Sunday Recap for 4/16: Why is Easter about believing?
On Easter 2017, we looked at this Big Idea: Why is Easter about believing?
And we looked at John 20 to answer that question:
John 20:1 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. 10 Then the disciples went back to their homes.
We found these 3 answers to that question:
Big Idea: Why is Easter about believing?
- Because We Fear
- Because We Need Assurance
- Because Need Faith to be Saved
Because We Fear
John 20:1 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.”
Mary feared. She ran to the tomb to see if Jesus had risen from the dead, and when she found the tomb empty, she couldn’t yet believe. She ran back to the Apostles to tell them that someone had stolen the body of Jesus. She had faith to run to the tomb, but feared once she found it empty. This is where we need faith. We believe what Jesus tells us, but we still fear to believe that Jesus is going to do what He said He would do.
Because We Need Assurance
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.
Peter and John run to the tomb. John is too afraid to enter, but Peter runs in to see if Jesus is alive. He fears just like Mary, but God gives Him a bit of assurance: Jesus’ facial burial cloth is folded and to the side. Grave robbers don’t fold cloths. Only Jesus would have done that. In the midst of Peter’s faith and fear, Jesus gave him just enough assurance to believe that Jesus was alive. We need assurance as much as we need anything else. God may not give us all that want, but He does assure us that His is true and that we can trust His promises.
Because We Need Faith to Be Saved
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. 10 Then the disciples went back to their homes.
Seeing the burial cloth was enough for John and Peter to believe that Jesus rose from the dead, but they still didn’t completely understand what Jesus had done. That would come with the pouring out of the Spirit. Believers today have the Spirit and the completed scriptures to help us believe and be transformed by the death and resurrection of Jesus.
Big Idea: Why is Easter about believing?
Truth: Faith in Jesus’ resurrection is the cure for our heart’s fear, the assurance our heart’s need, and the salvation our sinful hearts
Application: Live knowing that the realities of the resurrection are the cure for your fear more so than God giving you anything that you want.
Action: Instead of praying for things that would remove the need for faith, pray for assurance that the object of your faith is true.
If you missed the sermon or want to go through it again, you can watch this sermon on our YouTube page or listen to the audio.