Corvallis Community Church
3-31-24
  • Resurrection Hymn
  • I Know That My Redeemer Lives
  • Christ The Lord Is Risen Today

  • John 20:1-18

    It is always a profound joy to gather on Resurrection Sunday with the church to recall the certainty of what we believe to be true/factual. Foundational to the Xn faith is the doctrine of the resurrection of JC. It is the very heart of the gospel
    1 Corinthians 15:3–4 NASB95
    3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,
    John Locke (18th C philosopher) “Our Savior’s resurrection is truly of great importance in Christianity, so great that His being or not being the Messiah stands or falls with it.” You cannot have Xty without resurrection.
    Romans 10:9 NASB95
    9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;
    You cannot be saved unless you believe in resurrection.
    Further—1 Cor 15:16-19
    1 Corinthians 15:16–19 NASB95
    16 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised; 17 and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied.
    The Bible maintains that after 3 days, Jesus rose from the dead, permanently. Jesus Himself said repeatedly that He would die and rise again. To the visitors at the tomb the angel said Matthew 28:6
    Matthew 28:6 NASB95
    6 “He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying.
    Jesus rose from the dead (bodily not just spirit), leaving an empty tomb. John’s Gospel paints a portrait of that Sunday morning at the tomb, expressing 1) the experience at the empty tomb, 2) the encounter with the Resurrected Christ—these words are written to assure your hearts that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God and to confront those who disbelieve with the irrefutable proof of the glory of the risen Savior.

    1) Experiencing the Empty Tomb

    John writes about 3 who experience the empty tomb.

    A. Mary Magdalene

    I don’t know if anyone ever loved the Lord as much as Mary. She is a prominent woman of the NT, being named in all 4 gospels. She has the distinct honor of being the 1st person the Lord reveals Himself to following resurrection. Now, Mary was not alone—there were at least 3 other women with her early that morning (other Gospel accounts). Mary (mother of James, “the other Mary”), Joanna, Salome (mother of James & John). John singles out Mary in his account.
    Traditionally, she has been identified as the anonymous woman (sinner) who anointed Jesus’ feet and wiped them with her hair (Lk 7:37-38). Other suggest that she is the woman caught in adultery and dragged before Jesus in Jn 8. We don’t really know the identity of these women.
    Extra-biblical accounts have tried to promote Mary as a near mythical goddess. Dan Brown The Da Vinci Code weaves an elaborate conspiracy that Mary and Jesus were married and had children. These are old gnostic heresies that mar the true character of this honorable woman.
    Mary was from the town of Magdala. It was situated on the NW shore of Galilee, 5 mi from Capernaum (Peter’s hometown and base of Jesus Galilean ministry). It was a tiny fishing town but rather wealthy b/c the dye and textile productions.
    While Jesus was ministering in Galilee, He had numerous encounters with demon possession.
    (Mk affirms as well)
    Luke 8:1–3 NASB95
    1 Soon afterwards, He began going around from one city and village to another, proclaiming and preaching the kingdom of God. The twelve were with Him, 2 and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and sicknesses: Mary who was called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, 3 and Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others who were contributing to their support out of their private means.
    Demon possession (bondage to evil spirit) often resulted in physical maladies such as blindness, deafness, mute, various diseases, epilepsy, paralysis. Each time, the person was portrayed as being afflicted by the spirit and not a “sinner” per se. They were prisoners and Christ had a great deal of compassion on those who were possessed. In Mary’s case, her deliverance was the beginning of a lifelong discipleship to the Lord. Luke mentions that she began following Jesus from that point on (unusual since rabbis didn’t typically have women followers).
    Mary was present at the crucifixion (standing at the cross) and after Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for permission to bury the body, and once he and Nicodemus prepared it for burial, Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses (brother of James the Less Mk 15:40), followed Joseph and Nicodemus to the tomb (Mk 15:47). Its probable that the disciples learned of the location of the tomb from her.
    Mary had come early to finish the rush job that Joseph and Nicodemus began on Friday. She brought spices that the women prepared already on Friday—ready to give the body of Jesus a proper burial.
    She comes early Sunday morning (still dark: 4th watch 3-6 am) and finds that the stone was already taken away from the tomb. Mt 28:2-4
    Jn 20:2—Mary’s response

    B. Peter

    Interesting, isn’t it, that she comes 1st to Peter? What does that mean? Not only does it show how prominent Peter was among the disciples—if there was a problem, you went to Peter. But also, considering the fact Peter hasn’t been heard from since Jn 18:27 where he denied the Lord not more than 3 days earlier. Peter had a major sin moment in his life. But Peter’s restoration was complete following his denial. He had repented, & b/c of Christ’s prayer for him his faith did not fail, and now he is restored.
    I think it is encouraging to see how quickly the believer who sins and repents is restored and becomes useful again to Christ—1 Jn 1:9
    What a testament to the power of the atonement Christ makes for us—indeed “It is finished”.

