• 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.
• It has been quite the week. A full week’s journey
From the Book of Beginnings. To Sir, we would see Jesus
o To Him dying on the cross
o And now we’re here at the tomb
o An empty tomb
o But we’re here at the end of our journey
o Emotions are flying high
o And I’d like for us to peel away
o Look into the hearts of some of the characters
o That played a part on this day
o The day we call Resurrection Sunday
o Because we know that the Lord is not in the tomb
o The Lord is not on the earth
o But the Lord Jesus Christ
o Who journeyed from the Garden
o Journeyed down through time stopping only to give us a glimpse that He was walking
o Came to this earth through a virgin
o Talked with His disciples
o Fed 5,000
o Healed many
o Delivered several from demons
o Rose again
o Ascended back to heaven
o And is seated this day at His Father’s right hand
o Interceding right now for you and for me
• But since all of you got all dressed up
• And came out this morning
• To talk about the story
• Let’s talk about the story for a few short moments
• Her name was Mary
o She had had a very sleepless night
o With tears rolling down her face
o Eyes swollen
o Head pounding with pain
o All because of the stress from the last several hours
o Of agnoy
o She wakes up before the sun comes up
o Throws on some clothes
o Walks down to the garden tomb
o Grateful for the darkness
o Because at least she could hide her grief
o At least no one would have to see her sadden face
o How can they just keep living
o And acting like nothing ever happened
? She thought
o How are the mountains still standing
o Why hasn’t the sky crumbled
o Why are the stars shining so brightly
o Why is the wind even blowing
o How can they move through the marketplace
o And act like nothing has ever happened
o Hello!!!!
o Doesn’t anybody know that the world collapsed two days ago
• That’s Mary
o That’s how she was
o Because when it came to Jesus
o Others may have loved Him louder
o But nobody loved Him any more than she did
o She loved His sense of humor
o She loved His belly laughs
o She loved how He would reach out and hug a child
o She loved His personality
o She loved the gleam in His eye
o She loved the smile that would come across His face
o Whenever He would look in her direction
o She loved His compassionate caring heart
o But more than anything, she loved Him because He was her deliverer
o And if you’ve ever been bound
o And He’s ever touched your life
o Oh, you don’t know like I know what the Lord has done for me
o So, you can look all cutie pie on Resurrection Sunday Morning
o But you don’t know
o You weren’t there when He picked me up
o You weren’t there when He wiped the tears
o And everybody else had walked out and pronounced me dead
o And left me for dead
o He walked in and recussitated me back to life
o He said
? It’s okay,
? You shall live and not die
o You don’t know like I know what the Lord has done for me
o And because of that she loved Him constantly
o And she loved Him consistently
o It was not one of those relationships where
? I love Him today
? And maybe I’ll love Him tomorrow
o But if He ever really touches you
o In the basement of your soul
o You’ll praise Him
? Anywhere
? Any time
? Any place
? Any hour
o You don’t need a piano
o You don’t need a praise Team
o You just need a flash back
o When I think of the goodness of Jesus and all
o Oh, not what He’s done for you
o But what He’s done for me
• She was a woman who had overwhelming gratitude
• She was a woman who was an example of life poured out
o It was her way of saying
? Thank you
? Because I know what it was like to be bound
? I know what it was like to look at other women
? Those who were dressed up looking nice
? And just walk down the streets free in their minds
? And free in their family
? And free in their relationships
? And I was so bound that I couldn’t even lift up my countenance
? My head was down
? I didn’t know how to smile
? The torment that was going on in my mind
? You just have no idea
? I was possessed with 7 evil spirits
? I couldn’t be normal
? I couldn’t look normal
? I couldn’t act normal
o Oh but one day
o There was that one day
o He changed everything for me
• One day
o Just one day everything changed
o And you wonder why we praise Him
o And some of you are here because it’s Resurrection Sunday
o And it’s the thing to do
o But some of us are here every Sunday
o Because He’s blessed us
o And He’s touched us
o And He’s freed us
o And we can’t help but remember how far the Lord has brought us
o It does you good every now and then to reflect on where God has brought you from
o Because if you don’t reflect
o You become ungrateful
o You become arrogant
o It does you good to just look back over and say
? Jesus,
? I will never forget
• He was the lover of her soul
o When no man would love her
o He loved her
