"Sharing The Resurrection"

Title: Sharing the Resurrected Lord

Text: John 20:1-18

Purpose: To encourage evangelism

Introduction: I am a second generation Christian. Not only did I grow up in a home where my parents were both believers, but my dad was also involved in full-time ministry. I was a MK (missionar kid, ProfK professor’s kid, and finally a PK (preacher’s kid! )

When my sister and I were little we played church! We were baptizing our teddy bears and making our stuffed animals take communion!

As I grew I questioned, but I never went through a huge season of doubt.

My mom always hid an Easter basket for us, but we always knew what the real meaning of Easter was about- the resurrection of Jesus

When we speak/share the resurrection with a non-believer many will be skeptical. We should keep in mind that the disciples were people who had spent three years living with Jesus, watching him perform all types of miracles and they were skeptical in regards to his resurrections.

Proposition Statement: By reviewing the resurrection narrative, we should be encouraged in our efforts to share Christ with those who have no Christian or church background.

There are three words that begin with the letter R that we will explore in this text.

1. First, the RACE to the tomb-- ---The RACE of Mary Magdalene, Peter and John reminds us all that in some shape or form we will all have to visit the tomb and all are running a race.

2. Second, the REACTION to the empty tomb ---Mary’s reaction to the empty tomb is typical. We should recognize that most people will react as Mary does: It is an obvious assumption. Mary says, “the tomb is empty and someone has taken the body.”

3. Third, the RESPONSE----Peter and John arrived and entered at different times. We must be patient and understand that people will arrive and enter at different times.

His own family thought he was out of his mind.

After all we hear all types of outlandish claims –think of all the mentally ill and bizarre claims we hear everyday from people!

1. First, the RACE to the tomb-- The RACE of Mary Magdalene, Peter and John reminds us all that in some shape or form we will all have to visit the tomb.

John and Peter have a foot race to the tomb because they want to find out what has happened.

Why are they running? The same people who run away! Why the sense of urgency?

Maybe they were hoping it was true!, Looking for closure!

Looking to fight! , Maybe they were excited!, What is next for their lives!

They were running and racing because at this point in their lives there was nothing more important to them than know what had happened to Jesus!

A. The race to the tomb should remind all of us that all people will have to visit a tomb and deal with death!

The may think that religion is for the weak, and science is our only hope-----------At the end of the day all of us have an appointment with Mr. Death.

---Ill: Mayhem is personified by All State— Allow me to personify death!

Death is also personified Meet Joe Black is a 1998 American fantasy produced by Universal Studios, starring Brad Pitt, Anthony Hopkins and Claire Forlan

Saint of Death, or the Grim Reaper

Emily Dickinson’s –Death

I could not stop for Death,

He kindly stopped for me;

The carriage held but just ourselves

And Immortality.

We slowly drove, he knew no haste,

And I had put away

My labor, and my leisure too,

For his civility.

----He is riding in your car, he comes to your home when he wants, he does not need to knock, he enters your hospital room and does not take a rain check. He does not care how much money you have, where you live, what race you are, your retirement plans, your hobbies, how well you have taken care of yourself, how much weight you have lost or how old you are.

--All people long for immortality and to live forever.

--I was at the cemetery this past week and as I look around at the many stones and markers we see that most are hoping and praying that one day they will be reunited.

----After years of atheism and communism in Russia, Vietnam, China, North Korea, Cuba --millions are still coming to Jesus. I recently read that China was the largest Christian nation.

B. Not only does the race of Peter and John remind us that all have an appointment with death and the tomb, but it reminds that everyone is running a race- some kind of race!

1. People are racing to live as much as they can before he arrives.