Sermon Tone Analysis
Overall tone of the sermon
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Anger
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Disgust
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Fear
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Joy
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Analytical
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Openness
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Conscientiousness
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Extraversion
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Introduction
Soul Soaking Notes From Text
Heading 1
Introduction
Greet everyone (be in front of the pulpit)
I stopped home for Lunch a few days ago and while I was eating the News was on the TV.
There was a young man on the television, Christopher Watts, pleading for the return of his pregnant wife, Shannon and two beautiful little girls, Celeste (3) and Bella (4).
There was no trace of them and she had left her car, cell phone, keys, etc. in their home.
He seemed like a genuine kind of person, but (I think I’m getting cynical in my old age) my first thought as I listened to him speak was that he did it.
He was guilty.
I rebuked myself and said, “why are you so negative”?
I finished my lunch and got back to work.
Friday morning I read on the news that they arrested this guy as a suspect for the murder of his pregnant wife and two precious daughters.
In fact, he admitted to the horrific act!
They found the bodies in an oil field where this guy was once employed.
What?! How?! Why?!
We live in a sin cursed world FULL of suffering!
There is no escaping this reality.
We try and avoid it, numb it, run from it, but the hard, harsh reality is we live in a world of suffering, pain and hopelessness.
Wow!
Folks, if the Atheistic, evolutionary worldview is correct, then the best we have is this life and that is it, period.
But there is another worldview.
A far superior worldview!
A biblical worldview that recognizes the suffering of this life but, in turn, gives us a remedy for that suffering!
That remedy is the resurrection of Jesus Christ!
And that remedy leads to joy!
Main Textual Idea:
Main Idea: The Resurrection Wipes Away the Tears of Today
How is this possible?
How can the one act of the resurrection of Jesus reorient our sorrow into joy?
You might be here this morning and are so discouraged that you don’t know what to do or where to turn...
Well, turn with me to this story found in John’s gospel and see the difference the resurrection makes.
You might even find yourself, not only no longer discouraged, but pursuing a new purpose that will change the lives of many!
There are two truths I need you to see from the text this morning...
1.
The Harsh Realities of Life Will Cause You to Weep (vs.
11-15)
Lead in…It’s not a might, it’s not a maybe, life will inevitably bring you pain and tears.
It’s just the way it is.
Certainly there are minor irritations and frustrations that will steal your joy and cause you to be inconvenienced and sad.
After all, as the old saying goes, “Into every life a little rain must fall.”
But, please understand, there will be times when life crushes in so hard and with so much force that it is utterly devastating.
When it is hard to breath.
When your eyes are so full of tears you can no longer see clearly.
When everything seems utterly hopeless!
Have you experienced this kind of trouble?
This kind of grief and pain?
Well, Mary Magdalene did and John is sure to tell us all about her debilitating grief!
Look at the text...
If you remember, Mary was the first one to see the tomb had been opened.
And instead of waiting for the other ladies that were traveling with her to finish preparing His body for decay, she immediately turned and ran to get Peter and John.
Peter and John raced back to the tomb.
And as we saw last time, John actually believed that Jesus was resurrected.
He and Peter then left Mary at the tomb and ran back to Bethany.
Mary, not knowing John had believed stayed behind looking at the tomb...
Explanation -
Verse 11 - Her tears were flowing uncontrollably.
Her heart was as broken as her dreams.
The promised Messiah, her dear friend who cast out 7 demons from her, did not live up to the man that she thought He was.
Broken and bawling her eyes out, she stooped down to look inside the tomb...
Verse 12 - Now this is very interesting.
As she stoops inside the tomb, eyes full of grief filled tears, she see’s two angels.
Now the reason this is interesting is because most times throughout the scriptures when someone comes in contact with an angel, they are immediately filled with awe and fear.
Even John had this response...
This is why the angels said to the Shepherds...
When one sees an angel, one gets scared, frightened, astonished, awe filled.
Not Mary!
In fact, according to the text, there wasn’t any response!
Two angels, robed in white, sitting at head and feet of where Jesus’ body was.
Why wasn’t she frightened?
Well, her lack of response gives us an indication of the depth of her sorrow.
Because she was so grieved, her eyes full of tears, she could not truly understand who was sitting in the tomb.
Principle - Great grief can blind us to the realities right before our eyes...
Verse 13 - And so the angels speak to her and ask her two questions, “Woman, why are you weeping?” and “Whom are you seeking?”
Now, of course they know the answers to these questions, but like any good counselor does, they ask questions in order to get her to think and also to reveal her heart.
And that is exactly what she does.
Mary, exhibits a heart of unbelief.
She shows her heart of doubt by making assumptions based on reason, but not based in reality....
Do you see what she says?
Assumption - “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.”
Mary believes that some group has taken away the body of Jesus.
Maybe she thinks it is the Jews?
Maybe the Romans?
or maybe some grave robbers?
None of these are plausible assumptions and we have dealt with in other sermons.
But I will quickly remind you that
The Jews didn’t want his body moved, they wanted it sealed up as a proof of His death.
Matt 27:
The Romans didn’t want his body moved or to be stolen!
That means they would have been derelict in their duties...
Robbers wouldn’t be able to get into the grave with Roman guards and a sealed tomb.
This is a very sad situation.
Not because Jesus’ body wasn’t there, but because of MARY’S FAILURE TO REMEMBER AND BELIEVE THE WORDS OF JESUS.
It seems that His words and promises didn’t penetrate her heart yet.
Principle - Great grief can cause us to forget the promises of God!
Verse 14 - So she turns and sees Jesus, however she doesn’t realize it is Him either!
Why doesn’t she recognize him?
It could be that she was supernaturally blinded like the men on the Road to Emmaus.
Do you remember that story?
I think its’ worth reviewing...
Luke
It could be that he was all cleaned up from the last time she saw him.
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