WE SERVE A LIVING JESUS
John 20:1-21
In the news today there is a public service add that Highlights women in the work
place. This add shows women in leading positions, and supporting position through out cooperate America. The theme is directed at girls, teenagers, and women in the work place
“If you can see HER you can Be Her”
Throughout the Old Testament and the 3 ½ years of Jesus ministry The Lord placed men in the leading roles with women in the background.
In this important text, the start of the Church, the proclamation of the Gospel
the Lord placed women in the leading role.
IF YOU CAN SEE HER, YOU CAN BE HER
THE EMPTY TOMB, RESURRECTION
V:1 Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. 2 So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don't know where they have put him!"
3 So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. 4 Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter, who was behind him, arrived and went into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, 7 as well as the burial cloth that had been around Jesus' head. The cloth was folded up by itself, separate from the linen. 8 Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. 9 (They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.)
WE SERVE A LIVING JESUS
We serve a living, powerful, creative, resourceful, all knowing God.
Jesus rose from the dead as He said.
His resurrection open the door for our salvation. His last Words on the
cross was It Is Finished.
The Work the Lord came down from heaven to do was completed in His death.
He sacrificed Himself for the sins of the whole world.
Several things happen when Jesus died in the flesh.
1. He released His spirit to the Father
2. The Veil in the temple was torn from top to bottom
The Veil was 60 ft high and 30 feet wide and 7 inches thick over laid with
gold.
3. There was an earthquake in Jerusalem that marked the end of the law
4. Dead saints rose and walked the streets of Jerusalem.
5. There was 3 hours of darkness from 12 to 3PM which reminds us of
what would happen if there was no Jesus.
JESUS HAS PEOPLE IN HIGH PLACES READY TO SERVE YOU
The religious leaders hated Jesus and looked for ways to have Him killed.
Their efforts failed during His 3 ½ year ministry. During the feast of the Passover
They stirred up a mob and brought Jesus before Pilate on false charges which
resulted in His crucifixion.
Jesus did what the Chief Priest, Pharisees and teachers of the law feared, HE returned from the dead.
The Pharisees believed in the resurrection but not by a carpenters son.
The teachers of the Law had the scriptures that prophesied the Messiah’s resurrection. After Jesus death on the cross, the religious leaders went to Pilate and asked that a guards be posted at the tomb to prevent the body of Jesus from being stolen.
Two of Jesus’ secret disciples inside the religious court, Joseph of Arimathea
and Nicodemus prepared the body of Jesus for burial and placed Him
in new tomb owned by Joseph. They wrapped the body Jesus in a large sheet with 75 pounds of perfumed ointment made from myrrh and aloe.
They remained secret because they considered their position more than Jesus.
(John 12:42). Look at the personal relationship they forfeited to stay friends with
the world.
You cannot have it both ways. It is Jesus only and not the world. They were trying to serve two masters. You will love one and hate the other.
YOU MUST CONCLUDE THAT JESUS IS THE SON OF GOD
After considering the three hours of darkness, the earthquake and the
blood and water flowing out of Jesus body separately, the Roman
Soldiers concluded that Jesus must be the Son Of God. You and I
must conclude that Jesus is the Son of God. When we study the Word
we must conclude it is Word of God. When we look the evidence of
God’s creation, we must conclude that Jesus is the Son Of God.
When you woke this morning, it was not your alarm clock. You must
conclude it was Jesus. When you think about where you have come
from, you must conclude it was Jesus.
Before Jesus died on the cross, He showed us the way to salvation.
The thief on the cross to the right of Jesus confessed his sin but
asked Jesus to remember him in His kingdom. From that very
moment the thief was saved in heaven. He by passed all the rituals
and went straight to Jesus.
The thief on the cross concluded the Jesus was the SON OF GOD
SEEK JESUS AND KNOW HIM FOR YOURSELF.
The Apostle John focused this part of the text the love Mary Magdalene had
for Jesus.
IF YOU CAN SEE HER, YOU CAN BE HER
Early Sunday Morning, three women got together to go
worship the Lord. It was Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and
Salome.
They brought gifts to anoint His body.
Their hearts burned to get to the body of Jesus and finish anointing
it for burial. On the way to the tomb, they discussed Jesus.
They went looking for someone they thought was dead but got the Good
News that HE was alive. They went to the tomb looking for a dead body
but Got the message from angels that He was alive. They went to do some work
for the dead, but got new work for the living.
The men were hiding out in fear. But the women had church early Sunday
morning. On the way to the tomb they discussed how they would get the
stone rolled away from the tomb. Friday evening they watch the body being
placed there and knew the stone was to large for them to move. They would
not get any help from the eleven disciples hiding out in fear.
God will give you the desires of your heart.
They knew the body had been wrapped and anointed. But they wanted perfection.
When you want the best for the Lord, He give you his best.
They went looking for someone they thought was dead but got the Good
News that HE was alive. God removed the stone, and posted angels inside
tomb with the message that Jesus was alive. The went to serve their Lord’s
dead body but got new work for the living.
They became the first missionaries for Jesus, It was the women who
brought the good news to the men. They followed the directions of Jesus. They
First got the directions from the angels to go tell the disciples.
Then they got the message from Jesus. Their sadness was turned into joy.
They were unlikely candidates for missionaries, because women had no
voice. Even the men disciple considered their words as idle tales. They knew
what they knew and were not disturbed by the disciples unbelief.
We cannot worry about what others think. They can’t get you into heaven.
IF YOU CAN SEE HER, YOU CAN BE HER
Women were involved in the ministry of Jesus from the beginning. It was Eve that
started it all. She didn’t fully understand the scripture, but she spoke what she
knew. It was a woman that the Lord decided to be born into the world. It was
women, Mary and Elizabeth that worshiped the Lord Jesus first. It was the women
who prepared dinner for the weary traveler.
