John 19:40

vv 40-42)Death resulted in commitment

As we had discussed last week that Joseph and Nicodemus, out of fear, acted cowardly while Jesus was still alive. Unable to fully follow after the Messiah. Now they showed a courage and a boldness unmatched by the disciples.

Openly taking the body of Jesus from the cross they would face harsh criticism from the council and their closest friends and family.

They gave Jesus their best. From the mixture of spices and linens to the tomb never used before. Mt 27:59-60

Matthew 27:59–60 ESV

59 And Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen shroud 60 and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had cut in the rock. And he rolled a great stone to the entrance of the tomb and went away.

Because the openly buried Jesus just before the Sabbath. This eliminated them from taking part in the great Passover Feast.

The point I want to make is this, these two men were once secret disciples, now they stepped forward making an unashamed commitment to the Son of God.

The courage demonstrated by them is desperately needed by all.

How might we demonstrate this kind of courage in our own lives?

We need the courage to make a similar stand for Christ.

The courage to risk all for Christ, even if it does cost us our positions, esteem wealth, and life.

The courage to unashamedly care for the body of Christ, the church.

The courage to be unashamed witness for Christ.

Matthew 10:32–33 ESV

32 So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, 33 but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.

Romans 1:16–17 ESV

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”

Chapter 20

vv 1-2) Mary Magdalene

The first day of the week was Sunday. Mary went to the tomb before dawn. The tomb was a small room carved in the side of a hill or cliff. The stone, no doubt, was shaped like a coin- round and flat. It would fit into a groove or gutter along the front of the tomb and could be rolled across the door to close it. The stone would have weighed several tons.

When Mary got there, the stone had been removed already. This, incidentally, had taken place after Christ’s resurrection, as we learned in Matthew 28.

What are some of the significant facts around the resurrection?

Christians would make Sundays the start of the week for one.

Jesus arising from the dead was a triumph, a conquest over death. Death reigning no more. Its rule has been broken. As Paul would say: 1 Cor 15:55-56

1 Corinthians 15:55–56 ESV

55 “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.

What might be the importance of the stone being rolled back? How might this be a strong evidence for the resurrection?

This stone was not rolled back for the benefit of Christ, but for the witnesses to the resurrection. When Christ arose, He was in His resurrection body, the spiritual body of the spiritual dimension which has no physical bounds. The witnesses needed to enter the tomb to see the truth.

[2] When we look at verse two, why is Mary running to Peter important?

The faithfulness and devotion of women at the crucifixion and resurrection of our Lord should be noticed. The disciples had forsaken the Lord and fled. The women stood by without regard for their personal safety.

Peter is the focus of the disciples, I believe, because he needed to understand that God was not through with Him. Rejection is not a one and done sin against God, so long as you live.

I also love the face that here Mary’s unquestioning love for the Savior is shown. Even though she did not understand completely she is a shining example of one who loves and believes.

vv 3-6) The great race

John and Peter’s shocking discovery. They “went forth” to the tomb. And I love the fact that John tells the readers that he outran Peter.

When John arrived at the tomb, he just glanced in and noticed the linen clothes. Peter actually entered the tomb, and notices the same thing. take note of the linens clothes.

What is the spiritual application?

If a man or woman wishes to discover the empty tomb, he must get up and “go forth” to look at it. He must investigate, and then they will see. Getting up and going forth is the only way a man can ever discover the risen Lord. Resting in the comforts and lethargy of this world will never help a man find Jesus.

vv 7-10) Clothes

Note the linen clothes. Standing outside while Peter was inside the tomb, John’s mind was apparently whirling, pondering, wondering, and thinking. Then suddenly it dawned upon him: the linen clothes were lying undisturbed.

The Greek word is saying that the lines were “still in their fold,” wrapped just like they would be wrapped around a body- as if the body had just evaporated.

Note John’s immediate belief. John did not believe because of insurmountable evidence but because he loved Jesus. Seeing the linen clothes penetrated John’s mind, and he remembered Jesus’ prophecy that He would arise.

This is the point of this account of the linen clothes and of the way the account is recorded. This is also the point of the resurrection account. A loving God wants love- a heart full of love. He wants a person to simply believe that God is and that God is rewarder of them that love Him: Heb 11:6

Hebrews 11:6 ESV

6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.