Resurrection

Jesus’ Tomb Is Empty

John 20

¹Early on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb while
it was still dark. When she saw that the large stone had been moved away from
the tomb, ²she ran to Simon Peter and the follower whom Jesus loved. Mary said,
“They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have
put him.”

³So Peter and the other follower started for the tomb. ⁴They were both
running, but the other follower ran faster than Peter and reached the tomb first.
⁵He bent down and looked in and saw the strips of linen cloth lying there, but he
did not go in. ⁶Then following him, Simon Peter arrived and went into the tomb
and saw the strips of linen lying there. ⁷He also saw the cloth that had been
around Jesus’ head, which was folded up and laid in a different place from the
strips of linen. ⁸Then the other follower, who had reached the tomb first, also
went in. He saw and believed. ⁹(They did not yet understand from the Scriptures
that Jesus must rise from the dead.)

Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene

¹⁰Then the followers went back home. ¹¹But Mary stood outside the tomb,
crying. As she was crying, she bent down and looked inside the tomb. ¹²She saw
two angels dressed in white, sitting where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head
and one at the feet.

¹³They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?”

She answered, “They have taken away my Lord, and I don’t know where they
have put him.” ¹⁴When Mary said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing
there, but she did not know it was Jesus.

¹⁵Jesus asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Whom are you looking
for?”

Thinking he was the gardener, she said to him, “Did you take him away, sir?
Tell me where you put him, and I will get him.”

¹⁶Jesus said to her, “Mary.”

Mary turned toward Jesus and said in the Jewish language, “Rabboni.” (This
means Teacher.)

¹⁷Jesus said to her, “Don’t hold on to me, because I have not yet gone up to
the Father. But go to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am going back to my Father
and your Father, to my God and your God.’”

¹⁸Mary Magdalene went and said to the followers, “I saw the Lord!” And she
told them what Jesus had said to her.

Jesus Appears to His Followers

¹⁹When it was evening on the first day of the week, the followers were
together. The doors were locked, because they were afraid of the Jews. Then
Jesus came and stood right in the middle of them and said, “Peace be with you.”
²⁰After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The followers were
thrilled when they saw the Lord.

²¹Then Jesus said again, “Peace be with you. As the Father sent me, I now
send you.” ²²After he said this, he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy
Spirit. ²³If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven. If you don’t forgive
them, they are not forgiven.”

Jesus Appears to Thomas

²⁴Thomas (called Didymus), who was one of the twelve, was not with them
when Jesus came. ²⁵The other followers kept telling Thomas, “We saw the Lord.”

But Thomas said, “I will not believe it until I see the nail marks in his hands
and put my finger where the nails were and put my hand into his side.”

²⁶A week later the followers were in the house again, and Thomas was with
them. The doors were locked, but Jesus came in and stood right in the middle of
them. He said, “Peace be with you.” ²⁷Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger
here, and look at my hands. Put your hand here in my side. Stop being an
unbeliever and believe.”

²⁸Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”

²⁹Then Jesus told him, “You believe because you see me. Those who believe
without seeing me will be truly happy.”

Why John Wrote This Book

³⁰Jesus did many other miracles in the presence of his followers that are not
written in this book. ³¹But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is
the Christ, the Son of God. Then, by believing, you may have life through his
name.

The Holy Bible, New Century Version

SITUATION

Tombs in ancient times were closed by a circular stone across the mouth of a cave. Matthew tells us that authorities sealed the tomb and guarded it (Matthew 27:66). When Mary saw the stone rolled away, she was shocked and amazed. She ran to tell Peter and John.

OBSERVATION

The resurrection of Jesus is true. We worship a living Savior and can live forever because he does.

INSPIRATION

There is something about a living testimony that gives us courage. Once we see someone else emerging from life's dark tunnels we realize that we, too, can overcome....

In the eyes of humanity, death was still the black veil that separated them from joy.

There was no victory over this hooded foe. Its putrid odor invaded the nostrils of every human, convincing them that life was only meant to end abruptly and senselessly.

It was left to the Son of God to disclose the true nature of this force. It was on the cross that the showdown occurred. Christ called for Satan's cards. Weary of seeing humanity fooled by a cover-up, he entered the tunnel death to prove that there was indeed an exit. And, as the world darkened, creation held her breath....

Christ emerged from death's tunnel, lifted a triumphant fist toward the sky, and freed all from the fear of death.

“Death has been swallowed up in victory!” (From On the Anvil by Max Lucado).

APPLICATION

Pretend for a moment that you are a prisoner of a heartless regime, working in a labor camp, awaiting your execution. Overnight you are liberated, almost miraculously. Life is yours again. Describe the feelings. Now be glad, for Jesus has done that for you.

EXPLORATION

Resurrection – Matthew 22:31-32; John 11:25; Acts 1:21-22; 4:2, 33; Romans 1:3-4; 6:5; 1 Peter 1:3; 3:21.