JOHN 20
9 Outlines
John 20:15
DON’T WEEP!
I used this as an Easter
Christians are to be a joyful people (Nehemiah
I am not deceived. Not everyone who comes church is
ecstatic with joy. In fact, some of you
probably feel like weeping. And even
though some of you may not feel like weeping, your joy is hampered by events
that have happened to you and your friends. Life is filled with sorrow.
There is the sorrow caused by hurt feelings.
There is the sorrow caused from being mistreated.
There is the sorrow caused by seeing others hurt and
mistreated.
There is the sorrow caused by family difficulties.
There is the sorrow caused by strained relationships
and lack of money and/or jobs.
There is the sorrow caused by sickness and death.
These sorrows create a barrier that makes it difficult
for us to be joyful at Easter.
As Mary stood there weeping, she was asked by angels
why she was weeping. John 20:11-13
Mary’s answer to their inquiry was the reason at the
moment that she was weeping. However, it
was probably the culmination of sorrows over the previous days that also added
to the weeping.
May I ask you a question, one to be answered silently?
Why are you weeping this morning? You may not be literally weeping, but what is
making you sad on this joyous holiday?
John 20:15 - Jesus appears to Mary, although Mary at
first does not realize it. And Jesus
asked her “Woman, why are you weeping?”
Notice that Jesus cares when he asks that question. However, I believe that he is also telling
Mary that there is no longer a need to weep.
My friend, Jesus cares about what is causing you
sorrow and He wants you to tell him when you have sorrows. He cares enough to listen. Hebrews 4:15-16
It is interesting that Jesus turned her weeping into
joy with just one word. He spoke her name.
John
Jesus basically communicated to Mary that she should
not weep because Jesus, her master, was very much alive.
The Lord Jesus turned her sorrow into joy.
And this morning, the Lord Jesus wants your sorrow to
be turned to joy. It does not mean that
your problems will go away. But it does
mean that we can rejoice in spite of our circumstances.
So this morning, I say to you, if you are a born-again
Christian, if you have trusted Christ as your Savior don’t weep!
DON’T WEEP! HE IS RISEN!
The announcements that the angles gave the women who
came to the tomb, was that Jesus has risen.
The message Jesus gave the two disciples on the way to
Emmaus was that He has risen!
The message to the apostles and to Thomas was that He
has risen!
And Jesus appearing to Mary was declaring that He had
risen!
And the message that God gives to us is that Jesus has
risen! 1 Corinthians 15:20
Why is the resurrection a source of joy?
·
The resurrection proves that God has accepted Christ’s
sacrifice for sin.
·
The resurrection promises life after death. John
11:25-26
·
The resurrection shows us that Jesus is alive so he
can indeed intercede in our behalf. Romans 8:34
DON’T WEEP! WE ARE REDEEMED!
When you were born, you were born into captivity.
You were born into the bondage of sin.
You are a sinner by nature.
You have willfully disobeyed God. Ephesians 2:1-3
In order for you to be set free from your bondage,
someone had to pay for your sins and set you free. This is what redemption is, the paying of a
ransom to someone free.
This is what Christ has done for all of those that
name Him as Savior. 1 Peter 1:18-19
It was not a ransom of silver and gold that was paid
for your sin. It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless son of God that
was shed. As John the Baptist said so
long ago, …Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. (John
1:29) Romans 5:9
DON’T WEEP! WE ARE REGENERATED!
To be regenerated is to be born again. John 3:3.
If you have truly trusted the Lord Jesus as Savior,
you have been literally born into the family of God by the power of the Holy
Spirit. This is regeneration. John 3:5-8
Why should you not weep because you have been
regenerated? You should not weep because
you have new life in Christ now! 2 Corinthians 5:17
Although you have problems, you have new life to see
you through!
Although you still the devil is now your enemy you
have new life to see you through.
Although there are times of depression and tears, you
have the new life, the regenerated life to see you through!
You now have the ability to handle your difficulties
through Christ! Romans 5:17
DON’T WEEP! HE IS RESIDING!
If you have been regenerated the Spirit of God and of
Christ dwells in you. He is living
inside. It is the Spirit of Christ who
is present to comfort and help you. John 14:16-18
How should the residence of Christ through the Holy
Spirit encourage you?
·
It is the Holy Spirit that brings comfort to you when
you hurt.
·
It is the Holy Spirit that tells you that you are a
child of God. Romans 8:16
·
It is the Holy Spirit that empowers us to witness.
Acts 1:8
·
It is the Holy Spirit that produces fruit. Galatians
5:22-23
·
It is the Holy Spirit that helps us to pray. Romans
8:26-27
So, if Jesus is residing inside of us, what should our
response be to Him?
Our response should be to abide in Him, to remain
close to have fellowship with Him.
John 15:4-5,7
DON’T WEEP! HE WILL RETURN!
John 14:1-3 - Let
not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. [2] In my
Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I
go to prepare a place for you. [3] And if I go and prepare a place for you, I
will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be
also.
Jesus is coming back for us.
He might come and receive you personally by way of
death.
Or you may be here when he comes for those who believe
in Him. 1 Corinthians 15:51-52
Christian, your life is temporary in this world.
