Lessons from an Empty Tomb

I would encourage you to open up your Bibles, if you would please, to John chapter 20.

John 20 · chapter mention

! John chapter 20. If you're using the Pew Bible, it's on page 906 in the Pew Bible, 920.

John 20 · chapter mention

John chapter 20.

John 20 · chapter mention

Any of you who've been a part of the church for any length of time, probably have those memories,

those memories as a child, perhaps especially of Easter, those traditions that maybe your family had.

One of those traditions our family had was Easter baskets on Sunday morning,

and the kids were allowed to try to go and find those baskets,

and it was just one of the ways that we anticipated the wonder of what Christ did in terms of rising from the dead.

And those early morning experiences of the women who went to the tomb to look for the Messiah in the tomb,

but he wasn't there.

Those early childhood memories run deep, don't they?

And I think a lot of the experiences that we have as Christians are formed and deepened in our childhood.

I think of the time, the things that I was taught in Sunday school, for example.

The things I was taught at VBS, the things I learned in Awana, those verses that became familiar to me.

Those experiences of faithful men and women who taught me as a child, but also into my teenage years.

All the benefits of those formative years of learning the scripture for men and women who love Jesus.

And I would just say, we are so blessed here at Maranatha.

All of the men and women at Maranatha who invest in our children, I'm grateful for you.

Thank you for this ministry.

But those of you who kind of remember back to your time as a child,

and you remember those stories that you were taught,

the themes that seem to stand out about those stories are those significant events.

Those heroes of faith, those epic moments as it were,

of people who are living for God and seeing great things take place.

Maybe you remember Noah and the flood.

Or you remember Abraham, he's offering his son Isaac on the altar.

Maybe Joseph in his coat of many colors,

or rising to a place of second in command in Egypt.

Perhaps you might remember Moses leading the children of Israel out of bondage and slavery in Egypt.

Or you remember David, of course, David in Goliath.

Or Daniel in the fiery furnace.

And there Daniel is in the lion's den.

His friends were in the fiery furnace.

And all of these epic stories of notable faith seem to stand out.

Those characters, those themes, those men and women of the scripture

who seem to have it all together.

There seem to be a steadiness about their faith.

There seem to be a resilience about them.

They never seem to have a moment of failure.

At least in these epic stories that we remember.

And somewhere along the way, we come to be formed and fashioned by those stories.

And we think that if we ever experience times of brokenness,

times of doubt, times of failure, times of sorrow,

times of bewilderment, times of hurt, times of pain,

that somehow we're failing in some way.

And those stories that have become so familiar to us now seem so distant.

These men and women of the faith never seem to have baggage.

They never seem to fail.

They always seem to have it together in some way.

And so when we evaluate our lives,

we wonder if there's something wrong with our own understanding of the scripture,

our own faith that we bring to the table.

As children, what grabs our attention are those mountain peaks.

We seem to forget that these are real people who are experiencing real pain.

And that's what John, the gospel writer, wants to remind us of this morning.

John does such an amazing job throughout his gospel,

drawing attention to people.

He draws attention to individuals.

He wants you to see that there are people, real people,

who have real struggles, who really need to be encouraged,

who really need and have gone through hard things

and really need to meet with Christ,

who really need a Savior.

And so we come this morning to John chapter 20.

John 20 · chapter mention

If you're there with me,

I would encourage you to turn there if you're not there already.

But what we find throughout the gospel of John,

the purpose for his writing is to draw people to a Savior,

to draw people to faith.

He says in John chapter 20, verse 30, he says,

John 20:30

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples

which are not written in this book,

but these are written so that you may believe

that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God,

and that by believing, you may have life in his name.

We saw last week as we were evaluating the triumphal entry

that Jesus had come.

He had come to Bethany.

He had raised Lazarus from the dead.

This amazing sign that demonstrated to a nation

that Jesus was in fact the person he claimed to be.

They've been looking for signs.

