The Empty Tomb of Jesus Christ

Transcript

GR 415
10/4/1981
The Empty Tomb of Jesus Christ
JOHN 20:1-10
Gil Rugh

John’s gospel in your Bibles. John’s gospel and the 20th chapter. Chapter 19 of John concluded with the burial of Jesus Christ. His death has occurred, and events surrounding the final preparation of His body and then the entombment. These matters occurred quickly because the Sabbath is approaching. And we looked last Sunday evening at some of the possibilities of the day of the week on which Christ was crucified and the relation of that to the Feast Sabbath of Passover. We noted that Christ was dying at the time of the sacrifice of the Passover Lamb in Israel, being a fulfillment of what God said in the Old Testament Scripture of the Passover Lamb. Very precisely fulfilled in each detail. In verse 36 the Scripture was fulfilled, ’’Not a bone of Him shall be broken" because the Old Testament had spoken clearly that the Passover Lamb was not to have any bones broken. It was a picture looking toward Jesus Christ. So instead of breaking His legs, they pierced His side. And that fulfilled another Old Testament prophecy from the Book of Zechariah, "They shall look on Him whom they pierced." So all the details even after the death of Jesus Christ are according to the predetermined plan of God in the presentation of His Son as the sacrifice for sins. We read in verse 38, Joseph of Arimathea and in verse 39, Nicodemus. And Joseph of Arimathea we are told was a secret disciple of Jesus Christ. We noted the other gospels told us that he was a rich man, that he was an influential member of the Sanhedrin, prominent member of the governing body in Israel. He was one of those that John chapter 12 says had not come forward in their faith because they feared the Jews. And so Joseph of Arimathea while being a disciple of Christ had been afraid to identify with Him. But now he does step forward and request of Pilate permission to bury the body of Christ. This again fulfills Old Testament prophecy, because Isaiah 53 had said clearly that while He is assigned a death with the wicked His burial would be with the rich. And so Jesus Christ is laid to rest in a rich man's tomb, with a rich man’s burial, because Nicodemus who had come to Him by night in John chapter 3 brings a hundred pounds of spices, a rich man’s burial, to anoint His body. He is anointed like a rich man, buried in a rich man’s tomb, even though His death was with the wicked, with the criminals.

Verse 42, "Therefore on account of the Jewish day of preparation, because the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there." In other words, because the Passover was coming, they had to hasten quickly to conclude the matter of the burial so it would be done by 6:00 in the evening, which would be Jewish time. That accounts for the fact that the women will be coming to the tomb early on Sunday morning to anoint the body, to finish doing those things there was not time to do when He was placed into the tomb.

Chapter 20 of John opens, "Now on the first day of the week...." So three days and three nights have transpired between chapter 19 and chapter 20. Chapter 19 closes with Him put in the grave. Jesus had said that for three days and three nights He would lay in the heart of the earth. Chapter 20 opens with the resurrection having occurred. So there is a period of three days and three nights, and I want to spend just a little bit of time with you before we look into these opening verses of chapter 20 on what the Scripture says about where Jesus was during those three days and three nights. John does not touch on it, but at least we ought to be familiar with what the Scriptures say. Many of us are familiar with the Apostles Creed which says that Jesus Christ descended into hell, picturing in the Creed the belief that Christ after His death on the cross, descended into hell and there made proclamation to those in hell. There He set free certain ones who had been waiting for His return.

