THE EMPTY TOMB: A PROPHECY OF OUR FUTURE: no evil memories, darkness or death
04-08-07
Sorry, you must have Windows Media Player 9 or higher. This is a large file which may take a few seconds to start Windows Media Real Audio MP3 A TOWER OF BITTERNESS grown up from the seed root of bitterness sown in the Garden of Eden (John 20:1,2) The first day of the week [Sunday] cometh Mary [rebellion /// bitterness] Magdalene [Gk: the tower] early [“out of whom he had cast seven devils” Mark 16:9], when it was yet dark [before sunrise], unto the sepulcher [Gk: a rememberance: grave, tomb /// memory /// to recall to mind], and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulcher [not so that Jesus could get out, but so that others could get in]. Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple [Gk: learner, pupil (student)], whom Jesus loved [John: symbol of love], and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord [Gk: supreme in authority] out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him [a natural conclusion]. 1. Commentary: towers were made of hard stones (false doctrines) assembled one atop another (pride) – an inverted ascending tomb. ENTERING INTO THE SEPULCHER (TOMB, MOST HOLY PLACE) (John 20:3-10) Peter [the “head” of the disciples, the person of highest authority] therefore went forth [Gk: issued forth (a type of birth into a new world)], and that other disciple [John, the disciple of love, representing the “heart”], and came to the sepulcher [Gk: tomb]. So they ran both together [head and heart]: and the other disciple [love] did outrun Peter [head knowledge], and came first to the sepulcher [Gk: tomb]. And he stooping down [Gk: bending over], and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in [deference to authority. It was not his place to ursurp authority]. Then cometh Simon [hearing] Peter [a piece of (the) rock] following him, and went into the sepulcher [checking out the facts, (the head)], and seeth the linen clothes lie, And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself [i.e. perhaps illustrating that the head of Christ is in a different place than the body of Christ]. Then went in also that other disciple [John: the heart], which came first to the sepulcher [Gk: tomb], and he saw, and believed [after the facts were assimilated (understood) by Peter: the head]. For as yet they knew not [Gk: understood not] the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead. Then the disciples went away again unto their own home. 1. Commentary: May we note that both Peter and John stooped down (bent over) before the sepulcher entrance, which wonderfully pictures (for us) an act of reverence (syn: respect, admiration, worship, awe, veneration). John “stooping down” is specified in the text, whereas Peter “stooping down” is not specified but clearly understood, else how could he otherwise enter the low entrance of the sepulcher? 2. (Psa 16:10) For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. FOCUS ON LIFE, NOT DEATH Focus on the future, not the past, and have joy in the present (John 20:11-18) But Mary stood without [outside] at the sepulchre [tomb, Most Holy Place] weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down [please now note that John, Peter, and Mary all stooped down], and looked into the sepulchre, And seeth two angels in white sitting [upon an empty type of the Ark of the Covenant], the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain [but she did not enter into the type of the Most Holy Place]. And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? [this is a time of joy and triumph] She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him. And when she had thus said, she turned herself back [from the tomb (refocused)], and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener [a garden-keeper], saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away. Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself [back from the tomb again (refocused, and this time stayed focused on Him)], and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master. Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not [hold me not, cling to me not]; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God [i.e. go and tell them that Jesus is risen]. Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her. 1. (Rom 14:11) For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. 2. (Gen 2:15) And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it [serve, worship] and to keep it [guard, protect]. 3. (John 10:2,3) But he that entereth in by the door [of the sheepfold] is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. 4. The Living Bible: Mary [a symbol of mankind] did not meet the risen Christ until she had discovered the empty tomb. She responded with joy and obedience in telling the disciples. We cannot truly meet Christ until we discover that He is indeed alive, that His tomb is empty. Are we filled with joy and do we share this good news with others? THE GREAT COMMISSION (John 20:19-23) Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week [Sunday], when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. And when he had so said, he showed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord. Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost [a foretaste of Acts 2]: Whose soever sins [the past (memories)] ye remit [forgive], they are remitted [forgiven, no longer binding them to death, gone] unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain [keep in the present], they are retained [kept bound to their sins]. 1. (Mat 28:18-20) And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore [“even so send I you” John 20:21], and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. Previous Chapter Table Of Contents Next Chapter Click here to download a printable version of this message Click here to download a DOC version of this message
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A TOWER OF BITTERNESS grown up from the seed root of bitterness sown in the Garden of Eden
(John 20:1,2) The first day of the week [Sunday] cometh Mary [rebellion /// bitterness] Magdalene [Gk: the tower] early [“out of whom he had cast seven devils” Mark 16:9], when it was yet dark [before sunrise], unto the sepulcher [Gk: a rememberance: grave, tomb /// memory /// to recall to mind], and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulcher [not so that Jesus could get out, but so that others could get in]. Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple [Gk: learner, pupil (student)], whom Jesus loved [John: symbol of love], and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord [Gk: supreme in authority] out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him [a natural conclusion].
