# 2 Eastertide

2. Read John 20:1-9
A. I did just watch Keller’s sermon from last week and it was wonderful, wonderful! He said that in a misogynistic society, if you were making-up this story, you would never have said that it was a woman who first saw the risen Lord because a woman’s testimony meant nothing.
In verses 2-5, John puts in details describing “the other disciple” as “the one Jesus loved” (v.2). John adds that it was this “other disciple” who outran Peter and reached the tomb first, and though he looked in, he did not go in first.
Interestingly, one of my favorite authors will publish a new book, likely in 2023, which speculates that this particular disciple is actually Lazarus. Many biblical scholars have surmised that Lazarus may be “the one Jesus loved” described in this passage. He is referenced again in the passage in which Jesus alludes to Peter the manner in which he will die, and when Peter turns and sees “the disciple whom Jesus loved” following them, and asks, “What about him?” Jesus replies, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?” Apparently, some scholars believe this is Lazarus, whom Jesus raised from the dead. It will be interesting to read the book!
 
B. Peter goes into the empty tomb and sees the strips of linen lying there and the burial cloth that had been around Jesus’ head lying separately and folded. One commentator states that in John’s gospel, writing for the Johannine community of believers, John always portrays Jesus as “being in control”, and hence, the folded burial cloth; when Jesus raised Lazarus, Lazarus needed to have someone release him from the burial cloths, but Jesus didn’t need any “help”.
Keller said in last week’s sermon that Peter was “reasoning”; he was looking hard at the evidence. It’s hard to imagine what was going through his mind; it must’ve all seemed so incredulous and surreal.
 
C. It was that “other disciple” who went into the tomb then and “saw and believed”. Back to the speculation that this may have been Lazarus, I would say that since he had personal experience of being raised himself from the dead, he believed something miraculous had happened here, but he and Peter didn’t put two and two together, to understand that this event had been prophesied in Scripture? Or that Jesus “had” to rise from the dead, meaning that if He hadn’t risen, there was no reason to go on, no reason to preach about Jesus to anyone, as in their mission was over and what would have been the reason to have any hope for themselves? Kind of like what Paul says, that if He is not risen, our faith is in vain, and we should be pitied.

2. Read John 20:1-9
 
3. A. Find some of those details John reports about himself in verses 2-5. Why might he have reported those seemingly irrelevant details?
 
Mary Magdalene found John (the one Jesus loved) and told him about the missing body. He started out for the tomb and outran Peter. He reached the tomb first but didn’t go in. He saw the linen wrappings.
Tim Keller says it because he was really there. It was truth. It is what happened. 
 
B. What did Peter see and what thoughts do you think went through his head?
 
He also saw the linens; the one for the head apart from the others. He must have been confused as to why things were as they were. Who would have done this? Why?
 
 
 
C. John’s statement that “he saw and believed” is followed by “They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.” So, what do you think it was that they believed if it was not yet that He had actually risen?
 
They must have believed that there was a chain of events that happened (and was happening) that they were beginning to remember being told by Jesus.
 
 

2. Read John 20:1-9
A. Tim Keller says that there are many details in the scriptural accounts that are not pertinent to the storyline but are simply put in because they really happened — evidence of the truthfulness of Scripture. (Such as the catch of “153 fish.”) Find some of those details John reports about himself in verses 2-5. Why might he have reported those seemingly irrelevant details?
John (the other disciple) reached the tomb first and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. Peter went straight into the tomb and saw the strips of linen lying there and the cloth that has been wrapped around Jesus’s head. The cloth was still lying in its place separate from the linen.
The placement of the linen and cloth is significant as it means that a body was there but is gone now. When Lazarus was raised from the dead, he was still wrapped up in his burial clothes. The people present had to take off the grave clothes. Not so with Jesus!
John 11:43-44 When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!”  The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”
B. What did Peter see and what thoughts do you think went through his head? Some see it as significant that the cloth was folded. Alistair Begg says it simply means Mary taught Jesus how to make his bed. I think it is bigger than that — but eager to hear what you think and why.
Peter saw both the linen strips and the cloth that has been wrapped around Jesus’ head. Peter must have been reasoning in his head about the folded cloth. So, I looked it up. This is based on an old Jewish tradition during mealtime. When the master of the house folds his napkin and gets up from the table, it means he will come back (return) to the table. If he crumples the napkin and puts it beside the dishes, that means he is finished.  A folded cloth signifies that Jesus is coming back.
Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid. You heard me tell you, “I am going away and I will come back to you.” (John 14:27-28)
The picture above spoke to me about how Peter and John must have been mentally rehearsing the past three years they have spent with Jesus. His words must have been reverberating in their minds and they were trying to piece the puzzle together. I love how John’s hands were clasped in anticipation and Peter’s right hand was on his chest-the impetuous Peter trying to calm his fast-beating heart.
C. John’s statement that “he saw and believed” is followed by “They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.” So, what do you think it was that they believed if it was not yet that He had actually risen?
 
