Jesus Gives Us Responsibility - John 20:1-18 - Communion

Introduction

Jesus called Matthew to follow Him.

Matthew left his job, his position, his wealth, all of it. He left it all behind.

With Jesus he lived in poverty, with Jesus he was mocked, misunderstood, and abused.

Tradition tells us that Matthew died as a martyr telling people about Jesus.

Matthew had no regrets.

Judas was a faker.

Judas lied, cheated, deceived, and betrayed.

Judas talked the talk, but he never gave Jesus his heart.

Judas had regrets.

We are gathered here this morning because our great God and Savior Jesus Christ died on a Cross, bearing our guilt, our sin, our shame.

We are gathered here this morning because Jesus didn’t stay in the grave where they laid Him!

Jesus is alive!

And because Jesus is alive, we have a job to do.

The choice that lies before all of us is to embrace the responsibility we have been given by Christ, or to live with regret.

This morning we are going to walk through John’s account of the resurrection.

As we do we are going to learn three responsibilities we have because Jesus rose from the dead.

After we have learned our responsibility, we are going to remember the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ by taking communion together.

Principle:

Jesus rose from the dead to give us forgiveness and purpose.

Guidance:

The resurrection of Jesus presents us with three responsibilities.

Outcome:

When we proclaim the resurrection of Christ, lives are forever changed.

Three responsibilities presented to us by the resurrection.

Responsibility #1…

1. Hear The Message vv. 1-3

Here we are, the first day of the week, it’s early (more early for some than for others) and we are remembering the empty tomb.

For just a moment, imagine that you are Mary.

Jesus changed your life beyond recognition.

Not too long ago, Jesus had cast 7 demons out of you.

If it were not for Jesus, you don’t even want to imagine what and where you would be.

If you hadn’t met Jesus, you would be so lost.

But, now, Jesus is dead.

You were there! You saw the horribly abused body of your Lord!

You saw them mock Him, spit on Him, and gamble for His clothes!

When Joseph got His body you followed him to the tomb.

All you want to do is honor your dead teacher.

It’s nothing big, just some burial spices.

But can you do less for the One who has done so much for you?

You arrive at the tomb… And the stone has been rolled away!

What is going on!

You have to tell someone, so you run to tell the disciples.

Could you feel it?

The anguish, the loss, the confusion, and desperation.

Other accounts tell us that at first some of the disciples didn’t believe Mary.

Peter and John hear the message and they run to the tomb.

Mary’s first response should be ours.

The reality of the empty tomb should motivate us to tell others.

We should have the urgency of Peter and John, running to see this sight.

The sacrifice and devotion we see already in these first three verses convicts us of our sometimes causal approach to Jesus.

There is a message we need to hear.

THE TOMB IS EMPTY!

There is no one there!

Jesus is alive!

What are we going to do about it?

Who are we going to tell?

If we are going to tell people about Jesus, there is something we must know.

We must know the gospel.

What is it?

I’m glad you asked.

Go to 1 Corinthians 15:1-4.

1 Corinthians 15:1-4

This is the gospel.

The gospel is what saves us.

The gospel has been preached to us, we have received it, and we stand in it.

The word gospel means good news.

What is the good news?

Christ died for our sins! He was buried and He rose again the third day!

This is the message we need to hear.

This is the gospel.

Christ died, was buried, and rose again to deliver us from the penalty, power, and presence of sin.

The message we must hear is the good news of Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection.

This is what salvation is all about.

This is the message.

Mary ran from the tomb to bring the disciples the news that it was empty.

We need to hear the message.

The Tomb is Empty!

Jesus is alive!

Because He is alive, our sin can be forgiven.

Sing with me

“The Lord Is My Salvation”

Our debt is paid! The victory is won!

The Lord is our salvation.

That is the message we need to hear.

Three responsibilities presented to us by the resurrection.

Responsibility #1: Hear the message.

Responsibility #2…

2. Believe The Message vv. 4-10

There is quite a bit of specific detail here.

3 separate times we are told that the linen cloths that had been wound around the body of Jesus were lying there.

The point being made is that there was no body.

They could clearly see the cloths, but there was no body.

Both Peter and John see this clearly.

They even go into the tomb and see this.

They also see that the part that covered Jesus’ face was in a separate location by itself.

Part of this detail demonstrates that this was no robbery.

Why leave the grave clothes and take the time to fold up the face covering?

Another element of this is the reality that Jesus left every part of the grave behind.

There is clear intentionality to these things.

Jesus wanted there to be no doubt whatsoever that He was risen!

I want to focus on vv. 8.-9

They go into the tomb, see the graveclothes and believe.

They didn’t yet know that Scripture says He would rise again.

They had, however, heard Jesus Himself say that.

Mark 8:31 records this for us.

Mark 8:31

Mark 8:31 NKJV

31 And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.

They didn’t know that Scripture revealed this, but they had heard Jesus say it.

The problem was, they hadn’t believed.

Now they believed.

We have both the testimony of Scripture, and these eye witness accounts.

Do we believe?

In John 20:29 Jesus says this to Thomas.

John 20:29

John 20:29 NKJV

29 Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

This is us! We believe, though we have not seen.

Jesus Christ is risen!

Faith in Christ and His finished work is what saves us!

Look at Romans 10:8-11.

Romans 10:8-11

Confess the Lord Jesus and believe that God has raised Him from the dead!

We cannot deny the resurrection and still be saved.

Do we believe?