Back in Luke chapter 16. While you turn there, let me remind you what the view of some is. Some hold that there was a place for departed saints, Hades, which is biblical, and Hades was the place where people after death went. It was divided into two section. There was a section for those who would suffer torment because they had refused to believe, and a place of happiness and bliss for those who were believers. Those who hold this view believe that no one went to heaven until after the resurrection of Jesus Christ. So that when Abraham died, he went to Hades, a place of blessing to await the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Now Luke chapter 16, and the account of the rich man and Lazarus as presented by Jesus Christ, verse 19. "Now there was a certain rich man, and he habitually dressed in purple and fine linen, gaily living in splendor every day. And a certain poor man named Lazarus was laid at his gate, covered with sores, and longing to be fed with the crumbs which were falling from the rich man’s table; besides, even the dogs were coming and licking his sores. Now it came about that the poor man died and he was carried away by the angels to Abraham's bosom; and the rich man also died and was buried. And in Hades he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and saw Abraham far away, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried out and said, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool off my tongue, for I am in agony in this flame.' But Abraham said, 'Child, remember that during your life you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus bad things; but now he is being comforted here, and you are in agony. Besides all this, between us and you there is a great chasm fixed, in order that those who wish to come over from here to you may not be able, and that none may cross over from there to us.' And he said, 'Then I beg you, Father, that you send him to my father's house—for I have five brothers—that he may warn them, lest they also come to this place of torment.' But Abraham said, 'They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.' But he said, 'No, Father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent!' But he said to him, 'If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone rises from the dead."' We see the situation here, Lazarus has died and gone to a place of blessing called Abraham’s bosom. The rich man has died and gone to a place of torment and suffering. Now the rich man is viewed as talking to Abraham across a great chasm. So some would see that both Lazarus and the rich man are in Hades, although it does not say that Lazarus is in Hades. It says that Lazarus is in Abraham's bosom. The rich man is in Hades, but he is crying out. I think the point that is being made here is that there is a great chasm fixed, in verse 26, and after death there is no crossing that chasm, that death seals forever your destiny in eternity. Those who believe there is a second chance after death, that those who die without believing will have opportunity after death to reconsider their decision. Jesus makes clear in Luke 16, no one crosses that chasm after death. You are either fixed in a place of blessing and happiness or you are fixed in a state of torment and suffering. Now I think that's the point being made in this account rather than there is conversation going back and forth and the proximity is close. So I would not see Luke 16 as necessarily indicating that these people were next to each other. Perhaps those in Hades and suffering will have some glimpse of the blessing of heaven. We don't know. We don't have any account here of Lazarus talking over this chasm, but simply to fix in our minds securely that upon death, your destiny is settled, and there will be no change.

Come over to Ephesians chapter 4. Paul is talking about the unity and oneness we have in Jesus Christ. Verse 3, he talks about being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. That ought to be a goal of every one of us as believers, promoting unity with peace, the unity of the spirit. And there is one body, one spirit, one hope of our calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all. So there is this basic unity that binds every believer together. And we as believers ought to be diligent to preserve that unity, manifest the peace that that unity brings. But there is variety and diversity in that unity, the gifts of the Spirit. Even though we are all one, we are a unity, a oneness. We have a oneness in Jesus Christ, but there is nonetheless a diversity. We are not all the same. That’s the biblical doctrine of spiritual gifts, verse 7. "But to each one of us grace was given, according to the measure of Christ's gift." The grace given is the ability to exercise a supernatural gift for the benefit of the body. Now our purpose in being here is not to discuss spiritual gifts but the next verse. "Therefore it says..." The ’it’ refers to the Scripture, Psalm 68:18. "When He ascended on high, He led captive a host of captives, and He gave gifts to men. Now this expression, 'He ascended' what does it mean except that He also had descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is Himself also He who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.)" Then some of the gifts that were given are enumerated in verse 11. Verse 8, "When He ascended on high, He led captive a host of captives..." Now some take this to mean that He descended into Hades, and all the Old Testament saints that were there waiting His resurrection were now set free by Jesus Christ. Now Abraham was free to go to heaven, the presence of God Himself. He led captive a host of captives, or literally, He led captivity captive.

Now. That's not my understanding of what's being said here. I do not understand that Old Testament saints like Abraham were held captive in Hades.
In Genesis chapter 15 God said that Abraham was declared righteous. When God declared Abraham righteous, that meant that Abraham was righteous before God.
So there is no need for Abraham to be held captive some place, awaiting freedom. Now I realize that the righteousness that God credited to Abraham was based upon the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. That's the only way God could save any of the Old Testament saints. But in the perspective and plan of God, Jesus Christ is the Lamb crucified from the foundation of the world. And He could declare Abraham righteous because from God’s perspective, His Son was dead and resurrected. There was no condition, no contingencies as far as that is concerned.

