The Resurrection – John 20

Intro

Today we will be looking at four things from John 20.

Evidence of the Resurrection
Encounters of the Resurrection
Encouragement of the Resurrection
Effect of the Resurrection

I. Evidence of the Resurrection

Question: Do you believe the resurrection really happened?

A. Empty Tomb

• Several women and Peter and John saw the empty tomb.
• If there was a body, it could have been produced and the resurrection movement squashed.

B. Eyewitnesses

1 Corinthians 15:5-6 – And that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep.

• More than 500. In a court of law, only 2-3 witnesses are necessary to confirm a case.
• Many of these witnesses were still alive and could confirm it. If they were asked and said, “Nah man, I don’t know what you are talking about,” Christianity would have ended before it began.

C. Enemies conversion

• James, Jesus’ half-brother, did not originally believe. Later he did (John 7:5 and 1 Corinthians 15:7). Something happened to change his mind. It wasn’t the money!
• Saul persecuted the church, but was converted.

D. Transformation and martyrdom of disciples

• Something changed them from fearful to being extremely bold.
• Most the disciples were martyred for their faith.
• The disciples knew if Jesus arose or it was their own fabrication.
• They could have saved their lives by stopping to preach the gospel. They kept on.
• People tell lies for two reasons, to gain benefits or to avoid punishment. Did you ever see a kid lie to his parents to avoid getting in trouble? Did you ever see a kid lie to his parents so that he would be disciplined? I have never seen that.
• Why would they risk their life for something they knew was a lie? They didn’t. They believed Jesus did rise from the dead and because they were eye-witnesses their belief is a powerful evidence that it is true.

E. Early Sources and Record of Jesus’ Resurrection

Some say it was a myth. Myths take a long time to develop. The four gospel accounts are early records of Jesus’ resurrection. Acts was as well. Clement, Polycarp and other early church fathers believed it and wrote about it as well.

F. The rise of the church

Christianity is built upon the resurrection. Without it, we have no New Testament, no missionaries, no church, no movement. The church itself, all of us meeting here today, are evidence that Jesus did rise from the dead.

Evidence of the Resurrection – The historical evidence shows us the resurrection is fact.

The Encounters of the Resurrection –

As we look at the encounters of the disciple with the risen Lord, think about this question. Have you had a personal encounter with Jesus? Believing the fact of the resurrection and believing in Jesus is not the same.

Mary and the empty tomb –

• Mary discovered the empty tomb (Read John 20:1-2)
o Mary’s background
 Possessed by seven demons that Jesus cast out (Luke 8:2).

 An outcast, but not to Jesus
• Mary was with several other ladies, but John focuses on her
• She ran to tell the disciples
• She didn’t believe yet
• She was distraught
o John 20:11 But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb.

Peter and John and the empty tomb

• The disciples thought it was an “idle tale” and did not believe (Luke 24:10-11)
• Peter and John were curious
• They investigated
• John was faster. Peter went in.
• They believed….what?
o John 20:8-9 – Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead.
o They believed Mary’s report.
o Jesus was not there.
o Perhaps they believed something strange or miraculous had happened.
o They didn’t yet fully understand or believe in the resurrection.
• They returned to their homes. Less than a full faith in Jesus as the risen Messiah wasn’t enough to transform them.

Mary and Jesus

John 20:14-15 – Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.”

• Why did she not immediately recognize Jesus? (John 20:14-15)
o She was weeping, blurry eyed, and distracted. It was early morning (in 20:1 still dark). She thought he was dead so she wasn’t expecting Him to appear. His new glorified body was some.
• She recognized Jesus’ voice when He called her name.
o John 20:16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!”
o That is beautiful.
o The encounter was personal. Her relationship to Him was personal.
o He calls us by name. (John 10:3)
• She clung to Him.
• She was given a job. Go announce this.
o John 20:17 – Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” (When read this verse, mention my brothers)
o MY BROTHERS – First time Jesus directly this term toward the disciples. Their relationship was closer than ever before. He was their rabbi, their teacher. Now they were brothers.
• She encountered a risen Jesus and would never be the same.
o Why was she the first to have an encounter with Jesus?
 Was it because she desired it the most?
o Jesus’ first appeared to a woman. He first announced He was the Christ to a woman. Why?
 Counter-cultural. – That society did not value women highly.
 He values everyone.

The disciples and Jesus

John 20:19 – On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them.

• The disciples were afraid.
• The disciples were together. It is good to be with other believers when you need strength and comfort. Don’t face it alone.
• Jesus initiated this encounter.
o He reaches out to us in our darkest moments, in times of fear and distress and need.
o He reached out to the disciples at the beginning and He continued to reach out to them. He reaches out to us spiritually by taking the first move. Romans 5:8, 1 John 4:19
o He came to comfort them, not rebuke them. There was no rebuke for their fear, their fleeing days before, their lack of belief, or even for Peter’s denials.
 Do not be afraid of an encounter with Jesus. He is gracious and kind. Matthew 12:20

Think back on how you came to Christ. How did He reach out to you? Through a person or situation? Spend a moment to think about that and to thank Him that He did.