They believed the women’s story that Jesu was taken out of the tomb? That He indeed was not there?

Tuesday 
2. Read John 11:45-53
                A. What did the Pharisees fear and why according to verses 45-49? 
They feared that if Jesus continued performing miracles that everyone would believe in Him.  If that that happened then the Roman army would come and destroy their temple and nation.
B. What did Caiaphas say in verses 49-50?
He said they didn’t know what they’re talking about.  Didn’t they know that it would be better for one man to die for the people than for the whole nation to be destroyed?
C. Who inspired him to say this and what is the irony?
He didn’t say it on his own but was led to prophesy that Jesus would die for the entire nation.  It’s interesting that he really wanted to put Jesus to death but the words didn’t come out that way due to prophesying involuntary 
 

A.Find some of those details John reports about himself in verses 2-5. Why might he have reported those seemingly irrelevant details?
John describes himself as “the one Jesus loved” and ” the other disciple”. Peter went into the tomb, but John just bent over and looked in.
John may have refered to himself in this way because it was something he was certain of…he was loved by Jesus. Perhaps he did not enter the tomb because he was frightened and uncertain of what was happening. 
B.What did Peter see and what thoughts do you think went through his head? Some see it as significant that the cloth was folded. Alistair Begg says it simply means Mary taught Jesus how to make his bed. I think it is bigger than that — but eager to hear what you think and why?
Peter saw an empty tomb, but for the burial cloths and head scarf neatly folded. I heard somewhere that the folded cloth represents the “it is finished”! Jesus will not be dying again!
John’s statement that “he saw and believed” is followed by “They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.” So, what do you think it was that they believed if it was not yet that He had actually risen?
They believed what Mary Magdalene and the other women had told them. Jesus body was gone.

2. Read John 11:45-53
A. What did the Pharisees fear and why, according to verses 45-49?
They feared that because of Jesus’ many miracles, everyone would come to believe in Him. He would create such an enormous following that it would draw the attention of the Romans, who would then come in and take away “both our place and our nation”. I believe the “place” they meant was their temple. The Pharisees feared losing their power and exalted position.
 
B. What did Caiaphas say in verses 49-50?
He told the Pharisees that didn’t they understand – how much better for them that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish. He was referring to Jesus when he said that one man should die for the people.
 
C. Who inspired him to say this and what is the irony?
Could we say that the Spirit inspired him to say this? I’m not sure….it could have been just his human logic or reasoning, and it was a twisted logic. The irony of what he said though is that it WAS better for the people; all of us, in fact, that Jesus die for us, because that was God’s plan for our salvation. His death, ironically, is exactly what was needed.
 
3. Read John 19:19-22
A. Why do you think the chief priests wanted Pilate to change the sign?
The chief priests were adamant that Jesus only claimed to be a king, namely, God’s Son. During some of their confrontations with Jesus, they had insisted things such as they were not slaves, they had no father but God, they were Abraham’s children, and that Jesus was definitely not going to be recognized as their king.
 
B. Why do you think he refused?
When Pilate sentenced Jesus, he ceremoniously washed his hands of the matter, saying that he had found no guilt in Jesus, but he was afraid of the crowd demanding the death of Jesus and even more afraid that it would draw the attention of his superiors. I think he was done dealing with these Jewish leaders. Perhaps his ordering of the sign was a passive-aggressive way of getting back at them, too, and so he wasn’t about to change a single word.
 
C. What is the irony?
The irony is that Pilate could not have had truer words put on that sign, and his idea to put it into three different languages ensured that most everyone would be able to read it.
 
4. Read John 20:10-18
A. Give all the reasons you can think of for why she didn’t realize it was Jesus.
She was crying hard, so perhaps her eyes were blurry with tears. I also wonder why she wasn’t startled at the two angels in white, sitting in the tomb. The appearance of angels usually has people frightened. She speaks to them as if she were speaking with two guys sitting there. She’s bending over, looking into the tomb, and then she turns around and sees Jesus standing there. Could it have been that she was looking into the darker tomb, and then turned around and the light made it hard for her eyes to adjust? Perhaps it was Jesus himself who momentarily kept her from recognizing Him. If there was a garden there, she assumed this person was the caretaker, or gardener. Maybe Jesus’ resurrected body looked somehow different. The last time she had seen Him, His body was so disfigured, bloodied, and DEAD, that it wouldn’t have occurred to her that this man was Jesus.
 
