John Chapter 20:1-8

They had in their minds and in the hearts and is explained from the Bible that they thought Jesus was going to overthrow the Roman Empire establish a new government and establish freedom in Israel. When Jesus died, that was shattered had no idea that Jesus had a much better we all have plans going. You probably and Bible says it's a good thing to make plan to know to consider.

Pray about what can happen tomorrow or next year or five years from now is a good thing but be flexible because in last God came down with his very finger and wrote out those plans. Plans are subject and if you're so locked in as to what you want to do and when you want to do it. You could miss what God wants to do in your life.

Welcome to cross the bridge with David McGee.

David is the senior pastor of the bridge in Kernersville, North Carolina, the resurrection of Jesus Christ is a central theme in foundational belief in biblical Christianity today, Pastor David McGee explains what the resurrection is and what it means to you as it continues the gospel of John, chapter 20 now here's David McGee with his teaching is risen. Please open your Bibles to John chapter 20.

Continuing on with our verse by verse study John chapter 20 verse one on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone and 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 laid him as the disciples, a disciple, but Jesus loved, yet John. How do we know that John tells us that good. John knew the that the Lord loved when Mary went to the tomb she was going to grieve and they were going to finish the preparation of the body.

She wasn't coming there to see if he had risen because I want you to notice as we go through this chapter the next few weeks how caught off guard. Everybody they were like all this is what he was talking about there like now understand that because again it indicates that this is a whole God thing. Verse three Peter therefore went out the other disciple, and were going to the tomb now in verse three let's talk about the three day thing the three day thing is is you find throughout Scripture. If you remember there was three days with Joseph and the Pharaoh in the Baker and the Butler others three days of darkness. During the plague there in Egypt and also course the classic of Jonah being in the belly of the whale for three days and in Jesus referred to that and even told what was going to happen. Matthew chapter 12 verse 44 as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of your total. They didn't believe him, don't you understand that they believed him about something. Evidently they didn't believe him about this.

Why on this is important. They had their own picture in their mind and in their heart about how things were supposed to go in the death of Jesus was not how they were supposed to go they had in their minds and in their hearts and units plane from the Bible that they thought Jesus was going to overthrow the Roman Empire establish a new government and establish freedom in Israel. That's what they thought was can happen when Jesus died, shattered had no idea that Jesus had a much better plan than they came up with.

We all have plans knowing you probably ending in the Bible says it's a good thing to make plans to know to consider our pray about what can happen tomorrow or next year or five years from now is your good thing but be flexible. Why, because in last God came down with his very finger and wrote out those plans. Those plans are subject to change.

And if you're so locked in as to what you want to do and when you want to do it. You could miss what God wants to do in your life, you could miss what God wants to do in your life because you want what you want, how often we act like small children in these areas. Something doesn't go the way we wanted dog gone it God letting you do that, don't you love me. God, I mean it. It reminds me of when my children will Smalling used to say things like that would be really love me you love me that abilities could but we act like that with the Lord. When the Lord changes the plans the Lord has plans for your life. Do you know what they are. I don't know what they are for me.

I mean, I can think I can plan I can prayerfully consider but do not know the exact specifications of the next year or 10 years of my life. Absolutely not.

I don't have learned that when God throws me a curveball. I need to go with because he has a better plan.

He knows more verse four so they both ran together, and the other disciple outran Peter and came to the tomb first.

Is it just me or do you notice that in this verse Peter AE John records that he outran Peter. I'm faster I got there first Peter was older. John was younger so and we know that John was the youngest from the order, the Last Supper, you can get back to John 13. I think I talked about that, but John was younger he probably quicker and he notes that he outran Peter it's Peter, John, had this thing going on. We talked about that before record. How do we know that Peter is the one that cut out the ear of the guy in the garden.

John tells us Matthew Dunn tells Mark until a salute. They just say the ear got cut off Johnson is Peter Peter go to zero in any records in here that he was verse outbursts will be quicker and Peter, I am. I am but you know what I do like in the looking at this work.

