Text: John 20:8-20
Theme: Why do you weep?
Greetings: Happy resurrection Day! The Lord is good and His love endures forever!! Let us greet one another by saying, “Peace be with you” (John 20:19).
Introduction:
The resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ is the beginning of a new dispensation, era, yuga. There are many appearances of Jesus is found in Gospels after the resurrection. But only three separate epiphanies recorded in John 20. Appearance to Mary Magdalene, appearance to 10 disciples in the evening and appearance to Thomas after a week.
On this Easter Sunday, I would like to share three important connectivity of God with us, such as:
The Promises of God – Disciples did not understand (John 20:8)
The Presence of God – Mary did not realise it (John 20:13)
The Power of God – Disciples did not enjoy it (John 20:19).
The Promises of God – Disciples did not understand the scriptures (John 20:8)
Joke:
A little girl became restless as the Pastor’s sermon dragged on and on.
Finally, she leaned over to her mother and whispered,
“Mommy, if we give him the offering now, will he let us go?”
But mom whispered over to her,
“If you don’t be quiet, Pastor will miss the point and he’ll have to start the sermon all over again!”
On the first day of the week, i.e., on Easter morning, three women went to the graveyard. Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James (who is also mother of Jesus), and Salome (Mark 16:1). They reported an empty tomb to the disciples. Then the disciples followed them at one point they out run and went into the tomb but they did not understand the scriptures, the Promises of God.
The Lord has kept his promises for every day, for every situation, every person and for every occasion.
According to George Muller, a Mano of great faith. He says: “Indeed that is true! It has been estimated that there are approximately 30,000 promises in the bible. They are too numerous to count and too numerous to bring all to mind!”. Another man of Bible, named Dakes says there are 366 promises in the Bible to claim each for a day.
Whereas Apostle Peter says: "Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises..." (2 Peter 1:4). Further Paul says: "For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us." (2 Corinthians 1:20).
The promises are kept in the Holy scriptures to aid us in the times of our depression and distress, times of fear and financial need, times of sleeplessness nights and suffering, times of our temptation and trials, times of our trouble, weariness, worry and anxiety.
The Holy Spirit brings the promises to our mind and gives us the Assurance, Confidence, and Faith. The promises of God makes us to understand that God provides (Psalm 23:1), God will never leave us (Hebrews 13:5), God is in control of our situations (Proverbs 19:21), God strengthens us when we are weak (Psalm 28:7–8), and God will make all things right in the end (Revelation 21:1–5). Abraham believed in God and in His promise without wavering.
Some people read the Bible, search the scriptures but not able to understand and apply the Scriptures at times of need. The search for Truth with unbelief always leads to an empty, fearful and useless situation in life. Disciples had forgotten the teaching of Jesus Christ on Resurrection.
Some of us are reading the Bible, having meditation without ceasing, and regular fellowship groups. Yet when we feel dejected, perplexed, and anxious, fail to claim the promises. Claim the promises and enjoy the life.
2. The Presence of God – She did not realise it (John 20:13)
Mary Magdalene was a fantastic blessed woman, the first person to meet the Resurrected Lord Jesus Christ. Mary Magdalene had great enthusiasm and love for her master and Lord. She lived an unworthy and ugly life but Jesus met her and changed her heart, healed her from seven demons (Luke 8:3).
Mary Magdalene was a strong disciple to sit at the feet of Jesus and to listen to the Word of God (Luke 10:38-42). She had faith in the Person and Power of Jesus (John 11:2, 32). She bathed Jesus with her tears and Alabaster perfume (Luke 7:36-37 & John 8:7). She brought costly perfume and washed feet of Jesus before death (John 12:1-3). However, at the time of fear and confusion, she didn’t feel the presence of God, not able to identify Jesus who was standing with her.
At this juncture her faith she was controlled by science, reasoning, and rationale. She lived with the reasoning and gave place for the science to work its own course.
Mary stood outside the tomb and cried without hope (John 20:2, 10-11). She forgot like many of us, that Now Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see (Hebrews 11:1).
She was diligently searching the dead Body of Christ. The words of Angels did not put off her search for the personal experience with Christ. She was exploring all possibilities to find the BODY. Her preoccupied mind on the dead BODY of JESUS blinded her and kept her away from the LIVING JESUS. She was looking among the dead who was alive in midst of the living (Luke 24:5). Her futile exercises of running up and down, finding the dead body went in vain but she never gave up. Mary was crying and searching for Jesus.
