R sbc
Date: January 29th 2005
Series: Christ The Sum & Substance of the Bible
Sermon # 29
Subject: “ Emotional Discoveries About Jesus”
Text : John 20-1-18
Intro: This is not a new subject, but be assured this morning that it is without a doubt the most important of that Christ did. We all know from the word of God in chapter 15 of the book of 1st Corinthians that we are of all men most miserable if Christ be not risen from this cold dark tomb.
We know that when he died he satisfied the law of God’s divine justice, we know that our sins were taken into account and taken care of. We know that when he died the old covenant vanished with the renting of the Vail in the temple and the new covenant was ushered in.
We know that when he finished his work on the cross that he had a friend name Joseph of Arimathaea who went to beg Pilate for the body of Jesus that he might bury him in his own tomb, fulfilling the prophecy Isaiah 53:9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.
I Title this message “ Emotional Discoveries About Jesus” because I feel as a fellow human being and having experience the loss of friends and love ones, that I know of sone what the emotional state these people were in this great day.
I... Mary Magdalene’s Discovery..vs 1-2
It appears to me that she had not yet believed nor understood the preaching of Christ concerning his resurrection from the dead. I am not saying this to condemn her, but rather to show how weak we all are when it comes to believing what we cannot see nor understand.
According to the account that Mark gave she and the other’s women that came with her went for a specific duty. Mark 16:1 And when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.
MH SAYS “ THE PURPOSE OF ANOINTING THE BODY OF CHRIST WAS TO COVER THE SENT THAT COMES FROM DECAY, BUT LITTLE DID THEY KNOW THERE WAS NEED OF THIS, BECAUSE HIS BODY DID NOT CORRUPT.
It seems to me that basically two people was involved in burring Christ body. Look at chapter 19:38-40. We see Joseph and Nicodemus. Both claiming to be disciples of Christ secretly, for fear of the Jews.
1st. We see her emotion in the fact stated in the text: vs 2
2nd. We see her emotion in her message: vs 2
II.. PETER AND THE OTHER DISCIPLE’S ( John) REACTION..VS 3-10
This was an emotional day for them, many things running through the followers of Christ especially these two men. They were of the inner circle James being the other one. They had been with Christ from the beginning, they were on the Mt of Transfiguration with him, they heard all his messages and yet they could not believe what was going on.
Some discoveries in these verses..
1st. They saw an empty tomb..5-6
2nd. They saw the linen clothes and the napkin neatly placed...vs 7
This tells us that no one stole the body of Christ because if they had there would have been signs of kidnaping a body, there would be nothing left there they would have taken it all.
3RD. John believes..vs 8
4th. They knew not the not the scripture..vs 9
I like what MH says about this verse and I will quote it “ That is, they did not consider and apply, and duly understand what they knew of the scripture. They believed Him to be the Messiah, and He often told them that according to the Old Testament scriptures He must rise again, but they had not the presence of mind to explain this.
It was a strange thing and one of the furthest things from their thoughts. Peter and John were so shy of believing it at first, that nothing less than the most convincing proof could bring them to testify it afterwards with so much assurance.
5th. They went home...vs 10
This was a dangerous time to be seen at this sight especially since the body was gone, for the Jews had already spread the rumor that his body would be stolen and then it would be preached that he was risen from the dead...They knew they could be arrested for it so they just head home.
Just remember that Jesus had told them this was going to happen proving to me that he must open the word to them, are they cannot believe it neither can you and I.
III... “ MARY’S IMPORTANT DISCOVERY THAT DAY”..VS 11-18
1ST. Her discovery was not of human origin..
A. This first being that of Angels..vs 11-13
Matthew’s account of this is more in detail as to what the angels said, the angels descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone where Jesus lay, and sat upon it...his description was he had a countenance was like lightning and his garments were white as snow:
The guards who were at the grave, fell like dead men and had great fear in their hearts because of the seen.
Matt 28:5-6 “ And the angel answered and said unto the women fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus which was crucified he is not here for he is risen as he said come see the place where the Lord lay.”
B. The second discovery was Christ himself revealing who he was to Mary: vs 14-17
What an emotional discovery, She thought along with others that it is over, he is gone, we know not were they have taken him, and CHRIST HIMSELF appears to he. We should likewise be moved great emotion this morning, we are not talking about some mystical story here, we are talking about the truth of the greatest event in history CHRIST THE LORD IS RISEN TODAY” Al - Le- Lu- ia
Sons of men and angels say: Al- le- Lu-ia
Raise joys and triumphs high .. “ ” “ ”
Sing ye heavens and earth reply Al Le- Lu ia
She did not recognize him as to who he was until he calls her by her name “ Mary” vs 16 then she knows him to be the LORD and master for she exclaims it”... Touch me not, and then he tells her why.
A lot of speculation has been made over this verse as to what really was going on at this event, some believe him be making a journey into the heavens to carry his blood to heaven I do not believe that. His offering was accepted at calvary... not on some altar in heaven for he is the altar and the mercy seat and the all in all..
It appears that he was restraining Mary from touching him because she needed to understand the full impact of his resurrection and that he would teach them later. Don’t cling to what you see...I am going to my Father, and my God and your Father and your GOD.
IV... “THE MOST IMPORTANT THING”..VS 17-18
The message of Christianity, Christ is risen...she did not tell them based upon what someone told her, she told them based upon her visual contact and he audible contact with him.
We don’t have that afforded to us: I am like Peter who witnesses this when he was writing his letter...
2 Peter 1:19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
The proof that Christ is us today and that he does rise in our hearts is the written word. We must believe it to be the only evidence of him in us. The next verse proclaims that loud and clear..
2 Peter 1:20-21 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time be the will of man: but holy men of God Spake as the were moved by the Holy Ghost.
You might think that they believed it as soon as she told them, but Luke says they didn’t listen as we read:
Luke 24:10-11 “ It was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and other women that were with them, which told these thing unto the Apostles. And their words seemed to them as idle tales and they believed them not.
Don’t be to critical of these men of GOD at this point we would no doubt in my mind have done the same thing. The only reason that we believe today is because he hath given us faith to believe what we read.
Conclude this morning with some important lessons from this great event:
1st. That believing in the resurrection of Christ is absolute to your salvation:
Romans 10:9 “ That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth The LORD JESUS, and shalt believe in thy heart that GOD RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD thou shalt be saved.
The testimony of the heart must believe before the mouth can make a real confession to the LORD... can you do that this morning.
2nd. Christ is risen from the dead never to die again:
I know that you believe this, but it is such a joy to know that death hath no more dominion over him. Listen to his own testimony:
Revelation 1: 17-18 “ And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not I am the first and the last: I am he that was dead; and behold, I am alive for evermore and have the keys of hell and of death”.
3rd. Christ is risen from the dead to justify us and raise us from the dead one day:
Romans 4:25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.
4th. Christ is risen from the dead so that he could send the Holy Spirit of God to empower the church of Jesus Christ..
John 16:7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.
So it is clear that we have his presence in us and with us today in this church of Jesus Christ, we sense his presence, we worship him, we proclaim him to saint and sinners alike...
There are many more things that could be said but we must close and trust that God will open our hearts to a new found faith in this wonderful story of Christ risen from the dead.