April 16, 2006am    Have you run to see for yourself?    John 20

By Ronald E. George Jr. at the Fayetteville Baptist Church

Many have seen the church.  Most have seen the pastor, the deacons, and other Christians.  Most folks have a Bible, but have they see the empty tomb.  Have they met the one who once was laid dead in a grave, but now lives again? 

John 20:1 (NIV) Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. 2 So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don't know where they have put him!" 3 So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. 4 Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter, who was behind him, arrived and went into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, 7 as well as the burial cloth that had been around Jesus' head. The cloth was folded up by itself, separate from the linen. 8 Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. 9 (They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.) 10 Then the disciples went back to their homes,

Death did not pass by the life of the innocent one so that those who were guilty may live. 

Run to see the death of death.

Run to see the empty tomb of our Lord. She said they have taken Jesus from the tomb.  Has someone taken your Jesus?  What has taken your Lord from His place? 

Run to see the door to eternity has been unlocked by Jesus.

Run to see the hour of hope that has been born to all who believe.  Some don’t believe.

Run to see that God has opened the tomb by the hand of angels.  Mary Magdalene  saw the stone had been removed form the entrance to the tomb.  Men tried to stop and deny the work of the Lord.  Men have tried to entomb the Lord and keep him there. 

Run to see the dawning of a new day of freedom from death, hell, and the grave. Why not wait until daylight.  While it was still dark, see the urgency of the commitment to the Lord

Run to see the Lord who has been there for you, so that you don’t have to.

Run to find the treasure of the empty shell because the new life has emerged.

Run to tell the others in your life.  Tell your family, friends, and neighbors that death is no longer the unconquerable enemy.  We have victory in Jesus who has risen from the dead.  She came running to tell the Simon Peter and the others and the one Jesus loved.  Why should you come to tell the others.  Would you run to tell the story?  There is life from the tomb. 

Run in the dark and see the light as it breaks forth through the gloom of the dawn of the new day for all of humanity.

Run to see that what evil men have tried to kill and close up, the Lord has brought to life and uncovered. 

Run to see for yourself.  Peter and John ran to see for themselves.  Did they not believe her?   Have you seen for yourself?   Do you have an individual faith. Each went in and each one saw for themselves.  Have you?  Each one believed. 

Run home and begin your new life in the hope of the resurrection.  Then they went home and their lives was changed forever.  Because the tomb was empty.