Mary did not realise the person of Jesus who was standing with her and speaking to her. The voice of Jesus came to her but because of her unbelief, she could not recognise the voice of Jesus. She thought he was a Gardener. The Emmaus disciples thought he was a traveller and visitor didn’t realise his presence (Luke 24:18). Gideon questioned where is Yahweh, he is not with us.
Often it is true that we don’t give attention to the voices of God. Our insensitivity to the voice of the Holy Spirit keeps us away from the presence of God. God’s word is true. Search the scriptures it will lead you to Jesus (John 5:39). Luke 24:31 Emmaus disciples’ eyes were opened and they recognised Jesus.
Mary had seen the Lord. She had heard the Lord. All her fears have gone and all her tears were wiped away. Her tears turned into Joy. Her perspectives are changed, her attitude was changed. So, she ran to disciples with boldness. She became an apostle to the apostles.
Pope Benedict: “It has come out of her personal talk, personal touch, and personal confirmation”. This resurrection is a cosmic event of love, shattering death, linking heaven and earth” Pope Francis: The resurrection of Jesus Christ illuminates the dark moments of our existence. With our attitude, with our witness, with our life - we say ‘Jesus is Risen,’ with our soul.” (Ref. Sacred Space).
3. The Power of God – They did not enjoy it (John 20:19)
Joke:
A little girl was sitting on her grandfather’s lap as he read her a bedtime story.
From time to time, she would take her eyes off the book and reach up to touch his weathered, wrinkled cheek. She would alternately stroke her own cheek and then touch his again.
Finally, she spoke up: “Grandpa, did God make you?
“Yes, sweetheart,” “God made me a long time ago.”
She said: “is it so” “Grandpa, did God make me too?”
He said, “Yes, honey, God made you just a little while ago.”
Stroking their faces again, she said, “God’s getting better nowadays?”
Jesus met the disciples who were behind “The Closed Doors”. Jesus came into their closed-door and greeted them saying “Peace Be with you”. Dear friends, the resurrected Lord Jesus Christ comes to us with the good news of peace, joy, and love.
Today we are surrounded by the powerless leaders, worthless leaders, corrupted and cunning in their ways. Seeing this many good believers, God fearing are terrified and worried. Jesus comes to such and says: “Peace, be with you” and “Long live”. The disturbed, discouraged, disappointed disciples have seen the resurrected Jesus Christ. Their closed doors brought a new Light to their room, new opportunities have come to their doorstep. Their eyes were twinkling with new hopes and joys.
The disciples were filled with fear of death, fear of survival, fear of future. Fear is a very common emotion in the human body. We are more familiar with the word “Phobias”. “Acrophobia” is fear of high places; “claustrophobia” is fear of closed places; “nyctophobia” is fear of dark places, etc. Harold S Martin says: “normally fear leads to instability, unhappiness and finally to defeat. It is the enemy of faith. It saps spiritual vitality and it can paralyze the soul”
Fear is one of the by-products of modern life no one could avoid. Fear of losing employment, fear of failures in efforts, and businesses. Jesus told his disciples not to fear the men who can only destroy their bodies and not their souls (Mathew 10:28 & Luke 12:4). Mathew 10:31 tells us: “Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows”.
John Bunyan in his Pilgrim Progress records a very interesting incident that at one point he met with two Roaring Lions blocking on his way to the heavenly city. He was more fearful to take further steps but with courage he moved on, when he reached very near to the Lions, he found that the Lions were chained by God. How often, we are afraid of the chained defeated, powerless issues over us. God has confined and curbed them already.
As long as Jesus was alive disciples had extra-ordinary powers, they went two by two to preach the Kingdom of God and to cast out demons. But now the death brought the fear. So, the resurrected Lord had come and gave them power through the breathing over them the Holy Spirit. The fear is gone when the power comes upon us.
“When I am afraid, I will put my trust in you”(Psalm 56:3). Psalm 34:4 “I sought the Lord, he delivered me from all my fears”. Psalm 23:4 “Even though I walk through the valley of death, I fear no evil”. Psalm 46:1-3 “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains are moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling.” Psalm 91:4-5 “... You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day.”
Conclusion:
The Promises of God – They did not understand (John 20:8)
The Presence of God – She did not realize it (John 20:13)
The Power of God – They did not enjoy it (John 20:19)
Some of us are reading the Bible, having meditation without ceasing, and regular fellowship groups. Yet when we feel dejected, perplexed, and anxious, fail to claim the promises. Claim the promises and enjoy the life.
Mary had seen the Lord. She had heard the Lord and felt the presence. All her fears have gone and all her tears were wiped away.
Mathew 10:31 “Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows”.
