Title: Dead Hope
Series: Waking the Dead
Text: John 20:1-18
Truth: Faith in the risen Lord awakens dead hope.
Aim: To help me live in the joy of the Lord rather than despair.
Life ?: How does faith in the risen Lord change me?
INTRODUCTION
Residents of a town in Thailand flocked to the home of a bereaved mother to touch and see a 5-foot monitor lizard she says is a reincarnation of her 13-year-old son and a symbol of good fortune. Chamlong Taengniem, whose son Charoen died in a motorcycle crash, told Reuters that the lizard followed her home after her son’s cremation, slept on his mattress in the house, and loves her son’s favorite beverage—fresh milk and yogurt. The mother, 51, says that her son turned into the lizard and she and her neighbors say that the creature had not been previously seen in the area (HoustonChronicle.com, www.chron.com, 6/29/01).
I’m assuming that a huge majority of us do not believe that story. As Christians we categorically reject reincarnation. The story is simply too fantastic. It goes beyond the boundaries of truth and reality. The Thai culture is a superstitious culture, and besides there are plenty of other legitimate explanations for this strange occurrence. Just ask any child that has had a cat or dog follow them home.
For some people our story of the literal resurrection of Jesus is as unbelievable as the mother that believes her son became a lizard. One of those persons was Dr. Frank Morrison. Frank was not the kind of person you would find in church on Sunday morning. Chances are he wouldn’t even come on a Christmas or Easter service, but you couldn’t help but respect the man. He was a well-educated Englishman.
By profession he was a lawyer. By philosophy he was a skeptic. In his own words he was moved by “irresistible logic and facts.” He was not persuaded by Christian traditions. Morrison’s thinking was shaped by German theologians who were critical of the Bible and Charles Darwin’s champion debater and opponent of the Christian faith, Sir Thomas Huxley. Morrison did not believe in miracles. When it came to the historic teaching of the Christian belief in the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, he totally denied its reality.
A friend challenged his bias against the resurrection and he decided to take on the task of using his considerable intellect and skill as a lawyer to investigate and disprove the resurrection. It drastically changed his life.
He chose to study the resurrection from an intellectual point of view. He would use the documents of scripture, history, and archaeology, and let the chips fall where they may. This honest inquiry into the facts of the resurrection resulted in the disbeliever becoming a believer. He put his discoveries into a book titled Who Moved the Stone. He originally set out to write one kind of book but the sheer weight of the evidence led him to write an entirely different book. Dr. Morrison said he could not write the first book, the one denying the reality of the resurrection, even if he wanted to because of the stubborn facts.
Dr. Morrison’s faith in the resurrection is a very different faith than the mother that believes a 5-foot monitor lizard is her son. Our text provides the answer to two questions that reveal this difference. First, can you believe the resurrection? Second, what does it mean to me? If the resurrection is true, then you can see from these disciples that faith awakens dead hope. Their hope was dead, and the resurrection awakened dead hope. That changed despair into joy.
I. CAN YOU BELIEVE THE RESURRECTION? (JOHN 2:1-18)
The Christian faith exploded all around the Mediterranean world in the first century. Financially, Christians were mainly an impoverished people and their critics said that Christians could only attract slaves, old women, and poor people. Politically, they were hunted and hounded by those in power. Culturally, the Christian faith was born into a world of debauchery. Unwanted babies were routinely killed and the homosexual affairs of the Caesars were considered an acceptable lifestyle. Yet with all that against it, the Christian church won over the culture. The only explanation for whole populations turning to Christ, despite bloody opposition, is the uniqueness of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. As Christians, it is still our hope that our land that is quickly traveling back to the paganism of first century Rome can be won for Christ.
The idea of a bodily resurrection is not an easy one to accept. The Bible records that the disciple’s first reaction was skepticism before it became unshakeable confidence. Mary’s first thought was not that Jesus rose from the dead. John 20:1-2:
On the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark. She saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. 2 So she ran to Simon Peter and to the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said to them, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don't know where they have put Him!" (Holman Christian Standard Version)
John chooses to tell us the story of the first discovery of the empty tomb from the perspective of Mary Magdalene. The other gospels include the other women that were with her. She references others with her in v. 2 when she says, “we don’t know where they have put him!”
