A Few Thoughts on John 20:8 The Empty Tomb

This Blood Landmark Baptist Church Shelby NC featuring Ashley Blanton

John 20:8 GW Then the other disciple, who arrived at the tomb first, went inside. He saw and believed.

Happy Resurrection Day

The setting

B1 Jesus was murdered by crucifixion by the Romans with the blessing of the Jewish leaders.

B2 Despite all protections by the Roman guard, the tomb is empty.

B3 Now it is early Sunday morning.

B4 The eastern sky had just begun to show its glow of the coming sun.

B5 Mary Magdalene came to the tomb.

B6 She saw the stone which had been covering the opening to the tomb rolled away.

B7 Not entering, she ran to find Simon Peter and John.

B8 Mary was confused and perhaps distraught.

B9 She told Peter and John, “They have removed the Lord from the tomb, and we don't know where they've put him."

B10 Peter and John left her and started running towards the tomb. Note, they knew where it was.

B11 John was faster than Peter. Arriving, John looked in, saw the linen clothes, but did not go in the tomb.

B12 Peter arrives and goes into the tomb.

B13 Peter sees the folded cloth that had been on Jesus’s head.

B14 John then goes in, sees the empty tomb, and believes.

B15 They didn’t understand the Scriptures which spoke about the resurrection of the Messiah.

B14 They left.

B15 Mary stayed and looking in starts to weep, not understanding the resurrection.

The empty tomb

B1 Foretold

C1 Soul in Sheol and body not decayed: Psalm 16:10 NASB For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol; Nor will You allow Your Holy One to undergo decay.

C2 We learn: Isaiah 53:10-12 ESV Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. 11 Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities. 12 Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors.

D1 It was Yahweh’s decision for Messiah to be crushed (suffer disfigurement).

D2 It was Messiah’s soul that was an offering for sin. My sin, your sin, everyone’s sin. Forgiveness comes when conditions are meet, namely, if we believe and trust in Jesus Christ alone for salvation.

D3 Even though Messiah goes through all these things, He will see His offspring, that is, He will be raised from death and see those who did believe and trust in Him.

D4 Messiah’s soul suffered anguish.

D5 He is righteous, that is, sinless.

D6 He is the satisfactory payment for the penalty of sin. Either each individual suffers eternal torment or Messiah.

D7 Messiah died, dead.

D8 Messiah was considered as evil. He carried our sins and the punishment for our sins.

D9 Bore the sin of many, that is, the multitudes of all humans. It is clear from this statement that Messiah did not bare (punished) for his sins; He did it for the sins of all other humans.

D10 He is the Mediator between God and humans (makes intercession for the transgressors).

B2 Fulfilled (Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24, John 20)

B3 Significance of

C1 Proves His deity. He is God. Romans 1:2-4 ESV which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, 3 concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh 4 and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord,

C2 Proves God’s power, ability, is the life-giver. Acts 3:14-15 BSB You rejected the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. 15 You killed the Author of life, but God raised Him from the dead, and we are witnesses of the fact.

C3 Proves Jesus is the Messiah: John 20:30-31 BSB Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book. 31 But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name.

C4 Proves His salvation is true salvation: 1 Corinthians 15:14-15 BSB And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is worthless, and so is your faith. 15 In that case, we are also exposed as false witnesses about God. For we have testified about God that He raised Christ from the dead, but He did not raise Him if in fact the dead are not raised.

C5 Proves His death completed the punishment for sins and His resurrection granted justification: Romans 4:25 ESV who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.

C6 Proves He is the intercessor for believers: Romans 8:34 NIV Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.

C7 Proves He is the resurrecting power for believers. The believers will be resurrected. 1 Corinthians 15:20-23 NIV But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. 22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. 23 But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him.

C8 Proves He is lord of both the living and the dead: Romans 14:9 NLT Christ died and rose again for this very purpose—to be Lord both of the living and of the dead.

Romans 5:1 NLT Therefore, since we have been made right in God's sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.

Peace with God

Jesus Christ is risen. Yes, He is risen indeed.

1 & 2 Corinthians Teaching Outline Part A

B1 Basic Issue is Church Problems

B2 Basic outline

C1 1-4 Divisions in the church

C2 5-6 Moral Issues

C3 7-8 Questions About Marriage and Offerings Made to Idols

C4 9-10 It is right for a Christian worker to receive financial help

C5 11 Women and the Lord’s Supper

C6 12-14 Spiritual Gifts

C7 15-16 Resurrection and Final Teachings

B3 1-4 Divisions in the church

C1 We are not to follow certain teachers. There are many big name teachers with incredibly large followings.

D1 2 Peter 2:1 LEB But there were also false prophets among the people, as there will be false teachers among you also, who will bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, thus bringing on themselves swift destruction.

