TOPIC:
C, EASTER, HE SAW AND BELIEVED
C, EASTER HOMILY, JOHN 20:1-9 APRIL 17, 2022
1. STORY
The Smith family was awakened at 3a.m. on Monday night by a police officer who
told them that their son John died when his car crashed into a tree at a high speed.
They were shocked and deeply saddened by this news. They immediately went to
tell John’s grandparents. They knocked on the door, and when the door opened,
they were both stunned and overjoyed to see their son in front of them. It was
discovered that the police officer made a mistake and another man died in the
accident. In a short time, John’s parents went from deep sorrow to great joy.
The same thing happened to the followers of Jesus when they learned that Jesus
who had died on Friday rose from the dead on Saturday.
2. GOSPEL, JOHN 20:1-9
A. THEY HAVE TAKEN THE LORD FROM THE TOMB.
i)
Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and returned quickly telling the disciples that
someone had taken the body of Jesus from the tomb.
ii)
Peter and another disciple ran to the tomb, and Peter entered first noticing
the clothes used by Jesus were there but not the body of Jesus. “They did not
yet understand the scripture that he had to rise from the dead.”
B. HE SAW AND BELIEVED.
The
other disciple then entered the tomb and saw the burial clothes placed in
separate places. He then realized that the body was not stolen as a thief would
not fold the burial clothes but that Jesus truly had risen from the dead. “He
saw and believed.” He was the first one to believe in the resurrection of
Jesus.
3. APPLICATION TO LIFE
A. MANY DO NOT BELIEVE.
i) The resurrection of Jesus from the dead is truly an amazing miracle. It is
no wonder that many refused to believe.
ii)
Due to the difficulties, problems, and failures we may experience in life, we
must resist the temptation to doubt that Jesus is alive and cares for us.
iii)
We help those who do not believe in Jesus by our deep faith in the presence of
Jesus in our lives.
B. WE BELIEVE.
We
believe in the following:
i)
Jesus died and on the third day rose from the dead.
ii)
We will rise to new life after our death due to the power of Jesus.
iii)
Death is not the end of life but a change from living on earth to living in
heaven.
iv)
We will live forever enjoying peace and happiness in heaven with God.
4. CONCLUSION
i) John’s parents went from deep sorrow to great joy when they discovered their
son was alive even though they were told he died in an auto accident.
ii)
The disciples were deeply saddened when they found the tomb empty. One of the
disciples, when he saw the folded burial clothes, knew that the body of Jesus
was not stolen but that he had truly risen. He was the first to believe in the
resurrection of Jesus.
iii)
Though many do not believe, we firmly believe that Jesus rose from the dead. We
thank Jesus for his teaching and ask for his strength to help others to
believe.