B. What ironic significance can you see in her thinking He was the gardener?
Hmmm….Jesus used a lot of metaphors such as Him being the true vine and His Father the vinedresser, about seeds being scattered on different kinds of soils. A gardener tends to things to make them grow and flourish; he gets his hands in the dirt; he turns up the soil, he plants, he weeds and prunes and waters. He enjoys looking at the beautiful flowers or produce in his garden. These things are beautiful metaphors of the Lord Jesus as The Gardener.
 
C. This is the second time she reports to the disciples. How is her news different from what the women told Peter and John the first time? (Luke 24) How is the evidence mounting?
In Luke’s gospel, the women, including Mary Magdalene, didn’t see Jesus, but they saw and spoke with the two angels, who reminded them of what Jesus had said about being crucified and then rising on the third day. In this account, the disciples think they’re just being hysterical, but Peter runs to the tomb. In John’s gospel, Mary goes to the disciples saying that she has seen Jesus. The evidence is mounting from seeing angels to actually seeing the risen Lord.
 
D. Did you need evidence that Christianity was true?
No; although I was not raised in church, somehow I did believe that God existed, and Jesus. I didn’t know anything about God, except for what I learned from a book of children’s Bible stories and from watching The Ten Commandments every year on television. I remember when I was in my high school years, and I didn’t want to watch what my parents were watching on TV, I’d go out into the kitchen and watch the little black and white TV there, and if I ever came across Billy Graham on TV, I would watch him. I didn’t seem to have trouble accepting that Christianity, or the gospel was true, but it took a while for me to really understand it all.

5. Read 1 Corinthians 15:20-23.
 
A. How is Christ described in verse 20?
 
He is raised from the dead; the first of a great harvest. But, wasn’t Lazarus really the first?
 
    B. What is the contrast between Adam and Christ in verses 21-22?
 
Death came from Adam, but life comes from Christ!
 
    C. What do you learn in verse 23?
 
There is an order to how the resurrection will occur. Christ is first and then those who belong to Him will be raised when He returns.
 
6. Read Genesis 1:11-13.
    A. What happened on the 3rd day of Creation?
 
God commanded that all seeds grow and plants and trees, all vegetation (fruit included) was created.
 
    B. What kind of fruit did each plant or tree bear according to verse 12?
 
They produced seeds of the same kind.
Side note….I am reading the collection of The Chronicles of Narnia, by C.S. Lewis, and just got to the part where Narnia is formed. All the trees and plants are just popping out of the ground! So ironic….
 
7. Who was the Master Gardener in creation?
 
God was the Master Gardener!
 
8. How was the resurrected body of Christ different than his earthly body?
 
His body was scarred. It was radiant too.
 
9. What will the bodies of those who are in Christ be like — why? How is this like Genesis 1:12?
 
I read down in 1 Corinthians to get the answer to this question. We will have heavenly bodies rather than earthly bodies. Grace has been concerned about this lately. She and I have had discussions about the soul. It is hard to describe to a 5 year old…not sure I get it either! I’m still trying to figure out if it’s ok (with God) to be cremated (and if I want that when I die) or not.
 
“It is the same way with the resurrection of the dead. Our earthly bodies are planted in the ground when we die, but they will be raised to live forever. Our bodies are buried in brokenness, but they will be raised in glory. They are buried in weakness, but they will be raised in strength. They are buried as natural human bodies, but they will be raised as spiritual bodies. For just as there are natural bodies, there are also spiritual bodies. But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed!”
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭15:42-44, 51‬ ‭NLT‬‬
 
“Adam, the first man, was made from the dust of the earth, while Christ, the second man, came from heaven. Earthly people are like the earthly man, and heavenly people are like the heavenly man. Just as we are now like the earthly man, we will someday be like the heavenly man.”
 
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭15:47-49‬ ‭NLT‬‬
 
They are both alike because they talk about beginning with a planted seed (the seeds planted by God initially and the physical dead body). We will be transformed from that “seed” into our heavenly bodies. 
10. What is the irony of Mary thinking Jesus was the gardener?
 
I think I got this partially correct the first time we answered it! Yay! The irony is that He IS the gardener! THE MASTER GARDENER!!

