My Lord and My God

[0:00] 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.

[0:12] So she ran and went to Simon Peter, 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.

[0:23] 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.

[0:34] And stooping to look in, he saw the linen clothes lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen clothes 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.

[0:54] 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.

[1:06] Thank you. Father, we are grateful to be here, and we are grateful to have your word, and we are grateful for this wonderful portion of scripture. Would you please center our attention and affection on our Savior, our risen King, the Lord Jesus Christ, as we continue in this time of worship.

[1:26] We ask this all for your glory and for our good. In Jesus' name, amen. Amen. A statement can be true before you begin to live like it's true.

[1:45] For example, your parent may say, it's okay. You're safe now. And yet, you may still feel afraid.

[1:58] Someone you love may tell you very sincerely, I forgive you. That's over. It's in the past. We're not going to talk about it anymore.

[2:11] And yet, you may still feel the weight of guilt. God's promises in scripture are clear, unambiguous.

[2:25] And yet, you and I don't always feel peace. It's not that the statement isn't true.

[2:39] It's just that that statement has not yet affected. It hasn't shaped the way that you live. Everything that happens in John chapter...

[2:52] This was a light bulb moment for me. I don't know why. You're probably going to hear this and you're going to say, really? That's what we're working with this morning, huh? Everything that happens in John chapter 20 happens after Jesus has been raised from the dead.

[3:10] But nobody knows it yet. And so they are living as though he is dead.

[3:22] Mary is overcome with grief. The disciples are paralyzed by fear. Thomas refuses to believe at all.

[3:34] And yet, Christ is risen. He is risen indeed. Christ is risen. He is risen indeed.

[3:45] But it has not yet affected how his people are living. And I suspect that this may be true of me.

[3:57] And I wonder if it may be true of you. That even though Christ is risen, that truth is not shaping the way that you live.

[4:12] Let's step back into the gospel record. Jesus is crucified sometime on Friday morning. At about noon, the sky goes dark.

[4:26] And for three hours, Jesus bears in his body the sins of his people. And then he cries out from the cross, My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?

[4:44] And perhaps just a few moments later, he cries out again with a loud voice declaring, It is finished.

[4:58] It is finished is not the same as I am finished. We should be clear about that first. He means his suffering is finished.

[5:13] His obedience to the Father's will has been perfected. The Father's will up to the point of his death is now fully accomplished.

[5:25] And so Jesus can rightly say, It is finished. Bow his head and lay down his life.

[5:35] Just like he told the people he had the power to do. Before sundown, his body is taken down from the cross, And it is laid in a borrowed tomb.

[5:55] For most of us, Saturday is a day to get things done. A day for catching up. Or perhaps, for some of us, a day for resting up.

[6:08] I wonder what that Saturday, after the cross, was like for the disciples of Jesus. I suspect they didn't get much done.

[6:22] And I suspect it was not terribly restful for them either. I suspect it was a day filled with sadness.

[6:36] And fear. And regret. And that nagging, heavy feeling that would not go away.

[6:48] That all hope is lost. What have we done? He's thrown away our lives. We thought he was the Messiah.

[7:02] Now he's dead. We saw him buried. He's gone. The gospels don't say much about Saturday.

[7:18] But all of them tell us about Sunday. It's very early. It's before the sunrise. One of Jesus' most faithful followers, a woman named Mary Magdalene, comes to the tomb to grieve.

[7:35] But there is a problem. Look at verse 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.

[7:55] 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.

[8:10] Grave robbers. They've stolen his body. It's all gone. And we do not know where they have laid him.

[8:25] 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, who most people believe is the author of this gospel, the other disciple, conveniently, since he's telling this story, outruns Peter.

[8:46] And he gets to the tomb first. Verse 5. And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there. But he did not go in.

[9:03] Thieves would not leave behind the linen cloths. They weren't in it for the dead body. The thieves don't want the corpse. They want the linen cloths.

