THANK GOD FOR THE EMPTY TOMB
John 20:1-10, 1 Peter 1:3-5,8-9
GRIEF AND CONFUSION RESULTING FROM LACK OF KNOWLEDGE
V:1. \”Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came early to the tomb, while it was still dark, and saw the stone already taken away from the tomb. \”
A. Sometimes our worries are unnecessary if we would pay attention to the Word.
1. The Word prepares us for practical situations.
2. In Matthew chapter 26:16, Jesus told His disciples that He
was going to die in Jerusalem.
3. In Matthew 17:21-23, Jesus told His disciples that He would
be killed, but be raised on the third day.
B. The disciples heard the Word, but refused to believe what they
heard. Matt 16:22.
1. They spent a whole weekend in fear and grief because they
didn\’t take the Word seriously.
2. They were blinded by their own view of Jesus so they could
not see the mission of Jesus.
3. They saw the horror of Jesus death on the cross but not the
glory surrounding it.
C. Dedicated disciples are prepared to worship the Lord in good
times and in bad times.
1. Mary Magdalene and several other women prepared to worship
the Lord by anointing Him with spices for His burial.
2. The women got up early Sunday morning before daylight and
went to the tomb.
3. This is an example of putting God first at the start of our
day.
4. This is an example of preparing to serve the Lord while
the world entertains themselves.
5. We should come to church to worship and not to be
entertained.
D. When you are prepared to serve and worship the Lord, you can
expect God to bless you in unexpected ways.
1. They came knowing the tomb was sealed, but found it open.
2. They came expecting to find a dead Jesus but found no body.
3. They came expecting to unwrap a body, anoint it and rewrap
it, but found no need.
4. They came looking for Jesus dead in the tomb, but found Him
alive outside the tomb.
RUN TO TELL OTHERS THE GOOD NEWS
V:2. \” So she ran and came to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and said to them, \”They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.\”
A. Still confused by the evidence of an empty tomb, the women did
not consider the Words of Jesus that supported the evidence.
1. When you are confused, you will spread your confusion to
others you come in contact with.
2. The women took their confusion to Peter and John.
B. We had the compassion of the women to go to the tomb, which
prompted the men to follow.
1. God puts men and women together because they compliment
each others weaknesses and strengths.
2. The knowledge of one Christian can call to action the
abilities of another.
3. Based on the report from the women, the men laid aside
their fears and grief to go to the tomb and see for
themselves.
OUT RUNNING OTHERS WITH OUR FAITH IN JESUS
V:3-5. \” So Peter and the other disciple went forth, and they were going to the tomb.
4 The two were running together; and the other disciple ran ahead faster than Peter and came to the tomb first;
5 and stooping and looking in, he saw the linen wrappings lying there; but he did not go in. \”
A. Once the men got moving, their competitive spirit kicked in
them.
1. John outran Peter to the tomb.
2. They both wanted to see the evidence for themselves. Why
didn\’t they run together?
a. Everybody runs the Christian race at their on pace.
b. It does not matter how fast you run, just complete the
race.
3. When we serve Jesus it is important that we hurry on to
the task.
B. John arrived at the tomb first, and viewed the evidence of an
empty tomb from outside the tomb.
1. John observed the linen wrapping lying in place.
2. Where one stops, another may continue.
LET YOUR LOVE FOR JESUS DRIVE YOU CLOSER TO HIM
V:6-8. \” And so Simon Peter also came, following him, and entered the tomb; and he saw the linen wrappings lying there,
7 and the face-cloth which had been on His head, not lying with the linen wrappings, but rolled up in a place by itself.
8 So the other disciple who had first come to the tomb then also entered, and he saw and believed.\”
A. Once Peter arrived at the tomb, he went in and observed the
linen wrapping in one place and the face cloth that covered
Jesus head, folded, but in another place.
1. The boldness of Peter to go into the tomb, prompted John to
follow.
2. Two people can observe more than one.
3. Two people can confirm each others conclusions.
B. Two can compare what they witness with what they heard.
1. They had a credible story to tell the other nine disciples.
2. The trip to the tomb may have reduced their fears and
brought them closer together.
