The Rock Family Sermon of the Week
The Rock Family Worship Center is a multi-cultural non denominational church led by Pastors Scott & Britt Silcox.
The Rock Family Sermon of the Week
Gardens | Easter Sunday: The Garden Tomb - Pastor Scott Silcox
Pastor Scott Silcox unpacks John's unique resurrection account, revealing how Christ as the Gardener restores what was lost in Eden and calls each of us by name in our own garden seasons.
• Seeing John's gospel as an intentional theological framework rather than just chronology
• Understanding how John connects the creation narrative to Christ's resurrection
• Recognizing the three different reactions at the empty tomb—Peter's shame, John's belief, Mary's seeking
• Appreciating how Mary's "mistaken" identification of Jesus as the gardener reveals his true identity
• Experiencing the power of personal recognition when Jesus calls Mary by name
• Tracing John's artistic connections between the garden of Eden and the garden tomb
• Finding hope in Christ as the one who breathes new life into defeated, frustrated disciples
• Embracing the invitation to let the Gardener tend to our lives
Welcome to the Rock Family Sermon of the Week. For more information about our church, please visit therockfamilytv Now. Join us for a message from Pastor Scott Silcox.
Speaker 2:Oh, it's going to be a great day today. It's a Resurrection Sunday. Resurrection Sunday, resurrection Sunday. I don't know about you, but as I sat here this morning and going through worship, I'm just telling you I'm energized with the idea Christ with us. I'm energized with the concept and the idea that Christ paid it all and that he didn't leave it like that. How many know, three days later he conquers death, hell and the grave. For you, for me, for the world, and today that is what we're talking about here, easter Sunday. Now it's going to be a little different today. I mean shocker. But you know they left me alone to my own vices today, where I could just come up with whatever was in my heart. And I'm going to just tell you I feel like God has really given me just a thought that I want to seed the ground with today, and I use that language on purpose.
Speaker 2:For most of you that aren't visiting with us today, that are in the room, you know that we've been going through a series in the garden narratives, right, and we've been tracking this idea that God has been showing up in every garden season of our life. Can I tell you, if you're in the room today, you don't have to worry if you've missed out. This won't be insider language for you. You won't. You won't feel on the outskirts on this conversation, because this is real simple. If you boiled it all down to this is that Christ has always cared about your future. Christ has always been intentional about what he has done and allowed and it's all been getting you to a place where you could stop to recognize him as father, as Lord, as friend, as protector, as guide, as gardener. And today we're gonna talk through that.
Speaker 2:But, if it's okay with you, I asked the team to do this today. I want to kind of get in an atmosphere and we're going to kind of set this little tone, because how many know there, if you have your Bibles open up to John 20, john 20. We're going to just stay in the gospel narrative that John puts together, because I want to show you something real intentional about John's intentionality, about how he wrote the gospel. But there's some very key things in this that I think we're going to walk away with. But before we do that, I just want to set an atmosphere. I want to set the tone, get our hearts and our minds in this. So if we have that first screen. Let's go to it. And then, if you'll help me with this, guys, and lower the lights for me and I want to talk to you about this idea behind me is a sunrise from israel.
Speaker 2:I want you to just imagine with me for just a second. I want you to just imagine with me for just a second that in John's gospel, the 20th chapter, mary Magdalene gets up early, can't sleep. She's making her way to the garden tomb. She's gonna go find out. Really, she's going there to do work. She's going there to prepare, just bring closure, probably, to what is a difficult season that they're walking through as a family. I want you to think with me for just a second. This shouldn't be hard for anyone who's lost someone before.
Speaker 2:But how many know that in the days after the cross there is an immense amount of fear. We know that because the disciples all found themselves hiding out and worried and afraid. That started even at the Garden of Gethsemane. Right, we know this that the disciples, in fear of their own lives, begin to abandon Christ. Imagine with me over the next few days as Christ continues to walk out his obedience to the Lord, as he begins to give up his life. Because how many know nobody can take it but he gives up his life and in that process, how many know that there's a lot of emotion in the room? How many know that there's a lot of emotion in the room? It's likely the disciples and those that follow Christ had seen crucifixions before, but this one's different. This is your friend, this is somebody you walked and did life with. This feels personal. It's your son. You imagine the agony on his mother, knowing what she bore and carried and protected, guarded, instructed. Oh, they'd all heard the message. They'd all heard Christ say this is the way I have to go, this is what is going to bring life to the masses, this is what's going to happen. But how many know? In that moment it feels different Because it's a reality. You don't want to be true. What about the anxiety that crops up when you think, if that's what they'll do to this man, what will they do to us? At least this guy had healing in his hands. This guy had revelation knowledge. And I'm just a bystander, I'm just one of the guys.
