In-N-Out of the Tomb: Before and After Quarantine

Introduction

He is Risen!!!

Happy Resurrection Sunday.

What happens in Vegas

My brother in law shared that he wished that the coronavirus came from Las Vegas. What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.

Life is different

Life is now so different because what happened in Wuhan didn’t stay in Wuhan.

As hard as it is, I think we are getting used to our Covid-19 lifestyle.

Many say that there are new social norms and procedures that may be with us for more than a year as we try to deal with this.

Jesus is not different

Today we celebrate perhaps the most important event in Biblical History.

Jesus had to have a 3-day quarantine too.

His examples in and out of the Tomb can help us see a pattern for life during and after our Covid-19 quarantines.

Prayer

Pray for covid-19

The Lord’s Will

Church Needs, Local Needs, World needs

Scripture

Luke 24 Summary

4 sections

The Tomb

The Road to Emmaus

The Closed Room

The Mount of Olives

The Tomb

Women

At least 4, likley more went to prepare annoint the body with spices and oils.

likely not all went at the same time.

Angelic Intervention

Earthquake and angel rolled the stone away

Frightened the soliers

Angles in the Tomb

Nobody’s home, didn’t you pay attnetion

Christ

Appears to Mary Magdalene

Appears to other women

The Room

Women tell the others

Peter and John find an empty tomb

Others don’t believe

The Road

Jesus appears on the road to Emmaus and talks with Cleopas and another unnamed disciples.

Keeps them from recognizing him.

Criticizes there lack of faith.

Explains the scriptures

invited to dinner

identify revealed

tell others

The Room

The disciples run back to Jerusalem to tell the apostles and other disciples

Jesus appears before them

Criticizes their lack of faith.

Teaches them.

Other appearances

Hundreds more see the resurrected Christ over 40 days.

Ascencion

Jesus leaves earth from the East side of the Mount of Olives into Heaven.

I. Life in Quarantine: Living for Jesus in the Tomb

A. Jesus Needed Tomb Time, and so do we

Jesus’ example

You and I have been isolated, separated, aggravated, and are hoping that life will begin to return to “normal” after April. We are still in our Tomb Time. While stuck we can take courage that while Jesus was in the Tomb, He wasn’t napping.

Jesus was at work while in the tomb. While there are differing opinions on the specifics and timing of Christ’s work, there are indications that Christ’s work was not only performed on Friday afternoon on that cross

Descended

Ephesians 4:9–10 NASB95

(Now this expression, “He ascended,” what does it mean except that He also had descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is Himself also He who ascended far above all the heavens, so that He might fill all things.)

1 Peter 3:18–19 NASB95

For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit; in which also He went and made proclamation to the spirits now in prison,

Ascended: Today, you will be with me in Paradise

Paradise could be where OT saints went, waiting for Christ’s work of redemption. Or it could mean Heaven. Paul uses the term to refer to God’s abode in the heaven. Whichever is meant, Christ did work here on earth, beneath it, and above it. His work was supernatural. He may have seemed stuck in the tomb, but He was working.

What makes heaven so great? Nice harps? shiny streets? No, they are nothing next to the Lord or Light and life who built it and whose throne is there. Heaven is awesome because that’s where the Lord is present in all His glory.

Hebrews 9:11–14 NASB95

But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation; and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled sanctify for the cleansing of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

By His work during Tomb Time, He made sure that things had to change when He got out.

The Minsitry of the Holy Spirit.

John 16:7–11 NASB95

“But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. “And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment; concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me; and concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father and you no longer see Me; and concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged.

B. Be prepared for the stone to roll away

1. Focus on Jesus

Let your tomb time today be focused on the work of Christ.

2. Be Ready

Prepare and think about how your life will be different after your Tomb Time.

Jesus’ tomb time was of utmost importance to His continued work. What are you doing with your tomb time? Are you prepared for Life After Quarantine? Are you trained on sharing Jesus via social media? Are you ready to resume

3. DON’T stay in the Tomb

Satan would rather Jesus stayed dead in the Tomb. He wanted Him dead.

1 Corinthians 15:16–17 NASB95

For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins.

Satan would rather you stay dead in your tomb.

He’d rather you get used to staying at home.

He’d rather you live in fear whenever you enter a restaurant, grocery store, or hospital.

He’d rather you not get close to someone new and share your life in Christ and about who Jesus is.

Jesus sets the example for us to work God’s will and prepare for life after Quarantine.

Satan would rather you fall into habits of the Tomb

For many people, the home is not a place of rest and safety

For some it is a place of privacy and a sanctuary which shields us from the world’s prying eyes. It is where we drop the charade and don’t pretend to be someone else.

