On Empty Tombs and Whitewashed Sepulchers
by Rev. Kirby Williams
Analyzing the sharp division between those who believe in Jesus and those who do not.
Text: John 11:45-53
Date: 08/19/2018, the Traditional service.
Series: "John: Encountering Love" Part 101
Description:
For those who witnessed the undeniable miracle of Lazarus shuffling forth from his tomb one would think there would be a single unified response: belief in Jesus Christ. But tragically, rather than unifying all people, the miracle Jesus worked had the opposite effect and created an even deeper division among them. Some believed in Him and were saved, others did not believe and reported what He had done to the authorities, who then plotted to kill Him for His work. At the risk of political incorrectness, we will discuss the reality (and yes, necessity) of this division as reflecting the state of the human soul both in Jesus' day and in ours. Using biblical symbolism and a variety of metaphors, we will illustrate this sharp and eternal distinction as the difference between an empty tomb and a whitewashed sepulcher.
View:
Options:
I. Introduction
II. Exposition of the text, John 11:45-53.
A. Context
1. The state of things in the tomb, Matt. 23:27, Psa. 5:9.
2. The Call of Christ.
3. The removal of the grave clothes.
B. The positive reaction, vs. 45.
1. A frustrating omission.
2. The people of the empty tomb, John 2:23-25, 11:26, 40.
3. Cleansing the empty tomb.
C. The negative reaction, vs. 46-53.
1. Evidence of a defiled tomb, vs. 46.
a. A wicked response.
b. The divisiveness of Christ, John 8:48, Matt. 9:34, 10:34-36.
2. The gathering of the Sanhedrin, vs. 47.
a. An impromptu gathering.
b. A confused gathering.
c. A formal gathering.
3. The reason for the alarm, vs. 48.
a. The heart of the problem.
b. A precarious political position.
c. "Politicizing" Jesus, Matt. 22:21, John 6:15.
4. Words from an open grave, vs. 49-50, Rom. 3:13-14.
a. Introducing Caiaphas, vs. 49.
b. The last Aaronic high priest.
c. A rude address, vs. 49b.
d. An unwitting prophecy, vs. 50.
e. A tragic irony.
5. John's glorious commentary, vs. 51-52.
a. Providential words, vs. 51a, Gen. 50:20.
b. The central truth of Christianity, vs. 51b-52.
i. The sacrificial death of Christ, vs. 51b, John 11:25.
ii. Defining "the nation", Ex. 19:6.
iii. A far-flung flock, vs. 52, John 10:16, Acts 18:9-10.
6. The nefarious outcome, vs. 53.
III. Application
A. Jesus died for you.
B. The dividing line is the state of the tomb of the heart.
C. Unity within the body of Christ.
IV. Conclusion