D2 2 Corinthians 11:14-15 BSB And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their actions.

C2 We need to beware.

D1 Acts 17:11 NRSV These Jews were more receptive than those in Thessalonica, for they welcomed the message very eagerly and examined the scriptures every day to see whether these things were so.

D2 1 John 4:1 GNB My dear friends, do not believe all who claim to have the Spirit, but test them to find out if the spirit they have comes from God. For many false prophets have gone out everywhere.

D3 Revelation 2:2 NRSV I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance. I know that you cannot tolerate evildoers; you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them to be false.

C3 We are followers of Jesus Christ.

C4 Big name teachers can be wrong. We are human. If we blindly follow them in their erroneous teaching, we will be held accountable, just as they will be held accountable by God for false teaching.

C5 We are responsible to read and study the Bible. If you don’t know how, consider this source as a start.

C6 All brothers and sisters in Christ (believers) have the same Holy Spirit.

C7 Teachers are important, but we must test them. They are resources, not infallible.

B4 5-6 Moral Issues

C1 A man married his step-mother. (1 Corinthians was written ~55 CE).

C2 The Jerusalem Council (~49 CE) decided before: Acts 15:19-20 EMTV Therefore I judge that we must not cause trouble for those who are turning to God from among the Gentiles; 20 but that we write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, and from sexual immorality, from things strangled, and from blood.

C3 The church must deal with this sin by excommunicating these 2 people. It is not a time to rejoice but to be sorrowful. God still has rules for His people. Paul’s decision is consistent with Old Testament teaching: Leviticus 18:8 GW Never have sexual intercourse with your stepmother. She is related to you through your father.

C4 A little sin leads to big sin. One time occurrence of sin leads to many occurrences.

B5 7-8 Questions About Marriage and Offerings Made to Idols

C1 Due to the persecution of the day, Paul recommends not to marry. Nevertheless, marriage is honorable and blessed by God. If you want to marry, marry.

C2 Sex is good and blessed in marriage (God’s plan). Both must enjoy pleasure.

C3 Husbands must submit to their wives just as wives to husbands: I Corinthians 7:4 GW A wife doesn't have authority over her own body, but her husband does. In the same way, a husband doesn't have authority over his own body, but his wife does.

C4 Divorce is not God’s plan, but He understands the sinful nature of humans, so there are allowances. Conditions for Divorce

C5 Circumcision is not a condition needed for salvation, to live a godly Christian life, or to be considered by God to be a mature, superior Christian.

C6 Personally, I understand this passage to teach that if we are aware that food or other things have been dedicated and undergone rituals of a false religion, then we are not to use them. Not using them to provide a testimony and a protection to those who would consider using them sin. If we are not aware of any dedication or rituals, then we don’t ask questions.

D1 I Corinthians 8:6-9 GW But for us, "There is only one God, the Father. Everything came from him, and we live for him. There is only one Lord, Jesus Christ. Everything came into being through him, and we live because of him." But not everyone knows this. Some people are so used to worshiping false gods that they believe they are eating food offered to a false god. So they feel guilty because their conscience is weak. Food will not affect our relationship with God. We are no worse off if we eat that food and no better off if we don't. But be careful that by using your freedom you don't somehow make a believer who is weak in faith fall into sin.

D2 I Corinthians 8:12-13 GW When you sin against other believers in this way and harm their weak consciences, you are sinning against Christ. Therefore, if eating food offered to false gods causes other believers to lose their faith, I will never eat that kind of food so that I won't make other believers lose their faith.

B6 9-10 It is right for a Christian worker to receive financial help

C1 It is right for a Christian worker to receive financial help

C2 Paul give the reason we do not eat food dedicated and/or blessed by ritual of a false god. I Corinthians 10:18-21 GW Look at the people of Israel from a human point of view. Don't those who eat the sacrifices share what is on the altar? Do I mean that an offering made to a false god is anything, or that a false god itself is anything? Hardly! What I am saying is that these sacrifices which people make are made to demons and not to God. I don't want you to be partners with demons. You cannot drink the Lord's cup and the cup of demons. You cannot participate at the table of the Lord and at the table of demons.

B7 11 Women and the Lord’s Supper

C1 The first part of the chapter deals with proper attitudes in prayer.

C2 The second part concerning the Lord’s Supper. The Lord’s Supper

D1 Is worship of God.

D2 Is a corporate gathering of fellowship with God.

D3 Is a time to leave personal opinions and focus on worshiping together.

D4 Is a time to remember the great blessing of salvation made possible by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

B8 12-14 Spiritual Gifts

C1 God gives spiritual gifts for service to Him. This is towards the brothers and sisters, then as a witness to those who do not believe.

C2 People may have the same gift, but in different quantity and area of service.

C3 God’s gifts are different than natural gifts.

C4 Love is a choice. Love is seen in its actions in public AND in private.