    C. John

    Then she comes “to the other disciple…” This is how John (author) refers to himself in this Gospel.
    Mary says to them “they have…” She seems to be referring to the enemies of Christ, those responsible for putting Him to death—most probably, the Jewish leaders. They are the ones who would invent the earliest lie to account for the empty tomb—accusing Jesus’ disciples of stealing the body—Mt 28:11-15
    Mary had come, along with the other women with spices for burial. They waited b/c the day before was the Sabbath. So they come early the next day to finish the preparation of the body and it’s gone.
    Now grave robbing was pretty common in those days. It was such a problem that within 15 years the emperor Claudius declared it to be a crime punishable by death. The value of the myrrh and aloes alone would have made the body of the Lord a valuable commodity. Mary thought this is what had happened, so she goes to these 2 disciples. Apparently they suspected the same thing. They didn’t expect Jesus to rise from the dead (though Jesus told them this many times over the past months).
    But they head toward the tomb. John mentions the fact that he’s a bit faster than Peter. But when John got to the tomb, he didn’t go it. When Peter arrived, he went into the tomb and found the grave clothes lying there. Now robbers wouldn’t leave the clothes, they would have been in such a hurry to grab everything and leave.
    For John, this is a testimony that something supernatural had occurred. He belongs to the category of those who see and believe (vs 29) “he saw and believed.” (vs 8) But a curious note: vs 9. What did John believe? Probably what Jesus had been saying all along—He must die and be raised (not a fully developed faith/doctrine of resurrection).

    2) Encountering the Resurrected Christ

    Mary has this distinct honor of being the 1st person Jesus reveals Himself to after His resurrection. Perhaps it had to do with her devotion to the Savior and the Savior’s love that He has for each of His own. So Peter and John enter the tomb to see for themselves what Mary reported. She remained outside—weeping. Then John remarks that as she is weeping she “stooped…” (vs 11).

    A. The Appearance of Angels

    In the midst of her grief and deep sorrow—when she peers into the tomb, she sees 2 angels (Peter and John didn’t see them b/c they had already gone back to their homes).
    All 4 gospels mention the angels. Mt tells us an angel descended from heaven and rolled the stone away and sat upon it. Mk, Lk, Jn refer to angels in white (dazzling (to glisten, to dazzle, to gleam, to flash—almost lightening like) clothing—Lk 24:4). John’s Gospel has been all about the “signs” Jesus performed (20:30) there have been 7 up to this point: water into wine; healing of official’s son; healing paralytic at Bethesda; feeding 5000; walking on water; healing of man born blind; raising of Lazarus. There’s actually an 8th: It was necessary for the most spectacular of all the signs, for angels to accompany it: The resurrection of Jesus.
    I’m sure they’re (angels) are a bit perplexed at all of this. They see the despair among the tomb visitors. The fuller conversation of the angels is recorded in
    Lk 24:1-10.
    “why do you seek the living among the dead?” and now to Mary—“why are you weeping?” This could be meant as a mild rebuke at this point. Mary is truly concerned at this point…
    She responded vs 13 (same thing to Peter & John). “they have taken my Lord.” Obviously concerned b/c the body was missing. It was not in the tomb (where one would expect to find it).
    Can you see the contradiction there? Mary doesn’t stop acknowledging Him as her Lord just b/c He died. There is an irrationality here for Mary, the other disciples, even ourselves. If He is Lord, what is there to be concerned about? Should they worry about grave robbers if He is Lord? If He is Lord and someone stole His body, then someone must be Lord over the Lord, right? Someone must be greater than Him. In times of distress, it is quite easy for us to forget that He is indeed sovereign, supreme Lord. If He is Lord, He must be in charge, and if He is—then I can rest in that assurance that He is in full control.
    Is Jesus Lord? Is Jesus your Lord? What would that look like if we actually believed and lived as though Jesus is Lord? Mary believed it, professed it, lived it.
    Mary doesn’t grasp it at this point. They’ve taken Him—all she wanted to do was give Him the proper burial that He deserved.

    B. The Appearance of Jesus

    Mary is also confused at this point.
    Vs 14-15
    Why Mary didn’t recognize Jesus is the subject of much debate. Some suggest the tears in her eyes kept her from recognition. That usually doesn’t happen with someone we know well, though. Other have said that the last image she had of Jesus was battered, bruised, bloodied on the cross. He was dead and she didn’t expected to find Him resurrected.
    Perhaps most noteworthy is the fact that Jesus prevented his disciples from recognizing Him until He wanted them to. On the Rd to Emmaus: same thing (eyes were prevented from recognizing Him) happened again in 21:4. Mary didn’t know Him (supposed He was the gardener—the only thing that made sense)—might be a testament to the glorious nature of the resurrected body—1 Cor 15:42-44
    Mary is still thinking in terms of a dead body. Donald Barnhouse offers this helpful observation:
    “She had been weeping for three days and three nights and her heart was empty even though she still had a few tears left. She had passed through unutterable anguish and had been for many hours without sleep . . . [Now] she offered to carry away the full weight of the body of a man, plus the heavy weight of myrrh and aloes. The Bible tells us that the body had been anointed with 100 pounds of spices which Nicodemus had wrapped in the linen which enshrouded the body…Mary was offering without thinking, to carry away a weight of body and linen cloth and ointments which would go beyond the strength of many a strong man. But she did not think of this for she loved the Lord Jesus Christ, and though her faith and hope were dead, her love was strong. Here is one of the greatest character portrayals in all of literature, human or divine. Here is the heart of a good woman. Here is love, offering to do the impossible as love always does.”
    Not until Jesus calls Mary by name are her eyes opened. Jesus utters 1 word “Mary” lit “Miriam” and everything changes. It was something in the way that He spoke her name: Jn 10:3-4
    John 10:3–4 NASB95
    3 “To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 “When he puts forth all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice.
    Mary may not have recognized the physical, glorious, bodily resurrection of Jesus but she knew His voice. She was devoted—much like Mary the sister of Martha who was content to sit at the feet of Jesus listening to all that He taught.
    Mary replies “rabonni” (teacher). Title used to express great honor and reverence—her love and devotion to Christ is clear.