Have you placed your faith in Jesus?

The word “saved” means “delivered”.

When we trust in Jesus we are delivered.

From what? From the penalty of sin.

What is the penalty of sin?

Death, eternal separation from God.

The only way we can be saved is through Jesus Christ (Jn. 14:6; Ac. 4:12).

We must believe the message of a personal savior. Christ died, was buried, and rose again for my sin.

If you have never trusted in Him.

Do it.

Don’t leave here with your eternal destination unknown.

Place your faith in Jesus.

He died!

He was buried!

He is risen!

All to have a relationship with you.

Sing with me

#105 “He Is Lord”

He IS Lord!

Trust in Him.

One day every knee will bow and tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.

Confess Him now.

Submit to His Lordship now.

Three responsibilities presented to us by the resurrection.

Responsibility #1: Hear the message.

Responsibility #2: Believe the message.

Responsibility #3…

3. Proclaim The Message vv. 11-18

This is one of my favorite encounters with the resurrected Jesus.

Mary has experienced the personal impact of Jesus’ ministry.

She wants nothing more than to honor her Lord.

Even an encounter with angels doesn’t lessen her grief!

It isn’t until she knows who Jesus is that everything changes.

This is true for all of us.

It is when we know who Jesus is and what He has done that everything changes!

Jesus says to Mary what He says to us all, why are you weeping? Who are you seeking?

Why are we carrying all this pain ourselves?

Who are we seeking?

Why don’t we run to Jesus?!

Why don’t we seek Him?

We seek relief in all the wrong places.

Mary is standing there.

Weeping, broken, hurting.

But then… Jesus calls her name.

We stand all alone, broken, hurting, lost, and confused.

Then Jesus calls our name!

He speaks to us and we come to Him.

We come to Him with our cares, our burdens, our concerns and He takes them all on Himself!

He takes our sin on Himself!

He nails our offenses to the Cross and they are wiped out by His blood!

There is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus!

We are cleansed, forgiven, purified, and justified by His blood!

We are no longer slaves to sin, we are free in Christ.

After Mary recognizes Jesus, He gives her a job to do.

Mary, go and tell.

So she does.

This same command has been given to us.

Go and tell.

Tell the world the good news.

Jesus died for our sin!

He was buried, and He rose again!

JESUS IS ALIVE!

Romans 10:14-15a says this

Romans 10:14-15a

Romans 10:14–15 (NKJV)

14 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?

15 And how shall they preach unless they are sent?

Outside these walls there lies a multitude of people we are lost, hurting, and broken.

They need to hear that there is hope in Christ! There is healing in Christ! There is forgiveness, and cleansing, and life in Jesus!

They hear as we proclaim the good news of Jesus.

We who have been transformed by His grace must tell others of Him.

We proclaim to all that the gospel offers hope, healing, and forgiveness. By grace we are saved through faith.

Once we come to Jesus we are never the same.

We have a new life, new hope, new purpose.

Sing with me

“The Gospel Changes Everything”

Jesus has transformed us by His grace.

We come to Him and he makes us new.

What a God we serve!

Turn with me to 1 Corinthians 11:23-32

This is a time for believers to remember the price that was paid. To be reminded of the penalty of sin. Taking part of communion does not save you. This is simply a way for us to be reminded of what Christ has done. If you know the Lord as savior this morning, please join us in bread and juice as we remember Jesus Christ. These are only symbols, they represent the body and blood of our Savior. Examination – verses 26-32

OBSERVANCE OF COMMUNION

1 Corinthians 11:23-32

The Bread (His Body) vv. 23-24 “Calvary Covers It All”

Calvary covers it all

My past with its sin and stain

My guilt and despair

Jesus took on Him there

And Calvary covers it all

The Cup (His Blood) v. 25 “The Blood Will Never Lose Its Power”

It reaches to the highest mountain

It flows to the lowest valley

The blood that gives me strength

From day to day

It will never lose its pow'r

Conclusion

SLIDE of empty tomb

We have a responsibility to hear the message of salvation.

Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.

We have a responsibility to believe the message.

Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved.

We have a responsibility to proclaim the message.

They cannot believe if they do not hear and they cannot hear without a preacher.

Some refer to this day as Easter Sunday, others call it Resurrection Sunday.

Regardless of what you choose to call it, this day is about 1 thing and 1 thing only.

Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures.

He was buried, and He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.

Because He is alive sin and death have been defeated.

Because He is alive we have an eternal hope!

Because He is alive all who place their faith in Him are given all things necessary for life and godliness!

Because He is alive, we have nothing to fear.

Trust in Jesus.

There is salvation in no other.

He is the only way to life.

We cannot earn heaven, it doesn’t come by will or desire.

Ephesians 2:8-9 explains it so clearly.

Ephesians 2:8-9

Ephesians 2:8–9 NKJV

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.

This offer is available to all.

No one is excluded.

COMMITMENT:

At every opportunity I will tell others about life in Jesus.

In 1 Corinthians 15 Paul makes it clear that we would have no hope, no life, no salvation apart from the resurrection of Jesus.

Today we celebrate the reality that Christ is risen!

Because Christ is risen we have been given responsibility.

Hearing the gospel message brings joy and rejoicing.

This is the message of hope and life in Christ!

Believing the gospel message gives us security.

We are kept by the power of God.

Proclaiming the gospel message is our mission.

Neither is there salvation in any other, there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.

Hear, believe, and proclaim the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

He is risen!