July 19, 2020 - The Empty Tomb

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John 20:1–10 ESV
1 Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. 2 So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” 3 So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. 4 Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, 7 and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. 8 Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; 9 for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead. 10 Then the disciples went back to their homes.
Brennan Manning:
“For me the most radical demand of Christian faith lies in summoning the courage to say yes to the present risenness of Jesus Christ.”
If you’ve been in the business of proclaiming the message of Christ for ANY length of time...
you would know that THE MOST controversial teaching of Christianity is...
THE RESURRECTION
The RISING from the dead of Jesus Christ...
It’s a message that has been labeled...
Absurd
Impossible
Insane
Ridiculous
AND YET - the story STILL has legs...
AFTER ALL THIS TIME - it still has legs...
WHY?
Well - The ULTIMATE reason why is - THE POWER of God...
But in and through that - there are PRACTICAL RESULTS of that power that POINT to the TRUTH of it...
There are a LOT of angles to this thing that people don’t usually consider...
When we CONSIDER the Resurrection - there are really 5 possible explanations:
1.     Jesus didn’t really die on the cross.
2.     Jesus’ body was stolen.
3.     The disciples were hallucinating.
4.     The account is legendary.
5.     It really happened.
SEE - Even the most HARDENED skeptic isn’t FOOLISH enough to think - NOTHING HAPPENED!
EVERY serious - intellectually honest person - KNOWS SOMETHING happened!
According to a New York Times article written in 1988...
“Shortly after Jesus was executed, his followers were suddenly galvanized from a baffled and cowering group into people whose message about a living Jesus and a coming kingdom, preached at the risk of their lives, eventually changed an empire. Something happened … But exactly what?”
And so when we look at the 1st explanation: MAYBE JESUS DIDN’T DIE ON THE CROSS...
We have to consider:
The Romans charged with killing Him were professional killers
All the accounts affirm he died.
Pilate verified he died.
During the lifetime of the eyewitnesses no one disputes his death.
Secular and contemporary historians, (Lucian[6], Josephus[7], and Tacitus[8]), outside of the Bible cite his death as factual.
How about the 2nd CLAIM?
Maybe Jesus’ Body was Stolen?
Well - if we want to entertain this thought - we have to consider...
The tomb belonged to a well-known member of the Sanhedrin Council, Joseph of Arimathea.
The tomb was at a well-known location and easily identifiable...
so any thoughts of Jesus being “lost in the graveyard” don’t make sense.
Not only was the location well known, but the Romans had assigned guards to watch the tomb 24 hours a day.
And this was a trained guard unit comprised of four to 16 soldiers.
Josh McDowell notes, “The Roman Guard unit was committed to discipline and they feared failure in any way.”
No one EVER came forward to say they found the dead body of Christ...
Tom Anderson, former president of the California Trial Lawyers Association has said:
“The silence of history is deafening when it comes to the testimony against the resurrection.”
HOW ABOUT the 3rd explanation?
3. The disciples were just hallucinating…?
Well - the Bible tells us that He appeared to more than 500 people - AT ONE TIME...
1 Corinthians 15:6 ESV
6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep.
None of those 500 came back and said - NO I DIDN’T SEE HIM...
According to psychologist Thomas J. Thorburn.
“It is absolutely inconceivable that … five hundred persons, of average soundness of mind … should experience all kinds of sensuous impressions – visual, auditory, tactual – and that all these … experiences should rest entirely upon … hallucination.”
And ALL of this - verifiable at the time that Paul WROTE 1 Corinthians...
Hallucinations is not a PLAUSIBLE explanation...
How about the 4th explanation?
4. The whole account is Legendary?
Well - problems with this explanation...
1. Legends simply don’t develop while multiple eyewitnesses are alive to refute them. One historian of ancient Rome and Greece, A. N. Sherwin-White, argued that the resurrection news spread too soon and too quickly for it to have been a legend.
2. Even skeptical scholars admit that Christian hymns and creeds were recited in early churches within two to three years of Jesus’ crucifixion. Legends develop by oral tradition and are not supported with contemporary historical documents. Yet the Gospels were written within three decades of the resurrection.
3. The legend theory doesn’t adequately explain either the empty tomb or the fervent conviction of the apostles that Jesus was alive.
And so based on the FACTS of what actually took place back then....the RESPONSE of the apostles…their CONVICTION...
This doesn’t stand as a PLAUSIBLE explanation...
AND SO - that leaves the 5th explanation...
IT REALLY HAPPENED...
NOW - this isn’t what I want to focus on today...
I want to jump back into our text today, and pull what I think impacts ALL OF US in here today...
It impacted those in our text - and it impacts us today...
Let’s go back to it...
John 20:1–2 ESV
1 Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. 2 So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.”
So at this point - Mary Magdalene goes to the tomb…realizes that Jesus isn’t IN THE TOMB...
And so goes and tells Peter and John that Jesus’ body has been MOVED...
What happens?
John 20:3–4 ESV
3 So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. 4 Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first.
(haha) - Poor Peter...
Of ALL details to be written down in the canon of Scripture...
The OTHER disciple - OUTRAN Peter...
oh but don’t worry - Peter will REDEEM himself shortly!
What happens...
John outruns Peter to the tomb, and GETS THERE first!
SO FROM HERE - let’s read the rest of this story and then circle back to this point...
John 20:5–10 ESV
5 And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, 7 and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. 8 Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; 9 for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead. 10 Then the disciples went back to their homes.
OK - we see the whole picture here now...
Here’s what I want us to focus on FIRST...
John GOT TO THE TOMB first - BUT…?
He did NOT go in!
Had he TRULY believed at that point??
NO
How do we know?
John 20:8 ESV
8 Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed;
He - SAW and BELIEVED!
Which means - prior to ENTERING the TOMB - he had NOT truly believed!
QUESTION...
SLIDE: The Empty Tomb: Are You Still Standing Outside?