Christian, at any moment you could be taken by death.
Christian, at any moment you could be taken home with
all other Christians.
Christian, we have a blessed hope, and should act that
way. Titus 2:11-13
DON’T WEEP! HE REIGNS!
Revelation 1:18 - I
am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen;
and have the keys of hell and of death.
My friend, Jesus is God.
My friend, OUR GOD REIGNS!
Rev. 22:13 - I
am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.
Isaiah 52:7 - How
lovely on the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who announces
peace, who brings good news of happiness, who announces salvation, And says to Zion, “Your God reigns.”
My friend, Jesus is very much alive and He reigns.
No matter what goes wrong, He reigns.
Not matter what difficulty you face, He reigns.
There is nothing that you face today that is out of
the control of God.
YOUR GOD REIGNS – believe it!
YOUR GOD REIGNS – rest in Him!
YOUR GOD REIGNS – rejoice!
YOUR GOD REIGNS – relax!
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John 20:1-18
TALE OF THE TOMB
EXASPERATION - Vss. 1-2
Mary found an empty tomb.
She thought someone had stolen the body.
EXAMINATION - Vss. 3-10
Peter and John examined
the evidence. John believed.
EXPRESSION - Vss. 11-16
Jesus expressed his
presence to Mary.
EXCLAMATION - Vss. 16-18
Mary was so excited that
she clung to Him.
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John 20:1-23
HE IS RISEN!
DIFFICULTY OF AN EMPTY TOMB Vss. 1-10
DISCOVERY OF A RISEN SAVIOR Vss. 11-18
DISCLOSURE TO LOYAL DISCIPLES Vss. 19-23
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John 20:15
A PENETRATING QUESTION
There will be times of tears in our lives. (Psalm
30:5, Ecclesiastes 3:4, James 1:2-4)
After Jesus had been crucified there were many tears
shed.
Mary Magdalene was in tears, not only because of the
death of her Lord, but because she thought that someone stole His body. The
risen Lord comes to Mary and asks "Woman, why weepest thou?" In today's language he might say, "Lady,
why are you crying/"
She didn't need to cry. She had a risen Lord.
CHRISTIAN, WHY ARE YOU CRYING?
JESUS IS RISEN FROM THE DEAD.
- John 15, 1 Corinthians 15:3-4
YOUR SINS ARE FORGIVEN. - Psalm 103:10-14, Colossians
1:12-14
YOU ARE GOD'S CHILD. - 1 John 1:12-13
GOD LOVES YOU. Romans 8:35-39
THE HOLY SPIRIT LIVES INSIDE OF YOU. - 1
Corinthians 6:19-20, John 14:16-18
JESUS IS COMING AGAIN! - Acts
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John 20:19-29
A LIVING SAVIOR
APPEARANCE OF A LIVING SAVIOR - Vss. 19-20
AUTHORITY OF A LIVING SAVIOR - Vss. 21-23
He has authority to give peace.
He has authority to send the disciples to the world.
He has authority to provide the Holy Spirit.
He has authority to give the Apostles authority.
ANNOUNCEMENT OF A LIVING SAVIOR - Vss. 24-29
Thomas missed the first appearance of Jesus.
He expressed his doubts.
When Jesus appeared to Thomas the second time, he
believed.
Jesus announces that the
ones who do not see and still believed are blessed.
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BEHIND CLOSED DOORS
John 20:19-21
Some of the best times
we have with friends and family are in private.
Such was the case when
Jesus appeared to his disciples on Resurrection Night. During this meeting Jesus gave to his disciples four things.
1. Peace To Enjoy Vs. 19
2. Proofs To Believe Vs. 20
3. Plans To Obey Vs. 21
4. Power To Appropriate Vss. 22-23
***************************************************************************John
20:19-23
WHEN JESUS APPEARED
When Jesus appeared to
the disciples there was:
PEACE TO ENJOY - Vs. 19
PROOF TO BELIEVE - Vs.
20
PLANS TO OBEY - Vs. 21
POWER TO APPROPRIATE -
Vss. 22-23
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John 20:24-29
DOUBTING THOMAS
STUBBORN DOUBT - Vss.
24-25
Thomas refused to
believe in the resurrection, unless he saw it for himself.
SHUT DOORS - Vs. 26
At a time when the disciples
were isolated from others Jesus again appeared while Thomas was present.
STRENGTHENING DEMANDS -
Vs. 27
Jesus invited Thomas to
examine Him and believe!
STEADFAST DECISION - Vs.
28
Thomas did believe and
made his belief very certain. He called Jesus his Lord and his God.
SOOTHING DECLARATION -
Vs. 29
This statement is for
the benefit of those of often come after Thomas.
We can't see Jesus
literally, but we are blessed when we trust Him without seeing.
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THESE ARE WRITTEN
John 20:30-31
After telling the story
of Thomas, John tells us why he wrote his Gospel:
THE CONFESSION OF THE
WRITER
"And many other signs truly did Jesus in
the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book."
THE CHALLENGE TO THE
READER
"But these are written that ye might
believe..."
THE CONTENT OF THE
MESSAGE
"...that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of
God..."
THE CLIMAX OF BELIEF
"...and that believing, ye might have
life through his name."