The Resurrection - Did It Really Happen?

John 20:1-10

1 The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre. 2 Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him. 3 Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre. 4 So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre. 5 And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in. 6 Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie, 7 And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself. 8 Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed. 9 For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead. 10 Then the disciples went away again unto their own home.

1.) The officials already had the idea that Jesus' followers would try something, that they would steal Jesus' body to make it look like He was not dead. So in anticipation of this they took extra precautions to guard the tomb. A large stone was rolled in front, but the first thing Mary sees is that the stone has been "taken away". Remember, Jesus did not need to move the stone to get out, the stone was moved so that WE may see in...to see that the tomb was in fact empty.

2.) The linen clothes were still in the tomb. Jesus was ALIVE again and did not need his grave clothes anymore. Remember when Lazarus was dead Jesus told Mary "I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:" Jesus already knew that he would be resurrected and live again...

3.) And last in the tomb was "the napkin that was about his face", it was folded and placed by itself. There is a Hebrew tradition that all of Jesus' followers would have know during that time. When a master was eating at the table and had finished his meal he would take his napkin, wipe his face and hands and then leave the napkin wadded up on the table. This would signify to the servants that he was finished and they could clean the table. If...the master was not done but needed to leave the table, he would take his napkin and 'fold' it leaving it by itself on the table indicating that he was not finished and would be coming back...are you getting this now? Jesus had folded his napkin to indicate to his disciples that he was not finished and that HE WOULD BE COMING BACK!

So if you believe that the tomb was empty that morning so many thousands of years ago, then you must believe that He will be coming back. The question is - how will He find you?

Look back at the title of this mornings sermon - the answer i a resounding YES it really did happen but do you believe?

Romans 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

God bless all in this coming week....