They've been looking for the testimony,

the convincing testimony that Jesus was in fact the Messiah.

And so when Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead in this public way,

so close to Jerusalem,

at least in that moment, the nation received him.

They agreed that he was this Messiah figure.

The entire nation recognized him as this one.

Whereas John chapter 12, verse 18 says,

John 12:18

The reason why the crowd went to meet him

was that they heard that he had done this sign,

this sign of raising Lazarus from the dead.

And not only did the nation believe,

but the religious leaders,

they couldn't deny that something had happened.

John 11, 47 says,

So the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the council

and said,

What are we to do?

For this man performs many signs.

This nation celebrates the Messiah.

The religious leaders are grumbling

because Jesus had done this sign.

And here is Lazarus right in their midst.

This undeniable, unmistakable sign

that Jesus was in fact the resurrection and the life.

Jesus had power over life and death.

But there was one more sign.

One more sign that Jesus had promised.

This ultimate sign as it were.

This ultimate evidence that Jesus was

not just a miracle worker.

Not just a resurrection and a life for someone else.

But that Jesus was in fact

the one sent from God.

The son of God himself.

John chapter 2, verses 18 to 22.

John 2:18–22

This is the very beginning of Jesus' ministry.

And he is foreshadowing this future work.

This future sign.

When he says,

So the Jews said to him,

What sign do you show us for doing these things?

Jesus answered them,

Destroy this temple,

and in three days I will raise it up.

The Jews then said,

It has taken 46 years to build the temple,

and you will raise it up in three days.

But he was speaking about the temple of his body.

When therefore he was raised from the dead,

his disciples remembered that he had said this,

and they believed the scriptures

and the word that Jesus had spoken.

Again,

Jesus' resurrection from the dead

proved once and for all

that Jesus is the resurrection and the life.

He is the Messiah.

This final, epic, ultimate sign

is what everyone was waiting for,

everyone was looking for.

And so John doesn't want to just take us

to the empty tomb

and expose us to the facts,

to the details of the resurrection.

He wants us to encounter a person.

He wants us to encounter a Savior.

He wants to welcome us,

to evaluate for ourselves

the evidence of the empty tomb,

and not just be amazed

at the details of a resurrection account,

but to encounter the Savior himself,

the one who has come to seek

and to save the lost.

So we find in John's account

a focus on people.

It's a different perspective

that John wants to draw us to,

looking at people,

not just the events,

because the resurrection

changes everything.

As we look this morning

at the empty tomb,

there are some lessons here

for all of us,

not just in looking

and evaluating the account itself,

but to be reminded

of what the account

is meant to do for us.

It's inviting us to respond.

How will we respond

to the empty tomb?

This morning,

we're going to look at five ways

that we need to respond.

First,

we need to come and see

the empty tomb.

Come and see the empty tomb.

John begins with a very simple statement

in verse 1 of chapter 20.

He says this,

Now,

on the first day of the week,

Mary Magdalene

came to the tomb early

while it was still dark

and saw that the stone

had been taken away

from the tomb.

One verse.

One,

a couple of phrases here

that we find,

and this is the resurrection account

that's given to us by John.

This resurrection account,

simple to understand,

so sparse in detail

as you compare it

to the other gospels,

Matthew,

Mark,

and Luke.

Mary came.

It was dark.

The stone was rolled away.

That's it.

And if we know

the other gospel accounts,

Matthew,

Mark,

and Luke,

we understand

how different this is.

And John is doing this

for a reason.

Like,

where are the other women,

John?

Where are the spices

that are prepared?

Where are the guards

that were standing

at the tomb?

Where are the earthquake

and the angels

and the shining garments?

Where is all of that,

John?

Where's the announcement

he's not here?

He's risen,

just as he said.

So Matthew,

Mark,

and Luke

give us those details.

Was John

just confused?

Was John

just didn't understand

the details

of this account

and forgot

to capture it

for us?

No.

John understood

the details,

but he wants

to drive us

to something.