    C. The Instruction of Christ

    Vs 17
    After hearing His voice and recognizing who is standing before her, she wrapped her arms around the risen Savior and iss comforted by the physical contact. Jesus: “stop…”
    But why would Christ tell her to stop? Its actually a very difficult verse to wrap our minds around. Jesus allowed the other women to bow in worship while they grasped His feet. He invited the disciples to touch and feel Him. His instruction could be in the sense—stop clinging to Me b/c I haven’t yet ascended—I will be with you for a while still.
    One thing that seems to make sense is the fact that Jesus would be ascending to the Father and that things would not be returning to their former state—everything would be different as a result of His resurrection.
    2 Corinthians 5:16 NASB95
    16 Therefore from now on we recognize no one according to the flesh; even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him in this way no longer.
    We don’t know Christ as the disciples did: to see, hear, touch (1 Jn 1:1). We know Him spiritually—thru the internal witness of God’s Spirit who indwells us, revealing to us glories and excellencies of LJC. Everything changes with the resurrection of Christ.
    With the command to stop clinging was also a 2nd command: “Go to My brethren.” This is powerful and precious. The work of Jesus brings a new relationship that is made possible thru the cross & in His resurrection.
    Ephesians 1:7 NASB95
    7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace
    Romans 8:14–15 NASB95
    14 For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 15 For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!”
    Hebrews 2:11 NASB95
    11 For both He who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all from one Father; for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren,
    There is a new relationship to the LJC for all who call upon Him. Notice Mary’s response (obedience is the proof of love)
    Vs 18 “I have seen the Lord (again how she refers to His Lordship)” Unfortunately LK tells us the disciples didn’t believe her.
    Luke 24:11 NASB95
    11 But these words appeared to them as nonsense, and they would not believe them.
    Mary loved Christ—for good reason. He had done for her what no one else could have—what she couldn’t do for herself. With great joy, she left the tomb to tell others about the risen Lord.
    Application:
    I want to leave you with 3 words on this Resurrection morning. We’ve seen the responses to the Resurrection of JC. But how will you?

    1) Submit

    JC is Lord. For those of you who know Him, you have trusted in Him, your sins are forgiven and you have been adopted as sons by the Father… Is Jesus your Lord? (of course He is whether you know it, acknowledge it or not). Is He your Master? Is He your Ruler? Is He the one controlling your life? Is He in the back seat or the front? Is He directing your life, is He taking you in His direction or are you going yours?

    2) Admit

    If Jesus is not your Lord, He wants your mouth and your heart.Rom 10 9
    Romans 10:9 NASB95
    9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;
    Confession of His Lordship begins with admission of your guilt, your sin, your waywardness, that you are going your own direction (which is no direction at all but is contrary to the way of Christ. If this is you—you have yet to believe on LJC, to trust His work on the cross to bring forgiveness of sin and to give you eternal life—admit your sin and guilt before Christ today and the Bible’s explicit promise “you will be saved.” This Easter will begin the new chapter of your life—lived under the Lordship of JC.

    3) Commit

    I would call the church of the redeemed to respond as Mary and sound forth the resurrection of JC. This is the only hope the world has.
    Every disciple of Christ believes He is risen (salvation depends on it). Sometimes we have a hard time getting past Good Friday. We affirm the necessity of His death as the full and perfect atonement for sin—once for all time. Apart from the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. But the church must grasp the significance of the resurrection of Christ. It is here that we find transformation and power for living the life as those who have been set free from sin and the power of death.
    Christ has been raised from the dead! Make the commitment to go and tell!

      • 1 Corinthians 15:3–4NASB95

      • Romans 10:9NASB95

      • 1 Corinthians 15:16–19NASB95

      • Matthew 28:6NASB95

      • Luke 8:1–3NASB95

      • John 10:3–4NASB95

      • 2 Corinthians 5:16NASB95

      • Ephesians 1:7NASB95

      • Romans 8:14–15NASB95

      • Hebrews 2:11NASB95

      • Luke 24:11NASB95

      • Romans 10:9NASB95

  • Alleluia Alleluia
Corvallis Community Church
ccc@corvalliscommunitychurch.org
406-961-3443
http://www.corvalliscommunitychurch.org
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