The Sunday of All Sundays
John 20 – Resurrection Sunday – Daniel J. Baker – Apr 9, 2023

Introduction

Proverbs series...

Please stand for the reading of John 20:1–10.
“This is the word of the Lord.” “Thanks be to God.”

Warner Wallace spent years as a homicide detective in Torrance, CA, just outside of LA. He eventually became part of a task force that investigated cold cases, unsolved crimes typically homicides. He picked apart clues and eyewitness testimony and tried to determine what really happened.

He talks about himself in these years. Wallace saw a really dark part of the world as a cold case investigator. He was losing his faith in people. He says, “I trusted no one and thought of myself as superior to the vast majority of people I encountered. I was cocky, cynical, and distant....My heart was shrinking and growing harder with every case I worked and with every passing year.”[1]

And then his wife brought him to church. He said he was 35-years old before he actually listened to what a preacher was saying. Something intrigued his detective mind.

He dug deeper. Somewhere in this season a friend told him about C.S. Lewis. He read God in the Dock and was challenged by these words,

Christianity is a statement which, if false, is of no importance, and, if true, is of infinite importance. The one thing it cannot be is moderately important.
C.S. Lewis, God in the Dock[2]

He started to read the gospels as a detective. After all, these men claimed to be eyewitnesses. He was shocked at how much their accounts read like eyewitness testimony and not fiction.

He looked especially into the resurrection of Jesus. And when he encountered the Christ of the resurrection everything began to change.

This morning we’ll see the radical transformation that takes place when people see the resurrected Christ.

We’ll be looking at John 20, written by the apostle John in the decades after Jesus rose from the dead. He was one of the men closest to Jesus during his earthly ministry.

We’ll trace the radical transformation experienced by three people or groups of people: (1) the disciples; (2) Mary Magdalene; and (3) Doubting Thomas. We’ll see (1) the disciples go from Misunderstanding to Mission, (2) Mary go from Weeping to Witness, and (3) Thomas go from Doubting to Decided (20:24–31).

Prayer

I. The Disciples: From Misunderstanding to Mission (20:1–10, 19–23)

We’ll focus on Mary Magdalene in a minute. Here we’ll trace the transformation of thedisciples. Seeing the resurrected Christ they go from misunderstanding to mission. This starts with Peter and John (“the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved,” John 20:2).

20:1 – The narrative opens on “the first day of the week,” a Sunday. It’s the Sunday of all Sundays!

20:2 – Mary to the tomb while still dark, stone taken, so runs to Peter and John.

20:3–5 – They react immediately. John’s writing, so he mentions emphatically that he got there first.

20:6–8 – And then several details only an eyewitness would know: “linen cloths lying there,” “face cloth” how used and how they found it.

At this point they “believed,” but then is a mild rebuke. John says they misunderstood what needed to happen.

20:9 - The key misunderstanding: “They did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead” (John 20:9). Must.

• That little word “must” (Grk dei) spreaks to a Divine necessity. Jesus HAD to rise from the dead. He had to because of OT prophecies like Psalm 16:10:

You will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption. (Psalm 16:10)

• He HAD to rise from the dead to finish the work of redemption given to him.
• He HAD to rise from the dead to be declared the righteous Son of God.

20:10 – Amazed but still misunderstanding: “Then the disciples went back to their homes.”

But later that day, in the evening, things would change.

Mission

READ JOHN 20:19–23.

Jesus comes into their midst and everything changes – “he showed them his hands and his side” (20:20)—and they REJOICED! (“were glad” is too weak; they “rejoiced”!)

And in these verses, they’re given a MISSION.

• PEACE - 20:21 – “Peace be with you.” The great answer to, “It is finished!”, is the Lord himself saying to us, “Shalom be with you.”
• Any mission we’re given from Christ has to start with “PEACE” with Christ.
• PURPOSE - 20:21 – And then a commissioning, a purpose, a mission. They are SENT. Sent to preach the gospel—which both brings forgiveness and withholds forgiveness (20:23), depending on the response.
• POWER - 20:22 – And the promise that he would give the power they need. A taste of the Spirit to anticipate the greater outpouring coming at Pentecost.

Application: The Empty Tomb

• The tomb is empty. And that’s really important!
• There’s no reasonable explanation for the empty tomb except for the one we have here.
• No body of Jesus was every produced—and you know the Jewish leaders would have done that if they could.
• No grave robber would leave the grave cloths.
• The NT says these men so afraid they hide behind a “locked” door “TURNED THE WORLD UPSIDE DOWN” (Acts 17:6).
• You can’t explain that without the miracle of the resurrection of Christ.

But there’s something else about the empty tomb.

• It reminds us that the resurrection of Jesus was a resurrection of his body.
• His lungs weren’t breathing—and then they were.
• His heart wasn’t beating—and then it was.
• His brain wasn’t functioning—and then it was.
• His fingers weren’t moving—and then they were.
• That’s a reminder that we, too, will experience a BODILY resurrection (1 Cor 15:35–49).

