Preamble

Good morning! I trust that you all had a good week.

I wonder if I can start this morning by posing this question for you to consider.

Why did God have the stone rolled away at the tomb? What was the purpose of that?

To let Jesus out?

Later in John we read about how Jesus appeared to his disciples in a locked room. He went through the walls and doors as if they were not there. So why didn’t he just go through the rock?

The stone was NOT rolled away to let Jesus out, rather it was rolled away to let Mary and the disciples in.

You see, as I mentioned last time I spoke, God uses witnesses to establish a matter.

The gospels are eye-witness accounts. Luke addresses this at the beginning of his gospel when he tells us that he gathered ‘eye-witness’ accounts of Jesus’ life (Luke 1:2).

You see the eye-witness account of Mary Magdalene and the disciples to Jesus' resurrection serves as tangible, irrefutable evidence for the resurrection of Jesus from the dead.

This morning I am going to pick-up where Andrew left off last week, right in the middle of chapter 20. A familiar passage! One that is often read or shared over easter time, and for good reason!

Because although Jesus appears to hundreds of followers and disciples - and John could have picked out any of those - he makes a point of picking out Mary’s account. There is something very special and genuine about this encounter and it is central to the chapter.

Introduction

  • Okay so where do we find ourselves?
  • The tomb was empty!
  • There are lots of possible explanations for this
    • One is that maybe, the disciples came and stole Jesus’ body during the night and then invented the story of the Resurrection.
    • After all, they had a vested interest in this Jesus thing continuing, didn’t they?
    • Maybe they came by night, took the body and then told everybody he rose from the dead. 
    • That’s the story that was concocted by the Jewish officials and told by the Roman soldiers, and it’s a story that continues to be repeated even to this day.
  • Or here’s the second scenario.
    • Maybe, maybe the women and the disciples went to the wrong tomb.
    • It was dark, they were disoriented with grief, they likely hadn’t slept and they were just confused.
    • I mean there were tombs all over the hillsides outside Jerusalem.
    • Maybe in their disorientation and their grief, they got lost and just ended up at the wrong tomb.
    • They thought Jesus rose from the dead when really they were just in the wrong place at the wrong time.
  • Okay, how about this…. A third scenario.
    • Maybe Jesus didn’t really die.
    • Maybe he was on the verge of death, maybe he just passed out and was unconscious but did not actually die.
    • I mean they weren’t doctors, besides Luke, but the rest, the rest were uneducated, low-information persons.
    • They took him down from the cross and then perhaps in the coolness of the tomb he revived.
    • Maybe what we’re really talking about here is not a resurrection but a resuscitation.
  • These theories and dozens of others have been put forward by Sceptics and by doubters for centuries. And I have no doubt that you have heard some of these from friends, family or co-workers who are determined not to believe in Jesus. Why?
  • What is it about the resurrection that makes it the primary target of unbelievers?
  • Why do doubters go to such great lengths to provide alternative explanations?
  • For one single reason they need to discredit the resurrection. Why?
  • Because the resurrection of Jesus from the dead is the cornerstone of our Christian faith.
  • You see, if God created the world and Jesus was raised from the dead, then everything else is possible.
  • Jesus prophesied that he would be crucified and at the same time, he also predicted he would rise from the dead on the third day. 
    • The fact that Jesus Christ rose from the dead proves that he is able to give us new life in the Father.
    • If you are able to disprove the resurrection, or certainly cast doubt, then everything else can be discredited
  • Paul addresses this in 1 Corinthians 15 where rumours were spreading in the church and people were doubting Jesus' resurrection was real. Paul says this, “If Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith” - and not only that but that we would be “found to be false witnesses about God”.
    • In other words the gospel and our Christian faith would be useless if Jesus didn't come back from the dead. 
    • All the preaching and miracles Jesus performed would have been in vain.
  • You see, an empty tomb is interesting.
    • An empty tomb demands some kind of an explanation, but an empty tomb does not ‘a resurrection make’.
    • There are many ways of explaining away an empty tomb - and listen, it wasn't just the Jewish officials that first doubted the significance of the empty tomb, it was Mary Magdalene, one of Jesus' most devoted followers that doubted it!
    • But what we see in this passage in John, on this first Easter morning, in the reaction of Mary, was that the Christian faith is all about the response to the Risen Christ, not a response to the empty tomb.
  • It was Arthur Pink, a British evangelist and theologian who said that “We cannot make too much of the death of Christ, but we can make too little of His resurrection.”
    • In other words, our focus this morning, as we have gathered around His table, on the death of Christ, His Sacrifice, the agony and humiliation he suffered is a good thing!
    • It's impossible to over emphasise its importance.
    • It represents His ultimate sacrifice, the atonement for sins.
    • BUT we CAN underestimate the significance of Jesus's resurrection.
    • The resurrection is the cornerstone of our Christian faith.
  • It matters how deeply we understand what he did on the cross, but equally and more it matters how deeply we understand what he accomplished in His resurrection.
  • Faith is a response to the Risen Christ, not to the empty tomb.
  • Or to put it another way, our faith is NOT about belief in an event, but about trust in a person.
  • It's the Risen Christ, not the empty tomb that makes the difference.
  • This morning I would like to explore the difference between these two things.
  • I want us to look for a few minutes at Mary's encounter with the empty tomb and then I want us to look at Mary's encounter with the Risen Christ