Speaker 2:Loss has a tendency to do this. I don't know about, about you, but when I've experienced loss in my life, someone personal, it causes me to take a time of reflection. You can imagine. For the last three days there's been a lot of just self-evaluation. I mean, know, know that when you're facing loss, no matter really who it is and really doesn't matter how close or distant it is, if you hear about it you pause. Over the last few days we've had the unfortunate. It's not a privilege, but it is at times, as we've heard stories of family members that have passed away.
Speaker 2:Even in this room it causes me, even this morning, watching a sunset up early and feeling and trying to connect with what, what were the disciples feeling in that moment. There's a, there's a tension. That's there, right, do you follow? There's an internal questioning, like, have you ever done this before? When you reflect on the loss, you start to reflect on how much time you have left. Isn't it interesting that we have a tendency to try to figure out how to preserve what we have and then it causes me to immediately reflect on how much I wasted. You understand what I'm saying Causes me to look back in regret. I don't know about you. There's things in my life that I regret. I don't know about you. There's things in my life that I regret.
Speaker 2:I think of Peter, could you imagine Christ says you're gonna deny me, and as strong and as powerful and as focused as you are, you couldn't see that flaw in yourself. Until the right scenario, and he stumbles. He's a loss for words. Wonder what's going on in his mind. I was that close, anybody know. You can only imagine Peter's probably working in his mind.
Speaker 2:If I had just stayed, what would have happened? Could I have made a difference, could I have helped? Maybe they would have crucified me and not him. That's a lot of pressure we put on ourselves at times. I would just tell you this. I would say a lot of times we put undue pressure on ourselves that Christ never intended for us to carry. But there's Peter struggling with it and the disciples, all of them. I don't know about you.
Speaker 2:If I was there, I'd tell you who's the topic of conversation, or at least he's. At the second conversation, it's Jesus first, but it's where's Judas, and what can we do to him? Come on, somebody Listen. If you're, if you're, if you're, if you're the select few that I get to call my boys and there's a few in this room that I can call my boys you better be thinking this way. Somebody betrays me. I would like to know. There's some vengeance being planned. Somebody betrays me. I would like to know there's some vengeance being planned. Come on, can we all act like the disciples were more Christian than they were? They weren't. They tried to kill a man in the garden. Right, there's a lot of anger and frustration, confusion, and this is the scenario.
Speaker 2:We find John 20. It's packed with tension and John begins to write in a way that is really interesting. We're going to talk about it in a second, but I wanted to just set the tone. This is what's happening. This is where Mary's at. This is where Mary's coming Earliest part of the day. Can't sleep. Got to get to the tomb, gotta get closure. It ended too weird. It was strange Couple of guys that aren't even in deep relationship with him. Those are the guys that got the body of Christ, probably because we were all hiding away. I wonder how they treated it. I wonder if they handled the body well. I wonder if they took care of it. Let's go find out.
Speaker 2:Would you bow your heads with me? Heavenly Father, we love you today. Heavenly Father, we thank you for your word. We thank you that what you did for us we couldn't do for ourselves and we are eternally grateful today. Today, I'm asking you, lord, would you open up our hearts, our ears, our minds to receive what you have for us today, god. I pray that when we leave here today, we leave encouraged, focused, seen. God. That's our desire. It's God, that we would be more like you, god, that those stubborn areas of our life that we've been avoiding or hiding or denying we. Thank you, holy Spirit. We give you access to this next few minutes as we go through your word. I pray that it come alive to us in such a real way. Thank you, holy Spirit. We give you access to this next few minutes as we go through your word. I pray that it come alive to us in such a real way. We give you glory, we give you honor, we give you praise In Jesus' name. Amen, john 20.
Speaker 2:Can I read this passage to you real quick? It's a fascinating passage and I'll tell you why here in a second, but I wanna read it to you Early in the morning, and it says this now on the first day of the week, mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb, and so she ran and went to Simon Peter and to the other disciple to whom Jesus loved, and said to them they have taken the Lord out of the tomb. We do not know where they have laid him. Let me pause right there. John is just. John is just all about himself here. The other disciple whom Jesus loved. This is John writing about himself. Anybody got somebody in their family like that Doesn't matter what the conversation is, they're the center of attention. But there's John.
