The Empty Tomb

We Shouldn’t Be Surprised

7 signs to display the deity of Jesus

Demonstrates command over creation and culminates in the ability to bring life from death

Jesus’ own resurrection should come as no surprise!

From Secret Believers To Extravagant Worshipers

Fearful Joseph and Nicodemus give Jesus a burial fit for a king

75 pounds of spices!

We see extravagance similar to Mary’s pint of pure nard

John 19:38–42 NIV

38 Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jewish leaders. With Pilate’s permission, he came and took the body away. 39 He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds. 40 Taking Jesus’ body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs. 41 At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid. 42 Because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.

Will New Creation Break Through The Darkness Of Chaos?

Chaos where death seems to have the final word

In the garden, where God walked among His creation

Strips of linen hint at Lazarus

John 20:1–8 NIV

1 Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. 2 So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!” 3 So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. 4 Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, 7 as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen. 8 Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed.

The First Day Of New Creation

On the first day, before light appears

Is an empty tomb added chaos, or a hint of light?

Strips of linen tell the story

Lazarus’ had to be removed

Jesus’ were left behind

New Mary, New Resurrection

Jesus encountered Lazarus’ sister, Mary, weeping and joined her in grief

“If only you had been there...”

Now we see Mary Magdalene weeping outside Jesus’ tomb

Will she also encounter Jesus?

John 20:11–16 NIV

11 Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb 12 and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot. 13 They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?” “They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” 14 At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus. 15 He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?” Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”).

A Gardener In His Garden

Mary is ironically correct

John intends this garden to point to Eden and reveal new creation

Jesus is the God of the Garden

Similar to Lazarus, Mary “came alive” when Jesus called her name

John 20:19–23 NIV

19 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. 21 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” 22 And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”

New Light Has Sprung Into Day One

“Peace be with you”

Shalom is closely connected to messianic hopes

Jesus is the light of the world

New Creation - Day 1: Light has entered the world

More Than Just An Example To Follow

They were given the Holy Spirit and told to continue the work

“As the Father has sent me...”

He gave the Holy Spirit to empower the continuation of what He started

The Power to Forgive Sins?

“Only God can forgive”

But those we forgive are invited into the sanctifying presence of God

The Power to Not Forgive Sins?

“Only God can judge”

But those we judge are pushed away from the presence of God

And those we lovingly hold accountable are brought into the sanctifying presence of God

John’s Purpose

So that you may believe and have life in His name

Everything points to the Light and Life of the world!

How is this gift and calling affecting your life and those around you?