Sometimes God allows your troubles to draw you to Him. Mary Magdalene was
troubled with 7 demons. Can you imagine the mental turmoil she experienced
before her encounter with Jesus. She showed her gratitude with constant service
and worship. She witness the death of Jesus, but she didn’t let her grief stop
her worship. Because she endured her grief she was the first to be rewarded with the
the joy of His resurrection.
When the women got to the tomb and were reminded by the Angels that Jesus said
He would rise on the third day, they remembered His Words.
RUN TO JESUS
It was the women who set aside their fears and bravely went to the tomb early
Sunday morning and return with good news of the resurrection.
When Peter and John heard the word that Jesus was resurrected, they ran to
see for themselves. The problem with most of us, is we are in no rush to get
to Jesus. We should be in rush to get to Jesus with our praise and worship.
We should be in a rush to get to Jesus with our prayers. We should be in a
rush to worship Jesus. We should be in a rush to get to Jesus with our graditute.
They had some doubts about the resurrections. But their desire to see Jesus
overrode their doubts. Their desire to see Jesus overrode their fears. Their
desire to see Jesus got them moving out of the house.
When they got to the tomb they did not see Jesus. They saw the evidence
that Jesus had risen. They saw the wrapping deflated like a balloon. They
saw the face cloth folded in another place. Even with evidence they marveled
but did not believe. Jesus can’t deal with your unbelief. He left Peter and John
in their sad fearful state.
Apparently, Mary Magdalene returned to the tomb saw and the two angel in the tomb. Peter and John did not see the angels. The text says Peter was amazed, but John saw and believed. Believed what? Peter and John left and went back into hiding.
DON’T BE SATISFIED WITH YOUR KNOWLEDGE OF THE WORD
Mary Magdalene, not satisfied with the Angels message, returned back to
the tomb looking for the body of Jesus (Verse 10). She stood outside the tomb crying. The angels asked why, she turned around and bump into Jesus but did not
recognize Him. Mary empowered by her desire said I will go get Him if you tell me where He is.
You don’t have to go get Jesus, He where you are when you focus on Him.
Anytime you focus on Jesus, He has a message of love for you.
Mary teaches us a valuable lesson. Meditation on the Word is the key to involving
God in you understanding. Meditation activates the work of the Holy Spirit in your
life. One of the jobs of the Holy Spirit is to teach all things that Jesus said.
You will get an understanding based on your needs.
Jesus reveled Himself to Mary by calling her name. She was with Him doing His
teaching and knew His voice. My parents went home with the Lord long ago, but
I can still remember the sound of their voices.
The Lord knows your name. When you been with Him long enough you will
know His voice.
Mary knowing it was Jesus wanted to hold on to Him. You hold on to Jesus by
telling others about Him. You are on a mission for Jesus. Mary Magdalene
went with a second message to the disciple that she had seen Jesus in His
resurrected state.
IF YOU CAN SEE HER, YOU CAN BE HER
UNBELIEF BRINGS SADNESS, BELIEF BRINGS JOY
Verse 19. On Sunday evening, having seen the evidence of the resurrection and
having heard the news from the women of His resurrection, the disciples
were still locked behind closed door in fear for their lives. It should have been a day of joy but it was a day of sadness because of their unbelief.
Jesus showed up to meet with His disciples and the door was locked.
Jesus chose you, He will protect, so His mission will be carried out.
Jesus can open closed doors. In this case Jesus walked through a closed door.
This is an indication of the change in relationship. He was still friend, but a
resurrected friend. Jesus is not bounded by your surroundings. In fact the world can’t contain Him.
Jesus stood before them to bring them peace. When we understand the present of Jesus
we ought to be at peace. There is nothing He can’t handle for you. He is bigger than
your world. To enjoy Jesus peace, you have believe that He is alive in your world.
Regardless of what you are going through, you must believe that Jesus is concern
about your well being.
LOVE JESUS IN YOUR OWN WAY
The women were the first to put their faith in action. They showed their love
by the service they rendered to Him. Under the threat of death by the Roman
government and the Jewish religious leaders, they put Jesus before themselves.
The men went to see an empty tomb. The women went to see Jesus.
There are different ways we expressing our love for one another.
Mary Magdalene love was deeper more heart felt, more spiritual
It Lingered in her heart longer and continuously.
Peter and John’ love was more of what I do for you. Harder, outward, quick to see, in your face
Peter and John’s competition is an example;
Who can get the tomb the fastest. How much of the load
I can handle.
A child needs to see both for balance . The mother embraces more. The father
show how to handle the hard stuff of life. One is tender love, the other is tough
love.
Peter and John, once they saw the evidence in the empty tomb, went home and gain nothing more.
Mary Magdalene lingered longer, not satisfied with not seeing the body, but
wanted to touch it, feel it, handle it for her consolation. As a result was the first to
see Jesus and touch Him in His Resurrected State.
Because she lingered in the Word longer, she was given a message of encouragement
to the men. Just hold on brothers, Jesus will see you soon. He is alive, I have seen
His glory.
We all make mistakes. But Jesus comes a long side us to let us know our mistakes
were designed to make us stronger and prepare us for the heavy mission designed
for us.
Peter strong minded and in your face attitude need to experience the sin of his pride to
be humbled for the preaching work Christ stored up for him.
SISTER, IF YOU CAN SEE HER, YOU CAN BE HER
BROTHERS, IF YOU CAN SEE PETER AND JOHN YOU CAN BE THEM
CHURCH, IF YOU CAN BELIEVE JESUS, YOU CAN BE LIKE HIM
HAPPY EASTER
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