All the gospels record that the tomb was empty. That in and of itself does not prove Jesus rose from the dead, but all his enemies had to do to disprove the resurrection was produce the body. They did not and could not.
Mark and Luke tell us that the women were going to the tomb to properly prepare Jesus’ body for burial. When they arrive the first thing they notice is the stone that covered the entrance to the cave like tomb was moved. The tombs would have an entrance that was 3-4’ tall. A stone would be placed over the entrance to keep wild animals or curious passers-by from entering. More elaborate tombs had a wheel-shaped slab of rock that rolled down a track until it rested in a depression at the entrance of the tomb. Mark tells us the women discussed who was going to roll away this very large stone for them. Matthew tells us that the Romans had posted guards at the tomb and placed the Roman seal on the tomb. The penalty for breaking that seal was death. All of that and more is why it was such a big deal that the stone was moved. It was so important that Frank Morrison titled his book Who Moved the Stone.
Mary’s immediate reaction was to believe that someone had stolen the body of Jesus. Don’t miss this--she came to the tomb expecting to find the body of Jesus. Neither Mary nor the disciples ever expected to see Jesus again. After she tells Peter and John his body is missing and she doesn’t know where it is, the two disciples take off running to the tomb. Read John 20:3-9:
3 At that, Peter and the other disciple went out, heading for the tomb. 4 The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and got to the tomb first. 5 Stooping down, he saw the linen cloths lying there, yet he did not go in. 6 Then, following him, Simon Peter came also. He entered the tomb and saw the linen cloths lying there. 7 The wrapping that had been on His head was not lying with the linen cloths but was folded up in a separate place by itself. 8 The other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, then entered the tomb, saw, and believed. 9 For they still did not understand the Scripture that He must rise from the dead.
Those grave clothes must be explained. When Lazarus came out of the tomb, he came out dressed in his grave clothes. Jesus gave instructions to unwrap him. If someone stole the body of Jesus, why not take the grave clothes and the 75 pounds of expensive spices used to prepare his body? Though Jesus died as a criminal, He was buried like a king. Peter is not able to put it together. John begins to understand that Jesus is resurrected but he doesn’t see that all of scripture pointed to this event. It will take Jesus appearing to them to convince Peter and solidify John’s faith.
The description is vivid and detailed. It reads like an eyewitness account, not something made up. The fact that two men saw it makes it admissible evidence in a Jewish court (Deut. 19:15).
The men go back home but Mary returns to the tomb. Apparently, they did not cross paths with one another. She is the first person to have an encounter with the risen Christ. John records it:
10 Then the disciples went home again.
11 But Mary stood outside facing the tomb, crying. As she was crying, she stooped to look into the tomb. 12 She saw two angels in white sitting there, one at the head and one at the feet, where Jesus' body had been lying. 13 They said to her, "Woman, why are you crying?"
"Because they've taken away my Lord," she told them, "and I don't know where they've put Him." 14 Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, though she did not know it was Jesus.
15 "Woman," Jesus said to her, "why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?"
Supposing He was the gardener, she replied, "Sir, if you've removed Him, tell me where you've put Him, and I will take Him away."
16 Jesus said, "Mary."
Turning around, she said to Him in Hebrew, "Rabbouni!"—which means "Teacher."
17 "Don't cling to Me," Jesus told her, "for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to My brothers and tell them that 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 she told them what He had said to her.
Like many who grieve, Mary finds comfort in visiting the burial place of her beloved Teacher. The word used to describe her crying means it is the wailing and sobbing so characteristic of expressions of grief in the Middle Eastern culture. She looks into the tomb and sees two angels, one at each end where Jesus lay. In between the angels were the bloody clothes that enwrapped Jesus. In Exodus 25 the Ark of the Covenant is described. It is a wooden box covered inside and out with gold. The lid to the box has two angels at each end. In between was a mercy seat where the High Priest sprinkled the blood to atone for the sins of the people. This is a picture of that.
When the angels ask Mary why she is crying they are not asking for information. It is a gentle reproof. She should have been celebrating, but her response instead reveals that she still holds the earlier opinion that someone has stolen the body of Jesus.
She becomes aware of someone present and assumes it is the gardener. Gently, He asks the same question but adds “Who is it you are looking for?” It’s a question to cause her to reflect on the kind of Messiah she was expecting. Her devotion is great but her understanding of Jesus was too small.
