April 1, 2018 Teaching Outline - Easter Sunday!

​Embracing Exile – “The Survivors Testimony” - John 20:11-18
The Testimony of the Witnesses

• The angels testified of the resurrection. (vv. 11-13)

Psalm 121:1-2, “I will lift my eyes to the hills-where does my help come from?  My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth”.
v. 13 – “Why are you weeping?”
 
Where is your focus in exile?
Mary’s encounter with the supernatural is clouded
by her grief and unbelief!
 

 
 

• Jesus testified of His lordship. (vv. 14-17)

In the midst of your pain and despair do you recognize that Jesus is there?
v. 16 - Her attention is drawn once again to the tomb, but a single word changes everything! “Mary” or “Miriam” in Aramaic. HE KNOWS HER NAME!
Isaiah 43:1, “But now, this is what the LORD says, he who created you, O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine”.
 
 
 
He tells her, “Be a witness. Go tell My brethren what you have experienced.
Tell them I am back.”
 

 
 
 

• Mary testified of what she had seen and heard. (v. 18)

The race is on! She runs back to find the disciples!
v. 18 “I HAVE SEEN THE LORD!”         
Their response?         
Mark 16:11, “And when they heard that He was alive and had been seen by her, they did not believe”. 
 
 
We are not responsible for how people respond to our testimony,
but we are to tell it!
 

 
 
There is a great chain of witnesses before us in this passage –
Angels, Jesus, and Mary.
Later the disciples will take up the message and carry it to the world.
 
 
 
 It stretches through time and now reaches to me and you.
How strong is the “chain of witnesses” today?