C5 The proper use of gifts in the church service.

B8 15-16 Resurrection and Final Teachings

C1 The importance of remaining steadfast and faithful in belief and life.

C2 A theological summary of salvation. I Corinthians 15:3-4 MKJV For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received, that Christ died for our sins, according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.

C3 Truths about the resurrection

D1 It will happen, because it was promised and Jesus was resurrected.

D2 All people are resurrected. Some to eternal life (because of their faith in Jesus), and some to eternal death (because they refused to believe). Daniel 12:2 NIV Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt.

D3 Is proof that death will one day be destroyed, because Yeshua, the Messiah, is victor over all.

D4 The resurrected body of believers is different than our present body.

D5 Show us the importance of being faithful and steadfast always even to death. I Corinthians 15:58 MKJV So that, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not without fruit in the Lord.

C4 Freely given offerings are God’s plan to meet the needs of believers and congregational needs. The tithe is for Israel. The OT tithe is more or less a tax for Israelites. A couple of thoughts about giving and tithe here. (Note, I am no fan of Mr. MacArthur (his doctorate is honorary, not earned) but his comments are appropriate).

C5 Final notes and greetings

Great Expectations

Theme: The Believer’s Identity

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:1-21

Objectives: (From the D6 Fusion Sunday School Lesson book)

Know: Christ has given us the privilege of representing Him and sharing the message of reconciliation, even as we long for our home in Heaven.

Think: I allow the fact that I represent Christ to guide all I do.

Do: Live as Christ’s representative to the world, sharing the message of reconciliation.

B1 2 Corinthians 5:1-10,

C1 How does this verse give us comfort: 2 Corinthians 5:1 GNB92 For we know that when this tent we live in—our body here on earth—is torn down, God will have a house in heaven for us to live in, a home he himself has made, which will last forever.

C2 What wonderful hope is for Christians who die?

C3 Are we going to be a disembodied soul floating around in the sky?

C4 What are some differences between our current body and the new one?

D1

Our body
Old	New
Made with hands	Not made with hands
From earth (dirt)	From God
Not eternal	Eternal
On earth	In heaven
Physical	Spirit

D2 What is the difference between the Christian’s new body and the nonbeliever?

E1 Philippians 3:21 GNB He will change our weak mortal bodies and make them like his own glorious body, using that power by which he is able to bring all things under his rule.

E2 This verse speaks of the resurrection body but somethings are similar: 1 Corinthians 15:42 GW That is how it will be when the dead come back to life. When the body is planted, it decays. When it comes back to life, it cannot decay.

E3 What else can you think of?

C5 What is our guarantee for the new life, body, home, and fellowship to come?

C6 We have never seen heaven, so how do we know there is one?

D1 It is most reasonable.

D2 Jesus existed in history.

D3 The Gospels record eyewitness testimony of Jesus’s ministry.

D4 It is most reasonable that Jesus is who He says He is—God.

D5 He states there is a heaven, so it is most reasonable that heaven exists.

F1 Matthew 5:34 GNB But now I tell you: do not use any vow when you make a promise. Do not swear by heaven, for it is God's throne.

F2 John 6:33 GNB For the bread that God gives is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.

F3 John 17:1 GNB After Jesus finished saying this, he looked up to heaven and said, "Father, the hour has come. Give glory to your Son, so that the Son may give glory to you.

C7 What hope does this verse give you? 2 Corinthians 5:8 GNB We are full of courage and would much prefer to leave our home in the body and be at home with the Lord.

C8 2 Corinthians 5:9 NKJV Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. Why should we try to please God?

C9 The Bema Seat in 2 Corinthians 5:10 refers to the judgement of Christians what we have done or not done. This is right after the Rapture. For more information, see here. Compare: 1 Corinthians 3:11-15 NKJV For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each one's work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is. 14 If anyone's work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.

B2 2 Corinthians 5:11-18,

C1 What does terror of the Lord refer to? Why would that motivate Paul? Why should that motivate you and me?

C2 2 Corinthians 5:12, why would character (heart) be of greater importance than appearance? Why do many people judge character by appearance?

C3 2 Corinthians 5:13, why do many people think the Christian’s lifestyle is insane? Name some of the rules in these verses.

D1 Ephesians 4:14-15 WEB that we may no longer be children, tossed back and forth and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in craftiness, after the wiles of error; but speaking truth in love, we may grow up in all things into him, who is the head, Christ.

D2 Ephesians 4:26-28 WEB ”Be angry, and don’t sin.” Don’t let the sun go down on your wrath, neither give place to the devil. Let him who stole steal no more; but rather let him labor, working with his hands the thing that is good, that he may have something to give to him who has need.