The Empty Tomb

  • Before we read the text, let’s set the scene
  • It is the first Easter Sunday morning - The third day - For us, the modern convention is that a new day starts at midnight - but in biblical times, and for Jews, the new day started at Sunset
    • Jesus was crucified and buried on the Friday - DAY ONE
    • He was in the grave for Saturday - DAY TWO
    • DAY THREE begins at Sunset on the Saturday and so we find ourselves at Sunrise on the third day.
  • Mary and some of the other followers of Jesus have come to the tomb early, not to celebrate the resurrection, not to see if Jesus did really rise from the dead like he said he was, but rather to continue preparing the body of Jesus for burial.
    • Jesus’ body was buried rather hastily on the Friday evening, his body had not been embalmed and anointed as was the custom of that day - and these women were bringing spices hoping to finish the job and to take care of his body.
    • They knew where the body had been buried - they had been present at the cross - they had witnessed his death - they were there when Nicodemeus and Joseph of Aramethia had prepared and placed his body in the tomb. They were not confused about the location of the tomb.
  • Each of the 4 gospels come to their climax with the resurrection narrative, and on its surface it appears that the accounts have contradictions
    • In the gospel of Matthew we are told that it is dawn and just after sunrise, while Mark & Luke record it as very early, and John tells us that it was still dark.
    • Doubters have often pointed to these discrepancies as evidence that the gospel accounts cannot be trusted, but that is just not the case.
    • In fact, if their stories lined up perfectly, then this would be a reason for concern.
    • The discrepancies between the accounts in the gospel are not major contradictions, but rather point to very genuine eye-witness accounts
    • Together the 4 gospels reveal a full picture of the resurrection. 
  • Although Mary is not alone, as we read in the other gospels, John chooses to focus in on Mary and her story. He presents us with an image of Mary alone in the darkness weeping.
  • It is not the first time that we have encountered Mary at a tomb - Mary along with her sister Martha witness the resurrection of their brother
    • But despite this incredible miracle - there was NO expectation that Jesus would be raised from the dead - rather she was there to mourn his death
    • She does not enter the tomb, rather she does something rather undignified - she runs back to Peter and John
    • She runs back to tell them that the stone has been rolled away
    • Not to report that the Lord has risen but to report that Jesus body had been taken - his body has been moved
    • Peter and John, then run together back to the tomb, out pacing Mary
    • Don’t you love how John makes a point of telling us how much faster he is than Peter - not once but twice
    • Peter and John enter the tomb and see the linen cloth lying in place and body was no longer there
      • John’s response as Andrew noted last week, is that ‘he saw and he believed’
        • This was the exception, the first Christians did not believe because of the empty tomb rather they saw and met the resurrected Jesus - and believed
        • John believed, while Peter was still in the dark. Once again outpaced by his friend.
    • Peter and John went back to their own homes.

11 Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb

  • So first of all, let's try to get ourselves into the mindset and the emotional state that Mary is in. Twice we are told that she is weeping.
  • What John is highlighting is the reality of grief, pain and loss that she is feeling.
  • Mary is mentioned 12 times in scripture, more than many of the other disciples.
  • Luke chapter 8 tells us that she was possessed by 7 demons.
  • Not one or two but seven - she is portrayed as being completely controlled by these evil spirits and Jesus heals her completely.
  • Although we are not sure whether it was Mary of Bethany or Mary Magdalene who washes Jesus’ feet with their tears, we are presented with a picture of a woman who was of previous ill-repute, who loved and was devoted to Him.
    • Those that are forgiven much, love much
  • She is stricken with grief.
  • For you this morning, where is the grief? Where is the pain? Where is the loss? Where is the heart-ache in your life?
  • And as you consider your own story, would you allow yourself to feel those things this morning, and in so doing allow yourself to understand Mary’s emotional state.
  • Now we need to recognise two things here.
    • ONE
      • Her bravery. While the other disciples were holed up in their homes afraid of the Jewish leaders. Mary, and the other women, at the first opportunity, made their way back to the tomb.
      • Despite potential consequences because of their love and devotion for Jesus, they risked it all.
    • The SECOND
      • Mary’s healthy emotional response.
      • She is not numb with grief, she is not ignoring the pain of losing someone close to her. She isn’t putting it in the past and moving on.
      • She is allowing herself to feel the loss of a dear friend and a mentor.
  • And so this is the state she is in.