They both ran high, that they both rant they didn't know what was going on. They weren't sure what was going. You know what they were going well as mosey on down the garden tomb in a couple hours and see what's going on about Starbucks first and will go check it out. You know it was it was like black and they ran loved one. That's a good model. Why, because you often in life. Working, meandering and moseying.

That's a southern thing mosey on down. That means you're going at some point all go directly us notes on but it kind of lacks purpose. I think run is a good thing were told to run the race.

Are you running or walking. Are you mosey, you were supposed to run, run the race. That's what Paul encourages to, but are you running I can imagine at this point that they would be walking and you know what I can imagine that some of us would be walking but some of us are instead of running running the race encompassed by great cloud of witnesses, so let's run. You will still be walking mean we only have so much time here which should be fulltilt a meaning friend running Paul would abuse that really went around fulltilt boogie for is what we should be involved and not met and might some point take little step no run for the Lord run for the first and he, stooping down and looking install the linen cloth lying there, yet he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went to the tomb and he saw the linen cloths lying there, so Peter stopped at the entrance mean John stopped at the entrance.

Peter goes on he sees the cloth liner and you know what these are the grave claws of Jesus understand something.

Now I think we should take care of our bodies not try to eat right and exercise and do all these things and but this is just a 10.

If you will.

These are grave, claws, and at some point I'm laying them down at some point people will be able to view the grave claws and say well that's what he used to be in but is not in there anymore. That's the same for everyone of us. We need to realize that so that there's a balance to that perception and and and so at some point realize that you're done with your body. It's a tent and ukulele is great) you're going to be a butterfly. And that's just your cocoon and at some point you're going to come out of it and it's going to be as tiered as Tigger says Tata for now. You know I mean he's the ear going to be out here and that's what was going on with these grave claws and I think John Stott probably out of reference at the entrance and in Peter in the just like Peter repeaters like I'm in there I'm going to see what's going on.

I mean I was allowed Peter and Anna probably knows much as I talk about Peter and Peter being ready fire aim. Peter you know I at this point he's he's a gonzo guy. He's that fulltilt boogie guy John stopped. I don't think Peter verse don't think he ever thought about stopping at the latest. Ran straight in. I like that about. He then he didn't hesitate in sometimes it didn't work for, but again he was gonzo for the Lord.

He plunges on and so soon after verse seven and the handkerchief that had been around his head, not lying with the linen claws were folded together in a place by itself. Now somebody stole the body they would going to struggle. I want to unwrap the body later to scrap the body and been out of there. So tell some significant happened and I think actually this first cast a little bit of doubt on the shroud of Turin, and I'm not going to make will need a break fellowship or whether you think it's the real deal or not, but evidently there was a a cloth that was wrapped around his head, and if you ever seen the shroud of Turin. It contains the imprint supposedly from the head of the person and and part of what wakes me out about this people worship the shroud which I'm not sure Jesus would've provided that we can agree to disagree is just curious verse notes you're listening to Pastor David McGee on cross the bridge. He'll be right back with more just a moment, but I want to remind you of the free resources available to you on cross the bridge.com there's a team of hundreds of people that will pray for somebody to be saved. You have a loved one that needs to know Jesus as Savior. You need people to pray for them.

You need someone to present God's word to them every day were present in God's word to them here on cross the bridge with Pastor David McGee. We can pray for them as well. Just by simply going to cross the bridge.com and click on the pray for the lost button. All you need to do is put in the first names of the people you love, that need to know Jesus as Savior. Click on submit and immediately hundreds of people begin praying for your lost loved ones. What an awesome way to bring your love ones to Jesus. Here's a word from associate pastor DA Brown. We want to take just a couple seconds here to pray for some cities in our listening audience.

Specifically, Southlake, Sun Valley to noble wells Winnemucca Nevada and also Cape May, New Jersey, Farmington, New Mexico, Lord, we thank you for the people tuning in.

In the cities. We pray that you would support your Holy Spirit out that you feel people with the faith to say yes to what you want to do in our life. People were downtrodden there full of despair operated, that would turn to hope and trust in you.

