SF266 - Behold the Empty Tomb (John 20 1-9)
John 20:1-9
INTRODUCTION
The Empty Cross and the Empty Tomb are the most significant icons of Christianity! In the gospels we have the redemptive event. In Acts we have the redemption experienced. In the epistles we have the redemption explained.
THE COMPLETE STORY
We are wont to sing of shepherds
And the heavenly glory bright,
Of angels and their message
On that peaceful, holy night.
But so oft we end the story
When 'tis only just begun,
For we fail to give the message
That this Child is God the Son
Here to give Himself a ransom,
Crucified on Calvary's tree,
Through His blood providing pardon,
Perfect cleansing, full and free.
And the tomb, thank God, is empty;
Jesus sits at God's right hand
Now a loving, mighty Savior;
Spread the news to every land!
The Single Most Significant Event In History
1 Corinthians 15:1, 3-4 (NASB) 1Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, 3For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,
1A. A PROMISE FULFILLED
1B. The Old Testament Pictured It (Hebrews 9:8-12)
2B. Jesus Proclaimed It
Matthew 12:40 (NASB) 40for just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the sea monster, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
Luke 24:7 (NASB) 7… the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.”
John 2:19 (NASB) 19Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”
JESUS: OUR LIVING LEADER
Harry Rimmer, while traveling in Egypt, he had an opportunity to talk with that country's secretary of state, and in the course of the conversation he brought up the subject of Christianity.
Christians believe God has given us three revelations of Himself. "We too believe that," said the official, who was a Muslim. "We believe God revealed Himself in the works of creation," said Rimmer. "We also believe that," the other responded. Rimmer continued, "We believe God has revealed Himself in a book‑the Bible." The Muslim answered, "We too believe God has revealed Himself in a book‑the Koran."
Rimmer declared, "We believe God has revealed Himself in a man‑Jesus Christ." "We also believe God has revealed Himself in a man," replied the official, "the prophet Mohammed." "We believe," added Rimmer, "that Jesus is able to substantiate His claims because He arose from the dead." The Muslim hesitated, then his eyes fell. Finally he replied, "We have no information concerning our prophet after his death."
2A. A MYSTERY REVEALED
Colossians 1:26-27 (NASB) 26…the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations, but has now been manifested to His saints, 27to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
1B. God has Revealed The Mystery Of Who Jesus Is
Jesus is the victorious Savior
Acts 2:24 (NASB) 24“But God raised Him up again, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power.
Jesus is the resurrected Lord
Romans 1:4 (NASB) 4who was declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead, according to the Spirit of holiness, Jesus Christ our Lord,
Jesus is the ascended King
1 Timothy 3:16 (NASB) 16By common confession, great is the mystery of godliness: He who was revealed in the flesh, Was vindicated in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Proclaimed among the nations, Believed on in the world, Taken up in glory.
2B. God has Revealed The Mystery Of Why Jesus Came
Jesus came to fulfill God's will
Ephesians 1:9 (NASB) 9He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him
Jesus came to proclaim God's way
John 14:6
3B. God has Revealed The Mystery Of What Jesus Will Do
1 Corinthians 15:51-52 (NASB) 51Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, 52in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.
DAY OF VICTORY!
One day an assistant of the famous chemist Michael Faraday accidentally knocked a little silver cup into a beaker of very strong acid. In almost no time the silver object disappeared. The great chemist was summoned. He quickly put a certain chemical into the jar, and in a moment every particle of silver came together at the bottom. Removing the shapeless mass, he sent it to a silversmith, who recreated a cup that shone as bright as ever.
What Michael Faraday did in his laboratory is but a small picture of what our mighty God will do on resurrection day for all His saints. He will miraculously restore the bodies of all who have died in Christ. This is the mystery the apostle Paul spoke about in 1 Corinthians 15. He said that when Christ returns, the living saints will be changed in the twinkling of an eye, and the dead will be raised with incorruptible bodies.
3A. A HOPE INSTILLED
1B. Hope For Tomorrow
Acts 24:15 (NASB) 15having a hope in God, which these men cherish themselves, that there shall certainly be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked.
John 11:24-25 (NASB) 24Martha said* to Him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” 25Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies,
Romans 6:5 (NASB) 5For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection,
"RENOVATED AND REPAIRED"
Dr. Harry Ironside frequently emphasized to his friends and relatives that he didn't want an elaborate funeral or an expensive tombstone when the Lord took him to Glory. He requested that his final resting place be marked only by a plain, wooden slab reading: HARRY A. IRONSIDE, SINNER SAVED BY GRACE, MOVED OUT UNTIL RENOVATED AND REPAIRED! As a humble servant of Christ, he was firmly committed to the cardinal doctrine of the resurrection of the body
2B. Hope For Today
1 Peter 1:3 (NASB) 3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
Application
Who will Roll Away the Stone?
"Who will roll the stone?" they questioned,
Early on that Easter day;
When the women reached the garden,
Lo! the stone was rolled away.
Angel hands had been before them,
Wasted was their anxious dread;
They, who thought to touch the body,
Found a risen Lord instead.
In the garden of experience;
Does some rock of great defeat
Keep a dead Christ sealed before you,
Who was once alive and sweet?
Christian, bear the spice of service
To the place you left the Lord‑‑
There to find the tomb forsaken,
Opened of divine accord.
There to turn and meet, with wonder,
In that hushed and holy place,
Jesus Christ, alive and precious,
Speaking with you face to face.
"Who will roll the stone?" they wondered,
Christian, question not today;
Rise up early, seek the garden‑‑
God will roll the stone away.
WHAT JESUS HAS DONE FOR US
He descended that we might ascend (John 6:38; 14:3) He became poor that we might become rich (2CO 8:9; JAM 2:5) He was born that we might be born again (John 1:14; 3:2) He became a servant that we might be sons (PHI 2:7; GAL 4:6‑7) He had no home that we might have a home in heaven (Matthew 8:20: John 14:2) He was hungry that we might be fed (Matthew 4:2; John 6:50) He was thirsty that we might drink of the wells of salvation(John 19:28; ISA 12:3) He was wearied that we might rest (John 4:6; Matthew 11:29) He was stripped that we might be clothed (Matthew 27:28; 2CO 5:4) He was forsaken that we might not be forsaken (Matthew 27:46 13:5) He was sad that we might be glad (ISA 53:3; PHI 4:4) He was bound that we might go free (Matthew 27:2; John 8:32‑36) He was made sin that we might be made righteous (2CO 5:21) He died that we might live (John 19:33; 5:24‑25) He will come down that we may be caught up (1TH 4:16‑17)
The Lord’s Prayer
Matthew 6:9-14 (KJV) 9Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 10Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. 11Give us this day our daily bread. 12And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 13And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. 14For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
Blessing
Romans 16:26-27 (NASB) 25Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret for long ages past, 26but now is manifested, and by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal God, has been made known to all the nations, leading to obedience of faith; 27to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, be the glory forever. Amen.