CLARITY IN A WORLD OF CONFUSION

CLARITY IN A WORLD OF CONFUSION

John 20:1-10

[1] Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. [2] So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” [3] So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. [4] Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. [5] And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. [6] Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, [7] and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. [8] Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; [9] for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead. [10] Then the disciples went back to their homes.

THEME = CONFUSION (v.2-4)

Mary runs to Peter and “the other disciple,” who then race each other to the tomb. This is not just excitement, but a genuine human reaction of anxious fear and confusion.THIS IS A TRUE STORY

01. Mary thought the body was taken. It confirms that none of Jesus’ followers fabricated the resurrection—their initial assumption was not resurrection, but robbery.

02. John remembers he won the foot race.
The detail of John winning (serious flex) but the fact that it’s there really heightens the realism of the account. This detail has the ring of truth. This is a true account of something that actually happened.

WHY DOES JOHN WAIT?

The beloved disciple (John) arrives first but waits—Peter arrives second but enters first.

Shows respect and roles: Peter is still viewed as the leader, despite his denials.

Yet it highlights that John was the first to believe (v.8), which is a major narrative point. Even though he entered second he got the resurrection right first. The point? 

→ That’s what you can do today! People before you–maybe your parents or teachers–denied Jesus reality. You can get it right and receive him.

Don Carson
“They did not yet understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead” (20:9) shows they were still puzzled and in the dark, despite the empty tomb. The point is: seeing isn’t the same as believing.”

→ They see the same situation and only one comes to the right conclusion!

TODAY WE HAVE AMPLE EVIDENCE OF THE RESURRECTION.
We’re living in one of the most informed times in history with instant access to information. You could buy a book online for $15 right now and in a day have more evidence for the resurrection than most people in history but the question remains what will you do with the evidence?

Jesus and Thomas

[24] Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. [25] So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.”[26] Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” [27] Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” [28] Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” [29] Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

#E10909

Your job is to BELIEVE

The Purpose of This Book

[30] Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; [31] but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. 

Why would I WANT to believe?

A STRONG FOUNDATION IN A WORLD OF DESPERATION

[7] and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. 

JESUS IS STRONG. YOU CAN FOLLOW HIM.
The linen cloths were lying, and the face cloth was folded up separately (v.7). This is not how grave robbers would leave a scene. If someone stole the body, they would not unwrap it, and certainly not fold the face cloth neatly. Jesus is calm and strong. This indicates order, intentionality, and control—a quiet act, not a frantic one. Jesus left the tomb not in haste, but with divine authority.

Practical trust:

Obedience in small things

Expectant Prayer (Prayer Journal)

Giving faithfully 

Pursuit of those far from God  Mammet’s & Valentina 

Notice her awakening and THE what Jesus wants her to do with it.

Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene

[11] But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. [12] And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. [13] They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” [14] Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. [15] 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.” [16] Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher).

She has massive “aha” moment!

[17] Jesus said to her, “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.’” [18] Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”—and that he had said these things to her.

WE’RE NOT CALLED TO CLING TO COMFORT BUT FORCEFULLY ADVANCE THE KINGDOM

The key is the reason: Carson argues the issue is not the touching but the clinging—Mary wants to hold onto Jesus as if things could go back to the way they were before the crucifixion.

Transition in relationship: Jesus is saying, in effect, “Don’t try to keep me here—things are changing.” His resurrection is the first step toward His ascension, and He must return to the Father so that the Spirit may come (cf. John 16:7).

Call to mission: Instead of staying with Jesus in the garden, Mary is commissioned to go and tell the disciples. 

She must shift from intimacy to testimony. We ALL need to see the connection between our personal intimacy with Jesus and our testimony to Jesus!

That’s the season all disciples are in.

Jesus Appears to the Disciples

[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 and said to them, “Peace be with you.” [20] When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. [21] Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” [22] And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. [23] If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”

→ All men want a mission but they are mission-less without Jesus

You have been given the Spirit for kingdom advancement.

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