This expression "captivity captive" is used back in the Book of Judges, chapter 5. Turn back there. Judges chapter 5. As I mentioned, the quote is from Psalm 68:18, but this same expression "captivity captive" is used in the Song of Deborah and Barak in Judges chapter 5. Deborah was a prophetess; Barak was the leader of the army of Israel. They had won a great victory. Sisera the opposing general has been defeated and his army destroyed. So in Judges 5, verse 12, "Awake, awake, Deborah; awake, awake, sing a song! Arise, Barak, and take away your captives, 0 son of Abinoam." Take away your captives, or literally, take captivity captive. Now what is being referred to here is that Barak as the victorious general takes captive this opposing army. This army that had held Israel in captivity and domination now is being taken captive by Barak. So those who had formerly held Israel in captivity now themselves are taken prisoners, taken into captivity. So the idea in taking captivity captive is those who formerly held on to you, formerly held control over you, now themselves are being taken captive or controlled. You have the same idea in Isaiah chapter 14, verse 1, "When the Lord will have compassion on Jacob, and again choose Israel, and settle them in their own land, then strangers will join them and attach themselves to the house of Jacob. And the peoples will take them along and bring them to their place, and the house of Israel will possess them as an inheritance in the land of the Lord as male and female servants..." Now note this last statement, "...and they will take them as their captors, and they will rule over their oppressors." Those who formerly held them as captives now themselves are the captives and are being ruled over. So when in Ephesians chapter 4 it is said that Christ led captivity captive, I take it what he is talking about is the devil and his hosts, that in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and His ascension to the Father, Satan and his hosts are defeated and conquered. Those who held sway and domination over men’s souls now themselves have been defeated and conquered by Jesus Christ. You remember back in John chapter 12, verse 31, "Now judgment is upon this world. Now the ruler of this world shall be cast out." That’s what Jesus said would happen as a result of His death and resurrection. Satan would be judged and cast out. His power and domination would be broken. So he is the captor that is now led as the captured.

Look over in Colossians, chapter 2, in a parallel passage to Ephesians 4. Colossians chapter 2. We've been here because it is significant in the crucifixion and application to us. Verse 13, "And when you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, having cancelled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us and which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him." You remember, that picture that our crimes, our offences were nailed to His cross, picturing that practice where the reasons for crucifixion were nailed over their cross. Over Christ's cross, Pilate nailed "Jesus Christ, King of the Jews." That’s why the Romans were crucifying Him. Paul says here, our sins were nailed to His cross. My sins. That's why Christ was hanging there. Note verse 15, "When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him." Disarmed the rulers and authorities, talking about the spirit beings, spirit rulers, spiritual authorities, as talked about in Ephesians chapter 6, "We wrestle not against flesh and blood but against principalities and powers, the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenlies." They were disarmed and defeated. He made a public display over them. In His ascension, Christ is viewed as a victorious general. And just as a victorious general would march back into the city, those who had been conquered by him would be led as captives following him, demonstrating the great victory he had won. So Satan and his hosts are pictured as defeated, conquered by Christ because He triumphed over them. That's the same thing being said in Ephesians 4. He led captivity captive. He led as a conquered defeated foe, Satan and his hosts as He ascended the victor to the Father.

Look over in Hebrews chapter 2, verse 14, Jesus Christ became a man, a human being so that He might redeem humanity. Verse 14, "Since then the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is the devil; and might deliver those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives." You see that Satan had held captive, held sway, power, domination over mankind, but he was rendered powerless. He was conquered, defeated by Christ in His death and resurrection. So he is led as a defeated foe, as a conquered enemy in the victory ascension of Jesus Christ.