Jesus got up, pray for those in leadership positions in these communities that you would give them wisdom and discernment that they would look to your word for advice and counsel and answers on how to lead low. We prayed that they would get plugged in church and received from biblical authority and direction. Lord I pray that many people get plugged in churches they begin serving and looking for opportunities to use the gifts that you've given them to be a blessing to other people in the same way they've been blessed in Jesus name, amen, amen. Thank you brother and now get back to David McGee as he continues teaching verse by verse, verse eight then the other disciple, who came to the tomb first, also, and he saw blades just in case you missed it for some John was actually first to the term TPB Peter, just in case you missed that in the preceding verse. He reminds us again that they got there first and what's Peter thinking right now he goes into the tomb is empty outlets may reminder Peter denied Jesus not only did the nine but Jesus had told him you're going to deny me remember the conversation. Jesus says Peter, Satan has desired you to sift you like wheat. How would you like to have Jesus say that the he said that the Peter that might've been Peter out of a timeout told him no. But that's not happened yet. Sift it and at that point he was so arrogantly said not so and going to happen.

Peter made this bold statements. He said even if these other guys leave you there, questionable, anyway. Not sure why you chose him. I'm with you. He made those types of sweeping statement, but is pride in his confidence in himself led to a fall and he did not Jesus and others newly denied Jesus. John newly denied Jesus as John Saul part of as he tells him the gospel of John was Peter thinking. He obviously was very dejected. I like that in Mark chapter 16 verse seven. The ladies are to go tell his disciples and Peter.

I like that. Be sure to tell Peter because they knew that Peter had been so proud and standing firm was now just crushed and he was singled out. The only one noticed only one thing that out.

Go tell the disciples. Peter, be sure to tell Peter you would also like John new Peter had denied the Lord, who do we see hanging out together, John and Peter. There's some indication in the Scriptures that some of the other ladies went to tell the other disciples, but John and Peter were separate. Why no master just that the division of been caused by the denial. I mean, it might've been as strong as Peter shown up and they said no eager somewhere else. At that point John said I'll go with a go with you and John and Peter hanging out life lesson here be a friend during a hard time not just in the good times interesting. Everyone of us is going to through hard times. Everyone of us is going to do something really silly or stupid. At some point in our lives and the tendency is when somebody doesn't like that step back from that what Jesus did. Our tendency is to look at what you did is I would Jesus that are tendency in Christianity, we tend to treat one another well like puppies. Many of us have had puppies and you know an unfortunate part of having puppies is enough that use the bathroom in your house.

I mean, that's, that's not good. That's bad. And so, as they do that you I you probably done this with you can admit this or not you go find the poppy culture look at – and the puppies like did you do that the puppy is very confused.

If you've ever noticed the puppies face when you do that doing don't I don't want to keep it. I left it there for you but you know that hole put in his nose and their that's weird to me but you know that's what we do as believers, as Christians, somebody does something that they regret it hurt summit wounds omit wounds and other people we take him like the puppy and so often they just need someone to come alongside him soon man knew right where you are have done some things that I've regretted. I just want you to know I'm praying for and I love you and can we go get a cup of coffee: people when suddenly the non-fellowship anymore. Instead of treating them like a puppy being that friend during those tough times during those bad times. Perhaps when other people turn their back on his that's what Jesus did you look at the woman at the well understand how very little Jesus said about her past only mentioned it. What about the forgiven woman in John chapter 8.

Certainly he went through and and and they explored and analyzed all her mistakes as he said, look what you've done one thing he said is that he forgave her go and sin no more. What an incredible model.

What an incredible model so John knew about Peter's weakness.