Jesus wants a personal encounter with you. Encountering Jesus doesn’t just need to be a thing of the past. It is not a one-time thing. He wants to talk with you every day. He is inviting you into His presence to be with Him, spend time with Him, and grow your relationship. He invited the people to drink the living water, to eat the bread of life. He invited those who are weak and heavy laden and promised rest.

The invitation is open.

The Bible compares our relationship with Christ to marriage. How would your wife like it if you met her on your wedding day and then never saw her again? How good would your marriage be if you said “Hi” once a week and lived the rest of your life on your own? To strengthen your marriages, you need to seek to deepen you relationship daily through conversation and sharing time together.

Jeremiah 29:13 – You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.

Psalms 27:8 – You have said, “Seek my face.” My heart says to you, “Your face, LORD, do I seek.

Seek to be with Him daily.

Encounters of the Resurrection – Jesus wants a personal encounter with you.

The Encouragement of the Resurrection

We have the advantage of looking back and seeing the full picture. The disciples experienced this in the moment. I want us to try to put ourselves in their shoes and consider how they felt after Jesus’ death.

Jesus was their leader. He was their Savior. Their lives had been transformed as they received His healing (like Mary) and compassion and forgiveness (like Matthew). Most of them had given up their careers, jobs, and life to follow Jesus. They had experienced the hardships of life on the road with Him. They had been with Him almost every day for three years. During these three years, they witnessed truly amazing things.

• Miracles
• Teaching like they had never heard before
• Compassion and kindness

They believed that Jesus was the Messiah. They believed that He would set up God’s kingdom on earth and they would rule with Him.

But in an instant, their hopes and dreams had come crashing down. Jesus was betrayed by Judas, their close companion. He was rushed off to kangaroo court and sentenced to death almost before they knew what was happening. Perhaps until the moment of His death, they were hoping for another miracle, for Jesus to come down from the cross and show everybody what they knew to be true, Jesus was the Messiah. But Jesus didn’t come down. He died.

We understand that Jesus had to. They did not yet understand this. Their entire worldview came crashing down. Were their beliefs wrong? Had they made a mistake? Had they followed the wrong person? Were they somehow responsible? Was there something they were missing?

Hundreds of questions like these must have rushed through their minds one after another.

It was an emotional hit that we cannot quite grasp.

Their feelings before

• Confusion – How could this have happened? Wasn’t Jesus the Son of God? Mary’s confusion was deepened when Jesus’ body disappeared from the tomb.
o John 20:2 – They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.”
• Grief – Mary was weeping. Surely the other disciples were also grieved.
• Fear
o John 20:19 – On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews.
o Think about how you would feel if authorities raided your church and brutally killed your pastor. That feeling was magnified for them because Jesus was far more than just their pastor.

Their feelings after

Peace

John 20:19 – Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.”

21 – “Peace be with you”

Jesus did not rebuke them for their fear. He didn’t say, “Why are you hiding in here? Did I not tell you I would die and rise again?” His message was not one of criticism, but one of comfort.

Note that the very FIRST word Jesus spoke to the disciples after His resurrection was “Peace!” What a beautiful image that is. He emphasized it by saying it twice.

It wasn’t just empty words. His presence surely brought them peace on an emotional level. They would have felt, calm, safe, and secure. Their fears would have faded as they realized the magnitude of what had happened. Jesus was even greater than they realized! If you follow their story in Acts, you will see this peace in them. They calmly and boldly proclaim the news of Jesus’ resurrection even in the face of dangerous persecution.

I remember when I was a child of about 7, I got separated from my family. They accidentally left me at a stranger’s house when they we were going to garage sales. I chased after the car, but couldn’t catch it. I was quite scared and panicked. Eventually I flagged down a car and asked for help. The lady who was driving called 911 and a police car soon came up. This was the only time I was ever in a police car. The cop drove me to where my father was. When I was reunited, I felt peace. My heart rate went down. I stopped crying. I knew everything would be OK.

I imagine the disciples felt a little bit like this.

But the peace was even more than a surface emotion. Because of Jesus’ death and resurrection, they could have a lasting peace with God. They were no longer His enemies.

Ephesians 2:13-14 – But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace

Jesus came to bring peace between us and God. Because of our sin, we deserve death, judgment, and hell. Jesus came to take our punishment for us. He came to reconcile us with God. Because of His death and resurrection, our sins can be forgiven and we can have peace with God.

If you have not experienced this peace, today He is inviting you. He is offering you true peace. Will you accept it?

Gladness

John 20:20 – When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.

They were glad. In my preparation, I stopped here for some time. I kept asking myself, “Don’t you have more to say? This was the greatest event in the history of the world and your commentary is that you guys were ‘glad.’ Weren’t you at least ‘overjoyed?’”

It is certainly an understated description, but it does show a deep contentment and gladness. Being happy in the end is the thing people seek after the most.

