Easter: The Resurrection - A Story of Hope

Text: Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. 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!" So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. Then Simon Peter, who was behind him, arrived and went into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, as well as the burial cloth that had been around Jesus' head. The cloth was folded up by itself, separate from the linen. Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. John 20:1-8

There is Hope!!!
Jesus Christ is that hope. How significant an event, an empty tomb? What happens after death?

Here are a few things that happened on this day that gave us hope:

1.) The significance of the ROLLED STONE. v. 1-3 - Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. 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!" So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. God doesn't need permission, despite Pilate's decision for death. Who needed the stone rolled away? Jesus? No, those who needed the evidence of divine power. 2 Peter 1:3 says, "His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness." There were far more powerful things to see behind that stone than death.

2.) The significance of the STRIPS of LINEN. vv. 5-7a He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. Then Simon Peter, who was behind him, arrived and went into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, as well as the burial cloth that had been around Jesus' head. The realization of an empty tomb fulfilled the power Jesus had over death by telling the disciples He would return from the grave. Jesus did not just come back from the dead and leave His place of death, He left what represented death where it belonged and put on robes of righteousness.

3.) The significance of the FOLDED LINEN. v.7b - The cloth was folded up by itself, separate from the linen. It was jewish custom, in that day, for a master at a meal, to fold his clothe when leaving the table. This signified that he was to return. Knowing this custom, John saw what Jesus was doing by folding His linen. He meant to return.

4.) The significance of BELIEF. v. 8 - Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. He HAS risen. You can believe. John 11:25 says, "Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies...", Romans 4:25 tells us that, "He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.", and Romans 10:9 states, "That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."