Speaker 2:So Peter went out with the other disciple and they were going toward the tomb. Both of them were running together, but the other disciple, outran Peter. Do you love this? Outran Peter? Do you love this? This is the. This is the alpha males at each other. Right, we both got the news and it's a foot race to the tomb and John's letting the whole world know that he's faster than Peter, as if that was the thing we needed to focus on. A bunch of dudes, a hundred percent. A bunch of dudes right here, and I love it. Both of them are running together, but the other disciple outran Peter, and reached the tomb first, stooping in. He looked in. He saw the linen clothes lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came following him and he went into the tomb he has no boundaries Saw the linen clothes lying there and the face cloth which had been on Jesus's head, not lying with the linen clothes but folded up in a place by itself. And then the other disciple who ran, had reached the tomb first, also went in and he saw and what Believed this is important, pay attention to that language and then the other disciple who had reached the tomb first, went in and he saw and he believed for as yet they did not understand the scripture that he must rise from the dead. Then the disciples went back to their homes. I'm going to pick up verse 11 here.
Speaker 2:But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb and she wept. She stooped to look into the tomb and she saw the two angels in white sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. And they said to her woman why are you weeping? What a weird question to ask at a graveyard, isn't that strange? Needs to be noted. It's not only asked once by them, it's asked twice. Check it out. Having said this, or they have taken my Lord away and I did not know where they have laid him. Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Verse 15,. Jesus said to her woman why are you weeping? Why and whom are you seeking, supposing him to be the gardener? She said to him, sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him and I will take him away. And Jesus said to her Mary. She turned and said to him in Aramaic, rabboni, which means teacher. Jesus said to her do not cling to me, for I have not ascended to the father, but go to my brothers and say to them I am ascending to the father, and your father to my God and your God. And Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples I have seen the Lord and that he had said these things to her. An amazing, amazing passage of scripture.
Speaker 2:I'm going to tell you why I'm choosing to take this Easter and focus on the gospel narrative of John. John is fascinating because there's something that needs to be noted here. First and foremost, if you know anything about the book of John, you know this. John is writing this maybe 50, 60 years after this has happened. Now this matters a whole lot, and why it actually matters to you and I in such a very real way, and that is this, is that, john, unlike the synoptic gospels they're laying out kind of like this line by line order of events. Not John.
Speaker 2:John is putting a frame around the narrative. He's saying let me show you what's important about the gospel message. He's he's writing it for this purpose, so that other generations will understand the purpose of Christ. Where, where? See, if you're like me, you've been reading Matthew, mark and Luke and you're just like, by the time you get to John, you're like, yeah, rinse and repeat, it's the same thing. But I would just warn you, don't, don't pass over John so quickly, because it's in John that you actually get the, get the deeper revelation. How do we know that here here? Think about what John has seen. Up into this point, john's already gone through an era of persecution. Up into this point, john's already gone through an era of persecution. Nothing, nothing solidifies the gospel more than watching your buddies be killed on being killed for for the gospel sake, john. John has got a lot of experience. At this point, he's seeing the growth of the church.
Speaker 2:By the time John's writing this, the church is exploding by the time John's writing this he is trying to help other generations understand how to not let culture change the gospel message. See, at this time, all of a sudden, jesus has been passed away, but now the narrative, over 50, 60 years, is starting to tweak a little bit. Churches are starting to add a little to it, people are starting to take a little from it. How many know that the power of the message begins to get diluted, of the message begins to get diluted, and then John turns and puts for lack of better words pen to paper and says I have to make sure you understand the true understanding of this. Now, this is fascinating because John is not just trying to get us on the same page, but he's bringing a language that has become common knowledge to us over the last few weeks as we've studied the garden.
Speaker 2:But he is actually, from the very beginning, tying Genesis and John's gospel. They're actually linked together and in fact it's a best that you read if I would encourage you to read in the Old Testament, genesis, that chapters, those chapters, early chapters of creation, really the whole book, and then immediately read in the New Testament, the book of John, because if you'll do that you'll start to see he is trying to bridge the story together. Now, why are we doing that? Why would he even think to do that? How many know this? That the New Testament is the Old Testament revealed. The Old Testament is. Is the New Testament concealed? It's tucked away, it's hidden. In reading the old, you can find what he's actually doing in the new and vice versa, how. He has been present from the beginning and John is the guy who frames that in for us present from the beginning and John is the guy who frames that in for us. It's an amazing, amazing account. How do we know that? Go to John one and it says this in the beginning was the word? Does that sound familiar? Sounds like the opening of Genesis, right? He identifies him as the word.
