John 20:1-18
Introduction: I remember when my mom would watch the Showbiz news every Sunday afternoon and my dad would happen to be sitting down with her. Every time there is news about a certain actor or actress on TV my dad would say “Now what? Is that even going to generate money for us?”
There are a lot of things in this world that doesn’t seem to have relevance in our lives and it just makes us ask “Now what?”
Have you ever have a talent that you can’t even use in your life? It just doesn’t have any relevance in any person’s life – not even yours!
Transition…
Today, the world celebrates Easter Sunday. We all know that Easter Sunday is the celebration of the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. But for a lot of people, Easter Sunday is the day we can eat meat again or go to the beach or enjoy time with family. I do not have anything against enjoyment but I do have some issues on people forgetting the real essence of Easter. SO, NOW THAT JESUS CHRIST HAS RESURRECTED 2000 YEARS AGO, WHAT NOW?
Overview: John 20
After the death of Jesus on the cross, the disciples were so afraid that they hid away from the public. There Master has died and there is no reason they too will not be killed.
V1. Even if Christ told them many times that the Son of man will rise again after 3 days, Mary still visits the tomb expecting to see the dead body of Christ there…at that time, that was the most sensible expectation.
V2-3. Mary did not check the tomb but immediately ran to Peter to report. Note what she said: “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb”. She assumed that the tomb was empty but not because Jesus was resurrected.
V4-10. Peter saw the linen clothe and the napkin that was laid on Jesus’ head was separated; the napkin was rolled up by itself. Peter and the other disciples with him, after seeing the empty tomb, believed!
V11-18. Mary still thought that the body of Christ was stolen. It was only when she saw Jesus personally by the tomb, alive, that she believed.
V19-29. Thomas heard the news of Christ’s resurrection but did not believe; it was only when he himself saw Christ and touched His hands that he believed.
3 people…all of them have been witness to the resurrection but they have different reactions…
I. Peter (Needed to see the empty tomb to believe/EXTERNAL EVIDENCE)
Illustration: Have you watched the TV series CSI? CSI stand for Crime Scene Investigation – our own version of this is SOCO (Scene of the Crime Operatives). Explain the work of CSI…the evidence and the testimony should coincide with each other or else it’s not true.
- Isn’t it true that some of us are like Peter…we needed to see an evidence of an empty tomb to believe
- We need to see that there is an actual effect in other people’s lives before we believe
- We only believe because your neighbor who is a drug addict has been changed by the Word
- There is no problem with this BUT what if the evidences around you cease to show?
- WHAT NOW?
- Hebrews 11:1 – Faith is the SUBSTANCE of everything that we are hoping for…we don’t need further evidence
II. Mary (Needed to talk to Christ to believe/VERBAL EVIDENCE)
- Some of us are like Mary…we needed to hear someone to tell us the Word all the time to keep believing
- Some people would need re-assurance in order to believe ‘again’
- Some of us are like Mary who just kept on weeping until she heard the voice of Christ
- There is no problem with that BUT what if there is no one to re-assure you?
- WHAT NOW?
III. Thomas (Needed to touch Christ to believe/INTERNAL EVIDENCE)
- Sadly some of us are even worst than Peter and Mary…some of us are like Thomas
- In spite of all the disciples telling him that Jesus has resurrected, in spite of all the evidence, he said he won’t believe unless he himself have seen AND touch
- How many of us are more like Thomas…we wont believe unless we have seen the evidence in our own lives…you need to feel it with your senses…EVERYTHING HAS TO MAKE SENSE
- I need to see a miracle myself…I need to experience it myself
- Note: Jesus comment John 20:29
- Read also 1 Corinthians 1:18-19
- This is in fact the worst unbelief we can ever commit…to NOT believe even if others have tried to tell you that it is indeed true
SO CHRIST HAVE RESURRECTED…WHAT NOW?
HAS IT REALLY CHANGED OUR LIVES?
SO WHAT’S THE POINT?
In another scenario in John 21…
- Jesus appeared again to the disciples while they were fishing
- There was no disbelief here since Christ has already appeared to them twice before this
- Jesus invited them to eat with Him
- HERE, JESUS ASKED THE ULTIMATE QUESTION, which all of us today should consider…
- Vv 15-17 “Do you love me more than this?” Explain…
Closing Illustration: I’ve seen a movie about a doctor/scientist who spent all his life in creating a cure for his wife’s disease. He spent so much time in his research that he missed the point of spending precious time with his wife. He finally perfected the cure and was so excited to see his wife only to find out that his wife has already died…alone without him.
WHAT’S THE POINT?
Conclusion: Brethren, the main point of the resurrection is to show the world…
- That Jesus Christ has the power over death…therefore He is able to save us from eternal death and give us eternal life
- That Jesus Christ is Lord over all the earth and he should be Lord of our lives
- What’s the point of a long sermon if the listener does not want to apply the Word in his/her life?
- What’s the point of the resurrection if no one would submit to His lordship and follow him?
- What’s the point of the resurrection if it doesn’t change the way we live and the way we think?
No comments:
Post a Comment