He wants us

to see the personal

element here.

He is spotlighting

individuals.

He wants us

to recognize

that this

resurrection account

is for you.

This resurrection story

is for me.

It's for us

in this room.

It's written

for individuals

so that we can come

and believe

who Jesus is.

John is driving

at this purpose

and if we come

to understand

the rest of

John's gospel

account,

we'll see all

of these stories

that are so specific

to individuals.

John is the only

account that tells

us about Andrew

who brought

his brother

Peter to Christ.

John is the only

gospel record

that talks about

Philip who brings

his brother Nathaniel

to Christ.

It's only in the

gospel of John

we see Nicodemus,

the ruler of the Jews

who meets Jesus

by night.

Where we see

the Samaritan woman,

the nobleman's son,

the lame man

who's at the pool

of Bethesda,

the woman who's

caught in adultery,

the man who's

born blind,

this raising of

Lazarus from the dead,

Thomas who will

ask this question

the night

before Christ's

crucifixion,

and then this

here in John

John 20 · chapter mention

chapter 20.

Mary Magdalene,

a single

lone individual

who's here

at the tomb.

Jesus cares

for individuals.

And of course

we understand

that Jesus

came for the world.

We know

for God so loved

the world

that he gave

his only begotten

son.

And yet he came

for individuals.

Jesus came

for Mary.

And each of us

are personally

responsible

for what we do

with the news

about Jesus.

It's important

here because

in this opening

scene,

Mary's devotion

is obvious,

but it's still,

her faith is

still incomplete.

She shows up

early.

She comes

prepared.

She demonstrates

her loyalty.

We see this

overflow of love

in this narrative,

but for all

of her devotion,

we find

her conclusion

in verse 2.

So she ran

and went

to Simon Peter

and the other

disciple,

the one whom

Jesus loved,

and she said

to them,

they have taken

the Lord

out of the tomb

and we do not

know where they

have laid him.

For all of her

devotion,

she is still

operating under

the assumption

that Jesus

is dead.

She's not

expecting a

resurrection.

She's not

looking for

triumph.

She's not

standing in

faith.

And John

is already

reminding us

of something

that's really

important,

that for all

the devotion

that we bring

to the table,

it is

insufficient

in what

Christ is

offering,

the faith

and personal

relationship

that can only

be true

when we come

to Christ

in the right

way.

Mary acknowledged

the empty

tomb.

Now she's

invited Peter

and John

to do the

same.

She's

come,

she's

seen for

herself,

she's spoken

with Peter

and John

and we're

going to

find that

they also

come and

they're going

to see for

themselves.

And for all

of us,

we need to do

the very same

thing.

We need to

come and

see.

Come and

see the

empty tomb.

Take a look

for yourself.

See the

evidence that's

in front of

you,

the tomb

that still

remains empty.

Tomb that

is a symbol

and a

stature of

Christ who

has been

raised from

the dead.

This is the

first step

to the faith

that God is

inviting us

to enjoy.

Come and

see.

In verses

3 to 10

we see

this next

step.

The next

step is to

believe the

testimony of

the empty

tomb.

It says in

verse 3,

So Peter

went out

with the

other

disciple

and they

were going

towards the

tomb.

Both of

them were

running

together

but the

other

disciple

outran

Peter

and reached

the tomb

first.

In stooping

to look,

he saw the

linen cloths

lying there

but he

did not

go in.

Then Simon

Peter came

following him

and went

into the

tomb.

He saw

the linen

cloths

lying there

and the

face cloth

which had

been on

Jesus'

head.

Not

lying with

the linen

cloths but

folded up

in its

place.

Then the

other

disciple

who had

reached

the tomb

first also

went in

and he

saw

and believed

for as yet

he did not

understand the

scripture

that he

must rise

from the

dead.

Then the

disciples

went back

to their

homes.

Where Mary

runs to

tell Peter

and John

Peter and

John

then in

turn

make their

way in

hurry

to the

tomb.

