John 20-10.06.22
SCRIPTURE: John 20:13 NIV
“They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?”
“They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.”
OBSERVATION:
Early on Sunday morning, Mary and several other women agree to go to the tomb where Jesus was buried so they can complete the burial preparations. Joseph and Nicodemus had been forced by circumstances to hastily prepare Jesus body, and the women wanted to finish the task.
They pondered one BIG problem on their way—which was how to roll the very large stone back which secured Jesus tomb. Maybe the Roman soldiers would take pity on them and lend a helping hand.
Yet, as Mary arrives first on the scene—she discovers that the very large STONE Is rolled back—there are NO Roman Soldiers to be found—AND Jesus Body is Gone! Mary is Greatly concerned as she concludes that Jesus body has been stolen.
UNDERSTANDING:
Jesus IS Alive!
It seems incredible that Jesus’s disciples didn’t expect Him to come out of the tomb ALIVE. After all, He had told them on numerous occasions throughout His ministry that THIS was The Reason WHY He came. (Also see Matt. 16:21; Matt. 20:19).
Jesus answered and said to them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” (John 2:19 NKJV)
Mary, Peter and each of the disciples were given an opportunity to SEE Jesus after He had Risen. They had been broken, fearful, and crying after witnessing Jesus brutal death on the cross—then-Jesus Comes and appears to them!
They Witness the RISEN Christ!
Sorrow Turns to JOY!
“On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “PEACE be WITH you!” (John 20:19 NIV)
What a comforting and powerful WORD Jesus brought to them in that moment. And that same promise is for us today….PEACE be WITH You…
We may not be able to SEE Jesus the way the disciples did. BUT, we have The WORD—which IS Jesus—AND we have His Holy Spirit.
Pastor Levi shared something So Powerful in His teaching last Sunday-
We can’t SEE the wind. But we can SEE the EFFECT of the wind as it Blows THROUGH the Trees and rustles through the leaves. It is EXACTLY the SAME with the HOLY SPIRIT. We can’t SEE the Holy Spirit—But we can Certainly SEE the Effect of the Holy Spirit as we pray for others and SEE Healing and Wholeness come into their lives. We SEE answered prayer. We can WITNESS Jesus and SEE other’s lives Become TRANSFORMED because JESUS is working in their hearts and Moving them into repentance and relationship to be Born Again.
“But in fact, it is best for you that I go away, because if I don’t, the Advocate won’t come. If I DO go away, then I will SEND him to you. And when he [the Holy Spirit] comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment.” (John 16:7-8 NLT)
Jesus IS ALIVE!
LIFE APPLICATION:
Jesus is ALIVE!
What an extraordinary assurance-
EVERYTHING Hinges on THIS “1” thing!
Jesus is not “missing”—no one “took” his body anywhere!
The Tomb is EMPTY—Because Jesus is RISEN!
AND—we serve a LIVING God!
Lord Jesus,
Thank you for submitting yourself on the cross for our sins and establishing a way for us to be forgiven AND to have restored relationship back to The Father. Thank You for sending Your Holy Spirit to equip us with Power and Authority to be Your Witnesses AND to give us wisdom, counsel, and guidance throughout our lives here. You promised You would Never leave us or forsake us and Your Holy Spirit Fulfills that Promise. I pray I will draw NEAR to You—YOU Promise as we Draw NEAR to YOU—You will Draw NEAR to us. May I be an effective Witness for You—with All you have given me and continue to give me—for Your glory. In Jesus NAME I Pray. amen.
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8 NLT)
Tina L Kudelka