Pornography

Spousal abuse

Gluttony

Drunkenness

Drug abuse

What happens in my house stays there.

Jesus didn’t stay in the tomb.

What happened in the tomb didn’t stay there, because the tomb couldn’t hold it. Death could not contain the Christ

Another faithful group.

When Jesus was in the tomb, who came Sunday morning to tend to his burial needs? You guessed it…then women.

II. Life After Quarantine: When Tomb Time is Over

A. 3 Examples of Faith: Who do you want to be Like?

Three groups

Mary and the Women (John 20:11-18; Matthew 28:9-10)

The Disciples, Cleopas and that other guy (Luke 24:12-35)

Peter and the gang (Luke 24:34, 36-49)

Jesus’ Reveals Himself opposite of the way we think.

1. The Least of These - The Ladies

Not allowed to testify, story not believed by most (Peter and John seem to believe enough to check it out)

Mary believed as soon as He spoke.

John 20:11–18 NASB95

But Mary was standing outside the tomb weeping; and so, as she wept, she stooped and looked into the tomb; and she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had been lying. And they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.” When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus. 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.” Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to Him in Hebrew, “Rabboni!” (which means, Teacher). Jesus said to her, “Stop clinging to Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I ascend to My Father and your Father, and My God and your God.’ ” Mary Magdalene came, announcing to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord,” and that He had said these things to her.

You had me at hello.

Matthew 28:9 NASB95

And behold, Jesus met them and greeted them. And they came up and took hold of His feet and worshiped Him.

Literally, Jesus said, “Hello” and they fell at his feet and worshipped.

Do you feel unimportant? Do you feel that the opinion of the world will limit your work for the Lord? Will no one believe you? That didn’t stop Mary. Once Christ appeared to them, they responded in worship. Mary, then obeyed Christ and shared her experience with others.

No matter how insignificant you feel, if God has revealed Himself to you, you have an obligation to worship God for who He is, what He has done, and then to share Him with others. Don’t assume your effectiveness is only as great as the world’s opinion of you.

2.The Other Guys - The Obscure Discples

These guys had the testimony of Mary and the ladies and doubted.

They were Men and followers of Jesus, but not part of His “in group”.

I follow Jesus, but I’m not one of the twelve. I don’t have the jacket and membership card.

Think of the response. These two talked with Jesus on the road, likely for hours.

Luke 24:27 NASB95

Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.

They didn’t “see” or recognize Him until he broke bread and disappeared.

While worship was not in their response, they did take the message to others as soon as they realized what was happening.

You may feel that you know Christ, but you are...

not a pastor,

not educated enough,

not talented enough.

Maybe you feel that you are not in that league of “special people”.

If God has revealed Himself to you, you are special.

I would suggest that if you know Christ, you know enough to share with others. Knowledge about Christ is wonderful, but I’d value that, in witnessing, personal knowledge of Christ is even more so. Doctrine is important, but it must be combined with your story. Tell your story to anyone who will listen.

3. The In-Crowd - The Apostles and Friends

Not much is mentioned about the appearance to Peter, but the appearance to the eleven and those who were with them.

These guys heard the women, and...

Mark 16:9–11 NASB95

Now after He had risen early on the first day of the week, He first appeared to Mary Magdalene, from whom He had cast out seven demons. She went and reported to those who had been with Him, while they were mourning and weeping. When they heard that He was alive and had been seen by her, they refused to believe it.

Heard from Cleopas and the other disciple, and...

Mark 16:11–13 NASB95

When they heard that He was alive and had been seen by her, they refused to believe it. After that, He appeared in a different form to two of them while they were walking along on their way to the country. They went away and reported it to the others, but they did not believe them either.

Jesus now appears to them and...

Luke 24:41 NASB95

While they still could not believe it because of their joy and amazement, He said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?”

Literally means, they “were disbelieving”

Mark 16:14 NASB95

Afterward He appeared to the eleven themselves as they were reclining at the table; and He reproached them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who had seen Him after He had risen.

Now, Jesus won them over here, and even Thomas a week later…Because Thomas didn’t believe the Apostles, disciples, and women either. WOW!!!

Do you feel like an apostle? Do you know Christ well? If we think so, are we ready to believe? Do we struggle with our faith? In God’s upside down kingdom, maybe we are not as high and mighty as we think. The amazing picture is the Lord here, not us. Look how he seeks us, pursues us, and works with our weaknesses. He knows what we need. He knows what we need to believe.

One Lord Who Knows Our Needs

Needs and Wants

Did Jesus give everybody what they wanted?

God cares about your needs.

He loves us too much. he doesn’t want to feed our addictions.

He loves us too much to just give us what we want, all the way to Hell.

