The Destruction of Death

The Bible can be summarized by:

God's Creation Genesis 1-2

Sin's Inception Genesis 3

God's Intervention Genesis 4- Revelation1-18

Paradise Restored Revelation 19-22 

John 20.1-18

Comment from the crowd on Lazarus's Death...

John 11:37 But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?” 

John 11:40 Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?” 

The raising of the dead has occured from time to time throughout the Bible. Jesus never attended a  funeral service that He didn't break up. "A good thing He called, 'Lazarus come forth.' If He had just said, 'Come forth,' He would have emptied the whole cemetery!"- Vance Havner

He was placed in a borrowed tomb because He was only going to need it for the weekend. That little pebble in front of the tomb was nothing compared to the Rock of Ages inside!

Mary Magdalene was the first to see Him.

1. The First To Go To The Tomb Did Not Go In Faith But Out Of Love.

Mark 16:1-3 When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?” 

What is in your hands?

They had spices.

They were going to anoint a dead body, to perserve it, to honor it, to weep, mourning chamber

They were fully expecting to find a dead body. That is what is in a grave. But they were in for the surprise of their lives!

They did not go in faith or hope but the greatest of these is love. 

There may be times when our faith fails... Anxiety, doubt

There may be times when we lose hope temporarily but if our love for Jesus is, our faith andnhope will be restored.

She was among the first to come to the grave.

Love wins. It always wins!

Love is stronger than death.

It is beautiful thing that love can do. It will open doors. She had a love for Jesus that was deeper han death. 

At one time Mary was  a very tormented person. Possessed by 7 spirits she lived in constant torment. Driven, restless the evil spirits had control of her life. Jesus delivered her.

Now out of deep love for her LORD, out of repsect and admiration and thnaksgiving for delivering her she makes her way to the place where they laid Him.

2. When Mary Did Not Find Him She Leaned On Her Own Understanding.

John 20:2 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!” 

Love and Logic will do that.

John 20:15 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.” 

"I will get him." I do not know how much Jesus weighed. She was a woman yet alone she said she would get Him.

Grief will play tricks wit your mind. In this case she had forgotten His Words about rising again. Tough days, emotionally draining. Mary was at the cross, right up to the end.

Some of you are greiving the loss of someone you loved. We are all grieving the loss of two people we loved who left us a few months ago. Grief can drag your emotions all over the place.

She called Him LORD even after He died. She called Him, "My LORD."

They have taken my LORD.

That is a reason for weeping.

Looking at the schools, colleges, seminaries, country, even churches- they have taken away my LORD.

Easter and Christmas- they have taken away my LORD.

The Blindness of Mary- This was not a time of weeping. What she thought was one thing- the truth was another. Mary didn't  know the whole story because she forgot what He said.

Luke 24:5-8 In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ” Then they remembered his words. 

She was the first one, the very first one to witness the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

3. The Joy Of The Resuurection Resounds Today!

It is why you are here this morning!

It is the cornerstone of our faith.

It gives up hope for the days ahead and for eternity!

Revelation 21:1-4 Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and He will dwell with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”