Now this

was something

that was

very uncharacteristic

in first

century.

Men

in that

day did

not run.

It was

undignified.

But this

was not

like any

other day

and this

was not

like any

other news

that they've

heard.

John

we find

outruns

Peter.

He gets

to the

tomb

first but

he stays

there outside

and he

takes a

look inside.

But Peter

as one

might expect

he bursts

straight through

he runs

right in

this boldness

and he is

unhindered.

Here he is

running into

the tomb

he wants

to see

things for

himself.

They observe

the scene

that Mary

described.

This stone

that's rolled

away,

the linen

cloths

that are

lying there,

the face

cloth that's

been moved

and folded

and put

away in a

different place.

Jesus is

gone.

But this

is not the

scene of a

robbery.

The cloths

are not

torn.

They're not

scattered.

There's no

sign of chaos.

There's no

sign of

panic.

There seems

to be no

sign that

this body

of Christ

had been

manhandled

in any

way and

wrestled

out of

these grave

clothes.

No.

There is

order in

calm.

There's

evidence

that's

here.

But notice

in verse

8 it

says,

the other

disciple who

reached the

tomb first

also went

in and

when he

saw he

believed.

He

believed.

What did

he believe?

Well the

next verse

tells us a

little broader

picture of

what he

believed and

helps us

understand,

for as yet

they did not

understand the

scripture that

he must rise

from the

dead.

From these

two verses

we see that

believing a

truth or

believing in

a truth,

believing in

facts is not

the same as

believing in

a savior.

This is

foundational to

John.

Some 98 to

102 times

throughout the

gospel of

John,

John will

use the

word believing.

And yet in

almost every

case we

find this

believing is

defective,

it's deficient,

it's devoid of

something,

of substance.

And here is

the same for

John.

He believed

in facts.

Jesus was

not there but

he needed to

believe more.

And his

believing needed

to be informed

by the

scripture.

Notice,

as yet they

did not

understand,

the scripture

that he must

rise from the

dead.

Now that's

important.

Faith will

need to include

the most

important piece.

Not just that

Jesus' body

is missing,

but that Jesus

himself is

risen.

The empty

tomb had

confronted Mary

and Peter

and John

and that's

important because

biblical faith is

not irrational,

it's rooted in

evidence.

But their faith

needed to be

informed by the

word.

God's word

is true

and because

God's word

is true,

it rests

in the

evidence

of the

facts that

God has

assembled.

The truth

statements,

the prophecies

that Christ

has given

needed to be

confirmed in

order to know

for a fact

that Jesus

had risen

from the

dead.

On at least

three occasions

Jesus had

prophesied,

they're going

to crucify me.

They're going

to scourge

me.

They're going

to take

me.

They're going

to kill

me.

But on the

third day

I'm going

to rise.

And those

statements

proved out

true to the

very end.

And so the

stone is

moved,

the body

is gone,

the grave

clothes

remain.

And this

ultimate piece

of evidence,

this ultimate

sign of

Jesus'

resurrection

is bearing

out in front

of them.

But they

need to

understand that

evidence is

not enough.

The evidence

is not enough.

They needed to

understand the

scriptures,

they need to

be exposed

to the

word of

God,

they need

to be

informed

by the

scriptures

in order

to be

led to

true faith.

Faith only

becomes

complete when

Christ allows

us to

understand the

scriptures for

itself.

So we

come and see

the empty

tomb.

We believe

the testimony

of the

empty

tomb.

Next,

we bring

our sorrow

to the

empty

tomb.

Bring your

sorrow to

the empty

tomb.

And so the

events of

Peter and

John now

shift again

and the

story turns

and focuses

again on

Mary who

becomes the

main character

of the

narrative.

And we

see in

her,

in verse

11,

Mary stood

weeping

outside the

tomb.

And as

she wept,

she stooped

to look

into the

tomb.

