Old Testament Reading: Psalm 33

“Shout for joy in the Lord, O you righteous! Praise befits the upright. Give thanks to the Lord with the lyre; make melody to him with the harp of ten strings! Sing to him a new song; play skillfully on the strings, with loud shouts. For the word of the Lord is upright, and all his work is done in faithfulness. He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the steadfast love of the Lord. By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, and by the breath of his mouth all their host. He gathers the waters of the sea as a heap; he puts the deeps in storehouses. Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him! For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm. The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; he frustrates the plans of the peoples. The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of his heart to all generations. Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom he has chosen as his heritage! The Lord looks down from heaven; he sees all the children of man; from where he sits enthroned he looks out on all the inhabitants of the earth, he who fashions the hearts of them all and observes all their deeds. The king is not saved by his great army; a warrior is not delivered by his great strength. The war horse is a false hope for salvation, and by its great might it cannot rescue. Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love, that he may deliver their soul from death and keep them alive in famine. Our soul waits for the Lord; he is our help and our shield. For our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name. Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us, even as we hope in you.” (Psalm 33, ESV)

New Testament Reading: John 20:11-16

“But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. 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.’ Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. 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.’ Jesus said to her, ‘Mary.’ She turned and said to him in Aramaic, ‘Rabboni!’ (which means Teacher).” (John 20:11–16, ESV)

Introduction

Brothers and sisters, in the sermon last week we considered some “proofs” for the resurrection of Christ. Actually, I sought to demonstrate that the resurrection of Christ cannot really be proven. To prove something is to demonstrate it beyond all doubt. And the truth of the matter is that people often continue in unbelief after reading the scriptures, and hearing the testimony of the people of God concerning the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. It is better, then, to refer to these testimonies presented in scripture, not as proofs, but as evidences.

Last week we looked at verses 1-10 of John 20 where we are told of Mary’s discovery of the empty tomb, and of Peter and John’s investigation of the empty tomb. We saw how the evidence pointed, not to a grave robbery, as Mary supposed, but to the resurrection. The things that Peter and John experienced directed their minds to the possibility of the resurrection, but it was not until they understood the scriptures that the Christ must rise from the dead, that they believed.

It was the testimony of God’s inspired, inerrant, and authoritative word which made everything click for the disciples. Their experience could only take them so far; the empirical evidence could only do so much for them. It was only when the Holy Spirit (to borrow the language of Luke 42:45) “opened their minds to understand the scriptures” that these men believed that Christ had risen.

Two things are very significant: One, notice that the Spirit must move upon the hearts of men if the evidences concerning Christ’s resurrection presented within the scriptures are going to have the force of proof. Two, notice that the scriptures – God’s special revelation concerning himself – have supreme authority in dictating what it is that the people of God are to believe, and how they are to live. I know this is review (and I do not typically offer this much review in the introduction to my sermons) but I think this is such an important principle. It was the testimony of scripture which prompted the disciples of Christ to believe.

This emphasis upon the supreme authority of scripture was presented to us early in John’s Gospel. Do you remember how, in John 2:19, Jesus said to the Jews,

“‘Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.’ The Jews then said, ‘It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?’ But he was speaking about the temple of his body. When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the Scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.” (John 2:19–22, ESV)

If the disciples of Christ were to believe something it needed to first be demonstrated by the scriptures.  This also was the practice of the early church. In Acts 17:10 we are told of the “noble minded” Jews who lived in Berea who, upon hearing the preaching of Paul and Silas, “received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.” (Acts 17:11, ESV) If it is true that the disciples of Christ themselves had the scriptures as their supreme authority for truth, and if it is true that the early church also looked to the scriptures to know what to believe and what to reject, then should we not also have the same practice? Indeed we should.

I made the argument last week that it was the testimony of the Old Testament scriptures concerning the life, death, and resurrection of Christ which made the empirical evidence that the disciples of Christ were encountering exceedingly strong. To say it another way, the evidence for the resurrection is strong, in and of itself. The tomb was found empty. Christ was seen, not by one or two brothers, but by many men and women over a period of forty days. And the followers of Christ who claimed to see Jesus in his resurrection had noting gain from it, and everything to loose – many of them died on account of their faith in the risen Lord. The evidence is strong in and of itself. But it becomes exceedingly strong when we recognize that these events were foretold. They were predetermined in the mind of God, and revealed by God to man through many prophesies and promises, types and shadows, found throughout the Old Testament, written long before the Christ was born.

