Faith in the Risen Christ

John 20:1-18—Faith in the Risen Christ

Introduction—weak faith, growing faith

I. The Primary Object (vv. 1-4)

The risen Christ is the gospel!

The benefits of the gospel (justification, reconciliation, redemption, adoption) are being separated from Christ, who is himself the gospel. The benefits of the gospel are in Christ. They do not exist apart from him. They are ours only in Him. They cannot be abstracted from Him as if we ourselves could possess them independently of Him.—Sinclair Ferguson

II. The Purposeful Display (vv. 5-8)

Nowhere is it stated that the stone had to be removed in order for Jesus to arise from the grave. The resurrection body of the Lord was such that He was able to leave the tomb even though the stone was not removed (see 20:26).—William Hendriksen

III. The Preeminence of the Scriptures (v. 9)

… we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain. And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place …--2 Peter 1:18-19