Now back to Ephesians 4 for a moment. It says in this context then, that Christ gave gifts unto men and picturing the practice of the victorious general bestowing the fruits of victory upon his friends and followers. The spoils of victory, we would call it, are distributed to those who support him, who follow him. So Jesus Christ is the victorious general. Satan and his hosts, the demonic beings, are the defeated conquered foe, and we as those who believe in Christ are His followers and the gifts, the fruits of victory, are bestowed upon us. That's what the gifts of the Spirit are in the context here. So that's why you have this section on the gifts surrounding this discussion of the victory procession of Jesus Christ. He gave gifts unto men, bestowed the fruits and spoils of victory upon His followers.

Now verses 9 and 10 of Ephesians 4 it says, "Now this expression...what does it mean except that He also had descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is Himself also He who ascended far above the heavens, that He might fill all things." I think there are two possibilities in interpreting here. Those who believe that Christ went to hell, or Hades the place of the departed dead, would say that the descending into the lower parts of the earth means descending into the place of torment. I don’t think that's the case. 1 think there are two possibilities: 1) He descended into, or you could translate that preposition 'into' as unto. He descended unto the lower parts of the earth. In other words, this One who ascended to the Father is also the One who descended to earth. This is the argument Christ used with Nicodemus in John chapter 3, you remember. The only One who has been with the Father and come to earth is the Son of God. So it can be just stressing the fact that this One who ascended is the same One who became a man, who had become part of humanity.

Another possibility, and I think it has much to say for it, is that He descended into the lower parts of the earth is a reference to His death. That the key to the victory of the ascension is the victory of His death. If Christ had ascended to the Father without dying on the cross, there would be no redemption. So there is victory in the ascension to the Father because Christ had conquered death. That’s the key. Remember Hebrews £:14, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death? His death is the key to the victory.

Romans chapter 10, verse 6, "But the righteousness based on faith speaks thus, 'Do not say in your heart, "Who will ascend into heaven?" (that is, to bring Christ down), or "Who will descend into the abyss?"'" What does it mean to descend into the abyss? ...(that is, to bring Christ up from the dead)." So there the ascending into the abyss and the death of Christ are joined as being the same thing. The key point here as he is talking about the ascension and he is talking about the death. And the ascension demonstrates the victory of the death, and the death enables the victory of the ascension. So both the death and resurrection of Christ are key. We’ll talk more about resurrection in our next study. The resurrection of Christ, without it there is no victory. Without the death, there would be no significance in ascension. You see something of the difference in the ascension and the resurrection in our next study.

Philippians chapter 2 also gives the same stress. Philippians 2:8ff, that because Christ humbled Himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross, therefore God has highly exalted Him and given Him a name which is above every name. So I take it the stress in Ephesians 4 is on the death and ascension of Christ. And the deceit of Satan. Important for us to keep in mind, Scripture stresses the fact that Satan is the defeated enemy. He is rendered powerless over me as one who has partaken of the victory Jesus Christ has accomplished.

One other passage that you ought to be familiar with and you probably are is 1 Peter chapter 3, verse 18. "For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, in order that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit." Note again the death being key. "In which also He went and made proclamation to the spirits now in prison, who once were disobedient, when the patience of God kept waiting in the days of Noah, during the construction of the ark..." It says in verse 19 that He went and made proclamation to the spirits in prison. And so this has been taken to mean that Christ, after His death on the cross, went to Hades (or the Apostles' Creed says hell) and there proclaimed victory, that He had secured redemption. I don’t think that’s what Peter is saying, because you note it doesn’t say He went and made proclamation to everyone in Hades. It says that He went and made proclamation to those who were disobedient in the days of Noah. So just one period of 120 years, while Noah was building the ark, those are the only ones in view that Christ went and made proclamation to, not everybody in Hades. It doesn't say that He went and told Abraham in Hades that now he was free to come to heaven. It says He went and talked to the disobedient ones from the days of Noah. I think the key in the New American Standard a word has been inserted here that gives you the idea, ...the spirits now in prison. The point being made is that Christ went during the days of Noah, and through Noah that preacher of righteousness Christ made proclamation of righteousness and redemption. This people were disobedient and did not believe and so perished in the flood. So it does not mean that Christ went to Hades after His death and proclaimed, but in the days of Noah Christ went and proclaimed. And because they did not believe, they are now imprisoned. They are imprisoned in Hades, a place of suffering and of torment. That's how I would understand 1 Peter chapter 3.