As I took my seat last week after the sermon, and after the Lord’s Supper, an illustration came to mind. Why the illustration did not come to mind sooner, I do not know.

Imagine serving as juror on a murder trail. And listening to one witness after another – dozens of them – being brought before the court to testify. These are eyewitness – people who saw the crime. Imagine them coming forward one after another to say, “I saw it. This man committed the crime.” That would be strong evidence, would it not? Of course the defense is sly and cunning (no offense to defense attorneys)  and they seek to discredit the witnesses. They attacks the character of some. They call into question the motive of others. They suggests that that perhaps some of them have misperceived.

As a juror you are left with dozens of eyewitness. They have each testified, and they have each been attacked in one way or another by the defense. But tell me, is the evidence strong? I would say that it is indeed strong, given the multitude of eyewitness.

But then the prosecution presents another piece of evidence. They have found letters written by the defendant, both on his computer, and written by hand. And these letters make it clear that the murder was premeditated. They reveal specific plans. They reveal motive. They reveal in detail the the preparations that were made.

The evidence was strong before, but now what you would say about it? I would argue that the written content has made the empirical evidence – the testimony of what the eyewitness experienced and saw – exceedingly strong.

Of course the defense attorney would see to also discredit the written material, claiming that they are inauthentic. But all of it taken together makes for a very strong case.

I hope you can see how this illustration corresponds to the evidence presented in the scriptures concerning the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. The faith of the church rests upon the testimony of eyewitness. Our faith rests upon their witness as it is preserved for us in the scriptures. But we have access, not only to the eyewitness account, but also to the scriptures written long before the birth of Christ which reveal that his obedient life, his sacrificial death, and his victorious resurrection were premeditated events. The Father predetermined to send the Son, the Son came in obedience the Father, and the Holy Spirit empowers it all.

These are not proofs, but evidences. And these evidences have the force of proof as the Holy Spirit uses the word of God to illumine the minds of God’s elect as the gospel of Jesus Christ is preached throughout all the world.

I have taken the time to review in this way, one, to strengthen a bit of what was said last week, and two, to pave the way for what we will encounter in John’s Gospel today and in the weeks to come. More evidence will be presented to us. We will be told of one encounter after the next between the risen Lord and the his followers. Each will have it’s own significance. May the Spirit of God strengthen our faith especially as we see that these things have happened in fulfillment to the scriptures.

Mary was the first to the see the empty tomb, and she was also the first to see the risen Lord.

I love this fact. I love it in part because of the way that it demonstrates the significance of women among the disciples of Christ. They were not Apostles. And they do not hold the office of elder or deacon within Christ’s church. But how absurd it is to assume that because a distinction is made between male and female, with different roles assigned to each each within the family and church, that that equates to some sort of degradation or devaluation of women. Brothers and sisters, women played a very significant role within the disciples of Christ. And they have always played a very significant role within the church of God. I’m sure you would all would agree that the same is true of the women of Emmaus Christian Fellowship. God, in mercy and grace, has saved us, male and female, and he uses us in the furtherance of his Kingdom. Praise be to God.

What can we learn from this passage which describes Mary’s encounter with the risen Lord?

It seems to me that this passage begins to reveal to us some of the benefits that come to us because of the resurrection of Christ.

Christ Is Risen, Therefore We Have Hope In This World

Notice one thing for today. The resurrection of Christ from the dead brings us hope. Brothers and sisters, see, and do not forget, that it is because Christ is risen that we have hope in this world.

Verse 11: “But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb.” (John 20:11, ESV)

Mary wept. Wouldn’t you?

Verses 12-15: “And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. 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.’ Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. 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.’” (John 20:12–15, ESV)

“Mary, why are you weeping?”

This does not forbid weeping. Jesus wept. We should not be ashamed to weep. Suffering and death are unnatural to us. Run to Christ with your sorrow, but do not suppress the sorrow.

Illustration: Suffering in ARBCA.

Weeping is appropriate. But for Mary there really was no reason to weep given the reality of the resurrection.

Verses 15-16: “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.’ Jesus said to her, ‘Mary.’ She turned and said to him in Aramaic, ‘Rabboni!’ (which means Teacher).” (John 20:15–16, ESV)

Mary did not immediately recognize Jesus. Was it too still dark? Were here eyes cloudy with tears? Was it because Jesus was bloody and bruised the last she saw him, and now he was somewhat whole (though the wounds in his hands and feet and side remained)? It’s hard to know.