If only one word could be used to describe your marriage, what would you pick? All the married couples, please answer on 3. Many say, “happy.” “They had a happy marriage” are the highest compliments you could give. People look everywhere for happiness; to money, relationships, thrills, etc. This encounter shows us that Jesus is the source of happiness. When He came, they were glad. They wanted to be with Him and they were happy in His presence.

Are you seeking happiness and satisfaction anywhere else? Let today be the day that you recognize that Jesus is the only source who can give it to you.

Encouragement of the Resurrection: Jesus’ resurrection brings us peace and joy.

The Effect of the Resurrection

Question: Where would you be today if Jesus didn’t rise from the dead?

The effects of the resurrection are too many to look at in one message. The entire trajectory of the world, civilization, human history, and countless individual lives have been changed as a result. But today I want to zone in to the immediate results for the disciples that we see in the text here in John 20.

A Mission

John 20:21 – As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.

Some of you have heard of the Christian group, “Youth with a Mission.” Well, before the resurrection, you could have called the disciples, “Men without a mission.” They were aimless. They didn’t know what to do or where to go. They were just kind of sitting around in a locked room.

Jesus’ resurrection changed all of that. He gave them a purpose and a vision. They now knew which direction to go. The rest of their life would be lived to fulfill this divine purpose.

A core need of people is to have a purpose greater than themselves and their day-to-day needs. Without it, people are aimless, floating where the cultural winds take them. It’s a sad thing to see a person who doesn’t have any direction in life.

• The thirty-year old man who lives in his parent’s basement playing video games.
• The young lady who has changed jobs twenty times in a year.
• The old man who has been from one relationship to another his whole life.

It is also a sad thing to see someone chasing after the wrong mission their whole life.

Jesus talked about that in the parable of the rich fool. The man who spent his whole life making money and was quite satisfied with his achievements. But God said, “Fool.” He was going to die and where would all of his wealth go?

Ask your neighbor, “What is your mission?”

If you don’t have an answer to that question yet, you can find the answer in today’s passage. They were called to announce Jesus’ resurrection to the world. We are called to do the same.

Are you:

1. Without a mission?
2. With your own mission?
3. With God’s mission?

Jesus has a mission for you if you choose to accept it.

A Helper

Jesus gave them a mission. He would send them and us around the world to accomplish this mission. But they were not doing this mission on their own. He gave them the job and then He gave them the means to accomplish the job.

John 20:22 – Receive the Holy Spirit.

John 14:26 – But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.

Jesus gave them the Holy Spirit as a helper. The Holy Spirit would be their guide. He would help them personally follow Jesus’ teachings and He would help them accomplish this mission.

No matter how hard you try, you cannot change someone’s heart. You cannot convince them to believe in Jesus. No matter how diligent, persuasive, or passionate you are, you cannot complete the mission on your own. Changing hearts is the work of the Holy Spirit.

You should take comfort in this. You are not alone.

You have a mission. You have a Helper. And you have a Message.

A Message

John 20:23 – If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”

Because of Jesus’ death and resurrection, forgiveness of sins was possible. The disciples were entrusted with a message, the good news that sins could be forgiven because of Christ’s work on the cross.

This verse does not mean they had the power to forgive sins on their own. God is the judge and He is the only one with this power.

We have to understand this verse within context. They were God’s emissaries. It was their job to proclaim the forgiveness of sins to all who believed in Jesus as Savior. They announced this good news and told people that if they repented, they could be forgiven. At the same time, they would pronounce God’s judgment on those who refused to receive the gospel upon those who do not.

The good news that they were proclaiming is simple. You can be forgiven of your sins if you place your faith in Jesus.

That is why we are here today. That is why we celebrate Resurrection Day.

Effect of the Resurrection – We have a mission, a Helper, and a message.

Review

• Evidence of the Resurrection – The historical evidence shows us the resurrection is fact.
• Encounters of the Resurrection – Jesus wants a personal encounter with you.
• Encouragement of the Resurrection: Jesus’ resurrection brings us peace and joy. Receive His grace for daily living.
• Effect of the Resurrection – We have a mission, a Helper, and a message.

Each of these points represent one step in a person’s relationship with God.

Where are you on this journey?

Step 1 – Believe

Begin by believing the truth: God exists, the Bible is reliable, and Jesus rose from the dead. If you’re not there yet, investigate. Ask questions. Seek truth.

Step 2 – Encounter Jesus – Seek His Face

Go beyond facts and intellectual belief —pursue a relationship with Jesus. If you already know Him, continue seeking Him daily. Encountering Him should be a way of life, not a one-time moment.

Step 3 – Be encouraged

Following Jesus includes ups and downs. In struggles, remember: Jesus isn’t your accuser—He’s your advocate. He speaks peace, not condemnation. Receive His grace.

Step 4 – Live the Mission

You have a mission from God. Announce this message of good news to the world. The Holy Spirit will help you.

Wherever you are on this journey, I pray that you will take the next step. Ask God to help you with that now.