The Risen Jesus Changes Everything

There are three things we all need to live.  Now if I were to ask you what you think those three things might be, some of you might say, food, water and shelter. Others might say: family, health and friends. While still others might have a different take altogether.  Now, I did a little research this past week on the question: what I can’t live without and you’d be surprised what people say: One man said, I can’t live without money, my phone and watching football.  A number of people said, money, health and family.  One man said, “my phone, my play station 4 and music.  And one lady said, “Coffee, I can’t function without my coffee.  Oh yes, and my laptop and water.” Now, it’s pretty obvious that most people bypass the studies that say we actually need 5 basic things in order to live.  We need oxygen, food, water, shelter and sleep.  You go too long without one of those five you won’t be long for this earth.  But what those five speak to is what we need to stay alive – not what we need to live.

So, I’ll go back to my original statement: There are three things we all need to live: Everyone needs hope.  Everyone needs relationships. And everyone needs some kind of purpose or meaning in life.  Now, you may be wondering: what do these things have to do with the resurrection of Jesus Christ?  And if you are asking that, then you’re asking a great question. For as we look into John’s account of the resurrection we’re going to see how the risen Savior can change your life in each of these areas:  How the risen Jesus can give you the best kind of hope. How the risen Jesus can give you the most significant relationship. And how the risen Jesus can give your life more meaning and purpose then you ever thought possible.

So, if you’ve ever wonder how the risen Jesus can change your life, then I want to encourage you to open up phone or open your Bible to our text today: John 20:1-23, where were going to see how the risen Jesus can give you what you need to truly live.  And to get us started, I want us to look at the first account of the empty tomb recorded for us in John 20:1-10, where we’re going to see…

How the risen Jesus can give you the best kind of hope Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. So, she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!”

So, Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen. Finally, the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. (They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.) Then the disciples went back to where they were staying. John 20:1-10

Let me make two observations here. The first has to do with Mary. Mary’s hope was distorted by darkness and grief.  Mary had gone to the tomb while it was still dark to anoint Jesus’ body with burial spices.  When she got there, she was expecting to see a dead body, not an empty tomb. This shocked her, so she ran back to Peter and John telling them what she believed happened: that someone had stolen the body of Jesus. At this point she had no hope of seeing the resurrected Jesus. In fact, her response to the empty tomb was a fairly normal human reaction.

The second observation has to do with John: John’s hope was awakened by the discarded burial linens. In other words, once Peter and John arrived at the empty tomb John saw the burial linens, but did not go in. After Peter arrived, he went straight into the tomb and saw the same burial garments.  We are not told his response.  But we are told John’s: “He saw and believed.”  The question here, what did John see?

John saw the strips of linen lying there that should have been wrapped around Jesus’ body.  And he saw the cloth that ‘had been” wrapped around Jesus’ head. These observations stopped him in his tracks.  He didn’t need to go further. He just needed to process what he was seeing.

And upon processing what he saw, John quickly realized that the graveclothes had been left as if Jesus had passed right through them. And the headpiece was rolled up and laid neatly to the side. Graves robber wouldn’t have made off with Jesus’ body and left these linens in such an undisturbed fashion. There was no hurried removal of Jesus’ body. Rather, there could be only one possible explanation for what he was seeing: Jesus body wasn’t taken. Jesus had risen. And with that realization, hope was awakened, for John believed Jesus was alive.

Up till now, the disciple’s hopes in Jesus had been dashed.  All they could see was how much they’d lost when Jesus was crucified. But now everything had changed: If Jesus is alive, everything Jesus ever said was true.  If Jesus is alive, that means He has conquered death! And if Jesus is alive, you never have to fear dying. And that changes everything.

You see, we live in a world where the fear of death makes us pursue whatever it takes to minimize the effects of aging.  We’re told, “Be younger, eat healthier, color your hair, and remove wrinkles.” You see, we don’t want to face the truth. We’re aging and every day brings us closer to death. So we try to do whatever it takes to push death further into the future. And what happens to us is that the fear of death chains our hopes and dreams to these earthly, passing desires of this life.  We actually end up living by fear, not by hope.  But here’s the reality.  Apart from Jesus, there’s no cure for death.  And there’s no hope for escape.  But when Jesus rose from the grave He broke death’s power over us. He set us free by giving us hope.

