“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.”
b) They had watched as they took His dead body off the cross and laid it in the tomb…
1) The Secular World placed a SEAL on the stone and a squad of soldiers to guard it!
The Religious World said, “He’s dead!”
The Demonic World fluttered over top of the tomb!
And for THREE DAYS they felt safe, secure, and satisfied…
II. NOW JESUS AIN’T WHERE THEY LEFT HIM!
a) Christ had delivered Mary Magdalene from seven demons and she was probably the most devoted of the female followers.
1) She came in LOVE but not in FAITH!
Mark 16:1-2
“Now when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, that they might come and anoint Him.” (WHY?)
2) She came in SORROW and WEEPING…
(v. 14) “Now when she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?’”
3) She sought a CORPSE…a DEAD CHRIST!
Mary Magdalene is typical of many who come to church, but their worship has long since DIED!
They only go through the motions through TRADITION & RITUAL!
4) She came to EMBALM a dead Christ!
Her mind was made up! There was to be NO MIRACLE TODAY!
III. SHE SAID, “WHO SHALL ROLL AWAY THE STONE?”
Matthew 27:59-60
“And when Joseph (of Arimathaea) had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled A GREAT STONE to the door of the sepulcher…”
Mark 16:1-3
“Now when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, that they might come and anoint Him. Very early in the morning, on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen. 3) And they said among themselves, ‘Who will roll away the stone from the door of the tomb for us?’”
THE STONE IS SYMBOLIC OF OBSTACLES THAT HINDER US!
HEAR THESE WOMEN…
Cries of despair…disappointment…hopelessness!
BUT JESUS AIN’T WHERE THEY LEFT HIM!
YOU THINK YOU KNOW JESUS?
CONCLUSION
The Purpose of Removing the Stone WAS NOT to allow Jesus to Get Out –
But so others could Get In and SEE!!
They failed to realize that NO ROCK, SEAL, GUARD, or NO ARMY could prevent the Son of God from RISING FROM THE DEAD!
