Sermons on John 20:5:

We Saw It, But We Don't Really Believe It!

Contributed by Michael Stark on Mar 28, 2024

The struggle to believe is real, but it is overcome when we meet the Risen, Living Son of God.

“On the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, ‘They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, ...read more

Scripture: John 20:1-10

Denomination: Baptist

The Paschal Mystery And Our True Ends Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Mar 28, 2024

Raised with Christ means being moved into a new level of existence, an existence that is best studied in the Book of Revelations, the Apocalypse.

Easter Sunday 2024 (The Paschal Mystery) God is entirely transcendent. God is so different from us that there is no way we can comprehend Him, that is, get our arms around Him. We are a combination spiritual and material beings, body and soul. God, Who is Most Real, is also Immense. We understand ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:1-4, John 20:1-9, Revelation 21:1-8, Acts 10:34-43

Denomination: Catholic

"get Up Out Of That Grave" Series

Contributed by Perry Fowler on Mar 28, 2024

What's exciting about the empty tomb?

Last Christmas, our family decided to do something different. We decided to take a vacation together in Orlando. A few of us are runners and my Son wanted to run one of the Disney series of races so we went to Disney, camped out in Ft. Wilderness and had a “running vacation.” I chose to do the ...read more

Scripture: John 20:1-8

Denomination: Baptist

Easter Expectations Mk2 Series

Contributed by Andrew Moffatt on Mar 29, 2024

What do we expect at Easter, what do we expect of Jesus? Some thoughts.

Easter Sunday, expectations. During his lifetime Nikolai Bukharin was as powerful a man as there was on earth. As Russian Communist leader he took part in the Bolshevik Revolution 1917, was editor of the Soviet newspaper Pravda (which by the way means truth), and was a full member of the ...read more

Scripture: John 20:10-18, John 20:1-9, Acts 1:7-8

Denomination: Salvation Army

Do We Really Believe In The Resurrection Of Jesus?

Contributed by Gary Regazzoli on Mar 30, 2024

You had just witnessed the brutal death of your personal companion and friend, then saw Him being carried off to be placed in His rocky tomb, and then comes the incredulous news from Mary Magdalene that Jesus’ body was no longer in the grave, would you have believed her?

The Question I have for you today is, do we really Believe in the Resurrection of Jesus? • Put yourselves in the shoes of the disciples for a moment. • You had just witnessed the brutal death of your personal companion and friend, you literally saw him draw His last agonising breath, then saw Him ...read more

Scripture: John 20:1-18, Leviticus 23:9-12, John 20:28-29

Denomination: Christian Church

Joy Comes In The Morning

Contributed by Edward Hardee on Mar 30, 2024

Resurrection message dealing with Mary Magdelene meeting Jesus at the empty tomb. Jesus found her weeping but she left full of joy.

Title: From Weeping to Joy Theme: To show how Mary Magdalene went from weeping in her life to joy. Text: John 20:1 – 18 Note: Part of the idea for this message came from Unshakable Hope by Max Lucado ch. 11 John 20:1-18 Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, ...read more

Scripture: John 20:1-18, Psalm 30:5

Denomination: Church Of God

An Altogether New Reality

Contributed by Mary Erickson on Apr 2, 2024

A sermon for Easter Sunday using the John text

March 31, 2024 Rev. Mary Erickson Hope Lutheran Church John 20:1-18 An Altogether New Reality Friends, may grace and peace be yours in abundance in the knowledge of God and Christ Jesus our Lord. Mary went to Jesus’ tomb very early on that Sunday morning. She even beat the sun there. But when ...read more

Scripture: John 20:1-18

Denomination: Lutheran

Rabboni Series

Contributed by Gaither Bailey on Apr 3, 2024

Jesus addresses each of us in a personal way.