Listen to how the writer of Hebrews describes what Jesus did for us: Since the children have flesh and blood, He too shared in their humanity so that by His death He might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. Hebrews 2:14-15

That’s how the resurrection changes everything. Jesus defeated death to give you the hope of eternal life with Him. Jesus lives today so you can have this hope. For it frees you from the power that death holds over you. So, let me ask you today: Do you have this hope?  If you don’t, here’s good news is this: The risen Jesus will give you this hope, if you believe in Him.

That’s the first truth we learn from the risen Jesus. Jesus can give you the best kind of hope.  You no longer have to fear death if you trust in Him.  Let’s look now at the next:

How the risen Jesus can give you the best kind of relationship Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot. They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?” “They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.”

At this point Mary is still weeping.  She hasn’t arrived at John’s conclusion.  She can’t believe Jesus is risen because she is still stuck in her grief. Grief will do that to you.  Grief can rewire your brain in a way that worsens you memory, your understanding and your concentration. Grief can might feel spacey, forgetful, or unable to make “good” decisions. Sometimes it’s hard to speak or even express yourself.

That’s what’s happening Mary.  In her grief, Mary looks into the tomb and sees two angels who ask her “why are you crying?” Their whole purpose in being there is to announce the good news: He is Risen! They’ve waited their whole lives for this moment.  And now they’re wondering why Mary isn’t as thrilled as they are.  And she gives them the same answer she gave John, “They have taken my Lord away, and I don’t know where they have put him.”

At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus. He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?”

Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.”  Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”).

This may be my favorite resurrection encounter.  Mary is so determined to find Jesus’ dead body, that when she first lays eyes on the risen Jesus, she doesn’t recognize him.  That is, until he speaks her name, “Mary.”  At the sound of his voice she turns, for she knows this voice.  She knows it’s Jesus.  She cries out to him, falls to his feet and grabs a hold of him.  She’s found the one she thought she lost, and she doesn’t want to let him go!  And I am reminded of what Jesus said earlier: “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” John 10:14, 27

Here’s the good news of the risen Jesus: You were created to know God and be known by Him. God knew you before the creation of the world.  He’s always known you.  That’s why Jesus has come. He’s come to reconcile you to God.  And the good news is this: When Jesus rose from the grave, His resurrection made it possible for you to know God and hear His voice. That’s why the resurrection changes everything. For now you’re not just known by God, you can come to know God as your Father.

In fact, that’s what we see next: Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that he had said these things to her. John 20:11-18

Did you hear what Jesus said to Mary?  For the very first time, Jesus calls the disciples his brothers.  And he wants her to tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”  This is new.  Up to the cross, Jesus only referred to God as His Father. But now that He has risen, Jesus wants His disciples to know that His Father is also their Father.

Something amazing changed with the resurrection.  Now, that Jesus lives, anyone who trusts in Him can have the same kind of relationship with the Father as Jesus experienced. That is: when you trust in Jesus, Jesus becomes your brother, and His Father becomes your Father.  The resurrection paves the way to a relationship with the God as your Father.

Now, that changes everything! You are no longer a sinner, separated from life with God, but a son or daughter whom God adopts as His own. Because He lives, Jesus makes it possible for you to know God personally.

Are you starting to get the picture here?  The risen Jesus made it possible for you to know God.There’s nothing else in the Universe that can make this happen.  That’s the miracle of the resurrection.  And that changes everything…

How the risen Jesus can give you the best possible life On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” After He said this, He showed them His hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. John 20:19-20

This is so good. Jesus enters a room full of his anxious and bewildered followers and greets them with His peace. His words “peace be with you” was the standard Hebrew greeting and is still used in the Middle East today. But what makes it so good, is that it is a greeting of blessing for the good life God wants for us: a life filled with contentment, harmony and prosperity.

