The Tomb's Empty!
The Endless Journey - John • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Reading:
17 For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down My life that I may take it up again.
18 No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of My own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from My Father.”
19 There was again a division among the Jews because of these words.
Introduction:
300 Illustrations for Preachers “Can You Be Christian and Not Believe in the Resurrection?”
“Can You Be Christian and Not Believe in the Resurrection?”
“Can you be Christian and not believe in the resurrection?” shouts the headline in the Salt Lake Tribune. What a crazy question. You would think that as soon as the journalist began researching this topic among Christian clergy, she would have decided that it was a foolish question not worth pursuing. Instead, her opening paragraph states, “Many scholars dismiss it. Some theologians downplay it. Even some worshippers dodge it. But, for most Christians, the idea that Jesus Christ’s body literally was resurrected is a given, a fundamental of the faith.”
The only surprising thing here is that it wasn’t unanimous among the Christian leaders she interviewed that without the resurrection, our preaching and even our faith itself are useless.
—Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell
Paul answered this when addressing the church at Corinth.
14 And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain.
Question:
If Jesus was murdered for our sins would it still cover our sins, does the Lambs sacrifice still apply to our sins?
Yes!
(?) If Jesus never resurrected from the grave what would that mean for our faith and eternity?
In short: All of Christianity would be invalid, the gospel message meaningless, and believers would have no hope of eternal life.
Illustration:
Think of it like this:
When laying a firm foundation the proper code needs to have a footing, then block or poured cement poured walls.
Every block that makes up the stem wall is important, beginning with the corner stone (Jesus).
All other doctrines of scripture are also blocks added to the firm foundation.
What holds it all together?
That is the Mortar which in this case is fulfilled prophecy and specifically the resurrection of Jesus!
Without Jesus’ resurrection the blocks still remain; but they can’t beheld together if Jesus wasn’t resurrected.
The glue for our faith rests on Jesus being who He claimed to be, and doing what He claimed He would do!
Every jot and tittle had to be fulfilled, if He missed just one it wouldn’t be true.
Because Jesus rose exactly as He said He would, the evidence of the empty tomb gives us a faith worth staying in, sharing, and standing on!
(?) How important is the resurrection?
Very important!
He was condemned, crucified all as stated in prophecy, just as prophecy specified.
Even down to the smallest details like what happens to His clothing.
He claimed to be able to raise His body after death and that He could lay it down.
Well...He laid it down, shouldn’t they have anticipated the resurrection?
Some did!
62 The next day, that is, after the day of Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate
63 and said, “Sir, we remember how that impostor said, while He was still alive, ‘After three days I will rise.’
64 Therefore order the tomb to be made secure until the third day, lest His disciples go and steal Him away and tell the people, ‘He has risen from the dead,’ and the last fraud will be worse than the first.”
65 Pilate said to them, “You have a guard of soldiers. Go, make it as secure as you can.”
66 So they went and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone and setting a guard.
This is the epitome of man’s efforts to stop the Lord’s will!
Transition:
Thankful we don’t have a savior like the Buddhists, Islam, or any other cult out there.
Jesus isn’t in the tomb after the third day.
The people hadn’t really put it all together what He prophesied of Himself; but they figured it out when they went to visit the tomb.
He wasn’t there!
We should all praise the Lord for taking up His life again, proving He conquered death, the grave, and securing our victory!
Mary and the Disciples show up and notice something strange:
Where’s The Body? (1-18)
Where’s The Body? (1-18)
1 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.
2 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.”
He’s not there!
The Pharisees and Sadducees were worried of this exact thing, and Mary seemed to think the same:
Someone took His body!
In our human logic, the only possibility was that someone took His body!
That’s what makes sense!
Just like a rubbernecker:
3 So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb.
4 Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first.
5 And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in.
6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there,
7 and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself.
Hypothetically:
If you were to steal a body, from the grave. Would you undress them first?
Not only did the cloths Jesus was wrapped in seem to be fully intact; but the body snatchers were kind enough to use their manners and fold the face cloth!
They ran to the tomb, motivated from love.
