The Tomb Was Empty

N.T.#806 "The Tomb Was Empty"

May 29, 2026 

John 20

LET IT GLOW 

John tells about the resurrection of Christ in a little different way from Matthew, Mark, and Luke:

• *It was the first day of the week when Mary Magdalene went early and in the dark to the sepulchre. She went with the purpose of anointing the dead body of Christ Jesus. (verse 1)
• *The stone covering the tomb of Jesus was rolled away. It was an empty tomb.
• *Mary ran to tell Peter and John, leaders of the disciples. 
• *She told the guys someone took Jesus' body away and she didn't know where. (verse 2)
• *Peter and John ran to the tomb. (verses 3)
• *John arrived first. (verse 4)
• *When John looked inside, he found only linen clothes lying there. (verse 5)
• *Peter went inside and found the headband folded and lying in a separate place from the rest of the grave clothes. (verse 5-6)

What an experience for just a few people as they discovered Jesus' body was gone. Friend, do you believe all of this actually happened. The Bible is truth.

LET IT GROW

Notice that Joh saw and believed, yet they did not know about the Scripture saying He must rise again from the dead. (verse 9)

Jesus taught about His resurrection. t began to dawn on these folks and their sight now turned to faith as they realized that Christ had risen. (Liberty Bible Commentary)

These close friends of Jesus had some thinking to do. A lot had happened in just 3 short days. Being overwhelmed, they returned to their homes.

What a shock it must have been.

LET IT GO 

Will you accept the fact that Jesus rose from the dead, that He is God's Son, that He is alive? 

Have you committed yourself to the Risen Lord Jesus?

Faithful to The End

N.T.#805 "Faithful to The End"

May 28, 2026 

John 19-Part 7

LET IT GLOW 

Certainly, Jesus' work was finished as He died on the cross. (verse 30)

The Jews did not permit a body to remain on the cross until the next day, for it would have violated their Jewish law. (Deut. 21:22-23) Since the victim would press on his legs to lift his chest enough to breathe, if the legs were broken, this would hasten death. The victim would not be able to breathe and die. (Falwell)

However, when the soldiers came to break Jesus' legs, He was already dead and they did not break them. (Ps. 34:20) Also, it was against the law to work after sundown on Friday, their Sabbath. One of the soldiers pierced Jesus' side and outflowed blood and water. This was proof that Jesus was dead. 

God's plan of salvation was taking place before their eyes. Soon, in 3 days, the Savior would rise from the grave to complete it. Jesus has defeated death and sit in heaven on the throne reigning as King.

Do you believe this? 

LET IT GROW 

Joseph of Arimathaea and Nicodemus were sect disciples of Jesus. The openly asked Pilate for Jesus' body so they could bury it. It was a new tomb so no one could claim bones were in it where they lay Jesus' body. They wrapped His body and used spices. (verses 38-42) The guys intended on finishing the body preparations after the Sabbath. (Luke 24:1)

LET IT GO 

Thank You Jesus for enduring the cross to provide our salvation. What love!

Are we faithful to the end like Jesus?

Is It Finished?

N.T.#804 "Is It Finished?"

 May 27, 2026 

John 19-Part 6

LET IT GLOW 

Can we know when we have accomplished our purpose? When we have done all we could do? When is it time to step back a, give it to God, and watch the Father work on our behalf? Friend, I don't have the answers. 

Yet, Jesus knew when all things were accomplished for His life. (verse 28) He thirst as evidence of His suffering. They gave Jesus vinegar (strong wine).

Then Jesus said, It is finished. (verse 30) He died and gave His Spirit to God.

Jesus' work of atonement for sin was done. The demands of the law had been met. The debt for sin had been paid in full. Jesus, the sinless Lamb of God, took our place in paying for our sins. 

I hope we never get over that fact. How precious Jesus is!

Sin separates people from God, and only through the sacrifice of animal, a substitute, could people be forgiven and become clean before God. But people sin continually, so frequent sacrifices were required. Jesus became the final and ultimate sacrifice from sin. The word finished is the same as "paid in full." Jesus came to finish God's work of salvation, to pay the full penalty for our sins. (Life Application Study Bible)

Jesus took all sin upon Himself, so the sacrificial system ended. Now we can come to Holy God through Savior Jesus. Belief in Jesus allows us to spend eternity in heaven with them. 

Do you know this Savior personally? If not, believe Jesus is God's son and ask His forgiveness of your sins; ask Jesus to come into your heart and be your Savior. Don;' put it off. Do it today.

LET IT GROW 

No one takes (my life) from Me, but I lay it down on my own. (10:18)

Bowing His head, He gave up His Spirit. (verse 30)

No one has greater love than this: to lay down his life for his friends.  (15:13)

Jesus did it all and lived a perfect life. Willingly He offered Himself as a substitute for our sins.

LET IT GO

Such love, grace, mercy You give, Lord Jesus!

Do You Thirst Spiritually?

N.T.#803 "Do You Thirst Spiritually?"

