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Easter Sunday - He is Risen

We say it in fellowship together:

HE IS RISEN

HE IS RISEN INDEED!

We say it with Faith, with Confidence, With Boldness…but reading the various accounts makes us realize it was still a confusing, bewildering time for all involved.

John 20:1-18
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.
2  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.”
3  So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb.
4  Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first.
5  And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in.
6  Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there,
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.
8  Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed;
9  for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead.

Three times it says, “(Peter/John) saw”.  Each time the word is different in the Greek. 

John was first and he peered into the tomb from the outside and “saw” = gazing, in awe looking, seeing what was there.

Peter came after and he “saw” = observed, investigated, examined thoroughly.

John then entered in and he “saw” = certainly saw, understood, really saw what happened.
AND it says “he believed”.  
Peter saw and didn’t know what to make of it…John saw and as he looked he "got it"…this is the resurrection the Savior spoke of.

10  Then the disciples went back to their homes.
11  But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb.
12  And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet.
13  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.”
14  Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus.
15  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.”
16  Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher).
17  Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for 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  Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”—and that he had said these things to her.

They went back home; but Mary stayed behind.  Mary loved Jesus deeply.
She didn’t know what was going on…all she knew was that her heart was broken.  She was still living on Saturday…the day after the death when it was silent, grey, broken, and silent.

The appearance of the angels is a “gift of God” for her heart.  That assurance is followed by the second gift – Jesus himself.

Jesus stood there and made himself known.

Her broken sobbing is turned to clinging disbelief…can it be?  Oh God…

Of all the people in the first century world, God shows His Son to this Woman who stayed at the tomb and grieved when the others left.

This is Resurrection Faith…It clings to Hope with Faith that perseveres in the deepest pain.

He is Risen! 

He is Risen Indeed!

Believe it, Cling to it.

Peace

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