So, when Jesus greets them with these words, he’s announcing that a new day has dawned. Every hope and dream of knowing God and experiencing His favor is now a present reality.  This is what happens when you meet the risen Jesus.  His presence drives out fear and brings a complete contentment and wholeness to us that says, “all is well.” Life the way God intended has come, and this life is found in Jesus.

But at this moment, Jesus is aware that his greeting hasn’t totally set the disciples at ease. We know this because in Luke’s account we are told that after Jesus said this, they were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost.  So, Jesus sets them at ease by showing them his hands, which had been pierced by nails, and His side, which had been pierced by the lance. There’s now no mistaking who this is. This is the risen Jesus. And at the moment them everything changes. They believe Jesus has risen and their grief turns to joy.

Now, here’s the thing: You can’t manufacture joy and you can’t fake joy. Joy is something that comes only from believing God raised Jesus from the dead. And when you believe this good news about Jesus, no one can ever take away your joy. Every day is a reason to celebrate because Jesus lives. And now in that moment in the upper room, joy exploded in the hearts of Jesus’ disciples.

Now, you would think that’s the end of the story. Jesus is alive. All is well. They’re full of joy and ready to celebrate with Jesus. You know, that’s often where our Easter Celebrations end.  But that’s not how this story ends. For now, having realized that Jesus is alive, Jesus is about to change everything about how they live.  For now, Jesus gives them a new purpose in life: Again, Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.  If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” John 20:19-23

What I love about this encounter is that Jesus wasted no time getting to what our lives are to be about every day – that we are to bring the good news of the risen Jesus wherever we go. We are now the bearers of Shalom!  We are now the bearers of God’s peace – the good life that’s now available in Jesus.  We have the good news that can free people of guilt, fear and confusion.  And we have a joy in knowing Jesus is alive.

And with this knowledge Jesus says, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”  We are not simply forgiven sinners, but we are Jesus’ sent ones.  This is the new life we are called to live with Jesus.  Jesus’ mission is not finished.  He continues His mission to redeem the world through those who follow Him.  So, if you follow Jesus today, He calls you to continue sharing the good news about Jesus today.

And here’s the blessing of your calling. Jesus wants us to succeed, so He gives you what you need to bring the good news to our world.  What does He give?  Power   And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.  John 20:22

This is why everything changes when you meet the risen Jesus.  Because when you meet Him and believe in Him, He changes you forever.  He breathes His new life into you.  He gives you His Spirit, the Holy Spirit.  His Holy Spirit comes to indwell in you, to guide you, help you, and empower you to live as His sent one.  And this changes everything.  For when the Spirit of Christ lives in you, He will help you begin to live like Jesus.  And when you begin to live like Jesus you will want to obey the Father just like Jesus did.  With His power you will want to serve others like Jesus did.  And with His Spirit you will want others to know forgiveness Jesus gave you.

This is the life Jesus saved you for: To bring the good news of the forgiveness of sins to the world. This is why meeting the risen Jesus changes everything.  For He is the One who gives Hope.  He is the One where peace if found. He is the One who breathes new life into you.  And He is the One who’s made your forgiveness possible, when He gave His life for you.  And now, He’s alive and has given you a new purpose for your life – to help others find in the risen Jesus everything He has given you.

I began this message today saying there are things we all need to live: Everyone needs hope.  Everyone needs relationships. And everyone needs some kind of purpose or meaning in life. Today, we have seen how the risen Jesus gives us all of this and more. So, I have a few questions for you today?  Do you want to be set free from the fear of death?  Do you want to know this God who’s always loved you?  Do you want a life that’s full of peace and joy?  And do you want a purpose that can change lives for eternity?  If you want this life that Jesus gives to those who believe in him, then listen to this invitation from God to you:

“If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.  As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Romans 10:9-13   You see Easter is not just a day to celebrate, but it’s a day to begin a new life with Him.  And if you believe God is calling you to begin this new life with Him, then then I’m going to ask you to call on the name of the Lord with me. For he promises: “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Let’s pray.