Maybe I ought to say one other passage or two other passages or three - I don't know! Luke chapter 23. I keep thinking, If I leave that passage out, that's the one they're going to ask about. Luke 23, Jesus to the thief on the cross, "Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise." Remarkable. Jesus said, "Today you will be with Me in Paradise." Jesus knew that He Himself would not survive the day. He also knew that these two criminals would die before the day was out. And He promises the one who believed in Him, you'll be with Me in Paradise today. Some would say that He didn't say heaven, He said Paradise. But Paradise is heaven.

Look over in 2 Corinthians chapter 12. Paul talks about the visions and revelations he has had. Verse 2, "I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, God knows—such a man was caught up to the third heaven. And I know how such a man...was caught up into Paradise..." Same word as you have in Luke 23:43. He is caught up into the third heaven, and the third heaven is Paradise. The first heaven is the atmospheric heavens; the second heaven is the stellar heavens—the stars and the planets; the third heaven is the abode of God where God manifests His presence most fully. Paul says the third heaven is Paradise, so when Jesus said "Today you will be with Me in Paradise," you could way "Today you will be with Me in the third heaven. Today you will be with Me in My Father’s presence." Just jot down Revelation chapter 2, verse 7. Jesus gives a promise to the overcomer in Revelation 2:7 that will partake of the Tree of Life in the Paradise of God in God's very presence. So back to John chapter 20, in case you've forgotten. We are studying John, but this is what was going on. He did not go to Hades as the place of departed saints, but rather I take it Jesus went to His Father's presence during those three days and three nights. He told the thief on the cross "Today you'll be with Me in Paradise," in the third heaven. So I take it when Jesus Christ died on the cross, He went into the presence of His Father just like you will do or any other believer will do upon death. My understanding is that is what happened to Old Testament saints as well. When Abraham died, he left his body and went into the presence of God in heaven. We'll touch on this again when we get further into chapter 20 in our next study where Jesus tells Mary Magdalene not to touch Him because He had not yet ascended to His Father, and how that fits with the fact that He had been with His Father for three days and three nights already.

Okay. Back to John chapter 20. Now for the resurrection. When Jesus said on the cross, "It is finished," it was finished. Redemption is complete. Nothing further to be done. Now, after three days and three nights, the women come to the tomb. And as you read each of the gospel accounts, you get a broader picture, that there were a number of women who came to the tomb on this early Sunday morning. But Mary Magdalene is singled out by John. It does not say there were no other women who came, but he wants to zero in on Mary Magdalene. "The first day of the week Mary Magdalene came early to the tomb." Talk about early, that watch which ran from 3:00 am to 6:00 am. So somewhere in between that time Mary Magdalene came to the tomb while it was still dark. Mary Magdalene, a woman who had experienced great deliverance at the hands of Jesus Christ. Mark chapter 16, verse 9. "Now after He had risen early on the first day of the week, He first appeared to Mary Magdalene, from whom He had cast out seven demons." Luke chapter 8:1-3 mentions the same fact about Mary Magdalene. Christ had delivered her from being possessed by seven demons. She becomes one of those women who faithfully follow Jesus Christ even to His death, and then is there early on Sunday morning at the tomb.

The stone, in John 20, had already been taken away, and the word here does not denote "rolled back" but "lifted up." And you remember there had been an earthquake, and evidently this stone had been moved from the roller. Picture those round stones that were used to roll down across the entrance to these cave kinds of mausoleums. It had been removed from the tracks, lifted out and set aside. "She ran and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and said to them, 'They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.' Peter therefore went forth and the other disciple, and they were going to the tomb." It's interesting that Luke adds another note. Luke said that the disciples thought Mary Magdalene was making nonsense. That it was nonsense what she was saying. We need to be clear that the disciples, the followers of Christ were not sitting around with anticipation, expectation waiting for Sunday morning. They didn't expect anything to happen. They did not understand as yet about resurrection, as we'll see.

