## Jesus: The Resurrected Redeemer

## John 20:1-18

Today, as we look into the precious Word of God we will see an exciting and wonderful picture of Christ. The last couple of weeks were not easy to look at or consider, but this week…we celebrate the great truth that Jesus Christ, who was crucified on a Roman cross and died, arose from the dead just three days later! John reveals to us a portrait of Jesus: The Resurrected Redeemer! This one truth is what sets Christianity apart from every other system of belief in the world! All other religious leaders have died. Buddha died! Mohammed died! Confucius died! Every founder of every religion that has ever existed has died. However, only One has risen again from the dead!

- If Jesus did not arise from the dead and is not alive today, then everything He did was in vain, His death was a waste of a life and all of His teachings are simply the ravings of a madman!
- Without the resurrection of Christ, Christianity is just another dead religion.
- If Jesus Christ is not alive, then we have no salvation, there is no hope for the world and we are all headed to Hell!
- But… He is alive! He was dead…but He didn't stay dead! He arose on the third day, just as He had said He would!
- Notice the characters in our portrait of the Resurrected Redeemer today.

I. Mary v1-11

A. Her Discovery

1. Mary came to the tomb a good while before daylight.

2. When she arrives, she finds the stone rolled away and the tomb empty.

3. Immediately, she runs to find the disciples of Jesus and she tells them that the body of their Lord is missing from the tomb.

4. When they heard this news, Peter and John ran to the tomb to see what had happened.

5. When they arrived, they both saw that linen clothes lying there undisturbed and the napkin that had been around His face lying folded, in a place by itself, v. 5-7.

6. After they see these things, they return to their home.

7. John, at least, believed that the Lord Jesus was alive from the dead, v. 8.

Note: The Bible says that the linen clothes were lying 'wrapped together' = still entwined, just as they were when they were first wrapped around His lifeless body. The burial spices would have hardened the cloths around the body and would have formed a cocoon, but it was empty!

Had the body been taken by grave robbers or other, the wrappings around the body would not have been removed, and if they had been removed, they would not have been left in such an orderly fashion.

Then, there is the matter of the napkin. Had the body been removed by others, the napkin would merely have lain where it had fallen. Instead, it had been folded and laid in a place by itself. Everything speaks of calmness and order in the empty tomb of Jesus!

B. Her Devotion v11

1. Peter and John went away from the tomb, but Mary stayed behind to weep and mourn the loss of her Lord.

2. Why did she stay? Because she loved Jesus!

3. The Bible tells us that Mary had been delivered from a life of deep and dreadful sin.

4. She loved Jesus for what He had done in her life.

5. She was devoted to Him.

6. The redeemed soul will love the Lord Jesus!

7. When you stop to think of all He has done in your life, how could you not love Him?

8. Mary sets the right example of love and devotion for all the followers of the Lord.

9. The question that comes to mind this morning is, "Do we love him as we ought to today?"

C. Her Darkness v11

1. Mary had her eyes focused on the physical evidence rather than the spiritual answer!

2. All she saw was an empty tomb.

3. It never entered her mind to consider the greater truth that Jesus was alive.

4. Many Christians live as if they believed Jesus was dead.

5. There is no joy and no excitement in their lives.

6. There is no deep burning desire to worship and serve the God who sought us and bought us by His love and death at the cross.

7. We often act as if we are trapped in some dead religion that kills our joy and leaves us feeling miserable.

8. Christian, may I remind you this morning that we serve the very One who went to Calvary, died for sin and three days later arose from the dead to live forevermore!

I serve a risen Savior; He's in the world today; I know that He is living; Whatever men may say.

II. Two Angels v12-13

A. Their Presence.

1. There were two angels at the tomb.

2. These angels have been dispatched from God to bear witness to the truth that Jesus is alive from the dead.

3. Their message is one of absolute hope and perfect assurance!

Mt 28:5-6 And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.

B. Their Purpose

1. They were sitting there in the tomb.

2. It seems that they were there to give Mary the calm assurance that Jesus was not stolen away in the night…

3. But in reality He was alive!

4. Mary was weeping because she didn't understand this wonderful truth.

5. It is as if they were asking, "Doesn't this empty tomb call instead for rejoicing?"

6. But, Mary, like so many of us, seems determined to live by sight rather than to walk by faith.

7. Often, we fail to discover deep spiritual blessings because we refuse to look beneath the surface to see what the Lord is trying so desperately to reveal to us!

III. Jesus

A. Mary's Confusion v14

1. In her weeping she realizes that she isn't alone at the tomb.

2. She sees a man standing near her, but doesn't recognize that it is Jesus.

3. She continues weeping.

4. Isn't that just like us?

5. We have His promise - Heb. 13:5, yet we fail to see Him in our circumstances time and time again.

6. He is a risen Savior and He is always involved in what involves you.

7. If you will look, you will always find Jesus during your time of need.

B. The Confrontation v15

1. Jesus now asks Mary 2 questions that are designed to expose her to the truth.

2. Why weepest thou? - Why do you weep when you could be rejoicing?

3. Who are you seeking among the dead? - Why do you look for He that is alive among those who are dead.

4. These questions were designed to remind Mary that Jesus is:

a. The Resurrection and the Life - John 11:25

b. The Prince of Life - Acts 3:12

c. The One who would lay down His life and take it again - John 10:18

d. The Way, the Truth and the Life - John 14:6

C. The Call v16-17

1. When Mary doesn't respond to His questions, the Lord simply calls her by her name and tenderly says "Mary".

2. Isn't it great to know that God knows our name?

3. Listen to the voice of the Shepherd calling out to a struggling sheep.

Joh 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

D. The command v17b-18

1. It Is An Unusual Message.

a. Mary was told to go and tell the Disciples that Jesus was alive and that He ascended back to the Father.

b. It was to be a message of hope and blessing to those who mourned His death.

c. This kind of message was not delivered every day!

2. It Is An Unchanging Message

a. Jesus Is Alive!

b. And that will never change.

c. Listen to what Jesus told John in Revelation 1:18

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

3. It is A Universal Message.

a. We are still commanded to come and see, then go and tell.

b. The world needs to hear from a people who have been to the tomb and know that Jesus is alive.

c. The world needs to hear of the Savior we serve!

d. All who come to the tomb and see, and who will place their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ will be saved from their sins and will be born again.

- In all of recorded human history, the most important message that has ever been heard is this, "He is not here, for He is risen!"
- Do you know the risen Savior today?
- Are you trusting Jesus for your soul's salvation?
- As Christians, are we faithfully going and telling others?
- Do you know Jesus this morning?