Jesus is Risen (John 20:1-18)

The resurrection is essential to Christianity. It is foundational to the Gospel. Paul wrote to the church in Corinth, “If Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty…for if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins” (1 Cor 15:14,16-17). D.A. Carson wrote, “For John, as for all the early Christians, the resurrection of Jesus was the immutable fact upon which their faith was based; and their faith in large part depended on the testimony and transformed behavior of those who had actually seen the resurrected Jesus.” This morning we shall hear from John about what he and his fellow disciples saw regarding Jesus’ resurrection. Through their testimony, let us believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God and by believing, we may have life in His name. (John 20:31).

The Empty Tomb 

The empty tomb reveals that Jesus is alive. John tells us that “on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early” (1). The other gospel accounts tell us that there were a few other women with her “bringing the spices they had prepared” (Luke 24:1) saying to themselves “who will roll away the stone from the door of the tomb for us?” (Mark 16:3). They expected Jesus’ body to still be in the tomb and they had to discern how to get into the tomb to further prepare His dead body for burial. The stone being rolled away was surprising to Mary and the other women with her. 

John tells us that she “saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb” (1). Shocked, she “ran and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and said to them ‘They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him’” (2). Peter and John ran to the tomb and found it just as she had said. The empty tomb reveals that Jesus is alive because if He were still dead, the tomb would still be occupied. The empty tomb testifies of Jesus’ identity as the Christ. Dr. David Jeremiah said, “Our hope isn’t based on empty promises, but on the reality of an empty tomb.

The Linen Cloths and the Folded Handkerchief

The linen cloths and the folded handkerchief are very important to establish Jesus’ resurrection. For one, they testify without a doubt there was no foul play involved. Peter and John ran to the tomb and saw that it was indeed empty, as Mary said. Jesus was not there! John looked in but did not enter. Peter “went into the tomb; and he saw the linen clothes lying there, and the handkerchief that had been around His head, not lying with the linen clothes, but folded together in a place by itself” (6-7). John then “went in also; and he saw and believed” (8). Grave robbers would not leave a grave in this state. Jesus’ body was not stolen or removed by any human actors. 

The only logical conclusion is that Jesus was resurrected and has a new body. Jesus, unlike Lazarus, did not have to be released from his grave clothes. Jesus received His new, glorified body; and was no longer bound to His grave clothes when He was resurrected. In His new body, Jesus can pass through the grave clothes just as He later passed through locked doors (John 20:19). He has a new body and is therefore “the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep” (1 Cor 15:20). Christians shall receive a new body at the resurrection. 

The Verifying Angels

The angels, who arrive in the tomb, verify that Jesus’ death was accepted by the Father. God the Father has received the death of His Son and the sacrifice has satisfied His holy demands found in the Law. After John and Peter went home, Mary stayed outside the tomb weeping. John tells us, “As she wept she stooped down and looked into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain” (11-12). This is remarkable because the angels were not visible earlier when Peter and John looked in. The angels asked Mary, “Woman, why are you weeping?” Mary answered, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.” The angels, as Carson notes, are “evidence that God Himself has been at work.”

The Risen Savior

Jesus’ presence is unmistakable proof that He has risen from the dead. After Mary said this to the angels, she saw a man that she supposed was the gardener. The man asked her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” (15). She answered, “Sir, if you have carried Him away, tell me where You have laid Him, and I will take Him away.” This was not the gardener; this was Jesus! He said, “Mary” and she instantly recognized Him. She said, “Rabboni!” (16). She wanted to cling to Him and never let go, but He told her, “Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God’” (17). Jesus assured her that He was not going to disappear immediately, but that she must go and tell the other disciples what had just happened so that they would believe. 

The resurrection is essential to Christianity. It is foundational to the Gospel. Christ the Lord is risen! Hallelujah! The empty tomb reveals that Jesus is alive. The linen cloths and the folded handkerchief testify without a doubt there was no foul play involved. The angels, who arrive in the tomb, verify that Jesus’ death was accepted by the Father. Finally, Jesus’ presence is unmistakable proof that He has risen from the dead. Peter and John saw the empty tomb and believed (8). They believed “the “Scripture that He would rise again from the dead” (9). 

The Bible is clear: Jesus is alive! Christ is risen! Our preaching is productive! Our faith is effective! We bear our sins no more! R. Kent Hughes adds:

He is alive! The great goal our text sets before us is to believe as Peter and John believed. If we can obtain that height, our lives will be changed! A living Christ is an all-powerful Christ! A living Christ is a present Christ! A living Christ is a Christ who gives us life now! A living Christ is a Christ who gives us life in eternity! A living Christ is a Christ who gives victory! 

Jesus’ death on the cross is the perfect sacrifice for sins that completely satisfied God’s wrath against sin. Jesus’ resurrection from the dead is the testimony that God the Father has accepted His death as the payment for sin. If you are not in Christ, you are still in your sins and the wrath of God is upon you. If you die in your rebellion, you will be judged in the lake of fire for eternity. Come to Jesus and be saved. Repent of your sins and be healed. Admit you are a sinner and Believe that your only hope is found in Jesus. Receive the free gift of salvation by grace through faith.