He knew about us failing, and yet he still still hung out with. He didn't kick him to the curb. Now there's three, there's words in here in these three verses were six or seven verse eight timeout see the words Saul verse five or six verse eight words Saul and it it's the same word in English, but there's three different words in the Greek, which I think is is interesting in the first one is to verse five says he saw the linen closets like you. See you look that's probably the closest to our word seek. He went in and he saw he looked he saw verse six is when it says he saw it's it's meaning that he perceived he he he understood what he was seen sold deeper than the first third one in verse eight means he knew the other disciple came into force when and also he saw and he believed he knew John knew something that happened. He might not of been sure what see this is the progression that we travel in it. You see, at some point in your life. Hopefully you look to Jesus, it will see that I see Jesus died for me, but you just saw it in a superficial way in one day you understood Jesus died for me and it was on a deeper level and then as time went on, you knew Jesus die for you and was probably at the point of knowing that you made a decision to because you can't understand and perceive and really know that Jesus died for you without understanding now there's a decision to be made. If you know this is a decision not just a one time decision.

It starts there is a prayer that I invite people to pray every week it starts there. It doesn't finish their as a matter fact, if you pray that prayer and nothing. There's no changes.

There's not not turning from something the turning to Jesus and some is going on was to be the start of a beautiful relationship. Just like if you know if you caught a girl and said hey you not want to marry and you should yet and she says yes and your okay see you later and you never called her again or something. See that's not the relationship that Jesus desires he desires to have a relationship with that right now in the way is your sin is nothing you can do about but Jesus is taking care of the problem.

Jesus desires a relationship Jesus desires a friendship with you so you have to make this progression from seeing the understanding to knowing and when you know you have to be called an action Matthew question. Where are you in these three do you understand this morning that Jesus didn't die on the cross for the sins of the world's great place to start is where all of us started, but do you understand that you understand that outside of the atoning death of Jesus Christ, you have no opportunity for forgiveness that that is the only way to receive forgiveness and if you understand that. Have you gotten to the place where you know that and that it indeed has changed your life.

As Christians, in a moment I'm going to speak to to the people who have not yet asked Jesus to forgive them of their sins, but as Christians. Far too often we think of a one time event. Okay, I asked Jesus to forgive me my sins.

I'm done.

I'm good I'm ready go. I got some fire insurance.

Is that what Jesus desires to give you is what he meant when he said he would came to give us life and that more abundantly. I don't think so think he desires to give us much more, but a lot of us get stuck here. We do that we go get good I'm done only to serve not only to do that I need to give out only to pray out only to read. I don't even need to attend church on a regular basis. I'm good why people are locked into this and their spiritual infants. Their spiritual infants divided by the the nursery and I see babies in there and I got diapers on and they got bottles and execute thing and I'm I think is acutely I think babies are.

You know that's what people have to menu is a really really cute by 35-year-old man came into the sanctuary with a diaper on carrying a bottle.

We got a problem because he's grown up.

He's not respecting like that anymore that he's not supposed be acting like start here and start running. This is what needs to be happening in our lives.

Do you know this, and when I use the word no.

I'm timeout know and believe not timeout you just you understand historically who Jesus was. They know about Jesus. I'm timeout know, in the sense of knowing intimately knowing personally and again there's this golf. This golf was sin that's on the way Jesus stands ready and willing. This morning to deal with that golf friend you know for sure that your sins have been forgiven. You can know right now only gender short simple prayer simply telling God you're sorry and asking him to help you to live for him. Please pray this prayer with me out loud right now. Dear Jesus, I believe you died for me that I could be forgiven and I believe you were raised from the dead that I could have a new life now done wrong things I have sent and I'm sorry.

Please forgive me of all those things.

Please give me the power to live for you. All of my days in Jesus name, amen it friend of you prayed that prayer according to the Bible you've been forgiven you've been born again. So congratulations Springer just made the greatest decision that you will ever make. God bless you, if you pray that prayer with David for the first time we'd love to hear from you. You can visit cross the bridge.com to receive our first steps package with helpful resources to help you begin your walk with Christ. Or you can write to cross the bridge at PO Box 12, 515 Winston-Salem, NC 27117 and share how God is working your life you're the Bible tells us that the free gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord.

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As David McGee continues teaching verse by verse in the gospel of God