The Empty Tomb

The Bible makes it CRYSTAL CLEAR - that NOT ALL who:
Sought out Jesus
Came to Jesus
Even Believed in Jesus...
Were SAVED!
And we can look at each of these scenarios in Scripture...
The crowd of 5000 people seeking to FIND JESUS...
They WANTED Jesus...
The crowd there to see Jesus ride into Jerusalem...
PRAISING Him as He rode in...
So what was the problem?
Yes they SOUGHT after Jesus - BUT IT DIDN’T MATTER...
WHY?
Because they’re motives were EARTHLY!!
They didn’t want Jesus FOR JESUS....they wanted Jesus for THEMSELVES...
and their EARTHLY DESIRES!!!
And here’s what the Bible says about that!!
Colossians 3:5 ESV
5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.
The Rich Young Ruler CAME TO JESUS....
What about him?
Was he saved?
Of course not - His RESPONSE TO Jesus - showed us differently!
He comes to Jesus DESIRING ETERNAL life!
He wanted to BE HAPPY - forever
Sounds GOOD right?
What was his problem?
His problem was that his HAPPINESS was rooted in - WEALTH/Money
AND SO - his idea of ETERNAL happiness was - eternal wealth
WELL - Jesus let him know where his happiness should be rooted...
And the rich man wasn't feeling it!
Matthew 19:22 ESV
22 When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
He CAME to Jesus - didn't mean anything
How He RESPONDED mattered
HOW ABOUT THOSE who BELIEVED in Jesus...??
James 2:19–20 ESV
19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! 20 Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless?
Do you see - there IS a kind of BELIEF in God that WON'T SAVE you...!
TRUE Saving Faith displays itself - PRACTICALLY - in REAL ways...
For John that day - he ran to the tomb - FULL SPEED ahead!
BUT THEN - - He DID NOT enter...
He was CONTENT standing OUTSIDE the tomb - just PEERING in
Content - at THAT MOMENT - in his UNCERTAINTY...
He MAY have even THOUGHT that he BELIEVED...that he was CONVINCED as to what this all meant...
But the Bible tells us differently!
STANDING outside the tomb - he didn't BELIEVE...
*How many of us - come here WEEK after WEEK - and yet - REMAIN outside the tomb...
CONTENT to just PEER inside...
I've said it before and I'll continue to do so
You can come here week after week - and yet -
if you don't engage this flock...
If you don't make choices to engage…the ministries at this church
you will ALWAYS be a visitor...
That's ONE SIDE OF THIS -
See John NOT entering the tomb - speaks to us CHRISTIANS today...
BUT there IS an aspect of Christianity where John NOT entering the tomb ALSO speaks to UNBELIEVERS...
the other side is this ...
Some people come to the TOMB...And inside that tomb - is their OWN grave...And they DON'T WANT to walk in...
They don't want to DIE to self...in order to gain ETERNAL LIFE...They're content with - Just Peering in from the outside...
Galatians 2:19–20 ESV
19 For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. 20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
What does Paul say here?
He says - I DIED with Christ...
EVERY Christian - every follower of Jesus - has ENTERED the tomb...
Those who REMAIN - OUTSIDE the tomb - and who have NOT DIED to SELF - are NOT SAVED....
Regardless of what they know...
John STOPPED and did NOT enter...But that's not the whole story
John 20:4–7 ESV
4 Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, 7 and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself.
So you can picture this right?
John gets there first - STOPS...doesn't go in...
And then Peter comes running up - KEEPS running and goes right into the tomb...
Should we be SHOCKED that Peter was like - LET ME IN THERE!!
For ALL the craziness associated with Peter -
All of the OUTBURSTS
All of the “Putting his foot in his mouth”
For ALL the things we would never want to MIMIC in Peter’s life...
THIS - surely - was something we should PURSUE!
In THIS instance - we should STRIVE to BE LIKE PETER...
WHY?
SLIDE: The Empty Tomb: Others Are Watching How We Respond

