Running This Easter Morn

John 20:1-18 “Running”

1. There is lots of running going on this Easter sermon

• We have Mary Magdalene running to tell the others he is not in the tomb the Scripture says, “Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. 2 So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!”

• John and Peter run to investigate the words of Mary Magdalene 3 So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. 4 Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first.

2. Throughout this Holy Week there’s been lots of running going On

• Palm Sunday folks ran to place palm branches in front of Jesus

3. On Monday people were running out of the temple

• John 2: 14In the temple courts he found men selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. 15So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple area, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. 16To those who sold doves he said, "Get these out of here! How dare you turn my Father's house into a market!"

4. On Tuesday Jesus wanted his followers to run toward faith. his disciples returned to Jerusalem. They passed the withered fig tree on their way, and Jesus spoke to his companions about the importan of faith.

• Jesus told the religious leaders they had ran far away from the God they claimed they worshiped.

• Blind guides!...For you are like whitewashed tombs—beautiful on the outside but filled on the inside with dead people's bones and all sorts of impurity. Outwardly you look like righteous people, but inwardly your hearts are filled with hypocrisy and lawlessness...Snakes! Sons of vipers! How will you escape the judgment of hell?"

5. On Wednesday I suspect after all this running he needed a day to rest

• The Bible doesn't say what the Lord did on the Wednesday of Passion Week.

6. Thursday there was much running because of preparation of Passover meal

• Jesus sent Peter and John to run ahead to the Upper Room in Jerusalem to make the preparations for the Passover Feast.

• Jesus washed the feet of his disciples as they prepared to share in the Passover. Jesus said, “I have been very eager to eat this Passover meal with you before my suffering begins. For I tell you now that I won't eat this meal again until its meaning is fulfilled in the Kingdom of God." (Luke 22:15-16, NLT)

7. Friday the running is about to stop is a matter of fact it is finished

• On Friday Judas Iscariot, was overcome with remorse ran to a tree and hanged himself

• Friday 9:00 am Scripture says before the third hour (9 a.m.), Jesus endured the shame of false accusations, condemnation, mockery, beatings, and abandonment., he was sentenced to death

• soldiers spit on him, tormented and mocked him, and pierced him with a crown of thorns.

• Then Jesus carried his own cross to Calvary as Roman soldiers nailed him to the wooden cross.

• Jesus spoke seven final statements from the cross. His first words were, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." (Luke 23:34, NIV). His last words were, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." (Luke 23:46, NIV) Then, about the ninth hour (3 p.m.), Jesus breathed his last breath and died.

8. Sunday all the running has stopped for Jesus. His last words “it is finished” it’s our turn to run

• It’s imperative we share the good news He’s Alive Consider Hebrews 12:1 1 “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,”

• He’s Alive he not dead let us soar on wings like eagles Run and not grow weary.

• Let’s run to share the Resurrection we have a purpose. 26 Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly;

• Let’s Run with the message He’s Alive