[9:15] They want whatever precious things are left with the body. They want the spices and the ointment. They want all of that. That's what they're in it for. But they see the linen cloths lying there.

[9:32] Verse 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.

[9:43] I wonder if the disciples, Peter and John, were reminded of that day when Jesus called out, Lazarus, come forth. And the man who had been dead for three days comes walking out of the grave.

[10:00] And he must have looked like how we think of a mummy because Jesus said to them, get those clothes off of him, all those grave clothes. Unwrap him.

[10:11] Loose him from all of those things. Something different has happened here. The body is gone. Something that the grave robbers would not care about.

[10:22] But the linen cloths and the face cloth that would have been used to wrap his head, it's all there still. Verse 8. Then the other disciple, Peter, who had, oh sorry, the other disciple, John, who had reached the tomb first, also went in.

[10:44] And he saw and believed. For as yet, they did not understand the scripture that he must rise from the dead.

[11:00] John believes before seeing him. And yet he is clear to note in his gospel, but not on the basis of scripture.

[11:11] It still did not make sense to them that the Messiah would live and die and be raised from the dead. It still was unclear to them. Then the disciples went back to their homes.

[11:28] Peter and John visit the tomb. They go home. But then Mary, who had arrived there first, while it was dark, and discovered that his body was missing, the one who ran to tell the disciples that his body was gone, she returns to the grave to grieve.

[11:50] Verse 11. Mary stood weeping outside the tomb.

[12:00] 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.

[12:19] I get some sense of the depths of her grief because at other times when angels show up in scripture, it is like a paralyzing fear that comes over the person who sees the angel.

[12:35] And yet that doesn't seem to be Mary's response at all. She sees these two angels, one at the head and one at the feet where Jesus had been.

[12:50] Verse 13. They said to her, woman, why are you weeping? What a fascinating question.

[13:07] Why are you weeping? Why aren't the angels weeping? Because they know Jesus is alive.

[13:18] And they're wondering, why are you weeping? How is it that you don't see that he's not here, that he is alive?

[13:30] Why are you weeping? And she said to them, grave robbers, right? They have taken away my Lord and I don't know where they have laid him.

[13:45] Having said this, verse 14, she turned around and she saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus.

[14:00] Sweet Mary is still looking for a corpse. She is still assuming that his body must have been stolen by grave robbers.

[14:12] But now she turns and she sees this person, verse 14, who John tells us is Jesus. And yet for whatever reason, Mary doesn't recognize him.

[14:28] Maybe it's the grief. Maybe it's her tears. Maybe it's something else. We recall that the disciples on the way to Emmaus in Luke 24, they also did not recognize the Lord Jesus immediately.

[14:47] She did not know it was Jesus, verse 15. Jesus said to her, same question, woman, why are you weeping?

[15:00] Whom are you seeking? what kind of a Messiah are you looking for?

[15:15] What expectations for a Messiah are you holding on to? Whom are you seeking? Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him.

[15:33] I think a little glimmer of hope flickers. Perhaps it wasn't grave robbers. Maybe because he was hastily buried, you'll recall they broke the legs of the other two criminals and stabbed a spear up into Jesus' side to hasten their deaths and Jesus was already dead.

[15:56] Perhaps this hope flickers. Maybe because we buried him so hastily on Friday so that the Passover and sundown and Sabbath could come, maybe he wasn't intended to stay here at all.

[16:12] Maybe he hasn't been stolen. Maybe he's just been moved. A little glimmer of hope.

[16:24] Sir, if you have carried him away, if you have moved him, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.

[16:41] Jesus said to her, Mary, the sheep hear the shepherd's voice, and he calls them by name, Jesus said.

[17:03] John chapter 10. She turned and said to him in Aramaic, Rabboni, which means teacher.

[17:17] And Jesus said to her, do not cling to me. I take this to mean that she has run to him and has either embraced him or she has fallen down at his feet and is worshiping him at his feet, clinging to his feet.