This is common in the post resurrection appearances of Christ.

The disciples on the road to Emmaus did not recognize him.

“But their eyes were kept from recognizing him.” (Luke 24:16, ESV)

Perhaps there is something about the fact that Jesus was glorified.

Mary recognized him when she heard his voice!

“I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.” (John 10:14–16, ESV)

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” (John 10:27, ESV)

She called him “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). Why “teacher”. Really, a very tender term. He had been her teacher. He needed him to teach. It’s as if she said, “please teach me!”

Life is difficult. It begins and ends with tears. Apart from God it is indeed vain and hopeless. Through Christ we have hope.

In the Old Testament God is called “the hope of Israel” (Jeremiah 14:8). In the New Testament we see that Christ, and the gospel of Jesus Christ, is the ground out of which this hope springs.

In Acts 26 Paul stands on trial before Agripa and says, “And now I stand here on trial because of my hope in the promise made by God to our fathers, to which our twelve tribes hope to attain, as they earnestly worship night and day. And for this hope I am accused by Jews, O king! Why is it thought incredible by any of you that God raises the dead?” (Acts 26:6–8, ESV)

In Romans 5:1-5 Paul writes, “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” (Romans 5:1–5, ESV)

In 1 Thessalonians 4:13 Paul writes to those grieving the death of loved ones. He says,“But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.” (1 Thessalonians 4:13–14, ESV)

I love the way this story of Mary’s encounter with the risen Lord illustrates the hope that the resurrection of Christ brings. Her sorrow was turned to joy because he is risen.

Application

Do you have hope? Is it a hope that goes beyond the grave?

To the one suffering – to the one discouraged by the difficulties of life – set your hope on Jesus.

“For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.” (1 Timothy 4:10, ESV)

To the one doing well in this world – do not set your hope on the things of this world. They will fail you in the end!

“As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy.” (1 Timothy 6:17, ESV)

“Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace…” (2 Thessalonians 2:16, ESV)

Old Testament Reading: PSALM 16

Note: Psalm 16 should be compared with Peter’s preaching in Acts 2.

“A Miktam of David. Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge. I say to the Lord, ‘You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you.’ As for the saints in the land, they are the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight. The sorrows of those who run after another god shall multiply; their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out or take their names on my lips. The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot. The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance. I bless the Lord who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me. I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure. For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption. You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” (Psalm 16, ESV)

New Testament Reading: John 20:1-10

“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. 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.’ So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead. Then the disciples went back to their homes.” (John 20:1–10, ESV)

Introduction

The sermon last week concluded with the idea that if Christ did not really die, then our faith is empty, vain, and without substance. We should begin with the same thought today, but applied to the resurrection. If Jesus did not rise from the dead then our faith is empty. What we have, then, are twin truths – if Christ did not truly die and really rise from the dead, then, to quote Paul, “our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain.” (1 Corinthians 15:14, ESV) Indeed, the events of Christ’s death and resurrection are so central to the Christian faith – so foundational – that to remove them is to leave Christianity hollow and untrue.

Just stop and think about Paul’s words for a moment: “If Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain.” (1 Corinthians 15:14, ESV)

That is a radical statement, wouldn’t you agree? But it is a true statement! And it is a helpful statement. It helps us to put our finger upon what is at the core of the Christian faith. At the core is Christ crucified, and Christ risen. At the core is the actual and historical death, burial, and resurrection of Christ.

Notice that the earliest creeds of the church emphasize the centrality of the historical life, death and resurrection of Jesus. Take the Apostles Creed for example. It says,

I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit
and born of the virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to hell [that is to say, he experienced death in full] .
The third day he rose again from the dead.
He ascended to heaven
and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty.
From there he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic [universal] church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.

Brothers and sisters, the belief that Jesus lived, died, was buried, and that he rose again is at the heart of our faith. He did this in obedience to the Father. He did this to defeat death, and the one who has the power of death. He did this to save those given to him by the Father – all who believe upon him – from the curse of the law. Belief in the historical Jesus – the actual life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, is so central – so core – that to remove it is to leave us with only the shell of religion, but no substance.

Some might respond to this claim saying, if the death and resurrection of Jesus are so central, then prove them. Prove to me that Jesus really lived, really died, and really rose from the dead.  