Think Pharaoh.

Did God know he wouldn’t turn/repent? Yes

God said He would harden Pharaoh, but we read in scripture Pharoah hardening himself…then we read God hardening Him after that. God knows who will and won’t repent. If he uses those who refuse to love Him and come to Him for His purposes, that is His prerogative. At least some good can come from individuals who refuse to acknowledge God.

The disciples needed a little more than the women

The apostles needed a lot more.

We see a pattern in the interactions

1. Jesus drew near to them

2. Jesus called to them and made his presence known

3. Jesus revealed truth

4. Jesus made a way when there wasn’t one

5. Jesus sent them out to tell others.

As the Lord knows exactly what we need.

B.One Pattern to Follow: 5 STEPS to Share Your Faith

1. Step: Draw Near to Others

Mary and the mujeres saw Jesus

John 20:14–15 NASB95

When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus. 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.”

Matthew 28:9 NASB95

And behold, Jesus met them and greeted them. And they came up and took hold of His feet and worshiped Him.

Cleopas and that other guy saw Jesus on the road. He approached and began traveling with them.

Luke 24:13–15 NASB95

And behold, two of them were going that very day to a village named Emmaus, which was about seven miles from Jerusalem. And they were talking with each other about all these things which had taken place. While they were talking and discussing, Jesus Himself approached and began traveling with them.

Jesus appears to Peter and then in the midst of them

John 20:19 NASB95

So when it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and when the doors were shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.”

2. Talk: Make Yourself Known

Jesus greets Mary and the women

John 20:16 NASB95

Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to Him in Hebrew, “Rabboni!” (which means, Teacher).

Can you imagine hearing God call your name. He knows your name. He knows the hairs on your head. He also knows the number of your days. Don’t be afraid. He knows.

Jesus speaks to the discples

Luke 24:16–17 NASB95

But their eyes were prevented from recognizing Him. And He said to them, “What are these words that you are exchanging with one another as you are walking?” And they stood still, looking sad.

Jesus asks for a snack

Luke 24:41 NASB95

While they still could not believe it because of their joy and amazement, He said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?”

3. Educate: Share the Truth of Jesus Christ

Mary and the Mujeres

They only needed to hear His voice.

John 10:27 NASB95

“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me;

The Disciples

They were prevented from perceiving Him

Luke 24:15–16 NASB95

While they were talking and discussing, Jesus Himself approached and began traveling with them. But their eyes were prevented from recognizing Him.

Jesus teaches them from the scriptures

Luke 24:25–27 NASB95

And He said to them, “O foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! “Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His glory?” Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.

The Apostles

Jesus reminded them of the word He shared with them in the past

Luke 24:44 NASB95

Now He said to them, “These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.”

4. Pray: Ask for God’s Help

The “eyes” of the discples were closed, but were opened

Luke 24:30–31 NASB95

When He had reclined at the table with them, He took the bread and blessed it, and breaking it, He began giving it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him; and He vanished from their sight.

The “minds” of the apostles and others were opened.

Luke 24:45 NASB95

Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures,

5. Send: Encourage Others to Go and Share

Mary and the Mujeres

John 20:18 NASB95

Mary Magdalene came, announcing to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord,” and that He had said these things to her.

Disciples

Luke 24:33–35 NASB95

And they got up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found gathered together the eleven and those who were with them, saying, “The Lord has really risen and has appeared to Simon.” They began to relate their experiences on the road and how He was recognized by them in the breaking of the bread.

Apostles

Matthew 28:16–20 NASB95

But the eleven disciples proceeded to Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had designated. When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some were doubtful. And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Now it’s our turn.

1. Step:

Go and draw near.

2. Talk:

Begin Conversations

3. Educate:

share your faith

4. Pray:

Ask God to open their eyes to see the truth. Don’t give up when it gets hard.

5. Send:

Encourage those who receive Him to share with others.

Conclusion

Questions for you and me

Who do you feel like?

Women - marginalized and underappreciated

Disciples - Christian middle class.

Apostles - super Christian

Good news:

God can use you no matter who you feel like. He can use the marginalized, the poor, those that society ignores, persecutes, and writes off.

He can use normal people - those average Joes. He can reach you and use you, even when we’re a little stubborn.

He can even use us uptight religious folks. He is so faithful to deal with us when we get a little big for our britches.

No matter who you are, God can use you. Submit to Him today so you both can work together. Get ready to serve Him in and out of quarantine.

Who do you want to be like?

Apostles - the closest, yet seemingly those with the least amount of faith?

Disciples - normal guys who didn’t get it and needed a kick in the pants?

Women - served before and after, responded to His voice in worship and obedience.

Receive Jesus like the ladies.