The Love of Christ: His Resurrection
John 20:1-18
I. Confused response to the love of Christ; 20:1-2.
1 Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. 2 So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don't know where they have put him!"
It is not clear why John does not mention any woman, but John focuses on Mary Magdalene. It was early morning when Mary Magdalene saw the first sign of the resurrection--the removed stone. Mary Magdalene is completely perplexed by the sight of the empty tomb. Accordingly, she ran to tell Peter and the beloved disciple about her concern for the removal of the body of "the Lord". The only possibility that crossed Mary's mind was that the body must have been stolen.
One response to the resurrection of Jesus is still one of denial or confusion. All our hope for today and eternity lies in the fact of the resurrection of Jesus. To come to God, you need to move beyond doubt and confusion about the resurrection of Jesus. The power of the resurrection points us to the true and certain hope of salvation and eternal life, no matter what circumstances we find ourselves in.
II. Belief begins in response to the love of Christ; 20:3-10.
3 So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. 4 Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter, who was behind him, arrived and went into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, 7 as well as the burial cloth that had been around Jesus' head. The cloth was folded up by itself, separate from the linen. 8 Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. 9 (They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.) 10 Then the disciples went back to their homes,
In the story of Mary Magdalene John inserted the story of Peter and the beloved disciple, who is John. Peter is mentioned first and probably took the initiative and set off. John then decided to come, too. They were running to the tomb. John who started second reached the tomb first. When the beloved disciple arrived at the tomb, he bent down to look into the tomb at the linen bandages. Before long, the slower running Peter arrived at the tomb. Peter rushed right into the tomb. Peter saw the burial wrappings separated from the head/face covering. This means that the body had not been taken by grave robbers.
Based on the evidence before his eyes, the Beloved Disciple believed that a resurrection had taken place, even despite his ignorance of the significance of the Scripture bearing on this point. It was belief in the resurrection that came first. Believers did not manufacture a resurrection to agree with their interpretation of prophecy. They were first convinced that Jesus was risen and in the light of that came to see a fuller meaning in some Old Testament passages.
You can believe that Jesus was resurrected and still not have a saving faith. You must also believe that you are a sinner, that Jesus died in your place, and defeated death through His resurrection - then place your faith in Him for forgiveness and eternal life.
III. Jesus clarifies His love seen in an empty tomb; 20:11-18.
11 but Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb 12 and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus' body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot. 13 They asked her, "Woman, why are you crying?" "They have taken my Lord away," she said, "and I don't know where they have put him." 14 At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus. 15 "Woman," he said, "why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?" Thinking he was the gardener, she said, "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him." 16 Jesus said to her, "Mary." She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, "Rabboni!" (which means Teacher). 17 Jesus said, "Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, 'I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.' " 18 Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: "I have seen the Lord!" And she told them that he had said these things to her.
In contrast to the two who went home, Mary was standing outside the tomb and weeping. Mary was not crying merely over the death of Jesus but because she was sure that the body had been violated as well. While she continued weeping, she stooped down and peered in. Through her tears she saw two angelic beings clothed in white sitting on the burial slab where Jesus previously would have been lying - one at the head position and the other at the place where the feet would have been.
The angels asked Mary why she was crying. "They have taken my Lord away," she said, "and I don't know where they have put him." She may have heard a movement behind her. She turned right around and saw Jesus standing there. Jesus repeats the question of the angels, "Woman, why are you crying?" and adds, "Who is it you are looking for?" Mary took Him for the gardener. "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him."
The transforming process of Mary coming to recognize the risen Lord took place when Jesus called her name, "Mary." Mary's response was immediate, for her cries of sorrow turned to a word of exclamation and personal association,"Rabboni" (my dear Rabbi). Jesus said, "Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father.” It is as though Jesus were saying, stop clinging to me. There is no need for this, for I am not yet at the point of permanent ascension. You will have opportunity to see me.
But there is something that Mary can do for Jesus. She is told to go to His brothers and tell them, 'I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’ Mary Magdalene immediately went to the disciples with the news: "I have seen the Lord!" She began with seeing an empty tomb and telling her story - now she has seen Jesus and is telling His story.
Maybe you’ve reacted confused or incorrectly regarding the resurrection. Jesus corrects our understanding. You cannot take control of Jesus! But you can acknowledge Him. Jesus is calling your name to put your faith in Him for forgiveness and eternal life.
Jesus’ resurrection cuts through all the theories of how to be spiritually alive. It is through faith in Him! There’s no better time than today to be a part of God’s story of salvation and tell the story of Jesus, especially when so many are confused and misreading what’s important.
