
4/20/25
• Series: Stand Alone Sermons
Easter Sunday, April 20, 2025. John 20:1-2, 11-18 NKJV. Now the first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. Then 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.” But Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping, and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. Then they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.” Now when she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” She, supposing Him to be the gardener, said to Him, “Sir, if You have carried Him away, tell me where You have laid Him, and I will take Him away.” Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to Him, “Rabboni!” (which is to say, Teacher). Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.’ ” Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that He had spoken these things to her. The Resurrection Encounter. 1. Jesus breaks expectations. 2. Jesus is personal. 3. Jesus brings transformation. 4. Jesus meets us here. 1. Jesus breaks expectations. Jesus breaks the rules. Doesn’t follow the rules. He makes His own rules! Jesus does not exclude. Whoever confesses Me. (Matthew 10:32, Luke 12:8) Whoever comes to Me. (Luke 6:47) Whoever believes in Me. (Acts 10:43) Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Colossians 2:13-15 NLT …He forgave all our sins. He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. In this way, He disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by His victory over them on the cross. The grace of God breaks every barrier and shatters every expectation. 2. Jesus is personal. A personal encounter because He’s a personal Savior. …I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God. John 20:17 3. Jesus brings transformation. Jesus brings real change. Jesus meets us in our brokenness, but He doesn’t leave us there. Following Jesus will transform you in every season of life. Luke 8:1-3 Now it came to pass, afterward, that He went through every city and village, preaching and bringing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with Him, and certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities—Mary called Magdalene, out of whom had come seven demons, and Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others who provided for Him from their substance. You are not defined by what you go through but by what Jesus does in you. John 8:12 Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” Mary moved forward. Mary didn’t stay stuck in what WAS but stepped into what IS. Luke 23:55-56 And the women who had come with Him from Galilee followed after, and they observed the tomb and how His body was laid. Then they returned and prepared spices and fragrant oils. And they rested on the Sabbath according to the commandment. John 20:11-12 …and as she wept, she stooped down and looked into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. Matthew 28:1-4 Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it. His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men. Jesus brings transformation. Jesus gives you a future that isn’t chained to your past. Jesus rewrites your futures with His grace. Jesus transforms lives into who He has created and called them to be. 4. Jesus meets us here. The tomb represents death, disappointment, unanswered prayer, hopelessness, dead ends. John 11:25 NLT Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in Me will live, even after dying.” Perfect faith, perfect emotions and a perfect past are NOT required to ENCOUNTER a perfect Savior. Jesus Himself took on the weight and pain of the cross. Jesus Himself endured the darkness and ugliness of the grave so that your future could be written by His grace.