1. THE EMPTY TOMB JOHN 20:1-18

2. Introduction  Think about this.  Ann is lying on the floor dead.  There is broken glass and water all around her.  Stuart is asleep on the sofa and is oblivious to the death.  How did Ann die?

3.  Well Ann is a fish and Stuart is a cat.  The glass and water all around Ann on the floor is the fishbowl.  Stuart successfully knocked it over.

4.  On Friday night, a man dies. He is buried the same night.  On Sunday, some friends arrive at the tomb to pay their respect.  But the tomb is empty.  What happened?

5. The Scene  At least 5 women approach the tomb to properly prepare the body of Jesus for burial.  They are wondering about the huge stone at the entrance – Mark 16:3  When they arrive, the find the soldiers asleep – Matt.28:4

6.  An angel has rolled the stone away – Matt.28:2  But the body is gone.  Angels announce that Jesus is risen.  They run and tell the disciples.  But none of it made sense.  Two disciples, John and Peter and Mary Magdalene go to the tomb themselves.

7.  They wanted to decide for themselves why the tomb was empty and what it meant.  We all agree that the tomb was empty.  But what is your response to that?  How does it affect your life?  Three different people came and each one responded differently.

8. 1. JOHN THE BELIEVER  The first to arrive at the tomb was John – v.3-5  John heard the news.  He jumped and ran to the tomb.  He wanted to believe.  He loved Jesus.

9.  He was the most faithful.  He was there at the courtyard.  He was there at the cross.  He was willing to take Jesus’ mother into his house.  But when he got to the tomb, he did not enter.  Maybe he was breathless.

10.  What if it was a Roman trap?  What if the women were wrong?  Then Peter arrives and he enters.  John follows Peter.  They both see the evidence.  But each responded differently - (v.8-9)  John saw and believed.

11.  The empty tomb was enough evidence for him.  He did not need to see Jesus to know that He was alive.  He had heard the Jesus’ prophecies about His death and resurrection.  It was enough.

12.  Some of us are like John.  We believe there is an empty tomb and also the testimony of Christians to the fact that Jesus is alive.  We do not need to see to believe.  This is what Jesus said – John 20:29  John reacted to the empty tomb with belief.

13. 2. PETER, THE SKEPTIC  Peter was a litter slower than John to arrive at the tomb.  Maybe because he was older.  Peter wanted to see Jesus.  The last time Peter saw Jesus was when he denied Him.

14.  He knew he would be confronted with his sin and guilt.  Peter was feeling the pain of his past.  He wanted Jesus alive, but did not know how he was going to face Him.  Some of us are like that.

15.  We want to believe but there is too much pain.  We forget that Jesus can forgive and He can heal.  Peter went into the tomb.  He saw the evidence – the linen and the cloth.

16.  He knew something had happened.  But not enough to prove that Jesus was alive.  Luke says that Peter was “wondering to himself as what had happened” – Luke 24:12  He needed more evidence..  In v.10, we read he left.

17.  He left without even coming to a conclusion.  If he had waited a little longer, he would have experienced a miracle.  Today many people do not have enough evidence to place their faith in Jesus.  The do not hang around long enough.

18.  They do not read God’s Word enough.  They do not spend enough time in prayer.  They walk out before they see the miracle happening.  Peter walked out of the empty tomb with a broken heart.

19. 3.MARY, THE BROKEN - HEARTED  Peter and John left.  But Mary stayed. (v.11-13)  Mary Magdalene came to tomb when “it was still dark”.  It also describes the condition of their heart.  Mary was depressed.

20.  She had lost someone she valued.  Jesus meant a lot to her:  a. Release – when she met Jesus she was enslaved by 7 demons.  Jesus released her and she found peace.  b. Forgiveness – Jesus had forgiven of all her actions and released her from her sin.

21.  c. Leadership –She was lost without Jesus. He had given meaning to her life.  She though all was gone and so she wept.  But a miracle happened.

22.  “I have seen the Lord -”v.14-18  Mary wanted to see Jesus more than anyone else.  She got her desire.

23. CONCLUSION  All three saw the same tomb.  But each had their own different reactions.  Many are like John – they see and believe.  Jesus calls them “Blessed”.

24.  Some are like Peter – they see but do not know what to believe.  They also do not understand why people come to church every Sunday.  They do not wait long enough to see a miracle.

25.  Some are like Mary.  They wait to have their questions answered and see their faith grow.  The witness the power of transformation.  What is your response?