Speaker 2:What else makes makes John's understanding of the gospel interesting? He has a couple of things inside of that where he's constantly drawing the church and the believer back to the understanding that you have been thought of, prepared for from the beginning of time. He doesn't want anyone to lose the idea that Christ had you in mind from the very beginning. Other narratives that you find in the gospel of John. Well, first and foremost, there are quite a few stories that he doesn't use, where the synoptic gospels are giving you like a line by line. He actually takes only a handful of things Christ does and he brings a revelation around those handful of things Miracles. There are certain things in John that you'll never see. One of those is this narrative that we're talking about today with Mary Magdalene, this encounter at the garden tomb.
Speaker 2:Anybody familiar with the I am statements? Do you guys remember this? It's John who actually put this in his narrative and you guys know this. He says I am the what, the way. Okay, let's stop right there. I'm the way. What is he talking about? What is he talking about? How many know that there was one way into the temple, one way into the tabernacle? There's this entire narrative that he's constantly bringing back to us. I am the light of the world. What's he talking about? John's trying to help.
Speaker 2:You see that at the very beginning, even as God is establishing the church, the tabernacle, where he's going to be, he's going to be what Adam had goofed up separation from the Lord. Then he reinvents and comes back to us and he simply says to us I need to be with you and I'm going to come up with a way to be with you through the tabernacle, through the system of worship. And it's interesting because then John's saying I don't want you to miss this, because he says I am the light. What does that mean he is? He is what. He is the menorah. What is in, what is in the tabernacle? What is there? He is the menorah. I am the bread of life, the show bread. Yeah, you can go through every one of these statements and you can turn around and link it directly back to why? Because John is trying to get our attention. Do not miss what's happening.
Speaker 2:You ever watched a movie with somebody who just won't listen to the movie? I have a child like that and I love him dearly, but he gonna ask questions from the very get-go. Stop asking questions. They're gonna get to it, yeah, but yeah, what if? And what is that? And why did they say that? It's like be quiet, listen, listen, it's a movie. It's weird like that. They kind of like do all of that and they tie it all at the end. So if you'll just be quiet to the end, we'll get there. How many know? John is trying to say that to us. Stop talking during the movie. Pay attention, pay attention.
Speaker 2:There's so many of us that walk into church and you're in your own narrative. You open your Bible and you're so deep in your own narrative you can't see what the Father's trying to tell you, because you're smarter than him. It's so easy to jump to conclusions and jump to scriptures that sound better or feel better or make you feel better, but how many know the Bible is meant to press against you, to form you, to shape you, to guide you, and that means patiently letting him do the work. John's trying to say to us this morning slow down and let him do the work, let him work right, let him do what he's doing. Can I bring some things out in the scripture? I'm going to start by a quote that I like. It's from GK Chesterton does this gonna work? Yeah, there it is.
Speaker 2:On the third day, the friends of Christ, coming at daybreak to the place, found the grave empty and the stone rolled away In varying ways. They realized the new wonder, but even they hardly realized that the world had died in the night. What they were looking at was the first day of a new creation, with a new heaven and a new earth and, in a semblance of the gardener, god walking and walked again in the garden in the cool night of the evening, but in the dawn. What happened in this passage? I'll tell you what happened. I'm going to go through a couple of these things because I think they're important John 20. And I'll start with the first one. Here at the top it says now, on the first day of the week. Now, many of us would have read that, probably heard me read it at the beginning and just glossed over it. But what's happening is John is going to start tying in the garden narrative right here. And what is he saying in the beginning? What was happening at this narrative? What's happening?
Speaker 2:What John's trying to tell us is that on the very first day, he's putting an emphasis that whatever it was yesterday that's over, there's a new day. Can I tell you, when Christ gave up his life, when he was what most believe, he was buried. But I'm here to argue that he was planted. Mary shows up looking for someone's buried. She's unaware that he's been planted and the first fruit of Adam is alive, powerful. First day. Many of us are living cycled lives of reversing and doing and reliving life in a way. But can I tell you, when Christ comes in, it's a new day. When you accept Christ into your life. It's no longer a cycled life, it's a new day. When you accept Christ into your life, it's no longer a cycled life, it's a new day. That baptism they're talking about. That baptism is a symbol of an old being put to death and raised to life again. It's a new day.
Speaker 2:It's fascinating why he emphasizes these stories, for instance down here when he starts talking about the disciples. It's interesting to me that three people show up to the tomb in this narrative Peter, john, mary. All three have a totally different encounter. I've read this hundreds of times, dr Deacon, when I've read this a hundred, I even heard you become John a couple of days ago, and I mean this last week. I have just come alive with what John was trying to communicate.
