GODISNOWHERE – John 20: 1 - 18
Intro: A story is told of a young mother who was driving with her 3-year-old child to church early on Easter morning. As she drove, she shared the story of Easter with her child. She concluded by saying, “This is the day we celebrate Jesus coming back to life.” In a few moments she heard from the back seat, “Will He be in church today?”
I What would you think if I told you that when I was preparing this sermon, I prayed for God to help me? And, I distinctly heard, “Don’t worry I’ll send my Son for the Sunday service!” I believe Jesus is here right now, standing behind you in the back of the church.
A Were you tempted to turn around and look? Did you think I need a long rest in a secure facility? Have you come here this morning expecting to see Jesus? If not, why are you here? If you come to church expecting nothing, that is exactly what you will find!
B VS. 1 – Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance.” Why did Mary go to the tomb? What was she expecting?
C My friend, Betty went to the mausoleum every day to “visit” Bob, her recently deceased husband. She said she poured out her feelings, thoughts and emotions to Bob knowing he was not really there; but, it made her feel better. One day while “visiting” with Bob, she looked up at the name freshly chiseled on the stone. It was not Bob’s name. She went to the cemetery office to tell them of the error. They calmly took her to the mausoleum space where Bob had been placed. It was three spaces to the left of the place where Betty had been “visiting” with a complete stranger.
II VSS. 2 – 8 relate what took place when Mary shared her discovery. Mary expected one thing that morning; but, she and the disciples experienced something entirely different.
A VS. 2b “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him?” Mary assumes the body has been stolen. Her expectation isn’t met. Was she at the wrong place? (She doesn’t think of that.) Neither did my friend, Betty.
B VS. 3 “So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb.” Did they not believe Mary? Were they curious or concerned enough to find out for themselves? What would you have done?
C One disciple looks in the tomb; but, Peter went straight into the tomb. VS. 8 – “Finally, the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed.” The GK. word used here by John to express belief is p?ste?? / pisteuo meaning to have faith in, upon, or with respect to a person or thing or to have a mental persuasion. But John doesn’t tell us exactly WHAT he believed.
III BELIEVING, KNOWING OR SEEING JESUS are three entirely different things.
A Perhaps you have come here this morning experiencing a “MARY MOMENT.” Have you had a time when everyone and everything around you doesn’t make sense? Perhaps you are feeling the world around you is crumbling and you feel isolated and alone.
B VS. 10 Then the disciples went back to where they were staying.” It’s as though nothing has changed for them. This story appears in all the gospels in one form or another. However, only in John does Mary weep.
C Mary sheds tears of hopelessness, despair, and frustration. She just doesn’t understand what is happening. VSS. 11 – 15 express vividly her emotions and frustrating situation. Then, suddenly things change. VS. 16 – Jesus said to her, ‘Mary.’ She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, ‘Rabboni!’ (which means “teacher’). When Jesus addresses her by name, Mary recognizes him. --- That, my friends is the true message of Easter.
Concl: Look at the title of this message in your bulletin or at this sign that I have made with the letters GODISNOWHERE. What do you see? What does it say? Does it say, GOD IS NOWHERE? OR, do you see, GOD IS NOW HERE?
The message of Easter is that God has come to earth, to us. We may fail to see and believe because we want to see with our head and not our heart. Christ Jesus will be with us when we establish a personal relationship with him by walking in HIS way, seeking HIS will, and showing HIS love. Only then, does Christ Jesus emerge victorious. GOD IS NOW HERE!