5. Read 1 Corinthians 15:20-23
A. How is Christ described in verse 20?
Raised from the dead
The firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep
B. What is the contrast between Adam and Christ in verses 21-22?
By Adam came death
By Jesus came resurrection from the dead
By Adam all die
By Christ all are made alive
C. What do you learn in verse 23eternal life, then we follow into eternal life as His believers 
6. Read Genesis 1:11-13.
A. What happened on the 3rd day of Creation?
God created plants, whose fruit bear seed.
B. What kind of fruit did each plant or tree bear according to verse 12?
Each plant or tree bears fruit “according to its kind”, fruit like itself. 
7. Who was the Master Gardener in creation?
God
8. How was the resurrected body of Christ different than his earthly body?
He could enter through walls, appear, disappear…not needing rest. 
9. What will the bodies of those who are in Christ be like — why? How is this like Genesis 1:12?
We will be like Him, like fruit of His tree. Phil. 3:2, Paul says that Jesus “will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body”
10. What is the irony of Mary thinking Jesus was the gardener?
He IS the Gardener. The fall of man began in a Garden, and the decision of Christ to submit His life to save man, also came in a Garden. Jesus came to restore what was lost in the first Garden. He tenderly, patiently prunes, weeds, nourishes, renews, grows…a new Garden. If we abide in Him, we bear much fruit. 
 

11. Share your observations and comments. The Resurrection of Christ: Michael Reeves
There is so much I love about this sermon!  We have read and heard the Resurrection story so much, yet I pray I always look at it with eyes of realizing the Power of that Day! 
Christ Bursting out of the grave, overcame the old order of Adam! Beyond the reach of the Curse.
Quote from Daniel: Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake; some to everlasting life! some to shame & everlasting contempt.
Quote from JRR Tolkien: “Euchatastrophy” A “Good” Catastrophic Event: A sudden happy turning ~ a story which pierces you with a joy that brings tears! 
History turned around at the tomb; it became a womb of New Creation; the First born from the dead. First Fruits of a Royal Harvest of Life. 
Resurrection: GRAND and COSMIC
Mary first thinking Jesus is the Gardener is significant. Caiaphas in total ignorance prophesied: “It is better for one man to die than the whole nation should perish.” is significant.  Pilate in ignorance prophesied “Behold the Man” is significant. 
In this new day, in the garden, like a new Eden, was the Man, God, the Gardener, walking in the garden again; Ruler of all things, in perfect harmony with His Father; no threat; no serpent to destroy it; death had been swallowed up in Victory. The serpent’s head crushed.  (paraphrase of Michael Reeves statement). 
The Seed, The Source of the New Eternal life that God has to offer. Eternal life can never be the product of some Evolutionary leap; cannot be worked at or self willed by us. **Eternal Life is a gift of God, given only To and Through His anointed ONE. The Head of the New Humanity. (Michael Reeves)
* Adam and Christ are the First Fruits of two very different crops: Adam=Death      Christ=Life  All of us are seed in One or the Other of those.  We are dependent on one of these choices.
We are born into Adam’s identity ~ We need to Choose to have a union with Christ. Our very identity with Adam is a problem. We need to be taken out of Adam’s identity and born into Christ’s identity= A New Creation. My identity is in Christ; He is my Righteousness.
Reeves’ Quotes: “Jesus’s Righteousness clothes us, as the fruit around the seed”. Jesus says “Because I live, you shall live.” (not because you have done well)  “My fate is determined by the Head of the humanity to which I belong. If I belonged to Adam, I would share his guilt and death. Despite my failures, I am beyond condemnation as Christ is beyond the Cross.”  “We are weak temples and sin steals our joy.” 
Paraphrase: (I love this one!!) On that day (of our Resurrection) we will be fully released from all the effect of the curse! We will share His glorification!  
Love this: Creation itself will be brought into glorification!
 

Notes and Observations on Micheal Reeves Sermon:
 
I usually write my comments before I read what others have put on the blog but tonight I took time to read first and I really appreciated the great notes already put here by several of you. The sermon was wonderfully rich with many great thoughts and quotes. I didn’t know where to begin. It was such an encouraging message and like Dawn I found my heart stirred. It was the enthusiasm of Reeves and more importantly the wonderful truths he was teaching us. Twice he said “Praise God for the resurrection of Jesus Christ” that elicited applause. It was sweetly spontaneous on his part. 😊
Yes Dee,  I loved this sermon by Reeves. It was a great culmination of the study for this week. 
Toward the end of the sermon he talked about how we can face and defeat our accuser with a boldness and assurance because of the resurrection of Jesus. It was a great reminder that Satan’s head has been crushed and death has been defeated. I loved his heart for people  who are or have experienced the deep grief of losing someone especially close to them in death. And how he brought encouragement as to that coming day of being together again and living in a glorified state with Christ. 
The sermon was so full of hope. His prayer at the end of the sermon was powerful and encouraging. 
Thanks Dee for including it this week. 
 
