An Easter Like No Other...Easter 2020

To say that this Easter is like no other is the understatement of the year.  Never in a million years could I have ever dreamed that a microscopic virus would affect the entire world without exception and require that the body of Christ gather online rather than in person on Easter Sunday.  However, here we are, and I want you to hear me say that I love you and miss you and wish that our circumstances were different.

 

However, I also want you to hear me say that the tomb is empty, and Jesus is alive.  Happy Easter to you and your family!

 

With Easter being more different than it has ever been this ear, I want to share with you a different Easter sermon.  I want to share with you why I’m thankful or what I’m thankful for about Easter. 

 

 

1. This Easter, I’m thankful for the message, John 20:1-10.

Now the first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. 2 Then 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.”  3 Peter therefore went out, and the other disciple, and were going to the tomb. 4 So they both ran together, and the other disciple outran Peter and came to the tomb first. 5 And he, stooping down and looking in, saw the linen cloths lying there; yet he did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; and he saw the linen cloths lying there, 7 and the handkerchief that had been around His head, not lying with the linen cloths, but folded together in a place by itself. 8 Then the other disciple, who came to the tomb first, went in also; and he saw and believed. 9 For as yet they did not know the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead. 10 Then the disciples went away again to their own homes.

 

Chapter 20 begins with Sunday morning, and Mary Magdalene was on her way to the tomb with spices to help cover the odor that she anticipated in finding Jesus’ body.  We know from the other gospels that Mary was not alone.  There were at least two other women with her if not more. 

 

When she arrived, she was surprised to see the stone had been rolled away.  We know from Matthew’s gospel that it was rolled away by an angel after an earthquake, and it was rolled away not to let Jesus out but to let the disciples come in. 

 

Evidently, Mary didn’t take time to listen to what the angel had to say.  She was simply able to see or concluded that Jesus’ body was gone, and she immediately left to find the leaders of the disciples, Peter and John.  Once they were found, she reported what she had seen and or what she thought. 

 

Mary’s report to Peter and John sent them to the tomb to see for themselves.  Verses 3 and 4 are somewhat comical as we see John describing himself as a faster runner than Peter.  I can’t say why he did this, but nonetheless, John beat Peter to the tomb but decided not to go in after initially seeing the linen grave clothes from a distance. 

 

However, once Peter arrived in verse 6, he went in and examined the wrappings.  In verse 8, John entered the tomb and saw that it was empty and the graves clothes were left. 

 

Much has been made about the wrappings, but the simple point is that Jesus was no longer wearing them.  Perhaps He passed right through them.

 

Notice what John did after seeing the empty tomb and the wrappings.  Again, in verse 8, He saw and believed.

 

It is interesting to see the different uses of “saw” in these verses.  It is found in at least verses 5, 6, and 8.  However, in the language of the NT, these three verses contain three different words that we translate all as “saw.” 

 

In verse 5, John saw in a glance.  In verse 6, Peter saw and observed.  In verse 8, John saw and understood and believed.  He believed the message of the resurrection was true.  Jesus was alive!

 

We also know that the message of Easter is true today.  How do we know?  We know the message of Easter is true because of Sunday worship.  Because of the resurrection and for 2000 years, Christians all over the world, including today, have worshipped on Sunday rather than Saturday.

 

Second, we know the message of Easter is true because of the empty tomb.  That sounds obvious, but it is the proverbial smoking gun.  It was empty then and still is today. 

 

Third, we know the message of Easter is true because of the testimony of a woman.  If you were going to make up a believable story in first century Jewish culture, you would not have it rise and fall on the testimony of a female.  Needless to say, our sisters were not highly regarded in this day and age.

 

Fourth, we know the message of Easter is true because of eyewitness accounts.  The Bible tells us that over 500 witness saw Jesus alive after His crucifixion.  Think about that. 

 

Fifth, we know the message of Easter is true because of changed lives. The men who were found scared for their lives later in this chapter are preaching the gospel in the face of death in the book of Acts.  This Easter, I’m thankful for the message.

 

 

2. This Easter, I’m thankful for relationships, John 20:11-16.

11 But Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping, and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the tomb. 12 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. 13 Then they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?”  She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.”  14 Now when she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?”  She, supposing Him to be the gardener, 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, “Rabboni!” (which is to say, Teacher).

 

In verses 11-13, we see that Mary thought that Jesus’ body had been stolen.  She was the cross so she saw Him die.  The only option was that He had been stolen. 

 

However, Jesus was alive and in the garden.  He called Mary by name, and Mary knew the voice of her Shepherd.

 

I’m thankful for the relationship that Mary had Jesus, and I’m thankful for relationship she had with Peter and John to the degree that they had to be told first when she found the empty tomb.

