The First Seven Words Of The Risen Savior

THE FIRST SEVEN WORDS OF THE RISEN SAVIOR

TEXT - JOHN 20: 1 - 16

INTRO. - There are many sermons and books on the Seven words

of the Cross. These words explain the purpose of the cross

and the character of Christ.

The first seven words of the Risen Savior after the

Resurrection explain what the Resurrection has done for us

and has to offer us.

The seven words of the Cross give a message from God to all

the World.

The first seven words of the Risen Christ give a message from

God to the Church --- to his people.

The Resurrection of Christ was the miracle of miracles.

Without it --- No Savior

No Sure Word of God

No Salvation

No Hope beyond the Grave

In John Masefield’s drama The Trial of Jesus, there is a

striking passage in which the Roman centurion in command of

the soldiers of the cross comes back to Pilate to hand in his

report of the day’s work. After the report is given, Pilate’s

wife beckons to the centurion and begs him to tell how the

prisoner died. When the story had been told, she suddenly

asks,"Do you think He is dead?" "No, lady" answers the

centurion, "I don’t." "Then where is He?" to which the

Roman replies, "Let loose in the world, lady, where...no one

can stop His truth." The gospel of the resurrection is an

indisputable fact, an indispensable faith, and an

irresistible force.

LET US LOOK AT THESE SEVEN FIRST WORDS OF THE RISEN CHRIST

SPOKEN ON THAT FIRST EASTER MORNING AND SEEK TO MAKE SOME

APPLICATIONS FROM THE WORDS TO OUR OWN LIVES.

I. WOMAN WHY WEEPEST THOU - Vs.15

The first word of Christ after the Resurrection is to a woman

in a garden. I wonder if there is not some symbolism here. It

was in the first garden with another question asker that a

woman was questioned and as a result sin was brought into the

world. See Gen.3

The woman is weeping. Think of the tears through the years.

Tears would have never been apart of life had there been no

sin. Even Jesus wept - shortest verse in the Bible.

Here Jesus stands on resurrection ground and asks, "Why

weepest thou?" He did not take away the tears but he was

there as an answer to her tears. He will not take away your

tears yet but he is the answer to the reason for our tears.

And One Day ---- Rev. 21:4 "And God shall wipe away all

tears from their eyes"

Mary did not recognize the Lord. Perhaps it was her tears.

Maybe it was the time of day. It could have been the clothes

of that day which had a hood for sun, wind, and weather.

It probably was because she was not looking for Him.

II. MARY - Vs.16

A - Jesus called Mary by name. Christ knows his disciples

individually. He called Thomas who was a doubter at this time

but still a disciple by name in vs.29

B - Jesus knew people in the resurrection and so will we.

See I John 3:2

Moses and Elijah knew Christ and each other on the Mt. of

Transfiguration. I believe we will know each other in

heaven. Our relationship to each other will be different than

here on earth but we will know.

C - Every disciple knows the Savior’s voice. "My sheep hear

my voice". If you do not know when the Lord is speaking to

you then you are headed for trouble.

D - Those who love the Lord the most get the greater

blessing. Notice Vs.10 and 11a. They loved but it seems by

her actions that she loved more and had the blessing of

meeting him first.

III. GO TELL MY BRETHREN - Vs. 17

She had the message of the Resurrection. The Resurrection

gives us a message to tell to the world. The message that sin

had been paid at the cross. the message that we have a hope

beyond the grave. The message of a resurrection for ourselves

one day and a great reunion day. See I Thess. 4:13 - 18

All preaching across the centuries becomes useful or useless,

worthwhile or worthless on the truthfulness or not of the

Resurrection.

Mary had a message for the disciples - then they ad a message

for the world - vs.25

We have a message. The cross gives us a message. The

resurrection gives us a message and a power to deliver it.

Are we going to tell it?

IV. PEACE BE UNTO YOU - Vs. 19 - 21

The promise of peace. The peace with God and the peace of

God. Peace and not blame. Peace and not fault-finding. Peace

and not rebuke were the first words ...