I might as well add my Saturday take away for the week. 
I have loved that after our Lenten study from Tripp’s Journey to the Cross we have moved into celebrating Eastertide and the Resurrection. My takeaway is Reeve’s reminder that daily we should remind ourselves of these incredible truths surrounding what Christ accomplished for us by his resurrection and the standing we have in his righteousness. I just finished rereading Gentle and Lowly yesterday and along with Reeve’s  sermon it was also so encouraging of the deep truth of the love of God and the love of Jesus Christ for us as sinners. Again way too much to share here. 
As to why all this means so much I feel we are living in very dark times with the enemy is kicking a lot of dirt in our faces. Evil is so very present all around and frankly I have a number of sweet Christian friends who are suffering physically right now. I have been struggling with some sciatic pain issues and my sleep has been affected but God in his grace has encouraged me spiritually is very rich measure. I am so grateful to know Jesus and the hope he gives me in spite of trials. And I agree whole heartedly with Reeves. 
“Praise God for the Resurrection!”
 

Thursday/Friday
11. Share your observations and comments
The title of this sermon is obviously PRAISE GOD FOR THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST!  There was so much that stood out to me but one thing that he talked about and I can relate to is how as a child, justification was defined as just as if I never sinned.   But after coming to Christ I did sin again and again and so I thought I needed to be rejustified again.  The statement that he made following that is, “The notion that I might need to be rejustified betrayed the fact that I had not appreciated that I’d been taken out of Adam the guilty and had been placed in Christ and my identity is in Christ, the righteous One.  Not my behavior, not my feelings, not my faithfulness.  He is my righteousness…the same yesterday, today and forever.  Because He lives, I live.  If I belong to Adam, I share his guilt and death is my destiny.  But I belong to Christ (Hallelujah!) and so His righteousness, His life are mine.”
Reeves says I need to tell myself daily…That despite my many many failings, I even I can cry out, no condemnation now I dread.  Jesus and all in Him is mine.  Alive in Him, my living head and clothed in righteousness divine.  Bold I even I approach the eternal holy throne and claim the crown through Christ my own.   
My identity is in Christ Jesus, the One who has given me His life and righteousness, will one day destroy the accuser, sin, death, will have no enemies left but will have all things under His feet, the feet that were pierced for me.  Amen!
1 Peter 1:3 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!  According to His great mercy, He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead…”

5. Read 1 Corinthians 15:20-23
A. How is Christ described in verse 20?
Jesus is described as the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
 
B. What is the contrast between Adam and Christ in verses 21-22?
Death came through a man, Adam. The resurrection of the dead comes through Christ. In Adam, all die; in Christ, all will be made alive.
 
C. What do you learn in verse 23?
All will be made alive, but in this order: Christ the firstfruits, then, when He comes, those who belong to Him.
 
6. Read Genesis 1:11-13
A. What happened on the third day of creation?
God said for the land to produce vegetation: seed bearing plants and trees that will bear fruit with seed in it, each according to its kind.
 
B. What kind of fruit did each plant or tree bear according to verse 12?
Each type of plant or tree was to bear fruit according to its kind, so each one was reproducing more of its kind.
 
7. Who was the Master Gardener in Creation?
God was the Master Gardener. 
 
8. How was the resurrected body of Christ different than his earthly body?
His resurrected body apparently could appear in locked rooms, and disappear just as quickly. Time and space did not confine it.
 
9. What will the bodies of those who are in Christ be like – why? How is this in Genesis 1:12?
Our resurrected bodies will be like His, because if Jesus is the “first fruits”, then He will “produce” more fruit after His own kind. 
 
10. What is the irony of Mary thinking Jesus was the gardener?
I guess in a sense, He really was/is the gardener.

12. What is your take-a-way and why?
I keep thinking about how death came to man in the first Garden, Eden. And death came to Christ, saving man, in the second Garden, Gethsemane, when Christ submitted to the Father’s will. The first Garden of Life was destroyed by man’s sin, but in the second Garden, Christ restored man, giving us eternal life by His sacrifice. He turned everything upside down. It’s so overwhelming, so humbling—the sacrificial love of Jesus. He gave up all so we could have what we can never deserve. This lesson has been just amazing. I love that we are staying in the Resurrection. This is our lifeline, our hope, our breath.