The Easter People

John 20:1-18 Easter People

Easter People Pope John Paul 11 said “We are an Easter People and Alleluia is our song!”

• Christians believe they are Easter people because the resurrection of Jesus shows that suffering, disappointment, and death can be transformed into new life.

1. The Easter People in today’s text Peter and John race to the tomb after getting word from Mary Magdalene that the body was gone.

• John beats Peter but doesn’t go in, Peter arrives and goes inside.

• Mary Magdalene was right! The Holy sepulcher is Empty! He’s gone!

• John went inside. According to his the writers account, “he saw and believed” (v. 8),

2. The Easter People are astonished at the event that have happened The entire town is fascinated.

• The Bible then says, “Then the disciples returned to their homes” (v. 10). What is happening

• They went home! The body is gone. They were astonished

• Did Grave robbers or Roman guards make off with the body?

• It was out of their hands. Jesus was dead. The whole city was abuzz about it.

• Remember what Cleopas, one of the two disciples walking toward Emmaus, said to Jesus (whom they did not recognize): “Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?”

3. The Easter People wonder Where is the Body or Corpses of Jesus?

• Cleopas said : “Some women of our group astounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning, and when they did not find his body, they came told us that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who said he was alive.

• Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but they did not see him” (Luke 24:22-24).

• Jesus himself wants folks to know Easter is here resurrection has happened He says, “Look at my hands and my feet,” “See that it is I myself. Touch me and see; for a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” At this point, he also “showed them his hands and his feet” (Luke 24:39-40).

4. The Easter People in the Bible shared resurrection appearance Hundreds saw him

• The first person who saw him Mary Magdalene. Mary the mother of James, Salome, Joanna,

• Peter and the two men on the Emmaus road.

• He appears in today’s text, but Thomas appears to have been absent. Later, he confronts Thomas and shows the doubting disciple— the scars on his hands and feet and the gash in his side. Whereupon Thomas pretty much tells the Lord that he gets it. I believe! I believe!

• Jesus also had breakfast with seven disciples on the Sea of Galilee.

• There is no record that Jesus had a reunion with his mother, but I am sure he did privately

• Paul tells us that Jesus appeared to “more than five hundred brothers and sisters at one time”

5. The Easter People believe In today’s reading John said 8 Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed, “

• They believe “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins” (Hebrews 9:22).

• Easter People believe Jesus is the lamb of God. One scholar said, “It was a metaphor that every Jew in Jesus’ day understood. If there was to be any atonement for a person’s sins, or the sins of the world, a ram in the thicket (Genesis 22:13) or sacrificial lamb would be needed.”

• Easter People believe Jesus was one of us. The writer of Hebrews explains: Jesus “had to become like his brothers and sisters in every respect … Because he himself was tested by what he suffered, he is able to help those who are being tested” (Hebrews 2:17-18). The author continues: “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15).

• Easter People knows “He Gets Us.”

• Easter People know He washes feet Pride says, “I’m right, and you’re wrong.” But Jesus washed feet,

• Easter People should wash one another’s feet, Jesus even washed not only disciples but he washed Judas Iscariots feet. Jesus said, “Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you should wash one another’s feet.”

• Easter people wash one another’s feet . By Being in the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit,

• in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of us look not only to our own interests, but to the interests of others” (Philippians 2:2-4, English Standard Version).