Brothers and sisters, I’m thankful for my relationship with you and our relationships with one another.  In many ways, our personal relationships have been hindered this Easter, but I’m thankful they still exist and long for the day they can be renewed personally.

 

 

3. This Easter, I’m thankful for family, John 20:17-18.

17 Jesus said to 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.’”  18 Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that He had spoken these things to her.

 

Apparently, when Mary recognized Jesus and that He was alive, she probably fell at His feet.  He asked her to refrain because He hadn’t ascended to His Father.

 

Jesus had a Heavenly Father.  They were family, and COVID-19 has allowed many of us to spend more time with family.  For some that has not been good, but for me, it has been good. 

 

This Easter, I’m thankful for Jesus and His family, His heavenly Father.  I’m also thankful to be a father and a husband.

 

 

4. This Easter, I’m thankful for salvation, John 20:19-20.

19 Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 20 When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.  21 So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.”

 

In verses 19-21, the early disciples were gathered on Sunday night out of fear.  When those that had Jesus crucified heard that the tomb was empty, they would first suspect His followers of stealing the body in an effort to validate His claims of resurrection.

 

Jesus went to them and showed them in the flesh His hands that had been nailed and His side that had been pierced. 

 

On two occasions, Jesus assured their peace and then sent them out as messengers. 

 

If you are saved this morning through a personal relationship with Jesus, you have peace with God, and Jesus is sending you out as a messenger of the gospel.  Go and tell what Jesus has done in your life.

 

This Easter, I’m thankful Jesus has graciously and mercifully saved me.

 

 

5. This Easter, I’m thankful for security, John 20:22.

22 And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.

 

In verse 22, Jesus gave a foreshadowing of Pentecost when He told them to receive the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit would be there strength as He sent them, and He is our strength today.

 

However, not only is He our strength, He is also the seal on our hearts if you’ve been saved.  Therefore, we are secure in Christ.  It is not that we secure ourselves in what we do or don’t do, but the Holy Spirit is our security as He secures those who have received God’s Son, Jesus, as Savior and Lord of their lives.

 

This Easter, I’m thankful for security.

 

 

6. This Easter, I’m thankful for forgiveness, John 20:23.

23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”

 

In verse 23, Jesus gave His disciples the authority to announce forgiveness not to create forgiveness.  Only God can do that, but the body of Christ is to announce the glorious message that all who are saved by receiving the Son of God as Savior and Lord will receive forgiveness of sins: past, present, and future. 

 

Praise the Lord!  This Easter, I’m so thankful the forgiveness that I have because of Jesus.

 

 

7. This Easter, I’m thankful for Thomas, John 20:24-28.

24 Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord.”  So he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.”  26 And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, “Peace to you!” 27 Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.”  28 And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!”

 

In verses 24-28, we see the man often called, “Doubting Thomas” and rightfully so.  Thomas doubted the report of Jesus’ resurrection because he had not seen Jesus personally.  I can understand that. 

 

In verse 25, Thomas said what many of us would have said if we were in the same situation.  He wanted to see the proof.  Eight days later, he did.

 

The disciples were again together, and the Lord came too.  Thomas saw and believed. 

 

This Easter, I’m thankful for Thomas and his honesty. 

 

 

8. This Easter, I’m thankful for faith, John 20:29.

29 Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

 

In verse 29, Jesus praised Thomas’ faith, and what was true of Thomas, is true of me and of you if you are saved this morning.  Blessed are those who haven’t seen and yet believed.

 

However, understand that faith is a gift from God.  Ephesians 2:8-9 reminds us that it is not of ourselves.  Again, it is from God.

 

This Easter, I’m thankful for faith.

 

 

9. This Easter, I’m thankful for the Bible, John 20:30.

30 And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book.

 

John tells us in verse 30 that the Bible is not an exhaustive work, but it is only because of the Bible that we know anything about Jesus today. It is only because of the Bible that we know that the tomb is empty and Jesus is alive.

 

This Easter, I’m thankful for the Bible and my own copy and in my own language.

 

 

10. This Easter, I’m thankful for Life, John 20:31.

31 but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.

 

When we believe that Jesus is the Christ and received Him as Savior and Lord of our lives, we receive and anyone can receive eternal life in heaven. 

 

It is not life that I have earned or deserve.  It is life that I am given.

 

This Easter, I’m thankful for eternal life though Christ.

 

 

Invitation

Today, on Easter, I want to invite you to receive forgiveness of sins, heaven, and eternal life if you haven’t been saved already. 

 

If you have, I want to remind you that just as Jesus sent these first-century disciples out in to the world with the message of forgiveness of sins through Jesus’ name, He is sending you out into the world with the message of forgiveness of sins through Jesus’ name.