II. Mary: From Weeping to Witness (20:11–18)

READ JOHN 20:11–18. Now we trace the transformation ofMary Magdalene. After seeing the resurrected Christ we’ll see her go from weeping to witness.

Mary Magdalene is named in all four gospels. Other women are present (20:2), but John focuses on her alone.

Mary is first introduced to us in Luke 8 as one of the women with Jesus during his ministry. She is identified as “Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out” (Luke 8:2). But she’s part of the group of women “who provided for them out of their means” (Luke 8:3).

This Mary Magdalene gets to the tomb while it’s still dark and sees the stone removed and then goes to tell Peter and John (20:1–2).

20:11 – In 20:11 she’s back at the tomb, weeping and stopping to look inside.

20:12 – Then she sees “two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain.”

20:13 – They ask a question as a subtle rebuke, “Woman, why are you weeping?” The tomb is empty! This isn’t a time to weep. It’s a time to celebrate.

But Mary with her eyesight still blurry from weeping turns and sees Jesus but doesn’t recognize him.

20:15 – Jesus asks, “Whom are you seeking?” (20:15; see 1:38; 18:4, 7). That’s a good question, isn’t it?

Earlier in the chapter she told the disciples that the tomb was empty because “they have taken the Lord out of the tomb” (John 20:2). She was “seeking” someone in the tomb, but who? Jesus is saying you need to be seeking for someone far more than who you think he is!

She thinks he’s a gardener and asks what he’s done. Not accusing him, just wondering.

20:16 – And then Jesus simply speaks her name, “Mary” (John 20:16). With that, everything changes.

• Her confusion evaporates and she understands exactly who this is talking to her.
• There’s a reminder that Jesus calls each of us individually, personally.
• He is the Good Shepherd who calls us by name!

The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. (John 10:3b–4)

She likely falls at his feet and clings to him. She had no idea this would happen!

But the RESURRECTION isn’t the end of the story.

• There’s more to come! There’s an ASCENSION that has yet to occur. So Jesus says, “Now’s not the time. I haven’t ASCENDED TO THE FATHER yet.”
• The gospel of Christ isn’t just the GOOD NEWS that Jesus lived among us, died for us, and was raised from the dead.
• The gospel includes the ASCENSION of Christ—Jesus ascending to take his place at the right hand of the Father, where he is now.

Jesus had more work to do, so he says not to cling to him. But so does she. At this point she’ll go from weeping to witness. Jesus commissions her.

Witness

Jesus tells her to “Go to my brothers and say” (John 20:17). Like the Great Commission itself which says to “Go” and “teach,” Mary is told to “Go” and “say.”

Skip Ryan on these words:

I think He is saying, “Go, Mary, be the missionary that I have appointed you to be by virtue of your changed life.” Mary of Magdala could be considered the first missionary....When the Lord changes us, He makes us useful....By His gospel power, Jesus changes men and women and causes them to turn their lives around so that they use their wealth differently, speak about Christ differently, even give their lives to His work in a different sort of way.
Skip Ryan, That You May Believe[3]

Let’s think about the message she is to bring—John 20:17.

• “I am ascending”—the resurrection is not the end of the story!
• “my Father and your Father, and to my God and your God”
• Isn’t that amazing! Jesus says to us, “My Father is your My God is your God.”
• To be a Christian is to be connected to Jesus Christ. To be in him. United with him.
• The church is called “THE BODY OF CHRIST.”
• Jesus said in the Upper Room Discourse that a day was coming soon and

In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. (John 14:20)

• And now Jesus in this message for Mary Magdalene is telling us one of the great realities of what it means that we’re “in” Jesus and Jesus is “in” us.

Application: Are you aware that God is your Father?

• And if you are, are you aware of what kind of Father is he?
• To you, is he a Father who is always displeased with you? If so, you’re wrong.
• To you, is he a Father who thinks you’re okay, and you don’t need to change at all? If so, you’re wrong.
• He’s a Father who truly loves us—which means he fully, completely, lovingly accepts us—and is working continually to transform us.
• That’s what love does.
• A transformation where you become what you were truly meant to be.

III. Thomas: From Doubting to Decided (20:19–31)

READ JOHN 20:24–25. Now we’ll focus on the transformation of “doubting” Thomas.” Seeing the resurrected Christ he goes from doubting to decided. Doubting Thomas is perhaps the most famous DOUBTER in history.

It sounds a little harsh to call him “doubting Thomas.” But when you read the text it fits.

The crux of his thinking we can all identify with: “Unless I see...I will never believe” (John 20:25). It sounds plausible. Maybe even smart. Or even scientific to only believe what you can re-produce, see with your own eyes.

But by this point in the narrative, we can already see the weakness of this position. When Thomas said this, Jesus was alive. He had risen from the dead. Jesus had been alive and ministering to people for a week. The fact Thomas hasn’t seen him yet doesn’t change that fact a bit.