Maybe she thought that the owner of the tomb had told the gardener to remove the criminal from his tomb. She offers to retrieve the body and give it a proper burial. Whatever the cause of her blindness, be it tears or something intentional by Jesus, one word was enough to remove it. Mary. In that one word anguish and despair are instantly banished. She calls Him what she always called Him, Rabboni! She does what you do when you see a loved one after a long absence; you throw your arms around them. According to Matthew 28 she fell at his feet and wrapped her arms around his legs.
Jesus explains that she doesn’t need to hang on to Him as if He is going to disappear permanently. That time is coming when He will have a final farewell at His ascension. In the meantime, this is a time for joy and sharing. He tells her to go tell the disciples that now they have a share in the privileges of being the sons of God, and Mary does just that.
Can it be true? The first disciples asked that question. It’s acceptable for us to ask that question. Christians waver before this teaching more than any other. One survey conducted by a national magazine among a representative sampling of people who claimed to be followers of Christ revealed that only 31% declared faith in the resurrection; 14% wrote down “no opinion”; 9% reported “do not know”; and a shocking 46% stated that they did not believe the Bible on this point. There are people gathered in places of worship this morning where their preacher is telling them that the resurrection is not literal but is instead allegorical or symbolic. That is being very dishonest with the gospel reports which are presented as eyewitness accounts of a literal event.
Let’s assume that there was no resurrection—that it was a mistaken report or a fraudulent scheme. Here’s what you must conclude:
--The dozen or so writers who refer to the resurrection, including non-scriptural authors, were either deluded or lying.
--The Bible is less than mere literature; it is the most outrageous forgery ever perpetrated and can’t be trusted on any other points of doctrine.
--Jesus was an insane imposter, the most arrogant pretender of all times.
--The 65 most conspicuous fulfillments of Old Testament messianic prophecies in the life and death of Christ were all fantastic coincidences. The possibilities are a number that exceeds the universe!
--The virgin birth was a contrived fiction. If Jesus didn’t come forth supernaturally from the tomb, why assume He came forth supernaturally from the womb?
--The miracles performed by Jesus were all tricks of magic and deception—there was a sandbar where He walked on the water, the blind man He healed could already see a little, the water just seemed to taste like wine, the winds chanced to subside at the exact moment He spoke to them.
--Millions and millions of believers have unfortunately misplaced their faith in a dead man who can’t deliver on any of his promises.
--The church He established has existed for 21 centuries on a false hope that He will come for it someday.
--Easter is a global hoax observed annually by the world’s most gullible people.
--Therefore, since life has no purpose, it doesn’t matter how you live, whether you live. Just get it over with as quickly and as painlessly as possible. The ultimate solution to society’s problems is mass self-extermination.
Do you think I’m being far-fetched or extreme? These are not the ranting of a Baptist preacher. Those are the answers given by professors who occupy chairmanships in the universities, they are the written opinion in journals of philosophy, and they are found in the empty TV talk shows or the vacuous songs of our day. Woody Allen once said that men stand at a crossroads before hopelessness or futility and that we need God’s help to make the right choice! I say that’s no choice at all.
Can it be true? Like Frank Morris, will you honestly investigate the evidence? I believe if you are an honest doubter, you will yield to the evidence. You, too, like millions of others will stake your life and eternity on the belief that Jesus is our Savior and God--and that through the crucifixion and resurrection, Jesus forgave us our sins and reconciled us to God.
The text also provides answers to the second question.
II. WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO ME?
There are three gut issues that every person has to deal with: life, death, and eternity. Everyone has to deal with life. We weren’t given the option on that. The only option is what choices will we make with this one life we have, and we have to live with those choices.
Secondly, every person has to deal with the issue of death. The dictator of Venezuela, Hugo Chavez, died recently. It was reported that his last words were “I don’t want to die.” The Bible says, “It is appointed unto men once to die and then the judgment.” Pauper or potentate— no one will dodge this issue.
Third, you will decide about your eternal destiny. Every human being that has ever lived is still alive. They are either in heaven or hell in eternity. Intuitively, humanity has known that. Archeologists have yet to find an atheistic culture. Every culture has had some kind of belief in the afterlife. God has put a longing and an awareness of eternity in your heart. It has to be suppressed to be denied.