May 26, 2026 

John 19-Part 5

LET IT GLOW 

One more prophecy is found in verse 30 where Jesus said that He thirst. They gave Him vinegar (strong wine) with hyssop. It was to fulfill Psalm 22:15. It was a little plant used for sprinkling. the sour wine reduced fever and gave refreshment to soldiers. Jesus' tongue would cleave to His jaw with dry mouth. They used hyssop to spread the lambs' blood over the doorposts during the Passover in Egypt. 

LET IT GROW

Christ our Passover lamb has been sacrificed. (1 Cor. 5:7)

His shed blood became the atonement for us sinners. Jesus was thirsty. 

Do we thirst after righteousness, after the Holy Spirit, after the Word of God?

LET IT GO

Is Jesus your Living Water?

Love of Family

N.T.#802 "Love of Family"

May 22, 2026 

John 19-Part 4

LET IT GLOW 

Who were the four woman that stood by the cross of Jesus? They were His mother, Mary, and her sister, the wife of Cleophas, Mary, Mary Magdalene.  Can you feel the love there? I think those women were there to support Mary. What a time of anguish for a mother. When your child suffers, a mother suffers. There is a bond between them, especially mother and son.

LET IT GROW 

Jesus had been the firstborn and breadwinner of the family before He started His ministry. Did you notice He did not give the responsibility of taking care of His mother to His brothers? His brother had not yet believed in Jesus as the Messiah nor Savior. (7:3-5) Likely, they were not present at this time. 

So Jesus gave that responsibility of caretaker of His mother to John. He thought of her needs, even to the end of Jesus' life. John accepted the request and took Mary to his home. (verse 27) What a good son!

Spiritual relationships are to take precedence over biological and physical relationships. (Matt. 12:46-50) (Tony Evans)

LET IT GO 

The bond of love in a family is strong. 

Also, the bond in a church family should be strong.

Love exceeds everything.

Jesus' love is the highest form of love.

Who Do You Say Jesus Is?

N.T.#802 "Who do You Say Jesus Is?"

May 21, 2026 

John 19-Part 3

LET IT GLOW 

Who is your king? Is Jesus the king of your heart and life?

Pilate was driven by the crowd to please the Jews instead of his conscience. So he delivered Jesus to be crucified between to thieves. Since Jesus was not found guilty of any crime, 

Pilate had His title put on the cross: JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS. (verse 19) It was written in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin. The chief priests tried to get it changed to "He said, I am the Kinga of the Jews, but Pilate would not do so. This was done so everyone could read it. Pilate wanted the sign to sting the Jews, but God meant it to declare to the world the truth about His Son.

LET IT GROW 

The soldiers gambled for Jesus' clothing to fulfill Scripture in Psalm 22. 

Here was a king stripped nearly naked and obviously lost his kingdom forever. Yet, Jesus' kingdom was not of this world. The sign was correct and absolutely true. Jesus is King of the Jews, Gentiles, and whole universe. (Life Application Study Bible)

Who do you say Jesus is? 

LET IT GO

King of my heart, glory to Your name. 

Who is Your King?

N.T.#801 "Who is Your King?"

May 20, 2026 

John 19-Part2

LET IT GLOW 

What wrong did the Jews accuse Jesus of doing? They said he made himself out to be the Son of God, which was blasphemy according to their law, punishable by death. 

What happened next? There was the confrontation between Pilate and the Jewish leaders:

• *Pilate became afraid. He asked Jesus where He was from, but Jesus did not answer. 
• *Pilate wanted to know why Jesus wouldn't answer him.
• *Jesus told him Pilate had no power except it be give to him from above. (verse 11)
• *The Jewish leaders threatened Pilate with opposing Caesar. 
• *Pilate brought Jesus out and told the Jews to behold their King. (verse 14)

Can you hear the scorn between them? It was so thick you could cut the tension with a knife. 

Pilate didn't realize that he actually spoke the truth. Jesus is King of heaven and earth!  

LET IT GROW 

The Governor was trying to get rid of the situation. However, the Jewish leaders cried out, "Away with Him, away with Him, crucify Him!" (verse 15)

Then Pilate asked them if he should crucify their King. 

We have no king but Caesar. (verse 15c)

The Jewish leaders should have known that Jesus was the Messiah, about which the Scriptures spoke, and they should have pointed the people to Jesus. When evil, deceitful people pursue evil, they want to eliminate all opposition. Those guys wanted to further their selfish ambition. To accomplish it, they were willing to kill God's Son. (Life Application Study Bible)

It was apparent that Pilate hated the Jews and in scorn he gave them their king, poor, miserable, and beaten. Pilate was driven by the crowd and not by his conscience. He yielded to the Jews' wishes. Then Jesus was delivered to be crucified and led Him away. (verse 16)

Keep in mind, Jesus could have killed the whole bunch of evil people and gone back to heaven where He was treated with love and respect. But He chose to endure it all so He could be our Redeemer, Savior, Redemption, and King! He loves you!

Who is your king? Jesus or self? Jesus or money? Jesus or family? Jesus or job? Jesus or material things?

LET IT GO

Jesus, worthy is the Lamb of God of praise, glory, and worship.

You deserve all praise.