12 and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot. 13 They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?”

  • A bit of an odd question, right… I mean if there is any place where you would expect to find weeping and crying it would be at a grave sight… right… you don’t go to a funeral to find people happy and giddy.
  • Just a couple of weeks ago we were here in this room remembering the life of our dear sister Dorean - a stalwart - the epitome of a good and faithful servant - someone who loved the Lord and loved the people of Medway.
  • She was called home and we know that she is absent from the body and present with the Lord, and yet wept at her loss.
  • It would have been an odd question for me to ask someone why are you crying.
  • And so on its surface this looks to be a silly question, but it is not, rather it is the first clue in the story that there is a happy ending - that maybe Mary’s emotional response to the situation isn’t taking into account what is really happening here.
  • It is fair to say that she is blinded by her grief
    • Not only does she not immediately recognise that there were two angels, but she also does not notice the burial clothes and their curious arrangement
  • Her response further illustrates this

“They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” 

  • Mary has only one thought - where is the body of my Lord.
  • Not for one moment was she thinking or dreaming that he was alive.
  • She believed that he was still dead and all she wanted to do was to complete the final preparation of the body.
  • This is what I love about scripture, I mean if you were looking to put together a credible eye-witness account, you would have used a better witness and you would certainly have left out some of the more damning evidence
  • But scripture is accurate and honest
  • With all of its honest doubt and disbelief
  • Despite the angels, despite the empty grave clothes, she still cannot see

14 At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realise that it was Jesus.

15 He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?”

Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.”

  • I don’t think that Mary was a particularly big and strong woman, but wherever the body is, she is prepared to go and get it
  • In her grief and concern she doesn’t quite think through the practicalities 
  • Mary was wondering and worrying about where Jesus was, but he wasn’t far away
  • The scripture here doesn’t tell us why she turned around
    • Did some sort of movement out of the corner of her eye catch her attention?
    • Did the angels themselves point or indicate?
    • We don’t know, but either way she turns around and there before her stands Jesus
  • Now Mary certainly would have known what Jesus looked like and it is strange that she didn’t recognise him immediately
    • Was it that she had tears in her eyes?
    • Was it that because of the resurrection that Jesus’ appearance had completely changed?
    • Or was it a more simple explanation, She just did not expect him to be there
  • Jesus does not immediately reveal himself to her
    • He wasn’t playing some sort of trick on her, rather he is trying to break through her unbelief and forgetfulness seeing if she recognises His promise of resurrection
  • This morning you have been presented with two kinds of doubt
    • One that can be described as ACTIVE DISBELIEF
    • Now ACTIVE DISBELIEF is more than just passively not believing something; it's a conscious and deliberate rejection
    • This is the kind of disbelief that is an outright denial: A refusal to accept the validity of a claim, even in the face of over-whelming evidence.
    • No matter how you try to persuade someone, you are met with ridicule and mockery
    • The world is full of people who do not want to believe in Jesus and will find any excuse to deny him
  • The second type of doubt is a PASSIVE DETACHMENT
    • PASSIVE DETACHMENT
    • What I am seeing, what I am hearing, doesn’t fit with the way that I already see the world.
    • I see what seems to be here but I find myself detached from it.
    • There is a way that I am already accustomed to seeing the world and this is not it.
    • All too often this kind of disbelief stems from our concern and worldly view of matters
      • We are far too concerned with our careers, our possessions, that we do not pay attention to spiritual matters, we detach ourselves from it
    • There may be one or two here this morning who choose to actively disbelieve what is presented in scripture
    • But what I would like to acknowledge this morning is that for many of us, despite the fact that we have accepted him as Lord and saviour, despite the fact that we come to break bread every week, despite the fact that we do truly love Him, our disbelief is still alive and well and that is a kind of passive detachment
    • We come every week, the Word is opened and we hear what is preached, but then we walk out the room and leave unchanged
    • We are not alone this morning, Mary is right there too!
  • Despite the angels, and the empty tomb, despite the appearance of Jesus, she is focused on finding the body
  • What happens next is Mary encounters not just the empty tomb, but the risen Christ!
  • And so I want us now to turn from looking at Mary’s encounter with the reality of the empty tomb, to look at Mary’s encounter with the person of Jesus Christ!

