Sermon Notes

Introduction

On the first day of the week, over two thousand years ago, ordinary people witnessed the greatest miracle of all time. Their testimonies about the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ provide the world with a living hope that is freely available to anyone who trusts in and believes the gospel.

Why is the Resurrection so important?

The Apostle Paul emphasised that if Christ did not rise from the dead, then our preaching and faith are all in vain. This would mean that the entire Christian church worldwide would be false witnesses of a fabricated story with no significance for our lives. However, praise be to God, there is irrefutable evidence from eyewitness accounts and testimonies of countless individuals who have experienced the living power of the resurrection.

“The apostles understood the resurrection as the lynchpin of Christianity—integral to every aspect of life and thought—and therefore so should we.” — Ross Clifford & Philip Johnson

The Situation – What are you looking for? – John 20:1-18

• In John’s account of the resurrection, Mary Magdalene is presented as the first person to arrive at Jesus’ tomb early on the first day of the week.

• It is evident from John’s narrative that Mary came to the tomb expecting to find the deceased body of Jesus Christ. In Mark’s account, it is noted that Mary and other women brought spices to anoint His body (see Mark 16:1).

• The resurrection inspires us to believe that with God, all things are possible.

Application – As humans, we often limit ourselves by our expectations. When we doubt that everything is possible with God, we underestimate His power and knowledge. Remember the truth of the resurrection: with Christ, all things are possible, even what seems dead in our lives.

The problem – Are you in or out?  – John 20:3-9

He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there, but did not go in v5

• The differing responses of Peter and John symbolise how people today perceive the resurrection of Christ.

• Some individuals hear the message but never take the next step to fully embrace the gospel, while others, like Peter, eagerly dive in to explore it for themselves.

• “He saw and believed” – The good news for the world is that we can respond to this message of grace. Even if we didn’t believe before or had doubts, like John, we can come to a point where we place our faith and trust in the resurrection.

Application – By the grace of God, we have the opportunity to respond to the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. The question that only we can answer in our hearts is: Are we in or out? Do we believe or don’t we believe?

The Solution and Celebration – Don’t keep the good news to yourself, share it! – v10-18

Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that he had said these things to her. V18

• After Peter and John processed the reality of Jesus rising from the dead, just as he had promised, they left the tomb with a new perspective. They were transformed and empowered by the truth that Jesus is alive forevermore.

• Mary Magdalene, like Peter and John, had to confront the reality of the resurrection. After encountering Jesus herself, she was given the important task of informing all the disciples that Jesus is alive and not dead.

Application – Just as Mary was called by Jesus, He is inviting His believers today to do more than simply enjoy the benefits of the resurrection and salvation. We are encouraged to share the good news of Jesus with others. This week, who will you tell about Jesus—His love, His death, burial, and resurrection?

Discussion Questions

1. What piece of evidence do you find most compelling for the resurrection? How would you respond to a friend who said, ‘Surely we can’t believe that Jesus really rose from the dead?’
2. Examine John 20:8 and 20:24-31, and discuss the similarities between John and Thomas, along with many others today who find it difficult to believe in the resurrection. Additionally, reflect on your own journey to faith and identify the key moment when your belief solidified.
3. In light of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, what comfort does this event provide to believers who are nearing the end of their earthly lives?
4. Discuss what you believe is the strongest argument in defence of the resurrection of Jesus Christ?
5. A few weeks ago, during the sermon, it was mentioned that Jesus shared with his disciples on at least three occasions in scripture that he would be crucified and be raised back to life. Why do you think the disciples struggled to come to terms with the resurrection at first?
6. Mary Magdalene is credited according to John’s gospel for being the first one to share the resurrection message with the disciples. What can we glean from her testimony on how to share the good news with others today? (See John 20:17-18)