Renewal Begins
Audio Recording
Sermon Outline
Speaker: Rev. Scott Strickman
Sermon Series: Easter
John 19:38-20:18 (ESV)
38 After these things Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took away his body. 39 Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds in weight. 40 So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. 41 Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. 42 So because of the Jewish day of Preparation, since the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there.
20:1 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. 2 So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” 3 So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. 4 Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, 7 and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus' head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. 8 Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; 9 for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead. 10 Then the disciples went back to their homes.
11 But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb.12 And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet.13 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.”14 Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus.15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” 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.”16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher).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 your Father, to my God and your God.’”18 Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”—and that he had said these things to her.
Sermon Outline
Easter is the hinge on which history turns from the old order to the start of new creation.
1. Jesus enters this troubled world
19:42 “the Jewish day of preparation” (20:1 “first day of the week”)
20:1 “the tomb… still dark”; 19:38 “secretly… fear”; 20:11 “weeping”; 20:2,13 “we do not know”; 20:9 “they did not understand the Scripture”
19:40 “they took the body… as is the burial custom”
20:17 “do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father”
2. In order to make things new
19:41 “there was a garden”; 20:15 “supposing him to be the gardener”; 20:5-7 “the linen clothes lying there”
20:12 “two angels… one at the head and one at the feet”
20:16 “Jesus said to her ‘Mary’”
20:17 “I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God”
Prayer of Confession
Our God and Father, you have called us out of the darkness and into your glorious light. We rejoice at the resurrection of Jesus and the gift of life granted to us. We admit, however, that we are stuck in our old ways. We cling to the things of this world. Sin has come between us, and we have doubted you. We do what we should not and fail to do what we should. We need forgiveness, healing, and help. Have mercy on us. We look to Christ who faced death for us. We give thanks for the life you have given us. May the renewal that began that first Easter work its way in us and into all things. Amen.
Questions for Reflection
What do you wish God would instantly fix?
How do the problems of life (violence, crime, disease, relational difficulties, natural disasters, etc.) make it hard for us to see God, or maintain a sense of the reality of God and His goodness? How do these things come between God and people?
What caution do we need to exercise with clinging to the things of this world? Why do we cling to things that are destructive? What can go wrong when we cling to things that are good?
Why should we do good? Is it worth resisting, or pushing back against evil? Why or why not?
What is most surprising to you about Jesus’ appearance after his death?
How does the resurrection of Jesus change things?
What changes when we think of God as our Father? If God loves us as a parent should love a child, what difference can that make as we go through the challenges and hardships of life?
What hope is there for those who follow the ascending Jesus? Even if failure and the passing of things are real, how does the indestructible eternal life given us help us press on with encouragement? Do you believe your future will be better than your present? How should the gospel inform your view?