Brothers and sisters, I do not claim that the death and resurrection of Christ can be proven, and neither should you.

Here is why. When we use the word “prove” do we not mean to demonstrate something beyond all doubt? I cannot prove to anyone that Jesus rose from the dead so as to remove all doubt; so as to guarantee that they believe it. I can present evidence, just as the Scriptures do. I can argue for belief in the resurrection. I can give reasons for the hope that is in me. But I cannot prove to anyone that Christ is risen. I can say what Mathew, Mark, Luke and John say. I can echo Paul’s words from 1 Corinthians 15:

“For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.” (1 Corinthians 15:3–8, ESV)

I can faithfully set forth the testimony of scripture as evidence. But these are not proofs. You simply cannot argue someone into belief in Christ.

We should be aware of the fact that a good majority of those who hear these evidences for the death and resurrection of Christ will go on in unbelief. Such is the heart of man. The heart of man, by nature, is opposed to the word of God. Paul writes that, “The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.” (1 Corinthians 2:14, ESV) And so, where the Spirit is not active – where the Spirit is not gifting spiritual discernment – there will be no receiving of the things of God.

But I am also convinced that the Holy Spirit does use the word of God, and the evidences concerning the death and resurrection contained within, to convert sinners. More than that, the Holy Spirit uses these evidences to strengthen the faith of those who already believe. When the Spirit is at work in the mind and heart, these evidences have the force of proof. For the one called of God, these words stick; they have power; they convert.  It is the Spirit of God who makes the word of God powerful unto salvation. “Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says ‘Jesus is accursed!’ and no one can say ‘Jesus is Lord’ except in the Holy Spirit.” (1 Corinthians 12:3, ESV)

What we have here in John’s Gospel cannot properly be called proof; but it is evidence concerning the resurrection. And it is strong evidence! John presents us with evidence concerning the historicity of Christ’s resurrection. He has presented us with evidence concerning the death of Christ, and now he presents us with evidence concerning the resurrection of Christ from the dead. I trust that the Spirit of God will use the word of God to build faith in the people of God, to the glory of God Father.

Mary

Notice that Mary Magdalene is the first witness that John sets forth. She was the first to see the empty tomb. And she would also be the first to see the Lord in his resurrection (we will consider that next week).

The other gospels reveal that there were other women with Mary at the empty tomb. Mark mentions Mary Magdalene, Mary the Mother of James, and a woman named Salome (Mark 16:1). Luke also mentions a woman named Joanna (Luke 24:10). But John is content to highlight only Mary Magdalene. But it is clear in John that she was not alone, for after she saw the empty tomb she ran to Peter and John and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” (John 20:2, ESV) The use of the first person plural pronoun “we” indicates that Mary was not alone.

We will return to focus on Mary next Sunday when we consider verses 11-18. But what can we say concerning her initial testimony to the resurrection?

For now simply notice that she was not expecting it. She did not go to the tomb expecting to find it empty. So far was the possibility of resurrection from her mind that, when she found the tomb empty and the stone rolled away, her only thought was that someone had “taken the Lord out of the tomb”.

One of the arguments used by skeptics to discredit the resurrection of Christ is to say that the disciples of Christ made it up. The idea is that they knew Christ claimed that he would rise, and the disciples, eager to continue the cause of Christ after his death, fabricated the resurrection story in order to validate his claims.

But the evidence points in the other direction. The empty tomb was not found by one of the twelve – it was discovered by one of the women who followed Jesus. And she did not go to the tomb hopeful. She went with spices to finish the job that Joseph of Aramethia and Nicodemus has begun on Friday evening. She went to the tomb fully expecting to find the body of her crucified friend there.

Peter and John

Mary, we are told, ran to find Peter and John (John again refers to himself as, “the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved”). And now the two of them take center stage in this passage and serve as witnesses.

In verse 3 we read, “So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first.” (John 20:3–4, ESV)

I do enjoy this little detail. I smile a little each time I read it. Students of the Bible have wondered about the significance of this. Why did John tell us that he outran Peter? Is he boasting, like a typical male, about his speed? Is he implying that he was more zealous for Jesus than Peter was? It is implied that the John was the better of the two disciples? I think not. It seems to me that this little detail is given to strengthen the idea that John was an eyewitness to these things. He was there. And he knew things that only an eyewitness could know.