The Risen Lord

  • As we have seen Jesus has already slipped into the story, Mary hasn’t recognised him, in fact she thinks he is the gardener.
  • He has spoken to her, asked her questions, and yet she remains blind to who he was
  • Jesus at this point utters one word, follow with me in v16

16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!”

  • Jesus only says one word to her, and all is explained
  • She heard in the name and the tone - the voice of her beloved Messiah, and instantly responds ‘Rabboni’
    • Not in Greek as was the language of the day, but in the language of her birth
    • The response isn’t a simple recognition, it is a deep, heart-felt awaken and awareness of Christ presence
    • Her disbelief, despair and grief are shattered in an instant - evaporated - gone!
  • You see Jesus didn’t reveal Himself to Mary by telling her who He was - rather by telling her who she was to HIM!
  • In one word - Jesus preached the perfect sermon!
  • Here is the good and gentle shepherd - the one who knows ‘his own sheep by name’
  • He lovingly reaches out to this one poor wounded sheep
  • Jesus has just risen from the death, conquering death and sin - the significance of what he accomplished has universal significance, that has implications for the entire human race - but it does not eclipse his very personal engagement with Mary nor us as he calls each of us by name
  • Mary’s darkness is banished and the light comes flooding in
  • Jesus knows each one of us and he calls each of us by name.
  • You know if you were writing a HERO story, Mary does not make the best eye-witness
    • I mean by all accounts and by our standards Mary not a very good choice
    • For one thing, in a male-dominated society, as a woman, her evidence would have been inadmissible in a Jewish court
    • And then added to this her past, having been involved in prostitution, her testimony would have been tarnished
    • And then on top of it she is stricken with grief and completely misses all the signs of the Risen Lord
    • Surely a more competent witness could have been found?
    • If it were up to us, we would have picked a sports person or a social media star to be our witness - Someone that would have more impact!
    • So why does John choose Mary? Why does he choose to spend most of this chapter telling Mary’s story?
    • We get a clear picture of this from Paul in 1 Corinthians

1 Corinthians 1:18, 26-30

18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

26 Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before him. 30 It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.

  • Mary’s account is genuine.
  • She really did see what she saw, she really did hear what she heard
  • Despite her own disbelief Jesus meets her at her point of need.
  • John wants us to appreciate that in her utter grief that she is taken from the darkness of despair, through the half-light of seeing God’s fingerprint upon what has happened, to the absolute certainty that what she was seeing was true.
  • If Jesus is dead, then hope is dead; but if he is indeed alive, then there is real hope!
  • When Mary is confronted by the empty tomb there is heart-ache, despair and lose, BUT hen she meets and recognises the Risen Lord there is joy and awe at seeing that Jesus is alive
  • You see at the empty tomb there is grief and despair, but as we turn our eyes to the Risen Lord there is hope and faith in abundance.
  • This is what I believe is the heart of the message this morning
  • An invitation once again to deepen our faith and trust in Jesus
  • Jesus knows each one of us intimately and completely
  • He calls each of us by name
  • He calls us to trust him and to step out in faith with him
  • What is that thing where he is asking you to trust him today?
  • Your response might be… I am sorry Lord, but I cannot see a way forward… I have tried everything, and I am sorry for this thing that I need, it is impossible… our passive disbelief kicks in!
  • He calls you by name to trust him today

Matthew 11:28-30

28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

  • Our story doesn’t end there
  • Let’s continue reading.

17 Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”

18 Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that he had said these things to her.

  • The resurrection of Jesus from the dead is the cornerstone of our Christian faith.
  • And Mary is the first witness to the Risen Lord.
  • Her first instinct is to cling to him and to not let him go, BUT Jesus’ instruction is the same instruction that he calls each and everyone of us to each and every single day.
  • To take the message of hope to all mankind.
  • Do not think for a second that your story of how Christ has met you at your point of need, in your pain and your despair, is not of value or somehow less valuable - Don’t for a second think that just because you aren’t famous or your conversion was not awe inspiring that it is not worth telling.
  • It is the Risen Lord, what he has do for us, and what we are to Him - What he has done for us in rising from the dead that is worth telling.