o He was the keeper of her dreams
o When it looked like she didn’t have the ability to birth them
o He kept them on hold
o Somebody ought to thank Him right now for keeping your dreams on hold
o He didn’t just toss them away
o He said
? I’m going to hold them until you get it together
? I’m going to stand back and watch you
? Be there to help you along
? I’m going to keep them
? They’re all in safety
? Because I know the plans I have for you, saith the Lord
? For it’s a peace and not of evil
• He was her friend
o He was the friend of a wounded heart
o She walked with Him
o She didn’t just hear about Him
o She talked with Him
o They fellowshipped together
o No one had ever done for her what He had done for her
o No one had ever touched her like He had touched her
o When she couldn’t come to Him
o He came to her
o When others had given up
o When so called family members had walked away
o They said
? That girl has got some mess in her life
o He stayed
o He stayed with me
o And when I couldn’t come to Him
o He came to her
o So that He could go through everything that I went through
o He took rejection
o So that when I go to Him and say
? God I’ve been rejected
o He says
? I know child,
? I know exactly how that feels
? I was rejected too
o Do you understand that He came and went through everything that He went through
o Simply for the fact
o That when you cry out to Him
o And you say
? God I’m struggling with this
o He went through everything that He went through
o So He could identify with you right where you are
o When she couldn’t come to Him
o He came to her
• He came and He loosed her from sin
o I don’t know if anybody in this room has ever been loosed from sin
o But if you’ve been loosed from sin
o There is a thank you that wells up in the basement of your spirit
o Some of y’all been saved so long you forgot what it was like
o But some of us remember what it was like to lay down in sin
o And get up in sin
o To live in sin
o To walk in sin
o He loosed her from perversion
o He loosed her from indiscretion
o He loosed her from bad choices
o He loosed her from discouragement
o He loosed her from depression
o He loosed her from unclean spirits
o He loosed her from demonic strongholds
o Because when you are struggling with demonic activity
o Many times you find yourself friendless
o You find yourself hopeless
o You find yourself joyless
o Passionless
o But the God that commanded light
o To shine in the darkness
o Reached in and did for her
o What she was incapable of doing for herself
o In want to ask this Resurrection morning
o Is there anybody in CW Church
o Those of you watching online this morning
o Is there anybody
o Anywhere
o That will say
? God did things for me that I could have never, ever done for myself
? That’s why I love Him
? That’s why I praise Him
? That’s why I bow in His presence
? That’s why I tell Him
• You’re holy
• And I love You
o He reached in and snatched her out
• Delivered her
• And the moment that she was set free
• She became a slave a righteousness
• Because she owed Him everything
o Oh, I’ve got to warn you this morning
o That if my praise gets on your nerves
o You’ll have to forgive me
o But I owe Him everything
o Maybe you just think you deserve to be here
o Maybe you think you deserve to live where you live
o And drive what you drive
o And wear what you wear
o But I dare somebody
o Who knows you never would’ve ever been anybody
o To give God and I owe You everything praise this morning
o I owe You everything God
• Mary was faithful
o She was faithful to Jesus
o When others walked away
o Mary followed Him
o When others became offended
o Mary followed Him
o When others quit
o Mary followed Him
o When others refused to walk any further
o Mary followed Him
o She followed Him from Gallilee
o To Jerusalem
o From Jerusalem to Golgaltha
o She followed Him from Galgaltha all the way to the grave
o She was not a fair-weathered friend
o She followed Him right to Calvary
o She watched as the Lamb of God was led like a sheep to the slaughter
o And despite the pain
o And despite the intensity
o And despite the angony
o And despite the
? I know that you are not pushing that into His head
o Despite the crown of throns
o Despite the One she loved is gasping for breath
o Despite that the blood-thirsty fanatics are screaming for the death of her beloved Lord
o She stayed through the whole thing
o She stayed as close as she could stay
o She stayed unto the very bitter end
o It was as if she couldn’t bear to watch
o But she couldn’t bear to leave either
o Because she wanted to be right where He was
o As horrible as it seemed
o Her loyalty demanded that she be near Him
? I just want to be near Him
o And now it’s over
o And her heart is broken
o And she watches
o As His lifeless
o Mangled
o Torn beaten
o And entangled body
o Is taken off a cross by Joseph and Nicodemus
o And poorly prepared
o Because they were in a hurry
