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Call to worship: Psalm 16

Text: John 20:1-18

Summary:

Mary Magdalene goes weeping to the tomb of Jesus only to find the stone taken away. As her first thought is not resurrection, she runs to the disciples. At the news of an empty tomb, Peter and John race to see what's no longer visible to the eye: the body of Jesus. The scene is one of decor and order. There's been no heist in haste. John believes. Peter marvels. Mary weeps. The resurrection of Jesus illumines the Word of God which necessitated His death and resurrection. The men return home, but Mary, still in sorrowful earnest, stays. They do not seem to minister to her. But angels begin to do so. And upon her words, Jesus also appears to do so! This is more than seeing an empty tomb, which might be empty for any number of reasons. This is seeing the Man Who was crucified and dead alive from the dead! It reduces the cause of the empty tomb to one: the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It appears some part of His ministry to help His people see Him, to call on them in such a way that they know there is continuity of love and care even amid the discontinuity of His earthly and now heavenly life. He sends her to testify to His spiritual brothers that He goes to ascend to their God and Father, an act that will, among other graces, fill them with the Spirit of Life and resurrection power. Mary is obedient, and the good news of life from the dead begins to go out.

Sermon Outline:

Prepare

Discussion Questions:

1. 1: Read John 20:1-18.
2. 2: What day of the week is it? What time of that day? What had happened? Who saw it? How does this interact with the reporting of Matthew, Mark, and Luke (the Synoptists)? To whom does Mary go with this news? What is the news? Is she thinking resurrection? What are we told about Peter and John? What's in the tomb? What's not? Anything of apologetic value in these verses?
3. 3: How does John respond to the empty tomb? How does the resurrection throw light on the Scriptures? How is this fact another apologetic for the resurrection of Jesus, that it's not first the other way around? What is the relationship between the resurrection of Christ and the testimony of Scripture? If Jesus had not been raised, would He be the Christ according to Scripture?
4. 4: How does Mary now act distinctly from Peter and John (20:10-11)? Why does she stay at the tomb? Is there any principle to be derived from the blessing that comes to her for staying there? Why do the angels wait to show up now? Why does Jesus! wait to show up now? What is their question for her? What is her answer? Who does she suppose Jesus to be? Why might she not see that it's Jesus?
5. 5: How does Jesus reveal Himself to Mary? How dependent are we even as believers upon this effectual voice of our Shepherd to know and grow in Him? What does Mary want to do, having now seen the risen Jesus? What does Jesus counsel her? Why is His ascension so important? Think back to chapters 14-17. Does Mary still weep? What does Mary do in obedience to the Word of her risen King? How is her testimony further verification for the fact of His resurrection? Why is it more assuring to have seen Him as opposed to just the empty tomb? How does John's reporting impact you today?