[17:34] And it's as though Jesus is saying to her, you don't have to worry, I'm not leaving yet. I'm still here. it's me. I'm not going anywhere for a while.

[17:48] Don't cling to me. I'll still be with you for a while. 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.

[18:11] Go. go tell my brothers, go with this message, personally commissioned by Jesus to go and tell the good news of the resurrection.

[18:25] And notice in that little phrase, my father and your father, my God and your God, shared, shared privilege.

[18:38] the risen Christ turns her grief into going. Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, I have seen the Lord and that he had said these things to her.

[19:03] On the evening of that day, Sunday, the first Lord's day, on the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, peace be with you.

[19:23] When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Ten disciples, not Judas, not Thomas, we'll find out in just a little bit, they are behind locked doors, they are afraid, they don't know that Jesus has been raised from the dead.

[19:45] Mary has told them, but they are not believing that it's true. They're not acting like it's true. Just as the risen Christ can pass through grave clothes, so he can pass through this locked door.

[20:07] And he does. Suddenly Jesus is with them. Peace be with you. Verse 20, when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Why would this be so important?

[20:20] Why include this little detail? Well, anyone who had been crucified could show you their hands and you'd go, oh yeah, you were crucified. crucified. But not everyone who was crucified gets the spear jabbed into their side.

[20:36] You get your legs broken. But not Jesus. Not one bone of him was broken. But he has this side wound as well.

[20:47] And so he shows them that to demonstrate to them that he really is the one who had died. then the disciples, what a wonderful little sentence, then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.

[21:06] You think so? Jesus said to them again, peace be with you as the father has sent me even so I am sending you.

[21:18] And when he had said this he breathed on them and said to them receive the Holy Spirit if you forgive the sins of any they are forgiven them. If you withhold forgiveness from any it is withheld.

[21:33] What do we make of this little phrase he breathed on them? Well the first thing that is worth noting the question that we're answering is did they receive the Holy Spirit in this moment?

[21:48] It would be perfectly acceptable to hold a different opinion on this. This is what I think. I don't think they received the Holy Spirit in this moment.

[21:59] Here's why. First from the text itself our little phrase says he breathed on them and yet those words on them though they show up in our modern English translations are not included in the original text.

[22:18] It just says he breathed. I think there's something else that's worth noting and that is that after this moment the disciples are still afraid.

[22:33] In the next scene that we'll look at in just a hot minute the disciples are behind locked doors again. And in chapter 21 which Lord willing we'll explore next week the disciples go back to their fishing kind of going back to life as it was before.

[22:52] I don't think that they are receiving the Holy Spirit here. I think John is foreshadowing for his readers the coming day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit will fall on his people.

[23:10] But what is given to these disciples is peace. peace that replaces their fear.

[23:22] And like Mary the disciples are sent with this good news. Go with the gospel. Preach the good news of the gospel. Tell everyone about the forgiveness of sin that is available through belief in me.

[23:41] And those who believe this gospel will have their sins forgiven. And those who refuse to believe will not be forgiven. Eight days later by Jewish reckoning by our reckoning this would be the very next Sunday here's what happens verse 24 Thomas one of the twelve called the twin was not with them when Jesus came so did the other disciples told him we have seen the Lord maybe it wasn't enough when it was just Mary's testimony I suppose now you have ten of your close friends telling you we have seen the Lord all ten of us have seen him Thomas is not having it look at what it says he said to them unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails and place my finger into the mark of the nails and place my hand into his side

[24:48] I will never believe eight days later one week later by the way we count time his disciples were inside again and Thomas was with them although the doors were locked Jesus came and stood among them and said again peace be with you why are you still afraid why are you living as though I am not alive peace be with you and then he said to Thomas put your finger here and see my hands and put out your hand and place it into my side do not disbelieve but believe and Thomas answered the most stubborn skeptic makes this most profound confession my

[25:56] Lord and my God Jesus said to him have you believed because you have seen me blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed some say that Jesus never claimed claimed to be God hmm what does this text tell us if if if if if if Mike and I are talking after the service just as an example and Mike says to me my Lord and my God you would be right to say to him whoa whoa whoa whoa what is actually happening here and I would be pressed what did you say?

