Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

We live in a time where we presume much about our lives.

We plan our weeks, our vacations, our futures, and our retirements.

All the time presuming that our plans will go through uninterrupted, and especially, as a believer, most likely they are sanctioned by God, so why wouldn’t they happen.

Even celebrating our Christian holidays causes us to be happy as we plan to go to church to hear the glorious truths surrounding this holiday, and then get together with family and friends for food and fun.

All is well and God is good!

We go through cycle after cycle of life, thinking, hoping that nothing interrupts our little world.

This may not describe some of you here this morning, but for others it’s spot on.

This may not describe some of you here this morning, but for others it’s spot on.

This we might say was what had happened to Jesus followers on this Sunday morning so long ago.

They had been with Jesus for 3 years.

They had seen his miracles, heard his teaching, and were heralded as his followers, presuming possibly to have a place of prominence in the Messiah-Jesus’ Kingdom.

But something happened that interrupted their dreams…the crucifixion.

Their hopes and dreams where shattered, but were they…let’s read the account from John’s gospel, chapter 20.

Text:

Main Idea: Because of Christ's Resurrection, we who place our trust in him have our lives wonderfully interrupted forever!

1.

The Resurrection Interrupted Death (v.

1-10)

Mary Magdalene, Peter, and John where confronted with something that was unexpected and supernatural.

Though they had been with Jesus and heard him talk of his death and resurrection, they did not believe it until it happened.

2. The Resurrection Interrupted Life (v.

11-18)

As Mary Magdalene weeps because she remembers her life with Jesus, and is saddened to think that someone has stolen his body, she is confronted with the supernatural angelic beings, seeking to awaken her to the reality of what has just happened.

She is then confronted with the risen Lord Jesus who redirects her focus from the physical norm of life to the spiritual risen, soon-to-ascend Lord.

Her norm would now be shaken forever.

The everyday things of life and death have been invaded by the supernatural resurrection of Jesus Christ.

3. The Resurrection Interrupted Fear (v.

19-23)

The disciples, fearing for their lives, were confronted with the risen Christ.

Not only were they not to fear any more, but they were given the command to continue and finish the work that Father had given the son (v.

21).

Two things were needed for this to happen:

The Resurrection

The Holy Spirit (v.

22)

4. The Resurrection Interrupted Doubt (v.

24-29)

Thomas, not believing what the disciples reported, was shown the physical reality of the risen Lord, removing all his doubt.

Greater then Thomas’s belief based on empirical evidence, Jesus said, is those who believe without that evidence.

5.

The Resurrection Interrupts Destiny (v.

30-31)

Note that these verses are the purpose statements for the book of John.

Notice that they appear in the text strategically after the resurrection.

This is no accident, since there is no life apart from the resurrection.

1 cor 15:

We must remember that we are born into this world as sinners, with our eternal destiny set for the lake of fire, or hell, as a result.

The resurrection was God the Father’s signature, assuring us that he had recieved the substitutionary payment made by his son on the cross on behalf of his people, thus interrupting their destiny of judgment, and securing for them a new destiny of reward and inheritance, being kept in heaven for them.

This is what is meant by “…you may have life in his name.”

This life comes through repenting of our sins, and placing our trust in Jesus Christ alone as our savour and Lord!