Rabonni March 31, 2024 John 20: 1 – 18 – Easter Sunday Intro: This morning when I was getting ready for church, I paused for just a moment and prayer that during this service Jesus would appear behind you all. Sometimes, I think that is what it will take for many to believe in Him and ...read more

Scripture: John 20:1-18

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Disappearing Act

Contributed by Davon Huss on Apr 3, 2024

What is the message of the undisturbed grave clothes? (Outline came from here: https://www.sermonnotebook.org/new%20testament/John%2020_1-10.htm; Material adapted from William Nicholson's book "The Six Miracles of Calvary," chapter on the undisturbed grave clothes of Jesus)

HoHum: Harry Houdini's "Chinese water torture cell" trick is considered one of the most iconic and influential escapes in the history of magic performance. The trick involved Houdini being suspended upside-down in a glass and steel tank filled with water, with his feet locked in ...read more

Scripture: John 20:1-10, John 11:43-44, Luke 24:12

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

He Calls You By Name

Contributed by David Dunn on Dec 30, 2025

John’s resurrection account reveals a quiet but profound truth: belonging comes before understanding. This message invites weary believers to release the pressure to prove their faith and rediscover a resurrection life rooted in being known, named, and kept—while still on the road.

Introduction John tells us that Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark. That detail matters. Not because it is poetic, but because it is honest. This is not the hour of confidence or clarity. This is the hour when grief wakes before reason does. The hour when the body ...read more

Scripture: John 20:1-18, Psalm 121:1-8, Psalm 131:1-3, Romans 8:15-17, 2 Timothy 1:12  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

Daughter Of The Most High

Contributed by Pastor Renji George on Jan 7, 2026

Like the sandalwood tree that imparts its fragrance to the axe that cuts it, a woman can become a blessing to many (even to the one who harms her) through what she has learnt of God in her sorrows!

The beautiful title a woman can have at any time of her life is ‘daughter’. She can rise up to any level with any impressive titles in her whole life. But ‘daughter’ is the title that assures her security, comfort, hope and belonging. When you are confident that you are not only called but are ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 31:25-29, Luke 10:39-42, John 4:1-30, Luke 8:43-48, Mark 5:25-34, Matthew 9:20-22, Acts 16:13-15, Romans 16:1-2, Judges 4:1-15, Luke 1:5-25, John 20:1-10  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Pentecostal

Jesus Is Risen! - He Is Risen Indeed, Halleluiah! Series

Contributed by Revd Dr Ruwan Palapathwala on Dec 14, 2024

Jesus' triumph over death on Easter wasn't just his triumph — it is ours, too.

Today's Easter celebration marks the end of Holy Week, in which we commemorate the crucifixion, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The resurrection of Jesus is the linchpin of the Christian faith. In his first epistle to the Corinthians – written about twenty years after Jesus' ...read more

Scripture: John 20:1-18, Psalm 118:1-2

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

He Is Risen Series

Contributed by Delray Lentz on Dec 17, 2024

Today we are wrapping up the series titled “Were you there?”

Today we are wrapping up the series titled “Were you there?” In part 1 we took the journey that Jesus took from the Friday before Passover, all the way up to Passover. Then, in part 2, we examined the events of the Crucifixion. Today is Resurrection Sunday!!! I’d like us to consider 3 things ...read more

Scripture: John 20:1-18

The Son Of Thunder Grows Up

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Dec 24, 2024

The Thunder boys came to Jesus and asked if they could call down fire from heaven

Feast of St. John the Evangelist 2024 No matter what our age as disciples of Jesus may be, we all have some challenges, some questions we need to answer. Let’s take them starting with the one who is questioning: “who am I?” Then “who is God?” and “what does God want of me?” From there we ask ...read more

Scripture: John 15:12-17, 1 John 1:1-4, Matthew 5:43-48, John 20:1-8, Revelation 21:23  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Catholic

The Mystery Of The Empty Tomb.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jul 19, 2024

Different reactions to the empty tomb.

THE MYSTERY OF THE EMPTY TOMB. John 20:1-10. While Jesus’ enemies had been busying themselves setting a watch over His tomb, the disciples had been sitting quietly at home, keeping the Sabbath. At first dawn Mary Magdalene - and some other women - came to the sepulchre, and found the stone had ...read more

Scripture: John 20:1-10

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational