John 20:1–9, 15–18; 1 Corinthians 15:3–6, 20–22

CELEBRATING EASTER’S SIGNIFICANCE

John 20:1–9, 15–18; 1 Corinthians 15:3–6, 20–22
Harry Houdini was a magician who specialized in escapes. He escaped from coffins, a boiler, canvas bags, a beer barrel and a maximum-security prison. On Oct. 31, 1926, death grabbed Houdini. He had told his wife that if there were a way out of death, he would find it and return to her. She waited for 10 years, holding a candlelight vigil on the anniversary of his death. Houdini never returned. He never found a way out of death. About 2,000 years ago, death laid hold of Jesus Christ, but on the third day, just as He had promised, Jesus arose from the grave. Jesus is not behind us in a tomb; He is before us on a throne. 

Marvel at the Empty Tomb (John 20:1–9)
The resurrection story begins with a woman whose love for Jesus was the most important thing in the world to her. It would not let her sleep. Her love for Jesus drew her to the place where His body had been buried in a borrowed tomb. Motivated by that perfect love that drives out fear, Mary Magdalene headed to the garden tomb.

She discovered that the tomb was no longer sealed. The soldiers were gone. The stone was rolled back.

Mary decided to run to Simon Peter and John. She assumed that the authorities had taken Jesus’ body.

Perhaps they wanted it in case rumors of a resurrection began to circulate. Maybe they intended to dump it in a common grave after all. Upon hearing the news, Peter and John raced to the tomb. John stooped, looked in and saw the linen strips lying there. Something was strange here. Why would the authorities have bothered to unwrap the body? Peter arrived and was the first to enter the tomb. He saw the linen strips and the wrapping that had been on His head folded in a separate place. John, reflecting on the evidence, saw and believed that Jesus had risen from the dead. May we marvel at the empty tomb today as we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus.

Listen to Witnesses (John 20:15–18)
What began as a moment of despair became a moment of delight. Jesus appeared to Mary and asked her why she was crying. Not recognizing Him, she asked if He had moved the body. Then Jesus called her by name and her eyes were opened. Jesus commanded Mary not to cling to Him. He told her to go to His brothers and tell them that He was ascending to His Father. She stopped clinging to Him and obeyed. As the disciples listened to the thrilling words of Mary, so we too should listen to the witness of the disciples in the Bible. The best news this world has ever heard originated in a grave outside of Jerusalem.

Recognize the Gospel’s Significance (1 Cor. 15:3–6)
These verses contain the gospel truth. The gospel is the good news that the one and only God, who is holy, made us in His image to know Him. But we sinned and cut ourselves off from Him. In His great love, God became a man in Jesus, lived a perfect life and died on the cross, thus fulfilling the law Himself and taking on the punishment for the sins of all who would ever turn and trust in Him. He rose again from the dead, demonstrating that God accepted His Son’s sacrifice and that God’s wrath against us has been appeased. He now calls us to repent of our sins and trust Christ alone for our forgiveness.

Celebrate New Life in Christ  (1 Cor. 15:20–22)
Paul reaffirmed the bodily resurrection of Christ. And the fact that Jesus has been resurrected means we who are in Christ will also be resurrected. His resurrection requires our resurrection because His resurrection was part of the larger resurrection of God’s redeemed. In Adam, all inherited a sin nature and therefore will die. In Christ, all who believe in Him have inherited eternal life and shall be made alive in body and spirit. It is this hope that strengthens us at the grave of our loved ones as we say goodbye for now. But just as Jesus was raised from the grave, so shall our loved ones be raised at Christ’s return. Celebrate the new life we have in Christ.