This word

for weeping

is used

eight times

throughout the

gospel of

John.

Three times

it's used

during the

narrative of

Lazarus who

was raised

from the

dead.

Once it's

used to

describe the

disciples in

the upper

room as

Jesus is

describing to

them the

weeping and

the grief that

they will

experience at

the loss of

Jesus in

his death.

And now

four times

John focuses

his attention

on the

weeping of

Mary here

at the

tomb.

It's a

word that

describes

anguished

crying or

wailing.

It was

something that

gripped an

individual.

It was this

external expression

of grief.

We find it in

verse 11,

Mary stood

weeping and

then as she

wept she

stooped looking

into the tomb.

Then in

verse 13

the angels

will ask

woman why

are you

weeping?

Then in

verse 15

Jesus himself

will ask

woman why

are you

weeping?

See Mary's

love for

Christ was

real.

She had

experienced

the liberating

power of

Christ for

herself.

She had

had seven

demons cast

out of her

during Christ's

ministry.

She experienced

real bondage and

real deliverance

from him.

Her name

Magdalene

was not a

family surname

but it

identified her

with a small

village fishing

community named

Magdala.

It was on the

northwest shore

of the Sea of

Galilee.

This region had

been particularly

gripped by

demonic activity

in Jesus as

he crisscrossed

the region of

Galilee.

What would often

be seen throughout

the narrative as

casting out demons

and liberating

those who had

been in bondage

to demons and

Mary was one

of those.

He had taught

there.

He had healed

there.

She had heard

Jesus teach

there.

She had heard

the preaching

of the kingdom

of God there.

And Mary was

not some random

face in the

crowd.

Mary had an

encounter with

Christ, a

friendship with

the Lord Jesus.

In Luke chapter

Luke 8 · chapter mention

8 we find that

she was also a

faithful supporter

of Christ's

ministry.

Luke's account

lets us know

that she is

financially vested.

She along

with many other

women are

sponsoring Christ

as he is

carrying out

this public

ministry.

She's part of

the group who

also traveled

with the

disciples.

She's part of

the group that

was on this

pilgrimage as

this final

trek into

Jerusalem during

the time of

Passover.

It was Mary

Magdalene and

many other women

and the disciples

who would make

their way together

up to Jerusalem.

It's Mary

Magdalene who's

at the cross.

It's Mary

Magdalene, one

of the very few,

two ladies who

lingered long

enough at the

cross to see

where Christ

would be taken

and buried.

Mary Magdalene

would see that.

And here she is

again.

In her devotion

she's lingering

at the tomb.

Hanging on to the

moments and the

memories that she

had with this

one that she

cherished.

There's no wonder

why Mary is

crying.

Jesus was not a

distant figure to

her.

Jesus was one who

delivered her from

darkness, who had

given her dignity,

who had received her

devotion, who had

changed the entire

course of her life.

And now in her

mind he's gone.

Overcome by grief

she looks into the

tomb one more time.

Notice in verse

11, Mary stood

weeping outside the

tomb and as she

wept she stooped to

look into the tomb

and she saw two

angels in white

sitting where the

body of Jesus had

lain.

One at the head

and one at the

feet.

They said to her

woman why are you

weeping?

She said to them

they have taken

away my Lord and I

do not know where

they have laid him.

I don't know if

you've ever been

struck by these

verses but here

here's Mary Magdalene

she's looking at

angels.

They're there in the

tomb and she seems

to be totally

unfazed by their

presence.

How is that

possible?

Not surprised,

not startled,

not frightened,

just has this

blindness in her

heart.

She's overcome

by grief.

She cannot see

what's right in

front of her.

The grace of God

sending his angels

to minister to her

to give her hope

to let her know

about the risen

Lord and all she

can say is they've

taken the Lord out

of the tomb and we

do not know where

they have laid him.

Then John gives us

one of the most

remarkable details in

all of the

resurrection narrative.

Verse 20 says

having said this

she turned around

and saw Jesus

standing but she

did not know that

it was Jesus.

