## What Jesus Left Behind

## John 20:1-10

Last week we focused upon the death of Christ on Calvary. We listened this morning to the choir and the message of how He chose the nails. But that isn't the end of the story! Jesus died, but He didn't stay dead. He was buried, but He didn't stay in the tomb. The message of Easter is that He is alive! Listening to a conversation between two men following the death of a wealthy neighbor. One asked the other, 'How much did he leave behind?' The other answered, 'All of it!' That is true isn't it? No matter how much we may accumulate in this life, when we die…we leave it all behind. When Jesus died on the cross, was buried, and rose again from the grave; He left several things behind.

READ: John 20:1-10

I. He Left Behind an Empty Tomb.

A. His borrowed grave was empty.

1. Jesus didn't need it anymore.

2. He had conquered death, hell, and the grave.

3. The tomb was a place for death, but Jesus is the life.

(John 11:25) "Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:"

B. His spices were unused.

1. The burial spices served two purposes.

a. They were used as a preservative, to slow the decaying process

b. They were also used to cover the smell of death.

2. Jesus didn't need either one.

a. Ps. 16:10 tells of the prophecy of David that Christ would not suffer corruption.

b. When Jesus rose from the dead, there was no smell of death, only the sweet smell of victory!

C. His grave clothes were left behind.

1. The linen wrappings were an empty shell.

a. Not unwrapped

b. Not piled in the corner

c. They were lying there, but His body was gone.

2. The napkin that had covered His head was neatly folded and placed in a separate place in the tomb.

a. Occasionally, when I take off my clothes, I will just lay them on the bed or over in the corner.

b. I tell myself that I will fold them up and put them away whenever I return.

c. But, Jesus wasn't planning on returning to the grave.

d. Re. 1:18, "1 am He that liveth, and was dead: and behold, I am alive evermore. Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death."

II. He Left Behind an Open Door

A. The door to the tomb was open.

1. Not so Jesus could get out!

a. In His resurrected body He no longer was bound by time and space

b. After His resurrection Jesus appeared to His disciples while they were in the upper room with the windows and doors shut and locked.

2. The door was open so that men could see that the tomb was empty!

3. It serves as a testimony to His victory over the power of death and the grave.

B. A door of service was opened.

1. The angels declared that, "He is risen!"

2. Then they said, "Go tell His disciples."

3. Later, Jesus commissioned the local church to go tell the world that He is risen!

4. Jesus told the church at Philadelphia, "Behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it." Re. 3:8

C. The door of salvation was opened.

1. Jesus said, "I am the door, by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved." (Jn. 10:9)

a. Jesus died to pay the price of sin for the entire world.

b. Ro. 6:23, "The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

c. Note: Romans 10:9

(Rom 10:9) "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved."

2. There are not many doors from which we each choose the one we like best.

3. There is only one door: "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." Jn. 14:6

4. This morning the door of salvation is still open to each and every one who have never come in repentance and received Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord of their life.

III. He Left Behind an Invitation.

A. Mt. 11:28, "Come unto me, all ye that are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."

1. Are you burdened down with quilt and sin? Come to Jesus.

2. Come, lay your burden at the foot of the cross, Jesus will meet you there.

B. Is. 45:22, "Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: For I am God, and there is none else."

1. Don't look to education and philosophy there is no salvation there.

2. Don't look to science and reason there is no salvation there.

3. Don't look to your own opinions or conclusions, because there is no salvation there.

4. Don't look to your heritage, or your experiences in life, for there is no salvation there.

5. Look to Jesus: He said, "I am come that they might have life." cf Jn. 10:10

C. Re. 22:17b, "...Let him that is athirst come; and whosoever will, let him take of the water of life freely."

1. Are you thirsting today? Only Jesus can satisfy your longing.

2. He said, "Whosoever" that means anyone!

3. "Take of the water of life FREELY"

4. Jesus paid it all, salvation is free to all who will come in repentance and receive the gift of God.

Jesus left behind an empty tomb, an open door, and an invitation.

Do you know Christ as your personal Savior this morning? Do you know the power of His resurrection? Would you come today and receive eternal life?

Christian, what kind of influence will you leave behind? When your gone, will your life have made an impact for eternity? Are you living in the power of His resurrection? Maybe you need to come this morning. Don't grieve the Holy Spirit of God. Be obedient to His direction.