The resurrection is the only event that satisfactorily deals with all three. When it comes to life Jesus said, “I have come to give you life and life more abundantly.” The skeptic or atheist accuses us of needing our faith as a crutch to get through life. They imply that they don’t need such superstitious nonsense.
But they are mute before the African woman whose life and body has been harmed by tribal war but she still is capable of forgiving. They have no explanation for the prisoner that is transformed into a model citizen never to return to his prison cell. They have no substitute to offer the person who has lost their dreams of a wonderful life but maintains a spirit of joy and peace.
Oh, don’t be fooled. They have their crutches: alcohol, sex, materialism, or intellectualism. But there crutches don’t make people more loving or generous or humble. Where are the hospitals, colleges, food pantries, disaster relief ministries inspired by the life of skeptics and atheists? But those who see their weakness and call out to God for His life have blessed the world. The resurrection is the hope that we can be transformed into new people by the life of Christ.
When it comes to death, and you have a dead man standing in front of you alive, everything you believed about death before that event is suddenly changed. Because of the resurrection of Christ, I will live beyond the grave. I will have a body that is no longer subject to the suffering of this world. I will be known as I am known. I don’t lose my distinctive identity. I will be with those I love that die in Christ Jesus.
The famous atheist, Robert Ingersoll, speaking at his brother’s funeral said, “Life is a narrow vale between the cold and barren peaks of two eternities. We strive in vain to look beyond the heights. We cry aloud and the only murmur is the echo of our wailing cry.” What a cheery guy! The apostle Paul said, “For me to live is Christ, to die is gain,” (Phil. 1:21). He also said, “To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.” Make up your mind…which sounds better? Honesty compels one belief to be hopeless and dreary. The other is full of hope.
Finally, the resurrection is the best answer to eternity. Atheists tell us that the idea of eternity is a human invention created to soften what we don’t understand and to soften the painfulness of life and the finality of death. The budding trees and the grass greening are telltale signs of summer’s approach. It is sure to come. There may be a set back here and there, but it will arrive with its sunshine and warmth. The resurrection of Jesus Christ confirms eternity is a certainty and it is approaching for every one of us. Maybe an operation will delay its arrival or an accident may hasten it, but this is sure, eternity is real and it is coming. Only the eternal, resurrected Christ gives us the hope that we can be adequately prepared for it.
CONCLUSION
When the comedian Jack Benny was a young man, he saw a woman at work that he was attracted to. He, too, was too afraid to approach her, so he started anonymously sending her one red rose every day. Finally, the woman was overcome with curiosity and called the florist to find out the name of the person. She called Jack Benny and asked, “Why are you sending me these roses?” He said, “Well, would you like to go out with me?” So they went out together.
All the while he kept sending her a red rose every day as they continued to date. He proposed to her and the flowers kept coming during the engagement. Finally they were married. The flowers continued on a daily basis throughout the honeymoon, and every day the first year, the second year, the tenth year, and so on. After many years of marriage Jack Benny died. But his widow continued to receive a flower each day.
After several days, she decided to call the florist. “You may not have realized this, and I hate to tell you, that my husband Jack Benny died a couple of weeks ago. So you no longer need to send a red rose every day.” The florist said, “Oh, no, you don’t understand. Prior to his death, your husband made provision for you to receive a red rose, every day for the rest of your life.”
He wanted her to know she was never forgotten and always loved.
God is not dead. He’s very much alive. He’s constantly sending you an event, a person or a passage of Scripture filled with the aroma of hope to overcome your despair. He is waking dead hope. Look to the risen Christ.
PRAYER
INVITATION
An old story tells of a desert nomad who awakened hungry in the night. He lit a candle in order to see to eat dates from a bowl beside his bed. The nomad took a bite from one of the dates, but he threw it out of his tent when he saw a worm in it. He saw a worm in the second and third dates that he tried to eat, so he threw these out of his tent as well.
Then the nomad stopped to think. He was very hungry and feared that he would have no dates to eat if he threw away the wormy dates. So he blew out the candle and quickly ate all the dates.
Eating wormy dates may not be harmful to a person’s health, but failure to recognize the truth of the resurrection and trust Christ has tragic results for life, death, and eternity. Don’t close your eyes to the truth. Repent of sin and trust Christ alone as your God.
Christian, God intends for you to live a transformed life. How could it not be with resurrection life living within you? We too need to repent of sin and obediently follow Christ to know this new life.