Encouraging note. This is the first we hear of Simon Peter since chapter 18 and verse 27. In chapter 18, verse 27, Peter had just denied the Lord for the third time. But here we are. For His resurrection, Mary Magdalene runs to tell Peter and then John. Encouraging note to see Peter right back on track. A major lapse, a major sin, denied His Lord three times, but he didn't have to go through six months Penance to prove himself. He's right back on track, and accepted without reservation by the followers of Christ. He's not on the outside. Peter was overwhelmed with remorse for his sin we're told. He had recognized the sin as sin, and he's right back on track, recognized for his position of leadership among the disciples.

I take it the other disciple whom Jesus loved is John. That fits the rest of the book. "Peter went forth, and the other disciple, and they were going to the tomb." They are running together, and you get the idea here of a person who has been involved—of all the details that could be included, why would you want to say who was the fastest runner? Verse 4, "The two were running together; and the other disciple ran ahead faster than Peter, and came to the tomb first..." Because John relives this, and as he writes it he can remember back to how it was on that early morning when Mary Magdalene brought us first the news and we thought it was ridiculous, and Peter and I took off running and I outran Peter. It's just a matter that it is a live to him in his mind. And John gets there and stoops down at the entrance to that tomb and looks in, and he sees the linen wrappings lying there, but he didn't go in. So interesting how many commentators dwelt on the reasons why John ran faster than Peter—maybe Peter was older. John lived quite a few years after this. John may have been younger. There are a lot of people who are faster runners, a lot of people who are older than I am can run faster than I do. But at any rate, John gets there faster but he doesn't go in. But knowing Peter, do you think he stooped down and looked over John's shoulder to see if he could see in too? Just isn't the character of Peter, is it! You note here, even though Peter, brash as he is, had denied the Lord and he has repented of that and has recognized the terribleness of his sin, Peter's personality does not change. Sometimes we can't wait for the Lord to work on somebody so they’ll have a different personality. Now I realize certain traits about us the Lord changes—praise the Lord for that! But we still have our own distinct personality. We still have a John who stoops down and looks into things, and a Peter who comes running, charging straight on in. So "Simon Peter therefore also came, following him, and entered the tomb; and he beheld the linen wrappings lying there, and the face-cloth, which had been on His head, not lying with the linen wrappings, but rolled up in a place by itself. Then entered in therefore the other disciple also, who had first come to the tomb, and he saw, and believed." It take it this is clear evidence and testimony of the resurrection here. The linen wrappings are lying there. A practice of wrapping these strips of linen around the body and among the strips then, would be placed these spices and perfumes, and the body is all wrapped. The head is wrapped separately. Not one continuous wrapping, but the head is wrapped separately. That's the idea with the face-cloth in verse 7, "not lying with the linen wrappings, but rolled up in a place by itself." I take it everything is as it had been except there is no body there. That's why when John saw it, he believed. If someone had stolen the body of Christ, they probably would not have taken the time to unravel it. If they did take the time to unwrap it, do you think they would have taken the time to wrap the wrappings back up to try to make it look like a body had been there? That's not the way grave robbers operate. So It's a testimony to them that something supernatural had occurred. That here you have these collapsed linen wrappings, which would collapse because you remember Nicodemus brought a hundred pounds of spices. So without the body there to retain the shape, they would just collapse in upon themselves. Here they are lying, with the body gone. Now how do you get a body out of all this linen wrapping and not disturb the wrappings John saw it and he believed. Just what I thought! The Old Testament is fulfilled He's been raised. No. Next verse, "For as yet they did not understand the
Scripture that He must rise again from the dead."

evidence because of the testimony of the evidence. He didn't even understand that this is what the Old Testament said would happen. But he believed when he saw the evidence. So his faith here is based on the evidence of the grave clothes being there rather than on what the Scripture said. It’s not going to be until later that they understand that this fulfills what the Scripture says.

