Last week, we celebrated Palm Sunday when Jesus rode into Jerusalem and was welcomed as the King of the Jews and the Messiah. But 5 days later the crowd who welcomed him condemned him to death. The true triumph of Jesus was not on Palm Sunday, but his emerging alive from the tomb with victory over sin and death on Resurrection Sunday.

John 20:1-18 v. 1. Mary Magdalene arrived at the tomb, saw the stone was taken away.

v. 2 she ran to Simon and “the one whom Jesus loved” – John “they have taken the Lord out of the tomb and we don’t know where” I. The tomb was empty – Jesus’ body is not there.

vv. 3-4. Peter and John ran to the tomb – John was younger, outran Peter v. 5. John saw the linen cloths there, but did not go in.

v. 6. Peter gets there and went in. Peter saw is a different Greek word than… Mary Magdalene saw the stone rolled away. John saw the linen cloths lying there, still in their place, just empty. It is as though Jesus’ body passed through them.

II. The tomb was empty. The grave clothes were left lying in the place. Peter saw (‘theoreo’) – our English word, theorize. Peter was trying to make sense of what he saw.

If grave robbers took Jesus, why would they leave the linen cloths with valuable spices in them? If Jesus’ enemies took the body, why would they take the time to unwrap the body? Besides, the spices helped cover the smell of decay. Jesus’ enemies would have been happy to come up with his body to stop his followers from saying he was alive. If Jesus’ disciples took the body, why would they take the time to unwrap the body? Would they have taken his body away naked, disrespectfully?

Luke 24:12 says Peter “went away, wondering to himself what had happened.”

John saw (a third word for saw) – discerned with his eyes, experienced. John saw the empty graves and the empty grave cloths – and believed. The preaching in the early church and the rapid growth of the church cannot be explained with any other electrifying and energizing event but the empty tomb.

v. 9 They did not understand the Scripture. Peter tired piecing it together but was wondering what it all meant. John believed Jesus was alive, but he did not grasp the ramifications.

v. 11-12 Mary returned to the tomb, looked in and saw two angels. The angels point to something miraculous, not grave robbers but God’s power.

v. 13. “they have taken away my Lord.”

v. 14. She saw Jesus “standing” but did not know him. (common in the resurrection narratives)

v. 15. “why are you weeping?” – a mild rebuke – she has no reason to cry “who are you seeking?” – an invitation to comprehend what she’s seen. Did you come expecting to see a dead teacher. This is the Messiah, son of God.

v. 16. Jesus said, “Mary”. Mary replied “Teacher” III. The tomb was empty. The grave clothes were left behind. IV. Jesus appeared in person and called Mary by name. Jesus would appear to more than 500 over the next 40 days.

v. 17. “do not cling to me, I have not yet ascended to my Father.” Do not cling to me, when I go to my Father, you will receive the Holy Spirit. You will experience my presence in a greater, more powerful & personal way.

v. 18. “go and tell the disciples” Mary Magdalene is the first to get to see the resurrected Jesus.

Because of Jesus’ resurrection, sin will not overcome us. Death will not be the end of us. We are free from the shackles and corruption of sin. We have eternal life and eternal glory awaits us. Your King is coming again.