Can you imagine?

Think of that.

She sees him.

She speaks to him

and she misses him.

In spite of all the

personal experience

that Mary had had,

she had observed

his ministry,

she had heard his

teachings,

she had enjoyed

the benefits of

the deliverance

that he gave,

she had watched

his life,

she had stood

at the cross,

she was there

at the tomb,

she hears him

speak and she

misses him.

See that's how

deep human

blindness can be.

And that's why

salvation is never

merely the product

of nearness.

It's never merely

the product of

proximity.

It is always

a product of God

opening blind eyes.

See,

pay attention

to this now

work of Christ

in the response

of Christ

in verse 15.

woman,

why are you

weeping?

Whom are you

seeking?

I love the

tenderness of our

Savior.

We don't see

any harsh rebuke.

We don't see

the condescending

glare.

We don't see

the disapproval

or the disgust

in Christ's

response

to Mary.

But what you see

is compassion.

You see the

same Savior

who wept

with Mary

at the tomb

of Lazarus

and is now

entering into

the grief

of another

disciple,

another Mary

here at the

empty tomb.

The Lord is

not irritated

by weak

disciples.

Be blessed

that God

is not irritated

by weak

vacillating

disciples.

He is not

unmoved

by your tears.

He understands,

He cares,

His heart

is full of

compassion

for those

who are broken,

for those

who are hurting,

for those

who bring

their sorrow.

Bring your

sorrow,

your pain

to the Lord

Jesus.

He will

meet you

there.

See,

she knew

what Christ

had done.

She knew

the truths

that Christ

had shared.

She even

had recounted,

probably was able

to share

the verses

that Christ

was offering

her to understand.

And yet,

there's still

here in this

moment

confusion.

You see,

we might

know all

of the

theology,

we might

know all

the facts,

but unless

we come

to know

the person

of Christ,

we'll never

come to

enjoy salvation.

We learn

from Mary's

story that

the risen

Christ is

still full

of compassion

towards those

who carry

sorrow,

who carry

burdens.

So come

and see

this empty

tomb.

Believe

in the

testimony

of the

empty

tomb.

Bring

your sorrow

to the

empty

tomb.

But this,

perhaps most

important,

meet your

Savior at

the empty

tomb.

We see

this in

verse 16,

but the end

of verse 15

says,

supposing him

to be the

gardener,

she said to

him,

Sir,

if you have

carried him

away,

tell me

where you

have laid

him,

and I

will take

him away.

Jesus

said to

her,

Mary.

She

turned and

said to

him in

Aramaic,

Rabboni,

which means

teacher.

One word

is all

it took,

Mary.

He says

her name,

and with

this one

word,

the darkness

breaks,

the confusion

lifts,

the blindness

turns to

sight,

and the sorrow

gives way to

recognition.

What was it

about this

one word?

And I

think there

are two

reasons why

this word

was so

important.

first is

because we

need to

hear the

word of

God to

be changed

by the

word.

You know

what Paul

says in

Romans

Romans 10:17

chapter 10

verse 17?

He says

faith comes

by hearing

and hearing

by the

word of

Christ.

Mary,

like the

disciples,

needed to

be informed

by the

scriptures.

Sometimes a

very simple

word,

Mary,

brought the

rest of

his words

come flooding

back to

her memory.

She needed

to hear the

word of

Christ.

And second,

she needed

to hear a

word that

was personal

to her.

The Lord

knew her

name.

He said

it in

only the

way that

the Savior

could say

it.

It reminds

me of what

Christ says

of him

being the

good shepherd

in John

John 10 · chapter mention

chapter 10.

He says

this,

he who

enters by

the door

is the

shepherd of

the sheep.

The sheep

hear his

voice and

he calls

his own

sheep by

name.

He goes

before them

and the

sheep follow

him for

they know

his voice.

I am the

good shepherd.

I know

my own

and my

own

know me.