3. The trip to the tomb may have given them a better respect
for the testimony of the women.
4. Sometimes God will use our uncertainties to draw us closer
together.
C. What did John believe after seeing the empty tomb?
1. Did John believe that body had been moved?
2. Did He believe the story of the women?
3. Did John believe that Jesus had come alive again?
4. Did John believe a miracle had taken place?
5. Sometimes we believe what we see, but may not understand
the significance of what we see.
CONTINUE STUDYING THE WORD.
V:9-10. \” For as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead. So the disciples went away again to their own homes. \”
A. Having witness the evidence of the empty tomb, Peter and John
did not connect that with the Words of Jesus.
1. Sometimes God leaves us in a state of confusion to draw us
into a deeper study of the Word.
2. Peter and John had the evidence of an empty tomb, yet they
still did not know that it was the fulfillment of Jesus
promise to them.
B. The Word of God is always the cause of our personal meditation.
1. It is up to each believer to take time to read the Word and
to spend time meditating on what was read.
2. Reading does not always give an understanding of the Word.
3. Observation is the first part of meditation.
a. The stone covering the tomb was rolled away.
b. The body of Jesus was not in the tomb.
c. The linen that was used to wrap the body was lying in
place.
d. The napkin that covered the face of Jesus was folded up
in another place in the tomb.
4. Investigation is the second part of our meditation.
a. Who moved the stone?
b. What happen to the body?
c. Where were the Roman guards that were assigned to guard
the tomb?
d. If someone stole the body of Jesus, why would they take
time to remove the linen wrapping and then place the face
cloth neatly in a another place in the tomb?
e. What would be the purpose of removing a body from a tomb?
5. Application is the third part of our meditation on the Word.
a. How does the events of this chapter in the Bible agree
with the rest of the Bible?
b. All things work together for the good of those who love
the Lord and are called according to His purposes.
c. How does the empty tomb work for our good?
d. Was the empty tomb the purpose of God?
e. It is very important that we apply all of the Word of God
to our lives.
f. We should leave no question unanswered if we want the best
understanding of the Word.
THE MERCY OF GOD
1 Peter 1:3-5
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
4 to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and
will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,
5 who are protected by the power of God through faith for a
salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
A. This is the answer to the empty tomb.
1. Jesus said, If I be lifted up, I will draw all men to me.
2. Jesus was lifted up on the cross by evil men to die for
sins of all men.
B. Jesus death on the cross is the atonement or payment for our
sins, past, and future
1. Jesus resurrection from the dead is the victory over Satan
that God promised in the Garden of Eden.
2. Faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus is the way God
provided for eternal life for all believers.
3. The Purpose of the empty tomb is the evidence of God\’s mercy
for us.
C. Through faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus each
believer is born again into the living hope.
1. We ought to be grateful for the death and resurrection of
Jesus.
2. We should live like heaven is our home.
3. This journey through life is preparing us for our final
eternal destination with Christ in Heaven.
THE GRACE OF GOD
1 Peter 1:8-9
8 And though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,
9 obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.
A. Faith comes by hearing and not by sight.
1. We have never seen Jesus, but we have the testimony of the
Word.
2. We have never seen Jesus, but we have the testimony of
Apostles who were eyewitnesses to Jesus life, death and
resurrection.
3. We have not seen Jesus but we have the testimony of the
Holy Spirit that indwells us.
4. We have not seen Jesus, but we have our own testimony of
what He has done in our lives.
B. We believe in Jesus because He has drawn us into an intimate
knowledge of Himself.
1. We believe in Jesus because we know the change in ourselves
since we came to know Him.
2. We believe in Jesus because we see the truth of His Word in
nature and in ourselves.
3. We believe in Jesus because He sacrificed His life that we
might have eternal life.
THANK YOU JESUS FOR YOUR LOVE
Rev. M. Mitchell
Asst Pastor of Greater Macedonia Baptist Church
5510 West Sam Houston Toll Way
Houston, Texas 77041
For more lessons follow me on face book and
visit my blogs, www.revmmitchell.com and goodnewsrevmitc.blogspot.com
