Sermon - John 20 - The Empty Tomb - Littleby Baptist Church - April 21, 2019

Happy Resurrection Day!

John 20:1-18

“20 On the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark. She saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. ² So she went running to Simon Peter and to the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said to them, “They’ve taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they’ve put him!” ³ At that, Peter and the other disciple went out, heading for the tomb. ⁴ The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and got to the tomb first. ⁵ Stooping down, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. ⁶ Then, following him, Simon Peter also came. He entered the tomb and saw the linen cloths lying there. ⁷ The wrapping that had been on his head was not lying with the linen cloths but was folded up in a separate place by itself. ⁸ The other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, then also went in, saw, and believed. ⁹ For they did not yet understand the Scripture that he must rise from the dead. ¹⁰ Then the disciples returned to the place where they were staying. ¹¹ But Mary stood outside the tomb, crying. As she was crying, she stooped to look into the tomb. ¹² She saw two angels in white sitting where Jesus’s body had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet. ¹³ They said to her, “Woman, why are you crying?” “Because they’ve taken away my Lord,” she told them, “and I don’t know where they’ve put him.” ¹⁴ Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know it was Jesus. ¹⁵ “Woman,” Jesus said to her, “why are you crying? Who is it that you’re seeking?” Supposing he was the gardener, she replied, “Sir, if you’ve carried him away, tell me where you’ve put him, and I will take him away.” ¹⁶ Jesus said to her, “Mary.” Turning around, she said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!”—which means “Teacher.” ¹⁷ “Don’t cling to me,” Jesus told her, “since I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and tell them that I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.” ¹⁸ Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them what he had said to her.”

Jesus had been betrayed, arrested, tried, convicted, beaten, and crucified. He was then wrapped in lined and sealed in a tomb.

After Passover a group of women approached the tomb with the intention of cleaning and preparing Jesus’ body. When they arrived they were surprised to find that the stone had been rolled away. The ladies peered into the tomb and noticed that Jesus’ body was gone.

In Matthew 28 the ladies are told by an angel that ‘He is not here. For He has risen, just as He said.’

The ladies went to John and Peter told them what had happened. They wanted to see if for themselves in hopes of understanding what was going on and Mary went back with them. They understood that the tomb was empty, but they were not sure what it meant.

That is what each one of us must decide, what does the empty tomb mean to us? Most likely you would not be in church this morning if you did not believe that the tomb was empty. The question that you need to come to terms with is, how are you going to respond to that empty tomb? Three people ran to the tomb that morning, and each responded in different ways.

When John heard the news of the empty tomb, he jumped up and ran with all of his might. He loved Jesus, and of all the disciples he had been the most faithful. He was in the courtyard when Jesus was interrogated. He had been at the foot of the cross as Jesus hung there paying for our sins. He had willingly taken Jesus’ mother into his home. John was excited about the possibility that Jesus might actually be alive. He ran faster than he had ever run before. But when he got to the tomb he stopped and did not go in. He peaked inside and saw some of what Mary had seen, but he waited outside.

Maybe he stayed outside because he had to catch his breath after the long run. Maybe he stayed outside because he was afraid that Mary was wrong. Maybe Jesus’ body had just been moved to another part of the tomb? He may have been afraid to get his hopes up.

Then Simon Peter, in true fashion, arrives and walks right in without the slightest of hesitancy and then John follows. They saw everything just as Mary had said. The linen that had covered Jesus’ body was laying neatly in place.

Peter and John saw all the same evidence, but responded differently.

Verse 8 tells us that John saw and believed. The empty grave was enough evidence for him. He believed everything the ladies had told them. Jesus had really Risen from the dead! John did not need to see Jesus to know, he already believed that Jesus the Christ was Alive! He had heard the prophecies and he had heard Jesus talk about His coming death and resurrection. The tomb is empty, Jesus is Alive!