• And they wanted to put Him in the tomb before sundown
o He deserves better than that
o Wrap His feet better Joseph
o Can I just wash His face
o There’s so much blood
o The blood is running down in His eyes
o He’s my friend
o Can I just have access
o She was determined to wash Him
o She was determined to anoint Him with spices
o She was determined to give Him a proper burial
o A burial that was worthy of someone that was profoundly loved
o This was her Master
o This was her Friend
o This was her Teacher
o This was Rabonnai
o This was her Savior
o For she had been forgiven much
o And she loved Him much
o I can’t tell you my story
o But there really is a story behind my praise this morning
o And Mary had made investment
o After investment
o After investment
• Don’t tell me you love Him
o And you don’t invest in His kingdom
o You don’t invest in the praise
o You don’t invest in the worship
o You don’t invest in the offering
o You don’t invest in anything
o If you love Him
o Real love reciprocates
o Real love always gives back
• Standing at the cross she was in love
o And I tell you the truth today
o When you’re in love
o You can’t hide it
o And when you’re not
o You can’t fake it either
• She’s being elbowed back
o Woman get back from the cross
o She could’ve been trampled
o She could’ve been stampede
o She probably knew He couldn’t see her
o But something in her heart said
? I know if He knows me
? He knows I’m here
? Whether He can see me or not
? He knows I would not leave Him in this condition
• She was a giver
o Mary was a giver
o On countless occasions throughout Scripture
o She gave of her substance
o Many came to take
o But Mary was not one of those who came to take
o Many people come to church just to take
o Just to see what I can get
o Preach me happy
o Just help me
o Help me solve my problem
o And you walk out of here
o And you never think about the price that He paid
o And you never think about giving back
o Until Resurrection Sunday morning
• Mary was so restless
• She watched them put Him in a tomb
• Watched them roll the stone in place
• She went home
• She laid down
• And before the breaking of day
• She jumped up and ran down to the tomb
o Thinking all the way there
? How am I going to move that stone
? I don’t know how I’m going to move that stone
? And I really don’t want to ask for help
? Because I don’t really want anybody to know
? But I got to get that blood off of His face
? I can’t let them bury Him like that
? I’ve got these spices
? I’ve got to anoint His body
o Mary loved the body of Christ
o Oh, you ought to love me
o I’m part of the body of Christ
o Real worshipers love the Body of Christ this morning
• She gets to the tomb
• She looks up and sees the mouth of the tomb is laying open
• Strips of linen cloth are lying around
• The burial napkin is folded and laid in its place
• She looks and realizes
o Where is He
o She wasn’t thinking that He was resurrected
o She thought somebody had taken Him
? Where is He
? Where is my Master
? Where is my Teacher
o At this point she loses it
o Because she feels as if she has been cheated from the last opportunity to touch Him
o To love Him
o To care for Him
o To clean Him up
o He is her Savior
o He is her Deliverer
o He is her Redeemer
o He is her Jesus
o Who is so touchable
o That He became pierceable
o And now He is gone
o He is gone
o And I never had a chance to say my final goodbye
o And so she panics
o Where is He
o Tell me where did you put Him
o Peter
o Peter, they have taken my Lord
• And I don’t know where He is at
• Peter rose up to his feet
o Because anybody who knew Peter
o Peter was a man
o Peter would handle his business
o Peter was a leader
o He was a businessman
o He was aggressive
o He was a man of action
o Peter was a man
o Peter was the same man who cut the ear off the Roman soldier
o Peter was a man
o Peter was the same man who saw Jesus walking on the water and said
? Bid me to come
? And stepped out on the water
o Peter was a man
o Peter didn’t just have one boat
o He had fleets of boats
o Peter was a man
o And any man knows
o When a woman comes crying to you like that
o You ought to deal with the situation
• But there was a problem
• He got ready to run and handle it
• He was a conflicted man
o Because when Jesus was taken from judgement hall to judgment hall
o Peter denied that he ever knew the Lord
o And he wanted to run and fix it
o But how do you run right
o When you lived wrong
o I want to run
o I want to straighten it out
o But He wouldn’t want to see me
o I’ve already denied Him
o I’ve already failed Him
o But I’ve got to go seek Him
o I’ve got to handle this
o Don’t worry about it Mary
• So the Bible says that Peter ran
• There were three people that ran
o Mary ran first to the tomb
o Then Peter ran
o John the other disciple ran
o But it’s interesting that Peter didn’t run as fast as John
o Because Peter was running with the baggage of his mistakes