[26:54] no no no no! what are you talking about? that's how Jesus should have responded if he was not truly God but he does not respond that way he receives Thomas' worship why?

[27:11] because he really is his Lord and his God Jesus doesn't correct Thomas for calling him God instead he affirms Thomas' faith and yet he extends an even greater blessing to those like us who believe though we have never seen him blessed are those who have not seen yet have believed verse 30 now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples which are not written in this book but these are written so that you may believe that

[28:12] Jesus is the Christ the Son of God and that by believing you may have life in his name everything that happens in John 20 comes after Jesus has been raised from the dead Jesus is alive but his followers don't know it yet and so they act like he is still dead Mary is overcome with profound grief she assumes that his body has been stolen or moved the disciples are afraid hiding behind a locked door and Thomas despite the testimony of ten other men and one faithful woman refuses to believe until he sees Christ is written but it hasn't yet affected how his people live although she doesn't immediately recognize him when

[29:26] Jesus says Mary in a moment his presence transforms her grief into joy filled going without opening the door Jesus is present with his disciples and his peace be with you speaks right to where they are their fear and like Mary they also are sent with the good news confident bold why well Jesus told them in me you may have peace peace oh in this world you will have tribulation but take heart I have overcome the world and they also are sent with the good news!

[30:28] doesn't rebuke Thomas for his unbelief but when Thomas sees Jesus with his own eyes his doubt vanishes and belief results in worship my Lord and my God Christ is risen and yet his disciples don't know it yet it hasn't affected how his people live and I wonder if that's me sometimes and I wonder if that's you sometimes like Mary you may have more grief than you can bear but like Mary you are known by the good shepherd you can repent of relating to

[31:33] Jesus as though he is dead or distant rather than alive and present receive his comfort remember his care and then go and tell the good news Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners your life matters even in your grief and your purpose is tied directly to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ like the disciples you may have anxiety and you may have insecurity that just completely paralyzes you with fear but like the disciples in Jesus you may have peace so you can repent of hiding in fear and you can remember that peace is not found in changed circumstances peace is found in his presence remember that the risen

[32:44] Christ is with you through the Holy Spirit receive his peace that passes all understanding go boldly with the gospel because your life matters and your purpose even in your fear and your anxiety and your insecurity your purpose is tied directly to the resurrection of your Lord and Savior Jesus Christ like Thomas you may face seasons of debilitating doubt cycles of recurring doubt you may wonder am I really a Christian have I truly been born again you think you believe and then you're just not sure or maybe you have never believed this gospel before you want to believe it but then life is so hard and it's so full and there's so many things that are distracting and you have a moment of clarity where you think you understand the gospel and then you turn and you walk away from that moment unbelieving friend friend settle this today if you are doubting like

[34:03] Thomas settle this today I believe that Jesus died for my sins I believe that he was raised from the dead I believe that he is praying for me right now I believe that he will return Lord I believe help my unbelief that's a great place to land settle this today if you are not a Christian if you are not a follower of Jesus don't turn and walk away after hearing the gospel believe in the Lord Jesus Christ the scripture says and you will be saved and when you believe this gospel you can't help but worship my Lord and my

[35:05] God Christ is risen he is risen indeed so then let's act like it let's act like it your grief will not last forever the one who swallowed up death will wipe every tear from your eyes your fear is not permanent the one who conquered death will personally see to your resurrection a resurrection to a glorified body like his your doubt is not disqualifying but by God's grace and the Holy Spirit's power please don't linger there for very long our Savior our risen Savior has all authority in heaven and on earth let's act like it let's go and make disciples of all nations because

[36:13] Jesus is alive and your grief is not final your fear is not permanent and your faith dear child of God your faith is not misplaced let's pray