Notice that John really does not present himself as superiors to Peter. He outran Peter (perhaps because he was younger and smaller). But notice that what he had on Peter in regard to speed, he lacked in courage.  Verse 5: “Stooping to look in, [John] saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in.” (John 20:5, ESV) Another possibility is that John did not lack courage, but waited for Peter to show him honor as the older disciple, and leader of the band.

Whatever the reason, John waited outside until Peter arrived. Verse 6: “Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed…” (John 20:6–8, ESV)

You can picture the two of them inside the tomb, can’t you? You can picture them, gasping for air because of the run (Peter more than John). I imagine them looking around intently, searching the dimly lit tomb for evidence – anything that would help them figure out what had happened to the body of their Master.  And they notice two things. One, the grave cloths were still there. And two, the face cloth was there, “not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself.”

Mary’s theory was that the body of Jesus had been taken by someone. But Peter and John, after seeing more than Mary was able to see (it was probably still dark when Mary was there), saw that the evidence pointed in another direction. For what grave robber would take the time to unwrap the body and to fold the face cloth nicely and to set it in another place? Undoubtably, if someone was interested in stealing away the body they would have simply taken it, grave cloths and all.

If this were the only evidence for the resurrection, I would be rather weak. But John will tell us much more. And the other Gospels, which were probably written before John, set even more evidence before us. When all is said and done, Jesus is seen, not by one or two, but hundreds. Not only is he seen, but he is touched, and heard. His disciples communion with him. And these appearances of Christ go on for forty days, until his ascension to the Father.

But here is where we begin. Mary found the stone rolled away and the tomb empty. Peter and John also find the tomb empty. And the scene looks, not like a crime scene, but as if Jesus had been freed from the grave cloths and walked out.

The Scriptures

Let us now turn our attention from the narrative of John 20 and consider for a moment the remark that John makes in verse 9 about his experience. It’s such a small remark. The significance of it is easy to miss. But I think it is an incredibly important part of this passage. For it is here that the Scriptures are set forth as a witness to the resurrection.

In verse 8 we’re told that John, when he saw the empty tomb and the grave cloths, “believed”. And then we have this remark: “for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead.” (John 20:9, ESV)

First of all, what does John mean when he tells us that he, in that moment, “believed”? Didn’t John already believe in Jesus Christ. Hadn’t he been following him for years now? Indeed he had. It must mean that he, in that moment, came to believe that Jesus had risen.

But why? Were the empty tomb, the empty grave cloths, and folded face cloth, enough to convince him? Was the resurrection now proven to him by these things beyond all doubt?

No, John explains. He says, “for” – in the Greek the word is γάρ, which is used to mark the cause or reason for something – he believed “for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead.” (John 20:9, ESV)

The thing that made John believe in the resurrection was not the experience of the empty tomb and the grave cloths alone, but those experiences understood in light of the Scriptures. It was not the experience, primarily, nor was it the experience in isolation, but the experience as confirmed by the Scriptures.

This is very significant. It indicates that, for the disciples of Christ, experience could only take them so far in their quest for truth. If they were to believe something as true they needed to be persuaded by the Scriptures. This was true of John. He believed in the resurrection when he came to “understand the Scripture, that [the Christ] must rise from the dead.” (John 20:9, ESV)

Notice the same emphasis in Paul’s resurrection passage. Hear it again:

“For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.” (1 Corinthians 15:3–8, ESV)

Do you hear it? Paul presents us with evidence for the death and resurrection of Christ, but the evidence is only considered strong because it was in accordance with the Scriptures. These things happened in accordance with the Scriptures, and for this reason they are to be believed.  

If you were to ask me, Joe, why do you believe in the death and resurrection of Christ? I would first of all say, because God has given me the gift of faith. It is by his grace. 

If you were to press me further and ask, but what evidence do you present? I would simply say what the gospel writers say, and what Paul says. I would present the evidence that they present. He was seen, not by one person, but by many people over a forty day period of time. These things did not happen in secret. Christ presented himself in his resurrection in plain view. “He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom [were] still alive [when Paul wrote to the Corinthians], though some [had] fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to [Paul].” In fact more evidence than this could be presented, for Paul says noting of Jesus’ appearance to Mary, nor of his encounter with the men on the road to Emmaus. I would present this evidence, and I would emphasize how unlikely it would be for these people to imagine it together, or to make it up. What gain would there be in making this story up. Many of these men died for their testimony. What did it benefit them in this world to live as if Christ was risen, if he was not indeed risen?

