The Empty Tomb John 20: 1-18 The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the pivotal point of all human history

Grace Bible Church Glorifying God by Making Disciples of Jesus Christ

The Empty Tomb John 20:1-18

• The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the pivotal point of all human history

• 1 Corinthians 15:17-19

• Without the resurrection, there is no hope

• Our hope is not a wish, it is a confident assurance because Jesus Christ has been raised from the dead

Mary at the Tomb John 20:1-2

• Mary arrives at the tomb while it is still dark.

• The other women arrive at sunrise

• They come with spices to finish the burial preparations

Mary at the Tomb John 20:1-2

• There was a severe earthquake when the angel rolled the stone away from the tomb

• The earthquake

• ensured everyone was awake
• It broke the Roman seal on the tomb

Mary at the Tomb John 20:1-2

• The stone was rolled away -

• not to let Jesus out,
• but to let people in

• The guards were so afraid they “became as dead men”

Mary at the Tomb John 20:1-2

• Mary believed someone had taken Jesus body and ran until she came to Peter and John

• The other women saw the angel and were told that Jesus had risen from the dead

Peter and John at the Tomb John 20:3-10

• John gets to the tomb before Peter, but does not go in until after Peter arrives and goes in

• They had not understood Jesus’ previous teachings that He would rise from the dead - Mark 9:31-32

Peter and John at the Tomb John 20:3-10

• The rolled up linens in the tomb showed there was no hurry - opposite of what a thief would have done

Jesus Reveals Himself To Mary John 20:11-18

• Mary returned to the tomb and talked to two angels

• Mary then talked to Jesus, but thought He was the gardener

• Mary recognized Jesus when He called her by name, then she clung to Him

Jesus Reveals Himself To Mary John 20:11-18

• Jesus did not object to being touched –

• The other women did (Matt. 28:9)
• He invited it (Luke 24:38-39)

• Jesus told Mary to stop clinging for He had to ascend to the Father first

Jesus Reveals Himself To Mary John 20:11-18

• Jesus now refers to His followers as members of the same family - “My Father and your Father”

• We are joint heirs with Jesus (Rom. 8:17), but we are sons by adoption (Gal. 4:5 cf John 1:12; etc)

Jesus Reveals Himself To The Eleven John 20:19-29; Luke 24:36f

• The women went and told the disciples, but they would not believe (Mark 16:13-14; Luke 24:10-11)

• They did not believe until they saw Jesus risen from the dead for themselves

Jesus’ Enemies Matthew 28:11-15

• The guards returned to Jerusalem and reported to the chief priests

• The chief priests showed no concern for the things of God or truth,

• The guards were bribed to say that they fell asleep and the disciples stole Jesus’ body

The False Story of Jesus’ Enemies Matthew 28:11-15

• Falling asleep on post was punishable by death. The priests had to protect the guards

• How could the guards stay asleep through the earthquake and the stone being moved away?

The False Story of Jesus’ Enemies Matthew 28:11-15

• If the guards were asleep, how would they know what happened to Jesus’ body?

• If the guards had woken up and seen the thieves, why didn’t they stop them?

Conclusions

• Jesus’ tomb was found empty - what effect does that fact have on your life?

• Do you believe fabricated stories and reject Jesus’ resurrection from the dead?

• Do you remain skeptical demanding God meet your standards of evidence?

Conclusions

• Do you remain weighed down by the circumstances that surround you?

• Do you live in the transcendent hope for the future in God’s love & promises proven by the resurrection?

Grace Bible Church Glorifying God by Making Disciples of Jesus Christ