There are many people like John here this morning. We believe because there was an empty tomb. We don’t need to personally see Jesus standing here before us to believe. We, like John, believe by FAITH!

Peter ran slower than John. He wanted to see Jesus, but there was a part of him that dreaded the idea. If Peter saw Jesus, he knew he was going to be confronted with his sin and his guilt. He wasn’t sure he could handle that right now. Peter’s uncertainty and fear was driven by the pain that he felt over his past. He wanted Jesus to be alive, but he did not know if Jesus would accept Him.

Maybe you are like Peter today. You want to believe but you are afraid. You worry that your sin is too great for even Jesus. Too much of a past, too much history, too much sin. You want Jesus to be real, you want Him to be the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, but you are not sure if you will be accepted.

Peter went in to the tomb and saw everything John saw. He examined the evidence, the linen that had wrapped Jesus’ body, the piece of cloth that had been wrapped around His head and was now neatly folded and set to the side. More than enough evidence to prove that SOMETHING had happened. Was it enough to prove that Jesus was alive? Peter needed more.

He did not understand so he left. There wasn’t enough evidence for Peter because he did not hang around long enough.

That maybe you. You do not have enough evidence to place your faith in Jesus yet. You are here this morning for a reason, so don’t stop there. Come back next week and the week after that. Join us for Sunday School, read your Bible, fellowship with believers, and talk to God. For those like Peter it takes more than a quick glance.

Peter did not understand what it all meant and walked away from that empty tomb with a huge hole in his heart.  I pray, that if you have a hole in your heart this morning that you do not walk away. I pray that you keep looking and investigating until you know what the empty tomb really means.

Then there was Mary Magdalene. While Peter and John left, she stood there crying.

Jesus meant everything to Mary.

Jesus had set her free of the demons that had enslaved her.
Jesus had forgiven her and wiped away all of her sins.
She believed in Jesus! She gave her life to Jesus.
He gave her life meaning.

She thought all of that was gone, Jesus was dead, so she cried… she wept. But then a miracle happened… Jesus Appeared!

That is exactly what Mary wanted more than anything else. She thought Jesus was dead and all was lost, but she visited the tomb twice that morning and she hung around. Through her persistence she found out what the empty tomb really means. There was no doubt, Jesus Lives!

Every person here this morning is like one of these three witnesses. All three of them saw the same tomb, examined the same evidence, and had three different reactions.

Most of you are like John. You see the empty tomb and you believe. You Rejoice because Jesus lives! You know without a doubt that you will spend all of eternity in His presence!

Some of you sitting here this morning are like Peter. You know that something is going on, you know it means something, but you just not sure you understand it or believe it. There is only one way for you to find out. Stick Around! Make an investment of your time in finding out what all of this means. Open your Bible every day. Go to church every week. Hang around and you will see your miracle as your life is changed.

Some of you are like Mary. You see the empty tomb; you have seen the changes in people’s lives and you think there has to be some practical explanation for all of this. Mary was not sure what happened but she hung around long enough and her faith grew and she saw Jesus first hand.

Maybe that’s you. You are not sure what happened on that day or how it impacts your life. You may be asking, ‘what does all of this mean?’

Jesus is alive and well and all those things He did for Mary, He can do for you.

He gave her release from the demons controlling her. Jesus can release you from the demons, addictions, and pain in your life.

He forgave Mary for her sins. He will give you that same forgiveness and wipe away your sins, no matter how numerous or how bad they may be. All you have to do is ask.

He gave Mary a reason to exist. You are on this earth for a reason and Jesus wants to show you what it is.

Jesus loves you so much that He climbed on that cross to die for you, but then He rose from the grave, defeating death, so that He could spend eternity with you.

His death paid for our sins and His resurrection gives us eternal life.

If you want to start a life with Jesus it all begins with repenting of your sins and choosing to follow Him. If you are ready to start your life with Him, I invite you up during our invitational hymn.


May the Lord move in your life in truly amazing ways!

God Bless,

Robert