John 20

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John 20:1-10, 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. 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!”

So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there,  as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen.  Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. (They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.) Then the disciples went back to where they were staying.

He is Risen!!!  Happy Easter Sunday!  My prayer for each of you is that you can experience resurrection hope today in a very powerful way.  Jesus is King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  Death has been defeated.  Hope is alive. 

Today’s Scripture is some of my favorite.  Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed.  She went to get Simon Peter and the other disciple whom Jesus loved (most likely John, the author).  They rushed to the tomb.  Jesus’ body was no longer there but the strips of cloth used to wrap his dead body were still present. 

John went inside.  He saw and believed.  Think about those words.  He had been walking with Jesus for three years.  John saw miracle after miracle, healing after healing, feeding after feeding.  But none of it made sense.  It now makes sense.  What Jesus said would happen has happened.  The cross did not have the final word.  Jesus Christ defeated death and darkness.  He overcame the world.  God’s power was demonstrated in such an awesome way; it’s really hard to even wrap our brains around it.

The transforming power of God was at work then and is still at work today!  The same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead lives within us as believers.  There is power in that, friends!   We are resurrection people.  We believe that what was dead can be brought to life.  We believe that we are new people in Jesus Christ.  We believe that we are raised with Christ.  We believe that there is so much more to this world than meets the eye. 

How have you seen resurrection power at work in your life?

Let’s close today with a hymn (feel free to sing!)…

Christ the Lord is risen today, Alleluia!

Earth and heaven in chorus say, Alleluia!

Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia!

Sing, ye heavens, and earth reply, Alleluia!