Jesus Ain't Where I Left Him

“JESUS AIN’T WHERE I LEFT HIM!”

TEXT: John 20:1-13 (NKJV)

“On the first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. Then she ran and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and said to them, ‘They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.’ Peter therefore went out, and the other disciple, and were going to the tomb. So they both ran together, and the other disciple outran Peter and came to the tomb first. And he, stooping down and looking in, saw the linen cloths lying there; yet he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; and he saw the linen cloths lying there, and the handkerchief that had been around His head, not lying with the linen cloths, but folded together in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who came to the tomb first, went in also; and he saw and believed. For as yet they did not know the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead. Then the disciples went away again to their own homes. But Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping, and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. Then they said to her, ‘Woman, why are you weeping?’ She said to them, ‘Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.’”

INTRODUCTION

Laws of the Search:

The first place to look for anything is the last place you'd expect to find it.

You can always find what you're not looking for.

This was not the first time someone had “misplaced” Jesus:

Luke 2:42-49

“And when Jesus was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast. When they had finished the days, as they returned, the Boy Jesus lingered behind in Jerusalem. And Joseph and His mother did not know it; but supposing Him to have been in the company, they went a day's journey, and sought Him among their relatives and acquaintances. So when they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking Him. Now so it was that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers. So when they saw Him, they were amazed; and His mother said to Him, ‘Son, why have You done this to us? Look, Your father and I have sought You anxiously.’ 49) And He said to them, ‘Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father's business?’”

The state of being LOST or Having MISPLACED something is always distressful!

This loss takes on even more magnitude when the thing that is LOST bears significant value or seems irretrievable.

a) No one likes to be LOST

b) Neither does anyone like to Lose anything

2. JESUS’ PARABLES OF 3 LOST THINGS:

Luke 15:4

The LOST SHEEP

“What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, & go after the one which is lost until he finds it?”

Luke 15:8-9

The LOST COIN

“Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? And when she has found it, she calls her friends and neighbors together, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece which I lost!’”

Luke 15:22-24

The LOST SON

“And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' And they began to be merry.”

I. THEY THOUGHT THEY HAD LAID JESUS IN THE TOMB…

a) They had watched as Jesus was beaten and nailed to the cross…

1) They had heard Him speak SEVEN times from the cross:

[1] “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.”

[2] “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.”

[3] He said to His mother, "Woman, behold your son!" Then He said to the disciple, "Behold your mother!"

[4] “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?

[5] “I thirst!”

[6] “It is finished!”

[7] “Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit.”