o Have you ever tried to run with guilt on your back
o Have you ever tried to run right
• How do you run right, when you’ve lived wrong
• How do you get up when you’ve been down
• How do you straighten out something when you’ve been crooked yourself
o I’m going anyway
o I’m going anyway
o I messed up but I’m going anyway
o I’ve had some mistakes
o But I’m going anyway
o I denied Him
o But I’m going anyway
o I’ve been through some fleshly stuff
o But I’m going anyway
o There are some people in this room
o We’re not here because we did everything right
o We’ve been into some mess
o But we’ve made up our minds
o That in spite of what is behind me
o I’m going anyway
o I’ve got to get to Jesus
o Are there anyway people here this morning
• Running to Jesus
o But every now and then
o Your mind goes back to where you messed up
o Running
o But every now and then
o You’re thinking how you should’ve
o And could’ve
o And you would’ve
o But you’re running anyway
o Shouting anyway
o Clapping anyway
o Peter ran
o I’m going
o I’m going to run
o I don’t even know if you want me
o I don’t even know if I messed up so bad
o Maybe you’re sick of me
o But it’s in me to run
o But I’m going down there
o And I’m going to handle this mess
• But by the time he got there
• John had already run ahead of him
o I used to think that John outran Peter
o Just because he was younger
o But no
o I don’t think that anymore
o You see, I forgot that John was a worshiper
o And there’s something about a worshiper
o If they hear the name of Jesus
o They will always get there first
o You see some of you will get blessed in a minute
o But the worshipers are blessed right now
o You’re still fixing to praise Him
o But the worshipers have already been praising Him
o Because when God has delivered you
o It will make you be the first one to give Him praise
o Oh, I wish the church was full of worshipers this morning
o Who would show the thousands of followers
o How you don’t need no help
o You don’t need no support
o You know how to praise the Lord
o I will bless the Lord at all times
o His praise will continually be in my mouth
o My soul shall make her boast in the Lord
o The humble shall hear therof, and be glad
o O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together
o I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears
• The Bible says that when John got down to the tomb…first he looked in
o Are there any worshipers
o You haven’t made it there yet
o Not into your destiny
o Not into your future
o You praise your way so close
o That you can look in
o I may not have it right now
o But I can see it
o Every time I see it
o I give Him the praise
o And I give Him the glory
o And I give Him the honor
o I may not be there yet
o But I’ve been to the top of the mountain
o And I can see
• Well, bless my soul
• Here comes Peter come running down to the scene
• And John’s already down at the tomb
• Peeking in
o Oh my….
o You know how men think when women tell you something
o You don’t believe it no matter what
o You just think she’s being emotional
o And beside herself
o She comes over there crying about something
o He looked in a said
? The woman is right
? He’s not here
o Here comes Peter delayed by his guilt
o Some of you
o God has a purpose for your life
o But you’ve been delayed by your guilt
o And here he comes down to the tomb
o Say what you want to about Peter
o Laugh at him if you will
o Bring up his mistakes if you want to
o But what I like about Peter
o He said
? I’m not going to get this close
? And stand here looking at something
? I’m going to step right on over
? And go on in there
? And investigate what’s going on in here
o Is there anybody in here
o That’s going to step right in what God has promised you
o Mistakes and all
o Crazy and all
o Hurting and all
o But I’m going to go in
o When Peter got into the tomb
o He looked
• The linen strips are indicative to the Hebrewistic commitment to burial
o In lieu of embalming which we do today
o They would wrap the body up like we would a leg for a cast
o They would wrap the body up and then cover it with frankensense and myrrh
o To detain even further the odor of decay
o The strangest thing
o The tomb didn’t smell
o God said
? I will not allow my Holy One to see corruption
o You’ve been through some stuff that you should be stinking
o But the Lord said
? I will not allow you
? To see corruption
? You may be down and out
? But I’m going to stop the stench of death off of your life
? I’ve got a plan for you
o It doesn’t smell like death
o You know how you can go into a place and you can smell
o Like going into old people’s house
o It smells like old people’s house
o They can make a spray out of it
o And you can spray it and you know
o Death has a smell
o Police officers will tell you
o When you go to a crime scene
o Death has a smell
o The tomb didn’t smell
• What happened?