The Empty Tomb

What happened AFTER Peter ran into the TOMB?
John 20:8 ESV
8 Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed;
So John shows up first - and STOPS...
UNSURE of what’s in there!
UNSURE of what he’ll see!
Maybe had DOUBTS…didn’t WANT to be disappointed...
And so - JUST STOPPED...
BUT THEN Peter - charges RIGHT in!
**It’s like with your kids…when they go upstairs and the lights are off in the room, they’ll literally wait till I walk past them and enter the room...
It took Peter going in FIRST - to CONVINCE John to ALSO enter...
And what was the result of that?
“he SAW - and BELIEVED!”
Next verse...
John 20:9 ESV
9 for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead.
Remember - the STONE wasn’t ROLLED away so that Jesus could GET OUT...
It was rolled away so that MAN could GET IN!
Every UNBELIEVER in this world right now - is standing outside the TOMB of Jesus Christ!
They never WENT IN...
They stay OUTSIDE - and live life BASED on their ASSUMPTIONS about Jesus...
INSTEAD of EXAMINING what He’s LEFT US...
HIS WORD!!
You - IN YOUR LIFE - are providing an example to your KIDS, your FAMILY…your friends…coworkers...
You’re TEACHING them about Jesus...
If your LIFE is spent OUTSIDE the tomb - you’re teaching them that Jesus isn’t WORTH entering the tomb...
That He isn’t worth sacrificing for...
See - what did THIS verse say?
“AS YET they did not understand the scripture…that He must rise from the dead!”
EVER read the Bible and think - I HAVE NO IDEA how what I just read - pertains to me!
I have NO IDEA what this is talking about...
HOW THIS is relevant!
Have you ever considered - MAYBE the ANSWER is waiting...
Out ON THE WATER!
Out ON THE THIN ICE
On the OTHER SIDE of the BRIDGE that is WEAK
At the top of the ROPE that is READY to BREAK??
COULD IT BE - that the answer IS - WHERE FAITH LIVES?
IN THE PLACE where FAITH IS REQUIRED?
In Scripture we SEE this PLAY OUT...
BY FAITH:
Abraham OBEYED God - by going out - not knowing where he was going...
The ANSWER was OUT where faith was required!
Abraham, when he was tested, offered up ISAAC, only THEN to receive his answer…and his son back
The ANSWER was OUT where faith was required!
**Pastor down in Texas:
2002 - Hired at a church
YOUNG church
Felt like he needed to help PREPARE them to SUFFER
2009 this pastor gets diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor
He concluded by saying - ALL this time I think I’m preparing the congregation to SUFFER…and God was actually preparing ME to suffer...
He said - “I don’t think I understood what Paul said when he said - I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us...
UNTIL - I crossed that threshold into SUFFERING...
The REALITY of what Paul said - BECAME MORE CLEAR when SUFFERING became a REALITY!
The ANSWERS are often OUT where FAITH is REQUIRED!!
AND when we CHOOSE to GO THERE>...
to go out ON THE THIN ICE...
to go out ON the waves...
to cross the bridge that is WEAK...
When we make THOSE choices…for God’s GLORY...
Others will be EMBOLDENED to do the same...
John 20:6–8 ESV
6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, 7 and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. 8 Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed;
WHERE ARE YOU STANDING - right now?
Are you IN THE TOMB… examining life in light of JESUS?
OR - are you standing outside the tomb…content to simply PEER in?
Getting only a PARTIAL view of reality?
SUMMARY:
The Empty Tomb
Are You In Or Out?
Others Are Watching
Let’s Pray
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