Look over in Luke 24, verse 25. Christ appears to the disciples on the Emmaus road. This is later now than we are in John chapter 20. Verse 25, "And He said to them (Christ is speaking), '0 foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His glory? And beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.’" It was not until Christ Himself, after His resurrection, explained to them the Old Testament Scriptures and their significance that the disciples understood it and saw that His resurrection fulfilled those Scriptures, that His suffering and death fulfilled those Scriptures. It took that added work of unfolding and explaining it to them for them to see how it fit. But when John saw the grave clothes, he was convinced that something supernatural had happened. But he didn't understand yet the Old Testament Scriptures.

Look back at Psalm 16, a verse that is used and quoted by Peter in his sermon on the Day of Pentecost to substantiate the resurrection of Christ from Old Testament Scriptures. Psalm 16, verse 10, "For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol; neither will You allow Your Holy One to undergo decay." He wouldn't undergo decay. He'd be raised—there were only two options. Your body either decays or it is resurrected. Jesus Christ was resurrected. We've been to Isaiah 53 several times, but turn there again. Verse 10, "But the Lord was pleased to crush Him, putting Him to grief; if He would render Himself as a guilt offering, He will see His offspring. He will prolong His days..." An emphasis on the life that will be His. He will see His offspring. ’'He'll prolong His days, and the good pleasure of the Lord will prosper in his hand. As a result of the anguish of His soul, He will see it and be satisfied; by His knowledge the Righteous One, My Servant, will justify the man, as He will bear their iniquities." So Isaiah foresaw the fact that He would prolong His days and see His offspring. He was not dead, buried and gone, but resurrection was the outcome.

In Acts chapter 2, Peter is preaching. And after quoting from Psalm 16:25-28 he says in verse 29, "Brethren, I may confidently say to you regarding the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. And so, because he was a prophet, and knew that God had sworn to him with an oath to seat one of his descendants upon his throne, he looked ahead and spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that He was neither abandoned to Hades, nor did His flesh suffer decay. This Jesus God raised up again, to which we are all witnesses. Therefore having been exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured forth this which you both see and hear. For it was not David who ascended into heaven, but he himself says: 'The Lord said to My Lord, sit at My right hand, until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.' Therefore, let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ—this Jesus whom you crucified." Christ was raised from the dead according to the Scriptures. The Scriptures had prophesied it, had promised it, but the disciples did not understand it.

So God's plans, God's purposes, being brought about in their fullness.
In His death and in His resurrection, Jesus Christ has secured redemption and forgiveness. He has defeated Satan and His hosts. So it is no longer necessary for men to be under bondage and servitude to those spirit beings, but rather deliverance is provided. The point made in Luke 16 still holds, that upon death, destiny for eternity is fixed. Either in a place of torment and suffering or in a place of blessing and happiness. And remember that Abraham said "If they don’t believe Moses and the prophets, they won't believe even though one is raised from the dead." Do you really believe there is eternal suffering, a place of eternal happiness? That’s what the Scripture says. Scripture also says it's only by faith in Jesus Christ that we have forgiveness of sin and can spend eternity in the joy of the presence of God. The resurrection? A testimony and seal to the finished work of Jesus Christ. How do I know that Christ by His death provided forgiveness for me? He was raised from the dead as the Scripture said He would be. We'll talk about the significance of the resurrection in our next study as we look further into passages in John. We ought to be clear in our mind what God is saying as we talk about the resurrection of His Son, Jesus Christ. Redemption has been accomplished in a manner that satisfies the righteous demands of God, and that by believing in Jesus Christ as the One who died for your sins, you can have life and forgiveness. God offers you the proof of the resurrection of His Son from the dead. Let's pray together.

Father, how we praise You for such a message. Lord, a story that is complete and finished, that Jesus Christ has died for sinful men. Lord, thank you for the privilege of believing in Him and having deliverance and freedom, that Father, in His death He broke the power of the one who held the sway in death, Satan himself. Lord, that by believing in Him, we are set free, we've been cleansed. Father, we need not fear the agony of suffering and torment.
Lord, we look forward to the bliss of eternity in your presence.

Lord, I pray for those who may be here today who may have heard this message of life and redemption again