I invite you this morning to join me in John’s gospel—chapter 20. John has been telling us some of the events that make-up the story of Jesus’ last week here on earth…beginning back in chapter 18. (His betrayal & arrest, trial, crucifixion, and burial.)

We pick-up the story here in chapter 20, it’s Sunday morning—and what happens on this particular morning is something Jesus disciples should have been expecting…yet  it’s as if it’s a mystery to them. What happens next sort of unfolds like a CSI episode on TV.

The opening scene happens right before dawn, a body is missing, and no one really knows what’s happened. I can hear Grissom now instructing his team of investigators…assume nothing, just follow the evidence it has a story to tell. What I hope we see this Easter morning is the story of the resurrection of Jesus is based on facts…not fiction. There are at least three things that point to the validity of what happened that early Sunday morning over 2000 years ago.

1. The tomb is empty.

All 4 gospels tell the resurrection story. And, it’s interesting that each writer has a little different perspective on what happened, how it happened, and who was there. From John’s perspective we only read about 3 people. (Mat. 2, Mark 3, Luke at least 4,) There is one thing they all agree on…the tomb is empty. In terms of the evidence telling the story this is the first significant piece…Amen.

That being the case—it invites the question, “How could this be?”  Two things come to mind.

Was Jesus ever actually placed in the tomb? The gospels tell us that Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate if he could bury Jesus, the women who followed Jesus saw where He was buried (Luke 23:55), and the Pharisees asked Pilate to place a guard at the tomb so no one would steal the body (Mat. 27:64-65). There are plenty of eyewitness accounts of Jesus being placed in the tomb. (Both friends and adversaries)

Would the disciples attempt to steal the body? John tells us (being a disciple himself) in verse 9 even though Jesus had talked about being resurrected…they didn’t understand it. And—they are no match for the Roman guard at the tomb.

So what does all of this mean? Eyewitness testimony is very beneficial in trying to discover the truth about things that happen. Especially events that have huge implications like the resurrection of someone from the dead. Whatever people choose to believe about the implications of Christians celebrating Easter—there’s one thing they can’t escape…the eyewitness testimony that says the tomb is empty. Now—notice the second piece of evidence.

2. The burial garments are evident.

John tells us that Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus took Jesus and buried Him “in accordance with Jewish burial customs” (19:39-40). This means they covered Jesus body with spices and aloes then wrapped Him with strips of linen from His feet to His head. After that, there was another strip of cloth that went around His head that would end up looking something like a turban…leaving His face uncovered.

Then John tells us “early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb” and discovered the stone had been removed from the entrance. She tells Peter and John—they run to the tomb, go in and all that’s there are the grave cloths. No body—just the evidence that one had been there.

I believe this invites at least 2 questions for us to consider.

If someone wanted to steal the body…why would they leave the grave clothes? It would make the body harder to move and increase the chance of getting caught by the Roman guards.

The second question is this, If you’re no longer dead…do you really need grave clothes anyway? They’re not necessary and certainly binding. ILL: What was the first thing Jesus said when Lazarus came out of his tomb…”take off the grave clothes and let him go” (11:43).

So what’s the evidence telling us up to this point? The tomb is empty and it’s evident that a body was there because of the presence of burial garments. The story of what really happened early on that third day is beginning to take shape.

3. The truth is emerging.

John tells us in verse 8 that he goes inside the tomb and sees all the evidence and believes that Jesus has been resurrected…but in verse 9 he says they still don’t fully understand all of what it means. Now—look at verse 10…then the disciples went back to their homes. As I was looking at that verse this week I thought to myself…are you kidding me? They went home.

The great tragedy of Friday has been replaced with triumph on Sunday…and they just go home. Jesus is dead on Friday—He’s alive on Sunday…and they go home. Then it downed on me that I know the rest of the story…but for them the truth is just beginning to emerge.

For them—they knew Jesus said in Mat. 20:18-19   When He got to Jerusalem He would be betrayed, handed over to the Romans, crucified and on the third He would be raised to life. But they’re caught-up in the moment as it unfolds and quite frankly they’re devastated by all that’s happening. Emotional wrecks.

For them—they knew Jesus could fix anything. He healed the sick, made the lame to walk again, opened the eyes of the blind, the ears of the deaf, walked on water, and even raised the dead. They heard Jesus talk about dying—but in light of all they have witnessed Him do for others...I’m sure they didn’t think He would actually die.

What about us—like the disciples…we’re all going home in a few moments. From John’s perspective—the evidence tells the story. The tomb is empty, the burial clothes are evident, and the truth about the resurrection is emerging. So—what truth is that? What’s the evidence telling us about the story of the resurrection?

The evidence supports three facts:

1. Jesus was crucified and when the soldier plunged his spear into Jesus side it confirmed He was dead. Therefore, his friends put Him in the tomb.

2. Jesus was put in the tomb on Friday and Sunday the tomb was empty. Since the Roman guard would have most likely been killed for allowing someone to steal the body…it’s highly unlikely they were a part of any conspiracy with the disciples. Therefore, something else happened.

3. The resurrection of Jesus confirms all that He said, and all that Scripture said was going to happen. I believe it was C. S. Lewis who said that Jesus was either a lunatic, a liar, or Lord. The evidence found in the resurrection story supports the fact that Jesus is not only alive…He is Lord! Amen!