The resurrection of Jesus is simply true. Demanding a certain kind of proof doesn’t change the fact it happened. But it might change whether you benefit from it.

But then in amazing and unnecessary kindness, Jesus answers his desire. The Lord and God who created Thomas from nothing answered the desire of Thomas.

And we’ll watch him go from doubting to decided.

Decided (20:26–29)

READ JOHN 20:26–29.

Notice it’s “eight days later” (John 20:26). It’s another Sunday, a week after the Sunday of all Sundays.

Again Jesus enters their “locked” room. And again, “Peace be with you.”

And then he addresses Thomas personally. Just as he spoke Mary’s name personally, so he addresses Thomas personally.

• He tells Thomas not just to see him but to touch him (John 20:27).
• But along with that is a mild rebuke: “Do not disbelieve, but believe” (John 20:27).

Thomas’ response is a perfect expression of true faith in Christ: “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28)—“Jesus is truly God, and I will follow him as my Lord!”

Thomas at this point is decided. He’s convinced. His doubts are gone and give way to worship.

• Just how decided is revealed by his later life.
• Thomas would eventually leave the home he knew and the people he loved and take the gospel into India.[4]
• There are Christians in southwestern India who identify as “Thomas Christians” because of the ministry of the apostle Thomas.
• He was transformed and never the same.

But Jesus adds another rebuke.

• And this isn’t just Jesus talking to Thomas. This is John talking to us, the readers—which means it’s God talking to us the reader as well.
• Jesus says, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” (John 20:29).
• “Blessed” means “happy, full, complete, recipients of God’s favor” (makarios, BDAG).
• Here Jesus is talking to us. He’s saying, “BLESSED ARE YOU who have not seen and yet have believed” (John 20:29).
• Reminds us of Peter’s words:

Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory. (1 Peter 1:8)

• Christianity is believing in and loving and following a God we haven’t seen...yet. We will, but we haven’t...yet.

We’re BLESSED if we believe this. WHY?

READ JOHN 20:30–31.

What is “written in this book” is intentional. It’s for a purpose. It’s so that YOU, reader—YOU, listener—might “BELIEVE” something very specific.

• Believe that “Jesus is the Christ” (John 20:31).
• Who is the one who fulfills the OT prophecies about the Messiah? Jesus of Nazareth. Born to Mary. Crucified by Pilate. Raised from the tomb. Seated at the right hand of God.
• When you know that and believe that you receive “life in his name.”

For the disciples, they needed to SEE in order to BELIEVE. But for us, we BELIEVE in order to SEE. When we BELIEVE we begin to see Jesus in a way we never saw him before. We see the Creation in a way we never saw it before. We see ourselves and others in a way we never saw them before.

St. Augustine reflected on this idea in a sermon.

Understand, in order to believe; believe, in order to understand.
Augustine, “Sermon 43”[5]

Conclusion

As I said at the beginning, the cold-case investigator J. Warner Wallace began to look into Christianity as a detective. He began to see what he called “the cumulative case” for Christianity, he became convinced “that” it was true. More time passed, and he continued his study of the gospels and the claims about the resurrection of Jesus. And somewhere in those months he went from believing that it was true to believing in Christ. He became a Christian.

He said he then learned patience. And compassion. “As someone who had been forgiven, I now developed the capacity to forgive.” Looking back after 16 years he says his wife “is still amazed at the transformation.”[6]

The story of J. Warner Wallace mirrors what we saw in our passage—“transformation” as people encounter the Christ of the resurrection.

• The disciples: From misunderstanding to mission. “As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.”
• Mary Magdalene: From weeping to witness. She went from being a woman known only for being possessed by demons to being the first eyewitness of the empty tomb. The first eyewitness of the resurrection. And even the first missionary. Why? Because she knew that Jesus’ Father was her Father, and Jesus’ God was her God.
• Doubting Thomas. From doubting to decided. From skepticism to certainty. From faith-less to faith-filled. Thomas would give his people to spreading the good news of Jesus. Why? Because he knew that the one who was crucified by Roman soldiers was, “my Lord and my God.”

Action: (1) read the gospels or (2) J. Warner Wallace’s Cold-Case Christianity.

The tomb is empty. The Savior is alive. And he offers life to you if you’ll lay aside the demand to see with your physical eyes and instead trust the things “written in this book” and embrace him as Lord and God.

Prayer and Song

[1] J. Warner Wallace, Cold-Case Christianity: A Homicide Detective Investigates the Claims of the Gospels (Colorado Springs: David C. Cook, 2013), 258.

[2] C.S. Lewis, God in the Dock: Essays on Theology and Ethics (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1970), 101.

[3] Joseph “Skip” Ryan, That You May Believe: New Life in the Son (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2003), 359.

[4] See “The Incredible Journey” at https://www.theguardian.com/books/2000/apr/15/books.guardianreview.

[5] Augustine, “Sermon 43” on Isaiah 7:9. In the Greek OT that verse is translated, “If you will not believe, neither will you understand.”

[6] Wallace, 258.