This was

not just

mere

recognition

of Mary.

This is

revelation.

She sees

Jesus for

who he is

and the

good shepherd

called her

by name

and she

understood

his voice.

What happened

for Mary

is what

must happen

for every

one of

us at

some point

because the

gospel is

meant to be

personal.

It's meant

to be

individual.

It's meant

to call

you as

an individual.

Not merely

the subject

of stories.

He's not

merely the

object of

admiration.

He's not

merely the

center of

arguments but

he must

be known.

He must

be heard.

He must

be worshipped.

This is why

the resurrection

matters so

deeply because

it not just

proves that

his death

and resurrection

were real but

it proves that

he offers

life.

He offers

life to

everyone who

will believe

in his

name.

He will

come to

understand what

he has come

to offer.

And Mary

here is

delivered again.

She was

delivered first

from the

bondage of

demons.

Then she

was delivered

from the

bondage of

sin.

She is

enjoying the

benefits of

faith.

Faith has

become sight

and it now

leads her one

more step.

It's one more

step we find

in verses

17 and

18.

Share the

news of

the empty

tomb.

Share the

news of

the empty

tomb.

Find in

verse 17

Jesus said

to her,

Do not

cling to

me for

I have

not yet

ascended to

the father

but go to

my brothers

and say to

them I am

ascending to

my father

and to

your father

to my

God and

to your

God.

Mary Magdalene

went and

announced to

the disciples

I have seen

the Lord

and that he

has said

these things

to her.

Mary doesn't

want to let

Jesus go.

She is

clinging to

him for

all she is

worth.

She doesn't

want to

lose him.

But Jesus

wants to

redirect Mary's

focus.

Wants to

help her

understand the

whole purpose

of his

coming.

He says

I am

ascending to

my father.

Mary I'm

not staying.

I never

planned to

stick around.

I'm departing

just like I

told the

disciples that

the whole

purpose for

me coming

and dying

and rising

again is

not so that

I would be

a permanent

fixture here

but that

you would

be able to

enjoy the

benefits of

the indwelling

Holy Spirit.

The Spirit's

presence will

be among you.

Look to

him.

So don't

relate to me

as though

things are

simply going

back to

how they

were.

My death

and resurrection

have changed

everything Mary.

Understand

things are

different now.

Don't set

your hope

merely on

my physical

presence but

understand the

greater spiritual

reality that

is possible

because of

what I've

accomplished

for you.

A greater

presence,

an indwelling

presence.

Mary recognize

the wonder

of that.

And now

this relationship

that's changed

notice how

Jesus says

go and tell

my brothers.

That is

striking because

before he

had called

them the

twelve.

The disciples

were the

twelve.

Or they

were little

children.

Or they

were servants.

Or they

were friends.

But now

Jesus is

referring to

them as

brothers because

everything has

changed.

He describes

this now

profound

identity that

they can

enjoy because

of what

Christ has

accomplished.

I am

ascending to

my father

and to

your father

to my

God and

your God.

There's now

this personal

nature.

this shared

relationship

that we

get to

enjoy.

This new

identity

that's

possible

because of

Christ.

Of what

he's

accomplished.

He's your

God now.

He's your

father now.

The wall

has been

torn down.

The veil

has been

ripped in

two.

Access

to the

Lord is

now possible

for those

who believe

in him.

In this

new saving

faith it

will do

something.

Well what

does it

do?

Well it

sends

them.

Notice

Mary is

sent.

Jesus

commands

her go

to my

brothers

and say

to them

Mary go

and tell.

Tell them

everything

that you've

heard.

This is the

beginning of

the promise

of what we'll

see as now

we turn the

page to this

church.

This church

age we've

been studying

over the

past couple

of weeks.

The death

and resurrection

of Christ

has changed

everything for

us.

Remember this

promise in

Acts chapter

Acts 1:8

1 verse

8.

You will

receive power

when the

Holy Spirit

has come

upon you