.

Which can be hurtful to the one needing patience.

So, the Bible’s prescription is to be patient with one another and recognize these differences…

And, patiently work toward the upward call of Jesus Christ together in love.

And trust that Christ has purposefully, and intentionally gifted His church to work together for the fulness of the work.

Closing Prayer