This is strong evidence indeed. And it is necessary evidence. It would be wrong to claim that Christ is risen if he was not in fact seen as risen! The empirical evidence is essential. But the empirical evidence – the experiential evidence – becomes exceedingly strong, in my opinion, when we demonstrate that all of this happened in accordance with the Scriptures. 

What does we mean when we say that Christ lived and died and rose again in accordance with the Scriptures? We mean that the life, death, and resurrection of Christ were not random events – they were not spontaneous events – but they were foretold. They were the fulfillment of the “…definite plan and foreknowledge of God…” (Acts 2:23, ESV) The Old Testament Scriptures told of these things ahead of time.

Think about this.

We have eyewitness testimony concerning the resurrection of Christ preserved for us within the New Testament Scriptures. We know that the disciples of Christ were willing to die for the belief that Christ rose again. And these things were foretold. They were promised and pictured ahead of time. The life, death, and resurrection of Christ was not an isolated event, but the apex event in the history of redemption. He died and rose according to the scriptures.

The question is, what Scriptures? What Scriptures do John and Paul have in mind? 

Notice that John, throughout his Gospel, has made a point of alluding to, or directly quoting, specific passages from the Old Testament, saying “For these things took place that the Scripture might be fulfilled” (John 19:36, ESV), or something like that, after which he quotes a specific text. Here he only mentions the Scripture generally. He does not point us to one specific text. The same can be said concerning Paul’s “in accordance with the Scriptures” phrase. Paul does not specify which Scripture he has in mind there in 1 Corinthians 15.

It would seem, then, that Paul and John have the whole of Scripture in mind in John 20 and 1 Corinthians 15. The whole of the Scriptures point to the life, death, and resurrection of Christ, and the salvation provided therein. I am not saying that every verse in the Old Testament says something about the coming of Jesus Christ. But I am saying the Old Testament points to Jesus consistently and generally. It is the thrust the Old Testament. The Christ is the focal point of it. The Scriptures indeed point to Jesus beginning to end.

This is what Jesus taught as he walked with his disciples on the road to Emmaus after his resurrection.

“He said to them, ‘O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?’ And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.” (Luke 24:25–27, ESV)

And when he later met with more of his disciples in Jerusalem we are told that he said to them,

“‘These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.’ Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and said to them, ‘Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.’” (Luke 24:44–48, ESV)

What Scriptures did John and Paul have in mind? What Scriptures did Jesus point to as he taught his disciples after the resurrection? The passages do not explicitly say, but it is not hard to guess.

I would assume that Jesus reminded them of the promise of Genesis 3:15, that a Savior would come from the seed of the woman. I would assume that the promise made to Abraham and David was mentioned. I’m sure the typology of Abrahams mock offering of Isaac, and receiving him back from the dead  was mentioned, and also the typology of the Passover, and the temple sacrifices. I would imagine that Psalm 16:10 was mentioned, which says, “For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption.” (Psalm 16:10, ESV) And Hosea 6:2, which says, “After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will raise us up, that we may live before him.” (Hosea 6:2, ESV)

The exact scriptures texts are not mentioned. And the effect of this is that we are sent, not to one or two verses in the Old Testament, but the Scriptures in general. And we go there looking for all the ways in which they point forward to the life, death, and resurrection of Christ. And once there we find, not one or two obscure texts, but thousands of them which come together to form a vivid mosaic which effectively shows forth the Christ crucified and raised for the sins of all who believe.

Conclusion

So how does this apply? How should this truth change us?

First of all, I must compel you to believe upon Jesus! “Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9, ESV)

Secondly, I exhort those who have faith to continue to believe upon Jesus! May these evidences strengthen your faith.

Thirdly, may those who believe upon Christ also proclaim Christ, crucified and risen. Brothers and sisters, we must give a reason for a hope that is in. Give evidence for Christ, crucified and risen. But do not think that you can prove it. The Spirit must move. Pray that the Spirit would move upon hearts and minds. The Spirit must do today what Christ did when he was on earth in his resurrection. The Spirit must “[open] their minds to understand the Scriptures… that the Christ… [suffered] and on the third day [rose] from the dead… that…forgiveness of sins [is available in] his name to all nations…” (Luke 24:44–48, ESV, with modification for purposes of application)