The Resurrection of our Lord, sermon for Easter Sunday April 9, 2023
John 20:1–2 1Now 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. 2So 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.”
Christ has risen, He has risen indeed!
Christ has risen, He has risen indeed!
Christ has risen, He has risen indeed!
Thanks to Christ Jesus that He has risen and we worship this risen Lord. The experience of a lifetime has come and is coming. That One dies for many and then lives forever. Sounds so simple and in some ways, it is, that is if you are God.
The hard part would have been, I think, looking at all the lost souls who cheered, crucify Him, crucify Him and wondering what they will say once they realize their eternal life. The part that would make this all worthwhile, again, I think, would be knowing for sure all of those you saved. And not only did Jesus Christ save a multitude of God’s people, but He will get to see these people again.
Who’s face will show the most surprise? What will the reaction be when all realize Jesus shares with them His glory in eternal life. On bent knee, or prostrated on one’s stomach, all worshipping in a most amazing thanks and praise ever witnessed. What glory, what joy, all emanating from those who see their new bodies clothed in the righteousness of Christ Jesus. Christ did not just rise from the dead but shows us through His resurrection life eternal is the climax of a journey that only Christ Jesus can bring us to.
John 20:3–6a 3So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. 4Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. 6Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb.
History is always being made, but history may not always be recorded, and if you change the recording it does not change history. The apostles witnessed Jesus die and they witnessed Jesus the resurrected Lord. If they had any doubts before, Jesus washed them away in the moment of His materializing before them.
The grave Jesus laid in was no longer populated with the body of someone who had died. The tomb door of heavy stone laid open. The only thing that remained was the linens that once wrapped the Lord of salvation and an Angel to assure the onlookers the savior had now risen from the dead.
Jesus Has Risen, He has risen indeed!
Jesus Has Risen, He has risen indeed!
Jesus Has Risen, He has risen indeed!
John 20:6b–10 6bHe saw the linen cloths lying there, 7and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. 8Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; 9for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead. 10Then the disciples went back to their homes.
An awakening. From the dead Jesus Christ awoke to complete His mission to His people and to all people throughout history and time. Jesus no longer needed to rest in the grave, but now resurrected He goes to those whom He taught for the last three years. Jesus goes to His disciples to show them He is the living God whom they walked with and was called to be His Apostles to the world.
Jesus the Christ made himself known to His disciples so they will understand that He is the risen Lord. Their faith will now grow tenfold and more. Now all Christs disciples will witness firsthand what He has taught them will indeed come true. And it has, and it will continually, and we to will all be witnesses of Christ’s promises coming true for all believers.
John 20:11–14 11But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept, she stooped to look into the tomb. 12And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. 13They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” 14Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus.
In our tears we miss much. We feel the loss of those who have gone before us. But a time comes for all to have to leave this life and when we do, we have much to look forward to. No one can take away the gift that God has given us though we are undeserving we are made to share in the glory of eternal life. Jesus did not remain dead, and neither will we because of Christ.
John 20:16–18 16Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). 17Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”
Mary could not cling to what was just resurrected as the dead cannot cling to the living. Mary, like us are dead to sin but in our resurrection we will be alive to Christ Jesus.
Jesus had not ascended to the glory of the Father and maybe receive His new attire. Maybe as one ascends into the kingdom of heaven, one will acquire the new promised body. Who knows but God how we acquire our new body. With the arms of the living, one can cling to the living and especially to the living God, Jesus Christ. Now we can wait our turn with open arms as Christ waits for us with open arms. He will greet us, and we will greet our risen Lord in heaven with insurmountable Joy.
He has Risen, He Has Risen indeed!.
He has Risen, He Has Risen indeed!
He has Risen, He Has Risen indeed!
Amen.
Written by Pastor Curtis A. May