SERMON TITLE: PROOFS OF JESUS' RESURRECTION

SERMON TEXT: John 20:1-18

SERMON THESIS: Scripture is replete with infallible proofs that Jesus is alive.

INTRODUCTION: In the words of the late, great Matthew Henry, "There was no one thing of which the Apostles were more concerned to produce substantial proof than the resurrection of their master: 1) Because it was that which He Himself appealed to as the last and most cogent proof of His being the Messiah; 2) Because it was upon this the performance of His undertaking for our redemption and salvation did depend". He goes on to say, "In these verses, we have the first step towards the proof of Christ's resurrection, which is, that the sepulcher was found empty" - MH

I. SURPRISED AT HIS ABSENCE: THE EMPTY TOMB

"Now on the first day of the week µMary Magdalene came early to the tomb, while it was still dark, and saw the stone already taken away from the tomb. So she ran and came to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and said to them, "They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him"(John 20:1-2).

"And they said to her, "µWoman, why are you weeping?" She said to them, "Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him." When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus" (John 20:13-14).

1. Surprised because the stone had been rolled away. It was in the year 2000, that Carolyn and I had the opportunity to make our first trip to Jerusalem, and tour the Holy Land. One of the highlights of the trip was our visit to Gordon's Tomb, the tomb in which it is believe that Jesus was buried. Arriving at this historical site, we were not surprised that the stone had been removed. Furthermore, upon our entrance into the tomb, we were not surprised at the absence of Jesus' body. Why? Unlike Mary, and the other disciples who arrived at the tomb to discover that the stone had been removed, we had already experienced the miracle of resurrection. The stone for us had been rolled away the moment we trusted Jesus as our Savior. You see, we didn't have unrealistic expectations of finding Jesus in a tomb, because He was living in our hearts. There are many persons today who need to experience the miracle of resurrection by trusting Jesus as their Savior. If you don't know Him, I have good news for you. In the words of Max Lucado, using the title of one of his books: He Still Moves Stones. Speaking of moving stones, in light of Mary,and the disciples' finding an empty tomb, someone once wrote, "God did not roll away the stone to let Jesus out. He rolled away the stone to let them see in."

2. Surprised because they had not understood the Scripture. Mary went to the tomb expecting to find a dead Jesus, but instead she found an empty tomb. Why? She, like the other disciples, had not understood Jesus' teachings. It was not until after the resurrection that she, and the other disciples, experienced the living Christ. The Bible says...

"So the other disciple who µhad first come to the tomb then also entered, and he saw and believed. For as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead" (John 20:8-9).

Jesus was hidden from Mary, because she was looking for Him in the wrong place. Jesus is still hidden to many persons today simply because they do not understand the teaching of Jesus, as revealed in Scripture. He remains hidden to them behind the "ism's" of this age. He remains hidden behind the stained glass windows of religion. He remains hidden behind the philosophies and faulty belief systems of this world and age. Jesus cannot be found in religion, or in any of the other places where persons may search for him. He can only be found in a relationship. A relationship that begins with a faith experience. Mary would be found by Jesus, because she had a relationship with Him. You see, Jesus knew her by name. Did not Jesus, Himself say, "I am the good Shepherd; I know My sheep and My sheep know me..."(John 10:14)? It was in the garden, near the tomb, that "Jesus said to her, ‘Mary'"(John 20:16). It was after that unexpected encounter, in the words of Scripture that, "She turned to Him and cried out in Aramaic, Rabboni! (which means teacher)" (John 20:16).

Is Jesus hidden to you? If so, perhaps, you have been looking for Him in the wrong place. Stay with me and I will show you where to find Him.

II. SEPARATED FOR HIS ADVANCEMENT: THE APPEARANCE

"This was His advancement to receive those honors and powers which were to be the recompense of His humiliation; He says it with triumph, that those who love him may rejoice" - Matthew Henry.

"Jesus said to her, "Stop clinging to Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to µMy brethren and say to them, 'I ascend to My Father and your Father, and My God and your God" (John 20:17).

1. His advancement would get them ready to live with the Spirit. Once Mary found Jesus, or was found by Him, she did not want to let Him go. Jesus said to Mary, "Do not hold on to Me..." (v. 17). What Mary did not understand was that Jesus was in a state of transformation following His resurrection. While in His earthly body, Jesus was not omnipresent. Therefore, for His advancement back to the Father, and for the advent of the Holy Spirit, Mary could no longer cling to Him. Earlier in His teaching in the Book of John, Jesus made His disciples a promise...

"I will not leave you as orphans; µI will come to you...But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you" (John 14:18, 26).

One writer said, "Jesus did not want Mary to hold on to Him. She needed to tell the others and to be ready to live with the Spirit, who would come, rather than with Jesus, who was to go to the Father." His advancement to the Father was for our good, and for His glory. There is an important truth revealed to her for each of us. The truth is this: our experience with Jesus is very private and personal, but we cannot, and must not, try to keep Jesus to ourselves. We, like Mary, need to go and tell others, and help them prepare to live with the Spirit. Jesus said to His disciples, in preparing them for his advancement and the Spirit's advent...

"When the µHelper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, that is the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify about Me, and you will testify also, because you have been with Me from the beginning" (John 15:26-27).

2. The Spirit would abide with the believers forever.

"I will ask the Father, and He will give you another µHelper, that He may be with you forever" (John 14:16).

III. SEEING HIM IS AWESOME: A MIRACULOUS DISCOVERY

"Mary Magdalene came, µannouncing to the disciples, "I have seen the Lord," and that He had said these things to her"(John 20:18).

"Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the µauthor and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God" (Hebrews 12:2).

Mary's encounter with Jesus left her with a miraculous discovery. She had experienced the miracle of resurrection first hand. She said, "I have seen the Lord"(v. 18). I like the way in which the Emmaus disciples said it, following their encounter with Jesus, and having experiencing the miracle of resurrection, when they said, "It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon"(Luke 24:34).

Have you like Mary, and the Emmaus disciples, made that miraculous discovery? While we cannot see Him in His physical appearance, we can see Him ...

1. We see Him through the eyes of faith.

"Jesus said to him, "Because you have seen Me, have you believed? µBlessed are they who did not see, and yet believed" (John 20:29).

Thomas saw Him and believed. Not to see Him and believe is even better, according to the Scriptures. The Bible says, "...blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed" (John 20:29). Someone has written, "Seeing the physical presence of Jesus is not necessary for belief. The testimony of the gospel writer can lead you to faith in Christ."

2. We shall behold Him. We will not see Him in this life as Mary saw Him, but one day we will. But even now, through the eyes of faith, we can say with Mary, "I have seen the Lord!" (v. 18).

CONCLUSION: Like the bewildered Mary, doubting Thomas, and all the skeptics of the world, "God wants all persons to believe in His Son," wrote one writer. The proof of this fact is not in the pudding, but rather in the power of a changed life. Can you sing this hymn, "What a wonderful change has been made in my life since Jesus came into my heart?" If not, you can experience that change today as a result of the resurrection of Jesus. Will you trust Him today? The choice is yours!!

For more information on how to see Jesus through the eyes of faith, go to: www.afterthis.org.