JOHN 20:1-18

1. JOHN 20:1-18

2. Think about this. • Ann is lying on the floor dead. • There is broken glass and water all around her. • Stuart is asleep on the sofa and is oblivious to the death. • How did Ann die?

3. Well Ann is a fish and Stuart is a cat. • The glass and water all around Ann on the floor is the fishbowl. • Stuart successfully knocked it over.

4. On Friday night, a man dies. He is buried the same night. • On Sunday, some friends arrive at the tomb to pay their respect. • But the tomb is empty. • What happened?

5. At least 5 women approach the tomb to properly prepare the body of Jesus for burial. • They are wondering about the huge stone at the entrance – Mark 16:3 • When they arrive, the find the soldiers asleep – Matt.28:4

6. An angel has rolled the stone away – Matt.28:2 • But the body is gone. • Angels announce that Jesus is risen. • They run and tell the disciples. • But none of it made sense. • Two disciples, John and Peter and Mary Magdalene go to the tomb themselves.

7. They wanted to decide for themselves why the tomb was empty and what it meant. • We all agree that the tomb was empty. • But what is your response to that? • How does it affect your life? • Three different people came and each one responded differently.

8. The first to arrive at the tomb was John – v.3-5 • John heard the news. • He jumped and ran to the tomb. • He wanted to believe. • He loved Jesus.

9. He was the most faithful. • He was there at the courtyard. • He was there at the cross. • He was willing to take Jesus’ mother into his house. • But when he got to the tomb, he did not enter. • Maybe he was breathless.

10. What if it was a Roman trap? • What if the women were wrong? • Then Peter arrives and he enters. • John follows Peter. • They both see the evidence. • But each responded differently - (v.8-9) • John saw and believed.

11. The empty tomb was enough evidence for him. • He did not need to see Jesus to know that He was alive. • He had heard the Jesus’ prophecies about His death and resurrection. • It was enough.

12. Some of us are like John. • We believe there is an empty tomb and also the testimony of Christians to the fact that Jesus is alive. • We do not need to see to believe. • This is what Jesus said – John 20:29 • John reacted to the empty tomb with belief.

13. Peter was a litter slower than John to arrive at the tomb. • Maybe because he was older. • Peter wanted to see Jesus. • The last time Peter saw Jesus was when he denied Him.

14. He knew he would be confronted with his sin and guilt. • Peter was feeling the pain of his past. • He wanted Jesus alive, but did not know how he was going to face Him. • Some of us are like that.

15. We want to believe but there is too much pain. • We forget that Jesus can forgive and He can heal. • Peter went into the tomb. • He saw the evidence – the linen and the cloth.

16. He knew something had happened. • But not enough to prove that Jesus was alive. • Luke says that Peter was “wondering to himself as what had happened” – Luke 24:12 • He needed more evidence.. • In v.10, we read he left.

17. He left without even coming to a conclusion. • If he had waited a little longer, he would have experienced a miracle. • Today many people do not have enough evidence to place their faith in Jesus. • The do not hang around long enough.

18. They do not read God’s Word enough. • They do not spend enough time in prayer. • They walk out before they see the miracle happening. • Peter walked out of the empty tomb with a broken heart.

19. Peter and John left. • But Mary stayed. (v.11-13) • Mary Magdalene came to tomb when “it was still dark”. • It also describes the condition of their heart. • Mary was depressed.

20. She had lost someone she valued. • Jesus meant a lot to her: • a. Release – when she met Jesus she was enslaved by 7 demons. • Jesus released her and she found peace. • b. Forgiveness – Jesus had forgiven of all her actions and released her from her sin.

21. c. Leadership –She was lost without Jesus. He had given meaning to her life. • She though all was gone and so she wept. • But a miracle happened.

22. “I have seen the Lord -”v.14-18 • Mary wanted to see Jesus more than anyone else. • She got her desire.

23. All three saw the same tomb. • But each had their own different reactions. • Many are like John – they see and believe. • Jesus calls them “Blessed”.

24. Some are like Peter – they see but do not know what to believe. • They also do not understand why people come to church every Sunday. • They do not wait long enough to see a miracle.

25. Some are like Mary. • They wait to have their questions answered and see their faith grow. • The witness the power of transformation. • What is your response?