1. Commentary: towers were made of hard stones (false doctrines) assembled one atop another (pride) – an inverted ascending tomb.
ENTERING INTO THE SEPULCHER (TOMB, MOST HOLY PLACE)
(John 20:3-10) Peter [the “head” of the disciples, the person of highest authority] therefore went forth [Gk: issued forth (a type of birth into a new world)], and that other disciple [John, the disciple of love, representing the “heart”], and came to the sepulcher [Gk: tomb]. So they ran both together [head and heart]: and the other disciple [love] did outrun Peter [head knowledge], and came first to the sepulcher [Gk: tomb]. And he stooping down [Gk: bending over], and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in [deference to authority. It was not his place to ursurp authority]. Then cometh Simon [hearing] Peter [a piece of (the) rock] following him, and went into the sepulcher [checking out the facts, (the head)], and seeth the linen clothes lie, And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself [i.e. perhaps illustrating that the head of Christ is in a different place than the body of Christ]. Then went in also that other disciple [John: the heart], which came first to the sepulcher [Gk: tomb], and he saw, and believed [after the facts were assimilated (understood) by Peter: the head]. For as yet they knew not [Gk: understood not] the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead. Then the disciples went away again unto their own home.
1. Commentary: May we note that both Peter and John stooped down (bent over) before the sepulcher entrance, which wonderfully pictures (for us) an act of reverence (syn: respect, admiration, worship, awe, veneration). John “stooping down” is specified in the text, whereas Peter “stooping down” is not specified but clearly understood, else how could he otherwise enter the low entrance of the sepulcher?
2. (Psa 16:10) For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
FOCUS ON LIFE, NOT DEATH Focus on the future, not the past, and have joy in the present (John 20:11-18) But Mary stood without [outside] at the sepulchre [tomb, Most Holy Place] weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down [please now note that John, Peter, and Mary all stooped down], and looked into the sepulchre, And seeth two angels in white sitting [upon an empty type of the Ark of the Covenant], the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain [but she did not enter into the type of the Most Holy Place]. And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? [this is a time of joy and triumph] She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him. And when she had thus said, she turned herself back [from the tomb (refocused)], and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener [a garden-keeper], saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away. Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself [back from the tomb again (refocused, and this time stayed focused on Him)], and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master. Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not [hold me not, cling to me not]; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God [i.e. go and tell them that Jesus is risen]. Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her. 1. (Rom 14:11) For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. 2. (Gen 2:15) And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it [serve, worship] and to keep it [guard, protect]. 3. (John 10:2,3) But he that entereth in by the door [of the sheepfold] is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. 4. The Living Bible: Mary [a symbol of mankind] did not meet the risen Christ until she had discovered the empty tomb. She responded with joy and obedience in telling the disciples. We cannot truly meet Christ until we discover that He is indeed alive, that His tomb is empty. Are we filled with joy and do we share this good news with others? THE GREAT COMMISSION (John 20:19-23) Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week [Sunday], when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. And when he had so said, he showed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord. Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost [a foretaste of Acts 2]: Whose soever sins [the past (memories)] ye remit [forgive], they are remitted [forgiven, no longer binding them to death, gone] unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain [keep in the present], they are retained [kept bound to their sins]. 1. (Mat 28:18-20) And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore [“even so send I you” John 20:21], and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. Previous Chapter Table Of Contents Next Chapter Click here to download a printable version of this message Click here to download a DOC version of this message
(John 20:11-18) But Mary stood without [outside] at the sepulchre [tomb, Most Holy Place] weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down [please now note that John, Peter, and Mary all stooped down], and looked into the sepulchre, And seeth two angels in white sitting [upon an empty type of the Ark of the Covenant], the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain [but she did not enter into the type of the Most Holy Place]. And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? [this is a time of joy and triumph] She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him. And when she had thus said, she turned herself back [from the tomb (refocused)], and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener [a garden-keeper], saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away. Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself [back from the tomb again (refocused, and this time stayed focused on Him)], and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master. Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not [hold me not, cling to me not]; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God [i.e. go and tell them that Jesus is risen]. Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her.
1. (Rom 14:11) For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.
2. (Gen 2:15) And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it [serve, worship] and to keep it [guard, protect].
3. (John 10:2,3) But he that entereth in by the door [of the sheepfold] is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.
4. The Living Bible: Mary [a symbol of mankind] did not meet the risen Christ until she had discovered the empty tomb. She responded with joy and obedience in telling the disciples. We cannot truly meet Christ until we discover that He is indeed alive, that His tomb is empty. Are we filled with joy and do we share this good news with others?
THE GREAT COMMISSION
(John 20:19-23) Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week [Sunday], when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. And when he had so said, he showed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord. Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost [a foretaste of Acts 2]: Whose soever sins [the past (memories)] ye remit [forgive], they are remitted [forgiven, no longer binding them to death, gone] unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain [keep in the present], they are retained [kept bound to their sins].
1. (Mat 28:18-20) And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore [“even so send I you” John 20:21], and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
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