They showed respect and care as they looked in first; but then went in to inspect further.
Does our love come through like this?
A passionate running towards Christ?
An careful respectful inspection of His word and inspection of the evidence?
The evidence reveals that His body wasn’t stolen.
Something else took place!
They recalled what Jesus had already said about this very thing!
8 Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed;
9 for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that He must rise from the dead.
Because of their inspection of the evidence - they believed!
Does that happen to you?
You have read, and re-read many different passages of scripture and it doesn’t all compute immediately?
Yet at the most seemingly random moment, it all makes sense?
It emboldens you to dig in more for the riches the word provides?
Illustration:
My uncle when working at Buick would witness to many co-workers.
There was one gentlemen who also talked with people about the Lord.
One guy boldly told him: “If there is any passage that has truth to it, I will believe!”
He grabbed the nose of the man and pressed it hard, it bled...then quoted: Proverbs 30:33
33 For pressing milk produces curds, pressing the nose produces blood, and pressing anger produces strife.
Obviously this isn’t about physical harm to others; but it was truthful in it’s statement.
Our moments in study don’t always produce fruit; but it sure plants seeds to be revealed at the right moment.
The disciples had this moment as they recalled Jesus' need to be resurrected!
Sometimes it’s nice to have an affirming “sign”, which Mary recieved.
11 But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb.
12 And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet.
13 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.”
Her sadness was from being absent from the Lord - Her Lord!
Do we weep and mourn when He seems distant, as she did?
The angels didn’t seem to scare her!
Thankfully Jesus comforted her as she sought him!
14 Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus.
15 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.”
16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to Him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher).
The sheep know the Shepherds voice!
She went from distance to being brought close to the shepherd.
What a moment to find comfort in the nearness of her Lord that she had been weeping over!
Do you yearn for comfort like this from your Savior?
Just at His voice answering prayer, revealing Himself to you for what choices are best for you by the peace or through trusting the faithful steps He asks you to take when you don’t see what’s next?
First thing after the shepherds comfort was to go and tell others!
That is the model to follow right there!
Tell others of the comfort you find in the Lord!
Share the struggles and how the Lord seems distant; but you know He is there and trust that He cares and has a plan for what is best for you!
Encourage others in their moments they struggle looking for the Lord!
Extend past yourself and focus on those who don’t have the hope that you have!
Empathize for their lost position and care enough to tell them the truth.
I wouldn't recommend the tactic of smashing someone's nose!
The resurrection changed somethings for the disciples.
It was almost time for them to spread their wings and learn to fly from the wisdom and discipleship program they received by Jesus’ side.
Just like us, we are expected to grow into spiritual maturity and use what gifts the Lord gives us.
The disciples shifted into a call as Apostles!
From Disciples to Apostles (19-23)
From Disciples to Apostles (19-23)
There are no longer apostles, as they were needed to reveal the full revelation of Jesus and record give their personal testimonies regarding Him.
We have their testimonies written down making up the Bible!
Jesus commissions them because they've now seen the risen Lord themselves and their testimonies can be trusted and are true!
Their testimonies reveal that they were called disciples; but commissioned to Apostleship.
19 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 Jesus arrived, miraculously, He revealed His resurrected self to them.
The living testimony, raised from the dead, the God they believe in!
This testimony provides strength and boldness to proclaim faith in Jesus!
The same proclamation we have!
We can have boldness in our faith to live it out because our first hand testimonies of Him saving us is true.
Jesus presented Himself and called them to teach others all they were taught!
21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent Me, even so I am sending you.”
22 And when He had said this, He breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.
Jesus came and gifted the promise to them: The Holy Spirit!
He commissioned them to be “the sent ones” - which He modeled.
1 Therefore, holy brothers, you who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession,
Jesus is called an Apostle of God and High Priest!
Jesus modeled how to be bold, courageous, firm and unwavering because of the authority passed onto Him from the Father.
As Apostles they are sent with authority from the Holy Spirit.
(?) Does this mean we, as disciples, being sent in to the world are the Lord’s apostles?
