Tabor Baptist Church

Introduction

• Today looking at a historical passage
• Written by the Apostle John
• He is referenced in this passage - he is self-effacing
• Was a fit man - out ran Peter to the tomb
• Mary returned to find out Jesus
• The doctrine of Resurrection is a fundamental doctrine of the Christian Faith
• Christianity cannot stand if Jesus did not rise from the dead
• Jesus predicted and spoke about His own death
• We can only be raised form the dead because Christ was raised from the dead
• Because Christ overcame the grave, we will one day rise also
• Many people doubt the resurrection
• Islam say Christ swooned
• The Gospel record clearly proved He was dead
• Others say that someone took the body from the tomb
• Lawyers have looked into the evidence and you cannot conclude that Christ did not rise from the dead
• There was a great stone placed in front of the tomb
• Pilot placed Roman guards by the tomb
• The grave clothes were all neatly laid in the tomb (v6-7)
• Why would the disciples be willing to be martyred for a [supposed] falsehood?
• If the Jews had collaborated with the Romans, why would they have not produced the body?
• There were eyewitnesses: Mary, the ladies, the 11 disciples, 500 at once
• His followers would likely have been fearing for their lives, not bold
• Overview:
• Looking at the early discovering of Christ
• From fear and foreboding to joy and gladness
• Christ is alive

Looking at the early discovering of Christ (v1-10)

Mary

• Mary Magdalene was the last at the cross and the first at the tomb
• Other gospels include the other women but John records her account
• Mary goes on the first day of the week - Sunday
• She went whilst it was still dark (early morning)
• She is eager - do you see her courage
• She must do one final act of love - she must anoint the Lord
• Do you remember the other Mary anointing the Lord for burial
• In the night fears are accentuated
• He who is forgiven much, loves much
• Luke 8:2
• Magdala - involved in licentiousness
• Mary was involved in dark practices, she had 7 evil spirits
• The Lord loved her, cleansed her, delivered her
• How she loved Jesus
• So, she is first at the tomb
• What a challenge to you and me - how much do we love Jesus?
• How many sins have we committed?
• She is bewildered and confused - she goes to Peter and John
• They must have been shocked by this news
• John arrives first but does not go in
• He feels Peter should go in first
• Peter sees the evidence
• God looking down sees sadness, doubt, confusion, unbelief
• They should be rejoicing
• Unbelief always leads people to the wrong conclusion
• Unbelief will always disappoint you
• Unbelief will never see what God is doing
• Are we like this at times?

John & Peter

• Something happened to John
• He saw and believed (v8)
• This must be a belief that Jesus had risen from the dead
• Mary was the first to see the resurrected Jesus
• He did not choose Peter or John the beloved
• Christ appeared to this needy lady
• How she responded
• But John believed without seeing
• Remember Jesus' words to (doubting) Thomas
• Do you believe that Christ is raised from the dead?
• Do you believe He is coming again?
• Do you believe there is salvation in no other name?

From fear and foreboding to joy and gladness (v11-18)

• Mary ... wept (v11)
• This word is to do with weeping out loud
• Mary cannot cope with the body being gone - she cannot carry out her final act of love
• Her reaction is very natural
• We have known much grief in Tabor
• Jesus wept at the grave of Lazarus
• We should not make big decisions when grieving as we can be irrational
• Her reaction to the 'gardener' is illogical - why would a gardener have taken away the body?
• It is marvelous that angels appeared to her
• They did not appear to Peter or John
• Those who love much are sometimes visited by angels
• God understands her grief
• He wants her to speak first
• As He utters her name - she must have been in awe
• Is God speaking to you but you do not recognise His voice?
• May it be that we hear God speaking to us
• Mary tries to cling on
• The disciples were permitted to touch Him to know He was a physical being
• Their reason was for verification
• Her clinging was because she wanted Jesus to stay
• He tells her to go to my Brethren
• Amazing condescension
• He is your God and my God
• Her sorrow and pain is turned to joy and wonder
• Her unbelief to faith and confidence
• What about you?
• Has it made all the difference to you?

Closing Remarks