Then He Rose

John 20:1-18 (ESV) 

The Resurrection 

20 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.2So 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.”3So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb.4Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first.5And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in.6Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there,7and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus'[a] head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself.8Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; 9for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead.10Then the disciples went back to their homes. 

Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene 

11But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb.12And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet.13They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.”14Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus.15Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.”16Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic,[b] “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). 17Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your

Father, to my God and your God.’”18Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”—and that he had said these things to her. 

Introduction — “How did we miss that?” (The Artemis Launch) - Herman Bavinck, “For Scripture, then, everything depends on the physical resurrection of Christ. if Christ did not arise physically, then death, then sin, then he who had the power of death has not been defeated.” 

We should view the resurrection not merely as a victory over death, but as the dawn of a new creation. The resurrection (the omega point of God’s redemptive acts) inaugurates the era of new creation. How fitting that this re-creation unfolded in a garden, a parallel to Genesis, where the curse first began. Now, Christ, the Last Adam, undoes the fall, reverses the curse, and restores communion with God. 

I. The Resurrection as Re-Creation (vv. 1–10) 

- D.A. Carson notes: “the fact that the four gospels specified that the resurrection took place on the first day of the week reveals the commencement of something new.” 

- Mary Coloe on the resurrection of Christ: “The completion of God’s creative work… as one creative act draws to its end, the new eschatological age is ushered in.” 

- Many believe that the death and resurrection are the seventh sign: The Final and conclusive proof that Jesus is the Christ and the Son of God (in John, the death and resurrection are unified as his 

glorification – John 12:23) 

- Jesus’ resurrection was different in kind 

A. Its not-so-empty-tomb 

- Francis Moloney’s “divine passive”: “having been removed” [20:1] and “having been folded up” [20:7]. A sign of triumph and victory over death. Jesus is portrayed as an active conqueror.

B. It’s not like the raising of Lazarus 

C. It’s not having the same body 

- The resurrected body of Christ, according to John 

Stott, “new, different, and wonderful.” 

- A gospel without the resurrection offers no hope, no 

justification, and no victory over sin or death. 

- A gospel without the resurrection offers no hope, no justification, and no victory over sin or death. 

II. The Resurrection as Reversal (vv. 11–18) 

- Jesus accomplished something of cosmic significance in his 

resurrection 

- Nicholas Schaser observes that the connection between the two gardens can be best described as a “reversal,” where the “second Adam” counteracts the curse resulting from the “first Adam’s fall.” - Jesus brought light into a world filled with darkness. 

- Jesus brought life into a world dominated by death. 

The resurrection is God’s declaration that death has no dominion. Darkness has no final word. The grave has no lasting claim. The risen Christ stands as the firstfruits: 

“But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ.” (1 Corinthians 15:20-23) 

III. The Resurrection as Renewal (vv. 16–18) 

E.C. Hoskyns, who views Jesus as the gardener, “the true, life-giving ruler of the Garden of God who has called his own sheep by name.” 

A. John “believes” – He saw and believed 

B. The disciples sealed their faith with their own blood.

C. Mary's "blinders' were removed. When Jesus called her by 

name, she recognized and saw him (Her sorrow turns to joy. 

Her confusion turns to clarity. Her distance turns to 

communion). Notice Jesus’ words in John 20:17b: “I ascend 

to My Father and your Father, to My God and your God.” 

This is covenant language. This is family language. This is restored communion. The resurrection renews our relationship with God. It brings us into His family. It gives us access to His presence. It secures our place in His love. 

D. Renewed communion gives us a new vision (leads directly to mission). Jesus sends Mary out: “Go to My brothers…” She becomes the first witness of the resurrection. She becomes the first herald of the new creation. She proclaims what she has seen because the risen Christ commands her to speak. 

Conclusion and application: 

1. Jesus rose just as He said! 

2. Because He rose, we cannot remain silent.