The Gospel According To John; wk. 7 "He Is Risen"
He Is Risen
Every tomb in human history tells the same story.
Kings, emperors, generals, and leaders have all been buried. Archaeologists have opened tomb after tomb, and every single time they find the same thing… a body still inside.
But there is one tomb that is different.
When people looked inside the tomb of Jesus, they did not find a body. They found an empty space. And that changes everything.
If Jesus is still in the grave, then none of this matters. But if He rose from the dead, it confirms everything He said and everything He claimed to be.
The resurrection is not just a moment in history. It is the foundation of our faith. And it has real meaning for your life today.
Death Has Been Defeated
On that first Easter morning, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb expecting to find a body.
Instead, she found the stone rolled away.
This was not a small detail. The stone was massive, guarded by Roman soldiers, and nearly impossible to move. Yet it was gone. And when Peter and John ran to the tomb, they saw the linen cloths… but Jesus was not there.
The empty tomb means one thing clearly:
Death has been defeated.
Christianity is not built on ideas or good teaching. It is built on a real event. Jesus rose from the dead. And because of that, death does not get the final word.
The grave is not the end of your story.
Jesus Meets You Personally
After discovering the empty tomb, Mary stayed behind, overwhelmed with grief.
And then something incredible happened.
She turned and saw Jesus, but did not recognize Him at first. It was not until He spoke her name, “Mary,” that everything changed.
In that moment, grief turned into recognition. Confusion turned into clarity.
This is one of the most personal pictures of the resurrection in all of Scripture.
Jesus is not distant. He is not far away. He meets us right where we are.
He meets us in grief.
He meets us in confusion.
He meets us in pain.
He does not say, “Clean yourself up and then come to me.”
He says, “I am here. I know you. I am calling your name.”
From Despair to Purpose
Mary came to the tomb broken.
She left with a mission.
Jesus told her to go and tell the disciples what she had seen. And she became the first person to declare the greatest message in history:
“I have seen the Lord.”
Everything changed in that moment.
Her fear became courage.
Her grief became joy.
Her confusion became purpose.
And it did not stop with her.
The disciples who were hiding in fear would soon preach boldly. Many would give their lives because they were convinced of one truth: Jesus is alive.
The resurrection does not just change history. It changes people.
Why the Resurrection Matters
At the end of John 20, we are told exactly why this was written:
“So that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ… and that by believing you may have life in His name.”
This is not just information. It is an invitation.
And the resurrection means three things for you today:
1. Forgiveness Is Available
Jesus did not just die for your good days. He died for your worst days.
Your sin, your past, your failures… all of it was paid for at the cross. Forgiveness is not something you earn. It is something you receive.
2. Hope Is Secure
Because Jesus lives, you will live.
The resurrection guarantees eternal life. Your story does not end at the grave. There is more ahead.
3. New Life Is Possible
This is not about knowing facts about Jesus. It is about knowing Him personally.
Real life begins when you surrender.
It feels backwards, but it is true. When you surrender your life to Jesus, that is when you finally become free.
The Gift You Have to Receive
The resurrection is not just something to believe intellectually. It is a gift to receive personally.
Imagine being given an incredible gift and refusing to open it.
That is what many people do with Jesus.
For over 2,000 years, the gift has been offered:
Forgiveness.
Freedom.
Eternal life.
But it must be received.
You cannot earn it. You do not deserve it. It is grace.
The Question That Changes Everything
Easter is not just about celebration.
It is about decision.
The tomb is empty. Jesus is alive. And that reality demands a response.
Is Jesus your King?
Have you surrendered your life to Him?
Because if the resurrection is true… it changes everything.
Every tomb in human history tells the same story.
Kings, emperors, generals, and leaders have all been buried. Archaeologists have opened tomb after tomb, and every single time they find the same thing… a body still inside.
But there is one tomb that is different.
When people looked inside the tomb of Jesus, they did not find a body. They found an empty space. And that changes everything.
If Jesus is still in the grave, then none of this matters. But if He rose from the dead, it confirms everything He said and everything He claimed to be.
The resurrection is not just a moment in history. It is the foundation of our faith. And it has real meaning for your life today.
Death Has Been Defeated
On that first Easter morning, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb expecting to find a body.
Instead, she found the stone rolled away.
This was not a small detail. The stone was massive, guarded by Roman soldiers, and nearly impossible to move. Yet it was gone. And when Peter and John ran to the tomb, they saw the linen cloths… but Jesus was not there.
The empty tomb means one thing clearly:
Death has been defeated.
Christianity is not built on ideas or good teaching. It is built on a real event. Jesus rose from the dead. And because of that, death does not get the final word.
The grave is not the end of your story.
Jesus Meets You Personally
After discovering the empty tomb, Mary stayed behind, overwhelmed with grief.
And then something incredible happened.
