​PINE GROVE BAPTIST CHURCH
 

In today's passage, we're going to see someone who, when they initially discovered the empty tomb of Jesus, they were concerned with the "setup" material. This brought about more confusion at that moment. However, when they finally saw the resurrected Jesus, their message and purpose was complete, and it calls us to see the same today. 

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For the last several weeks, we've explored the signs of who Jesus is and proclaimed to be. Each piece is a nugget of truth that helps us further understand the power, humanity, and divinity of Jesus, all wrapped up in who He is. However, it's when we come to the resurrection that we get the punch line, meaning the ultimate purpose and sign for why Jesus came. 

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Just three days earlier, Jesus experienced the most excruciating death on the cross, as He voluntarily surrendered His life for the sins of the whole world. For those who witnessed that moment, it was painful and memorable, wrapped up in one event. The Messiah, Son of God, was dead.

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Mary Magdalen came to tend Jesus' body at the tomb, as was the custom at the time, yet the stone had been rolled away from the entrance of the tomb and Jesus body was not there. Peter and John ran to confirm what Mary was saying. Peter walked into the tomb and saw the clothes lying in an orderly fashion. John looked in, and upon seeing the empty tomb, he believed that Jesus had arisen. 

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Through all of these events and occurrences, the truth was central and clear across the gospel accounts was that the tomb was indeed empty.

 

Jesus' death on the cross is significant and affirms so many prophecies of His work in the atonement for sin.  It was finished! But it is the resurrection that stands as the central message of Christianity. The truth of the resurrection has been called the capstone of Christianity.  The complete gospel is this: Jesus Christ died, was buried, and rose from the grave. NO OTHER system of religion can share this message or this hope. NO OTHER sign is of greater significance for the person or work of Jesus than Himself as the crucified and risen Savior and Lord. 

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It is this event that all of our preaching and ministry is based upon because, without the empty tomb, all else would be empty!

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​​​​​​​John 20:1-2

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 disciples, 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. 

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John 20:11-16

11 But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping; and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchree.

12 And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. 

13 And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my LORD, and I know not where they have laid him. 

14 And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus. 

15 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith until him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away. 

16 Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master. 

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John 20:17-18

17 Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father; but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God. 

18 Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the LORD, and that he had spoken these things to her. 

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