Speaker 2:Let me give you an example. Peter comes in right in, looks, sees the linen cloth there and it says he walks away unchanged. It doesn't change him. Now. This is why this is why I believe that's the case. I'll say it like that I believe that's the case. Because of this, peter is still living in shame. Do you know how disappointing it is to show up hoping to see the Savior alive, only to find out not only is he dead, but he's gone and now there's no way out, there's no way back. For Peter, it feels like there's no future. I royally messed it up and I'll never get it back again. There are people here today.
Speaker 2:You walked into this room, into this garden, and you had the same perspective. I can't get right. Christ left me, he's abandoned me, he's given up on me. I'm here to tell you nothing can be further from the truth, unbeknownst to Peter. He's gonna get that restoration, and I love it, and in like superstar style too. Three denials, three acceptances, and the only way Christ will do it Isn't that great? Denied him three times, gave him three opportunities to declare the lordship of Jesus in his life. Peter's going to get that, but in this moment he doesn't get. It is going to get that, but in this moment he doesn't get.
Speaker 2:It Looks in, steps out, and I just imagine there's an incomplete feeling. John, john finally steps in. I love this. Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in and he saw and believed. Now, this is, this is fascinating. Why? Because John's trying to tell you something. John is not working through. Shame, john. In fact, this word believe here is actually a word that is is to say he has given himself over to grab hold of truth. It's not just believe with his mind. It's like. It's not like. It's like oh, I believe now that's great. No, no, no, he's. He's made a physical turn. It's a verb used for him to turn in the way of grabbing hold of the truth. This is the beauty of what John has done. He looks in, sees the exact same thing Peter does.
Speaker 2:How many know there are people that will walk into this room in the exact same thing and see a situation totally different. You may be in this room and you're saying I'm hearing the same message, but there is no conviction because shame looms too much in my life. You may be another person who walks in here and says I can see the work of the master, I can see that he's never left me or forsaken me. I can see that he has a destiny and a purpose on my life and I have to respond. This is John. John leans in and he responds. He walks out, not upset that he's gone. This is the posture that he takes. This is what it looks like. It's that he knows he'll see him again. Totally different. Peter walks out saying I don't know if I'll ever be changed. John walks out and says I just haven't seen him yet, but I know he's alive. That's a total different revelation versus why.
Speaker 2:You see here at the end, where he says for as yet they did not understand the scripture that he must, what he must rise from the dead. All of a sudden, that revelation light bulb comes on. That's what he means. Now, listen, we're acting like these guys are the best Christians. Listen, can I just say it like this? I've said this so many times, but I think it's important today to just qualify this. And that is this even the disciples didn't really understand everything Christ had said, and you know that. How do you know, kelly? I'll tell you how you know, because none of them showed up on the third day. Because none of them showed up on the third day, I will raise up again in three days. They're like, yeah, I don't even know what he was talking about.
Speaker 2:But, mary, for all the people who say you know, women in ministry isn't a thing. I don't know, it's weird, but in two of the major instances that Christ shows up on the earth and leaves it and returns, he uses women to declare it. Not a bunch of dudes. They're over there licking their wounds and yet there are people, who women in this camp, who believe, who believe they see it. Give an example.
Speaker 2:Let's look at the encounter with Mary. Mary goes into the tomb right Her turn. Now the other two disciples have headed home. She stays there, continues to weep. She stays there, continues to weep, goes inside the tomb and what does she see? Two angels. Two angels. Now get this.
Speaker 2:Follow John. One sitting at and one sitting at sounds familiar, like the mercy seat, like the Ark of the Covenant. What John's trying to get you to understand is is what is happening in this moment is so important. The presence of the Lord, which Adam denied at one point, right, he wanted his way. Adam. And Eve, which Adam denied at one point, right, he wanted his way. Adam and Eve. Follow the narrative, follow what he's doing.
Speaker 2:He then shows up in a new garden bringing resurrection, life, and saying and proclaiming I am the way. And Mary's looking in as a nod to what the mercy seat, the two angels. Guess what else is about to happen. She's going to turn and see Jesus. Now follow me on this. Mary has become the new Eve, jesus, the new Adam. When he responds, he says woman. When he responds, he says woman, pilate would call Jesus the man. Come on somebody. So now we have a restored garden with a new Adam and a new Eve. And listen to me, hear what I'm saying on this. The new Eve is no longer hiding from the presence of the Lord, but says why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for In the garden of Eden? In the garden of Eden, eve is hiding from the Lord. In the garden tomb she's looking for him.