She turned and saw Jesus, but did not recognize Him at first. It was not until He spoke her name, “Mary,” that everything changed.
In that moment, grief turned into recognition. Confusion turned into clarity.
This is one of the most personal pictures of the resurrection in all of Scripture.
Jesus is not distant. He is not far away. He meets us right where we are.
He meets us in grief.
He meets us in confusion.
He meets us in pain.
He does not say, “Clean yourself up and then come to me.”
He says, “I am here. I know you. I am calling your name.”
From Despair to Purpose
Mary came to the tomb broken.
She left with a mission.
Jesus told her to go and tell the disciples what she had seen. And she became the first person to declare the greatest message in history:
“I have seen the Lord.”
Everything changed in that moment.
Her fear became courage.
Her grief became joy.
Her confusion became purpose.
And it did not stop with her.
The disciples who were hiding in fear would soon preach boldly. Many would give their lives because they were convinced of one truth: Jesus is alive.
The resurrection does not just change history. It changes people.
Why the Resurrection Matters
At the end of John 20, we are told exactly why this was written:
“So that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ… and that by believing you may have life in His name.”
This is not just information. It is an invitation.
And the resurrection means three things for you today:
1. Forgiveness Is Available
Jesus did not just die for your good days. He died for your worst days.
Your sin, your past, your failures… all of it was paid for at the cross. Forgiveness is not something you earn. It is something you receive.
2. Hope Is Secure
Because Jesus lives, you will live.
The resurrection guarantees eternal life. Your story does not end at the grave. There is more ahead.
3. New Life Is Possible
This is not about knowing facts about Jesus. It is about knowing Him personally.
Real life begins when you surrender.
It feels backwards, but it is true. When you surrender your life to Jesus, that is when you finally become free.
The Gift You Have to Receive
The resurrection is not just something to believe intellectually. It is a gift to receive personally.
Imagine being given an incredible gift and refusing to open it.
That is what many people do with Jesus.
For over 2,000 years, the gift has been offered:
Forgiveness.
Freedom.
Eternal life.
But it must be received.
You cannot earn it. You do not deserve it. It is grace.
The Question That Changes Everything
Easter is not just about celebration.
It is about decision.
The tomb is empty. Jesus is alive. And that reality demands a response.
Is Jesus your King?
Have you surrendered your life to Him?
Because if the resurrection is true… it changes everything.
Posted in Discipleship, Faith & Trust, Following Jesus, Spiritual Growth, The Gospel According To John, Trusting God
Posted in Easter, Resurrection, John 20, Empty Tomb
Posted in Easter, Resurrection, John 20, Empty Tomb
Recent
The Gospel According To John; wk. 7 "He Is Risen"
April 7th, 2026
The Gospel According To John; wk. 6 "The King Who Came to Us"
March 30th, 2026
The Gospel According To John; wk. 5 "Who Are You Searching For?"
March 23rd, 2026
The Gospel According To John; wk. 4 "Living Water"
March 19th, 2026
The Gospel According To John; wk. 3 "You Must Be Born Again"
March 9th, 2026
Archive
2026
January
February
Armor of God Series; wk. 4 - Ephesians 6:14-15 Protected by Christ, Armed with Truth 2.1.26Faith In Action Series; wk. 1 - 1 Samuel 17 David and Goliath 2.8.26 Faith In Action Series; wk. 2 - Ephesians 1:15-23 The Heart Behind Effective Discipleship 2.15.26 The Gospel According To John; wk. 1 "The Word Became Flesh"
March
The Gospel According To John; wk. 2 "Testimony Of John The Baptist"The Gospel According To John; wk. 3 "You Must Be Born Again"The Gospel According To John; wk. 4 "Living Water"The Gospel According To John; wk. 5 "Who Are You Searching For?" The Gospel According To John; wk. 6 "The King Who Came to Us"
2025
June
July
August
September
Revelation Series; wk. 2 - To The Church of Ephesus and Smyrna 8.31.25Revelation Series; wk. 3 - To The Churches of Pergamum and Thyatira 9.7.25 Revelation Series; wk. 4 - To The Church of Sardis 9.14.25 Revelation Series; wk. 5 - Letter to the Church of Philadelphia 9.21.25 The Three Success Secrets of Shamgar 9.28.25
October
November
December
Revelation Series; wk. 12 - Revelation 11 God's Witnesses in the Coming Tribulation 11.30.25Joy To The World Advent Series; wk. 1 - Matthew 2 Messiah for the Magi 12.7.25Joy To The World Advent Series; wk. 2 - Hebrew 8 Making It Real For His People 12.14.25Joy To The World Advent Series; wk. 3 - Luke 2 The Birth of the Ancient of Days 12.21.25Trusting God in Every Season: Ecclesiastes 3:1–13 12.28.25
No Comments