D3 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 WEL 14 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers, for what does righteousness have in common with unrighteousness. What fellowship is there between light and darkness? 15 What harmony does Christ have with Satan? What does a believer share with an unbeliever? 16 What does the Temple of God have in agreement with idols? For you are the Temple of the Living God, just as God has said, "I will live in them and walk in them. I will be their God, and they will be my people. 17 "So then come out from among them. Be separate," says the Lord, "and do not touch [what is] unclean, then I will accept you, 18 “And I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters," says the Lord Almighty.

C4 2 Corinthians 5:14, for how many people did Jesus die for? Remember, the Bible must be understood and interpreted in its plain, normal sense. Compare: Romans 6:1-8 HCSB What should we say then? Should we continue in sin so that grace may multiply? Absolutely not! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Or are you unaware that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too may walk in a new way of life. For if we have been joined with Him in the likeness of His death, we will certainly also be in the likeness of His resurrection. For we know that our old self was crucified with Him in order that sin’s dominion over the body may be abolished, so that we may no longer be enslaved to sin, since a person who has died is freed from sin’s claims. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with Him.

C5 2 Corinthians 5:15, how many might live? Is it all or some? What would make the difference?

C6 2 Corinthians 5:16, should we treat some people better than others? A comment from J. C. Ryle on Luke 11:27-32 is worth reading: We are all naturally inclined to attach great importance to a religion of sight, and sense, and touch, and eye, and ear. We love a sensuous, tangible, material Christianity, far better than one of faith. And we need reminding that seeing is not always believing. Thousands saw Christ continually, while He was on earth, and yet clung to their sins. Even His brethren at one time "did not believe in him." (Joh 7:5.) A mere fleshly knowledge of Christ saves no one. The words of Paul are very instructive: "Though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more." (2Co 5:16.) We are to worship Christ in spirit and truth, not flesh and experience (John 4:23 NKJV But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him).

C7 2 Corinthians 5:17,

D1 How perfect was God’s first creation (as in Genesis 1-2)? (Everything was pronounced good. God, so to speak, took His books of standards out and checked everything, and everything was perfect).

D2 How about God’s new creation in a believer?

D3 If all is new, what should our attitude be about God’s ways?

D4 How do we know if all things are new?

E1 For ourselves, we can read and study 1 John.

E2 For others it is more difficult, because their thoughts, desires, words, and deeds must be the same in private as they are in public. This is one reason that if a spouse (usually wife) reports abuse or children report molestation, it must be believed and acted on. Most of these are crimes against society and MUST be reported to law enforcement. This would also be true for pastoral abuse as: 3 John 1:9-11 GW I wrote a letter to the congregation. But Diotrephes, who loves to be in charge, won't accept us. 10 For this reason, when I come I will bring up what he's doing. He's not satisfied with saying malicious things about us. He also refuses to accept the believers we send as guests. He even tries to stop others who want to accept them and attempts to throw those people out of the congregation. 11 Dear friend, never imitate evil, but imitate good. The person who does good is from God. The person who does evil has never seen God.

E3 We need integrity, not transparency, for integrity refers to the incorruptibility and honesty of a person’s character, while transparency can be lied about and turned against another person so as to abuse them.

E4 Also these differences in thoughts, desires, words, and deeds: Galatians 5:19-26 WEL Now the works of the flesh are obvious; they are adultery, sexual sin, moral corruption, unrestrained lust, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, strife, provoking jealousy, hot anger, pushing to be first, selfish scheming, dissensions, heresy, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, wild partying, and so on, about which I have told you before, and as I have also told you in the past that those who practice such things will not inherit the Kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. 24 Those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and lusts. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not be longing for empty praise, irritating one another, and envying one another.

C8 2 Corinthians 5:18-20,

D1 Who has done all the steps leading to salvation and creating the new person?

D2 Do we deserve any credit? (NO!)

D3 Through whom did God restore fellowship of sinners after they believed the Gospel?

C9 2 Corinthians 5:21,

D1 When the Lord Jesus died, because of sin, whose sins were they?

E1 Isaiah 53:6 NLT - All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God's paths to follow our own. Yet the LORD laid on him the sins of us all.

E2 1 Peter 2:24 NLT - He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed.

E3 John 1:29 WEB The next day, he saw Jesus coming to him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

E4 1 John 2:2 NKJV And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.

E5 2 Corinthians 5:18-19 NKJV Now all things [are] of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.

D2 How does God consider believers righteous?

E1 We sinned, and God must punish us for sin.

E2 God wants all to be saved, forgiven, and new creations.

E3 Either we can be punished or someone else.

E4 The Lord Jesus took the punishment for us.

E5 Since all our sin has been punished, we now are righteous.

E6 It is all of God!

E7 Rejoice!

B3 Next week:

C1 Growing in holiness

C2 Theme: The Believer’s Testimony

C3 Scriptures: 2 Corinthians 6:1-7:1