Speaker 2:When you see what John's trying to get you to see, you can see the full restoration of life. You know what happens to me when I think like this, when I let the Lord do what he's doing through the scripture, like this, it makes me find a level of peace and comfort in my today that I didn't have yesterday. Oh, there's worry in this room, there's frustration, there's disappointment, but when you read this, it gives you hope. There is hope available for you, there's something to anchor yourself to. Oh, I know that there's disappointment, but, man, when you can see what he's done through resurrection for you, jesus said to her woman why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?
Speaker 2:Supposing him to be the gardener? Supposing him to be the gardener Mistaken identity. She says where have you taken him? Just show me, I'll take him. You know what we have, colonel Mustard, with a candlestick in the library. That's what we got In Mary's world.
Speaker 2:She still has not gotten her eyes opened yet. She doesn't see all of these things. But John, in reflection, looking back, is able to see. Look at what the Lord did. And there she sits, she's trying to just be consoled, closure, and she supposes him as the gardener. Here's what John's trying to say to us. He has always been the gardener. See, the misunderstanding oftentimes is we're constantly looking for something that is right in front of our eyes.
Speaker 2:The invitation to you today is to allow the gardener into your garden, your life. You realize that you are just tiny gardens. When you give the gardener access to your life, he will do work, lasting work, transformative work. You're like I don't need it, I'm good by myself. Yeah, turns out you don't have a green thumb. Yeah, turns out you're not that great at it. Right, come on to be honest, you just ain't that great at it. That's why you need it.
Speaker 2:She mistook him for the gardener. She mistook him for the gardener Mistaken identity, or is it? I love this response. I want you to hear this. She said to him sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him and I will take him away and listen. Listen, jesus says Mary, mary, hmm, jesus says Mary. I want to just. She's already talked to him. There's been conversation, right. Where have you taken him? His response why are you weeping? Who are you looking for? He knows there's already been dialogue. Now I find this fascinating. How is it that you can hear him talk and not recognize him Until he says your name? Yeah, you're in the room today. I'm going to just tell you something he knows your name, something he knows your name. There are times where you feel like you can't hear him, times where you feel like it's distant. Can I give you good news today, he knows your name.
Speaker 2:Came across this cool picture. I'll share it with you. You're the worship team to help me and we'll close up Christ the Gardener. This is a Rembrandt 1638. I don't know if you know this. I'm sure you know this, but there's always a depiction. Artists have done this for years, so they choose Bible scenes and they bring it to life. I know it's kind of funny to see the angel. Seems a little shocked too. It's like snap, I didn't think Jesus was gonna be here, I thought we were on assignment, anyway. I didn't think Jesus was going to be here, I thought we were on assignment, anyway. I don't think that's what. Sorry, I mean, I'm sorry. You know me, then you know this. I geek out on this kind of stuff and I love it, love art.
Speaker 2:Here's the cool part about this Rembrandt. You know, rembrandt actually locked in on the John narrative probably more than any other artist that has ever been. And I mean that because it's not that he was the only one who did, you know, art with inspiration from John. It's that he understood John. Now, that is fascinating to me, because if you're an artist, you recognize something about the way John wrote the gospel. He actually wrote it as an artist, if you would. He was painting a picture. So it isn't too far-fetched to think that those that quite literally had the gift of art would naturally connect to the way he's framing the story.
Speaker 2:Rembrandt did that well. In fact, he did some things in this photo that I find fascinating. First and foremost and you see, he's got his, his, his big brimmed gardener hat on. He's got a spade in his hand. He put this imagery together because I think it's interesting for us to understand is that for Mary and for our future and for eternity, he has pushed and put himself. Rather he has put Christ in position in the way of serving, tending, caring, planting, weeding and uprooting, pruning. Do you guys remember that? Remember in Matthew when he talks about being pruned? The great news in that story is that everyone in the story gets cut. Some get cut off to die, some get cut off to bear fruit. Christ the gardener. Right.
Speaker 2:Rembrandt understands that. If you notice, he does something really interesting. All the light that he puts he emphasizes it. On the left side of the image, three things come into focus there. He de-emphasizes the tomb. In a sense there are two angels there. You kind of see one sneaking in there at the end. That's the head and the foot there. But he puts the light here. Why? Because Rembrandt understands that in the gospel narrative of John he's constantly bringing us back to the tabernacle, just in the background.