o They weren’t sure
o They weren’t sure that He had risen from the dead
o They were not quick to believe it
o Because believing had gotten them in trouble already
o And when believing gets you in trouble
o You’re afraid to believe again
• So Peter’s investigating
o Doesn’t smell
o Look at the strips of linen
o That were wrapped all around Him
o Just like it was around Lazarus
o These lay in the corner
o But the death napkin that was over His face
o The Bible says it laid by itself
o I know he was investigating
o Because it gives us details
o It says the napkin was folded
o Nobody snatches a body and folds a napkin
o So, I can’t believe that a thief stole a body
o And then folded the towel
o But I can’t believe that He’s resurrected
o Because every other man in the Bible that was ever raised from the dead
o Somebody else had to raise him
o Who raised Him?
o Who raised Him?
o Doubt says
? Maybe He wasn’t dead
o Fact says
? We handled the body
? We know it was cold
? It was stiff
? He was absolutely dead
o And even if by some move of majestic power
o God raised Him from the dead
o Who loosed Him
o Because when Lazarus was raised from the dead
o He still could not loose himself
o We had to loose him and let him go
• So Peter was shocked and confused
• A thief wouldn’t have folded the napkin
• There was no greater prophet to raise Him from the dead
• He couldn’t have raised Himself…could He
• And then if He did…who loosed Him
• Hmmmm…what happened to Jesus???
• It’s a mystery
• It’s an Agatha Christie novel
• What happened to Jesus
• Can there be a crime without a body
• What happened to Jesus
• I know that there are people today who do not believe that Jesus rose from the dead
o And you’re sitting there laughing at us
o And you’re saying that Christianity is a farce
o A lie
o And laugh if you want to
o And I will agree with you
o But all you have to do to shut my mouth is….
? Show me the body
o Show me the body and I’ll shut up
o 2,000 years and nobody has presented a body
o And I know you thinks it’s a lie
o But how can you get 11 men to agree on the same lie
o And to be so committed to it
o That one was skinned alive
o And another was crucified upside down
o And another was hung by his neck
o You think 11 men came up with a conspiracy to start a revolution
o Among a bunch of broke people
o There was no money
o There was no prophet
o There was no gain
o And they were willing to die
• What happened to Jesus
• Look at your neighbors and ask them
o What happened to Jesus
o What happened to Jesus
o In your life
o What happened to Jesus
o In your worship
o What happened to Jesus
o In all the stuff you do
o What happened to Jesus
o In all your activities
o What happened to Jesus
o You tell me about this one
o And what that one did
o And what the other one did
o What happened to Jesus
• While Peter was on the inside trying to figure it out
• Here comes John who was standing on the outside and says
o I’m coming in there too
o There’s something about a worshiper
o You may not be the first one in
o But let me tell you something
o You’re not going to let anybody get closer to the Lord than you
o You’re not going to get no glory
o And I don’t get any glory either
o I’m going to get in there
o If you’re going to clap your hands
o I’m going to go to shouting
o I’m going to get into the presence of the Lord
o Is there anybody in here that’s greedy for Jesus
o Desperate for the Lord
o I need Him in the morning
o I need Him in the noonday
o I need Him when the sun goes down
o I need Him
• I need Him on my job
• I need Him in my home
• I need Him in my marriage
• I need Him in my worship
• I need Him
• I need Him
• I need Him
• I need Him
• Oh, you tell the story this morning
• You tell the world this morning
• Just how much you need the Lord
• How much you rely on the Lord
• How much you lean on the Lord
• Tell the world
o He’s alive
o Can’t no grave hold His body
o He’s alive this morning
• And He’s here right now
• To meet your need
• Oh, I need Him
• Not just at Christmas
• Not just on Resurrection Sunday
• But I need Him every day
• Every hour of every day
• Oh, He’s here for you this morning
• He’s not in the tomb
• He’s not off in some far off galaxy
• He’s here right now for you
• Will you come?
• Let’s stand