I don’t believe the Bible teaches that.
There are no recorded Apostles after their death Acts 12:2
2 He killed James the brother of John with the sword,
Apostles possessed divine authority 2 Corinthians 12:12
12 The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with utmost patience, with signs and wonders and mighty works.
Who here can do signs and wonders?
None! (Be skeptical of those who call themselves apostles or prophets!)
The disciples were sent out by Jesus, commissioning them into apostleship.
We are all called into salvation, to be separated out from the world into discipleship.
Where we are to learn the ways of Jesus as we study the word.
We are to be ambassadors for Christ with testimonies that support what we claim Jesus is capable of, not just in our lives but in others.
We are to grow in the strength of the Lord by exercising our faith.
We are different than the apostles in the sense that we aren’t performing miracles.
We testify by our lives that salvation is possible, change through obeying the spirit is possible, and that the truth of the word is real and sure!
Transition:
What does our faith bring to the table in the evidence category?
Proof brings faith!
The proof’s of God’s word being true emboldens our faith and kindles the fire to burn hotter and brighter!
Proof Brings Faith! (24-31)
Proof Brings Faith! (24-31)
Thomas stated exactly what he would need in order to believe the testimonies.
25 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.”
He got exactly what he needed to come to faith in Jesus!
26 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.”
27 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.”
28 Thomas answered Him, “My Lord and my God!”
Illustration:
Adolf Hitler left us a truthful gem regarding what we believe.
He is quoted the phrase: “If you tell a lie loud enough and long enough people will believe it.”
What if your siblings told you for many years over and over that your adopted?
You may believe them and the only thing to disprove them would be a DNA test!
Thomas did exactly that - He got a DNA test providing the proof that would bring him to faith!
Verses :26-28 provides criteria for someone to accept Jesus as Lord.
First there is an expectation.
Thomas’ expectation was miraculously met when Jesus showed up to a closed meeting and all the doors are locked.
Second there is an inspection.
Thomas inspected the evidence about Jesus and found it to be truthful!
What did he claim immediately following the fulfilled expectation, and the inspection of the information?
28 Thomas answered Him, “My Lord and my God!”
Jesus is proclaimed to be Lord and God!
Both attributing and affirming His Godliness to be real and true.
Connection:
When we come in contact with people they have reservations about Jesus; but that is good.
With the reservations are expectations for them to accept Jesus, just like Thomas.
We have plenty of evidence of Jesus in our world being Lord and God.
All it takes is a messenger with a valid testimony of the bible being truthful, trustworthy, and able to be examined.
Jesus places you in front of them to testify and validate all He’s done for you!
The body of believers (the church) are to help disciple them and grow in their knowledge and understanding of Jesus and their new found faith!
That is our purpose after being saved by Jesus!
29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
Jesus calls us blessed because we have faith in Him though we haven’t seen Him as Thomas did!
This is exactly why John is writing this book:
31 but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name.
We don’t do anything for this new life in His name, we only have to believe that He is God and that His sacrifice covers our sins.
The rest comes from Him as the life giving source to produce fruit!
Conclusion:
For those who haven't believed:
Thomas needed to see and touch before he would believe, and Jesus met him there — not with rebuke, but with His own scarred hands held out.
You may feel like you need more proof, more certainty, more evidence before you could ever say what Thomas said.
The tomb is still empty, the testimony is still standing, and Jesus is still holding out nail-scarred hands to you today.
The same question He asked Mary applies to you: "Why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?"
He's the one you've been looking for.
Believe, and receive the life He offers in His name.
For those who already believe:
You are the "blessed" of verse 29 — you have not seen, and yet you've believed.
That's not a lesser faith than Thomas's; it's the faith John wrote his whole Gospel to produce in you.
You've been given the same testimony they had: an empty tomb, a risen Savior, and a Spirit who sends you.
Someone in your life is standing where Mary stood — weeping, confused, not yet recognizing that Jesus is right there.
Go be the one who says, "I have seen the Lord."
Let the proof produce faith and be bold because the resurrection is real and your faith is real!
-Pray!