Speaker 2:There you see, see it, that is actually the temple, the thing that Christ said he would rebuild. How is he going to do it? Through the garden, through his life. It says in the temple that the veil was rent. Do you remember that, just as Christ's body was torn John is explaining as Christ's body was torn so is the veil rent in two. Why? Because the presence of the Lord, its pursuit is us, lord, its pursuit is us. What Adam did in destruction, what brought death into one garden, jesus brings life into another, out of obedience. Rembrandt understands that and he depicts this. But here's what makes this one really special His emphasis is on Mary, not Mary crying. By the way, this is Mary's honest response to hearing her name called. The entire thing really is about capturing the awe and wonder that Jesus, when he says my name, when Jesus calls you by name, how many know, in that call is life, in that call is hope, in that call is restoration, in that call is hope, in that call is restoration, in that call is peace. It's all available in this moment. One I didn't know who you were. I thought you were the gardener and he's like. And you were right, mary, don't weep and don't hold on to me. I haven't been to the Father yet.
Speaker 2:There's tons of stuff to talk about here, like, for instance, the end of John's gospel. I'm just going to tell you, you guys remember, in Genesis, jesus formed man. Right, the old dust pile forms him. What does he do? Breathes on him. He's alive. Fast forward. Go there with me, john. I'm gonna mess up somebody's Pentecostal life right here. Okay, go back and read the end of his gospel. What does he do? He says hey, mary, I want you to go tell them. I'm gonna come show myself to them.
Speaker 2:Sins of women, first and foremost. That wouldn't have been good news. Do you hear what I'm going to come show myself to them? Sins of woman, first and foremost. That wouldn't have been good news. Do you hear what I'm saying? Culturally, she wouldn't have had anything to say. Was an eyewitness from a male, then we can't, we can't trust it. Do you think that cared a minute? Do you think Mary cared about that? No, because she had seen him and he had called her by name. She made a beeline to the disciples, said y'all need to get your stuff together. He is alive. I saw him. He's the gardener. He's what, mary? You saw the gardener and you thought it was Jesus. I know it was Jesus. He called me by name and sent me with this message. Isn't this cool?
Speaker 2:John talks about him showing himself to the disciples. And what does he say? He shows them here I am, I'm alive. And then he breathes on them. What's John saying? Just like in Eden, christ putting life in the lifeless bones of men Fast forward in a new creation. A new world has begun. Then you got to breathe life back into a defeated, frustrated disciple group, people who are hurt, wounded, frustrated, don't know where to go next. Can I tell you Jesus is here to breathe life in your lungs today, and in the same way he brought the disciples alive, right, he says I'm going to breathe on you because this is going to give you the grace to make it to Pentecost. I'm breathing life into you so you can make it to the upper room. I need you to get there because I'm sending, I'm leaving with you the Holy Spirit. But how many know the Holy Spirit had already shown up, he had already breathed fresh life into them.
Speaker 2:Would you bow your heads with me this morning? Heavenly Father, we love you today. Thank you for your word. This is our desire, lord that you be glorified, you be lifted up. You are the true resurrection, the life you can be trusted. They're amazing, god.
Speaker 2:I pray for those who are joining us today, for Easter, for those that are leaning in this morning. My prayer is that you would help each and every one of us to see how unique and special that we are, but, more importantly, who we are in your sight, not who we are in our sight. Who we are in our sight is fearful and scared and worried and frustrated. And no, no, no, no, no. What do you see? What do you hear? Maybe in this room this morning, and you say I need to hear my name, I need to hear my name. I need to hear my name John Tracy, ken, brian, joyce, joyce, emily. Here's what you need to know.
Speaker 2:God knows you. He knows you better than you know yourself, and he has known you from the beginning of time. And today he reminds you of his love and care for you. There's been nothing that you've seen, done, experienced that has known you from the beginning of time, and today he reminds you of his love and care for you. There's been nothing that you've seen, done, experienced that has separated you. There's nothing so vile that he can't cross the lines and reach you. Today he calls you by name Mary. Why are you weeping? Who are you looking for? If I could ask any question today, I guess that's what it would be. Why did you show up today? Because your mom told you to, because your family promised you a meal after this and they're gonna cash in. I promise that's not why you showed up, because you've been on a trajectory with the Lord from the very beginning and he has been guiding this day from the beginning of time. And today he calls you by name.
Speaker 2:If you're here today, every head bowed, every eye closed, you say Pastor Scott, this is for me, man, I need to respond to the Lord that loves me. I need to respond to a risen Savior. I need to respond to the sacrifice that Christ made on my behalf. I needed this. I needed to understand that he has been there from the beginning and that he sees me where I'm at today, and I'm ready to respond to that in prayer, not going to embarrass you, not going to make you move out of your seat this morning, but if you're here today, you say you know that's me. I want to respond to the love that Christ has for me and he has provided for me. And I'm tired of running, I'm tired of being frustrated, I'm tired of the anxiety. I seek the peace Mary's looking for. I seek the revelation Peter was looking for. I'm seeking God, the closure of a past life and the hope of a new one. That's you today.
Speaker 2:Would you slip up your hands so I know who I'm praying for today? Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, in the balcony. I see you in the balcony. I see you on the floor. Come on there more. I see you up there in the balcony Praying for you. Praying for you, I mean that. Come on. Are there any more hands? No one's looking around, just you and the Lord. Yes, I see you in the balcony, right there, praying for you. Sir, I'm praying for you today. This is a new day. I see you in the balcony up there. Oh, this is great. I see you down here on the floor. I'm seeing it Right over there. I see you. See you. I'm seeing it Right over there. I see you, see, with your hand lifted up in the back corner over there. I see you.
Speaker 2:Would everyone do me a favor? Would you stand to your feet real quick and let's pray For those that raised their hands. You know who you are and I'm gonna pray for you today. This is the only thing I ask you to do. If you raise your hand today, I'm asking you to do one thing. I'm going to pray for you today. This is the only thing I ask you to do. If you raise your hand today, I'm asking you to do one thing. I'm not going to ask you to move out of your seat, I'm not. I'm going to ask you to do one thing. There's a card in the seat back in front of you. I'm going to ask you to take it. All I'm asking you to do is write down us at one of the tea tables out there. We're going to be. A whole crew of us Pastors are out there.
Speaker 2:I want you to tell somebody what Christ did in your life. Why? Because we believe this. We believe discipleship is the key to having a successful relationship with the Lord. Recognizing Christ as our Savior is one thing, but growing in his ways that's another thing. And how many know that's a community effort. Don't do that alone. Likely, the reason you're here today is because you tried it on your own. Don't do it by yourself. We invite you to be a part of this community and give us a chance to walk you through the decision that you're making today to follow Christ.
Speaker 2:If you're here today and you did say yes to the Lord and you raised your hand. I need that. Can I pray over you? I want you to pray over yourself as well. There's no magic pill. There's no like magic word. It isn't. You know what it is. It's an honesty from your heart. It's an honest conversation.
Speaker 2:I'm tired of trying to do this on my own, and I give you access to my life. Can I take it a step further? It's not just believing in your head when you become a Christian. It's about allegiance. I'm going to teach on this in the next week, couple of weeks or so, because I think it. It's important. But this is about allegiance to the father. He. He is inviting you to receive him as lord, not as a good idea. Lordship, which means he rules and reigns over my life. Kelly, it's not. It's not a, it's not a good idea. It's not a. Oh, oh, yeah, I'm cool with, oh, yeah, I'm cool with Jesus. No, he's my Lord, he's my savior and there's a deep allegiance to him in his ways. Amen, that's what salvation is.
Speaker 2:Heavenly Father, we love you today. God, I thank you for the hands that were lifted today. God, I pray even now. God, you would move on the hearts of every single man, woman, boy and girl in this room, and I pray for your revelation of truth, of grace, god, knowing that you have paid an ultimate price and you are victorious through death, hell and the grave, and you have received us back to yourself. You created a new creation in us, god. That is what we are doing today.
Speaker 2:God, for those who lifted their hands today, I thank you for the courage and the boldness. You created a new creation in us, god, that is what we are doing today. God, for those who lifted their hands today, I thank you for the courage and the boldness just to say I want you to be Lord of my life. I give you access, I give you permission. Speak to me, call me by name and then give me the grace to walk out faithfully what you've put in my heart passion to know you, desire to grow in you. Give me the courage that I lacked yesterday. But today is a new day. Today is Resurrection Sunday, where the things that were dead in my life, they come to bear fruit in a good way. This time, god, you resurrect in every single one in this room, in their life. God, that's our desire today. See you lifted up, you glorified, you magnified. God, we give you permission to move in the hearts of the people of this room today, in Jesus' name. Everyone said Amen, amen, amen.
Speaker 1:We hope and pray this message was encouraging and impactful. Join us live on our website or Facebook on Sundays at 9 and 11 am. You can stay connected with us on Facebook and Instagram at the Rock Family. Have a Jesus-filled week.