SHE SAW THE LORD, AND SHE TESTIFIED OF HIM (JOHN 20:18)

Dear Members in Christ,

She saw the Lord, and she testified of Him (John 20:18)

The resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ is central to the Christian faith, and it is the pillar upon which rests the doctrine of salvation. We know according to the Scriptures that the Lord Jesus died, was buried, and on the third day He rose again.

This weekend, as we remember the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, we would like to meditate upon the Christian’s response to the risen Lord. Firstly, we must have knowledge and conviction about the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. One of the first mention of the disciple’s discovery of the risen Lord is the reminder that they were ignorant of the scriptural prophecy of the Lord rising from the dead. We read in John 20 of the disciple’s response when they first ran to the tomb and discovered that it was empty.

“Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed. For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead.” John 20:8,9

In actuality, the disciples should not be ignorant. The Gospel of Matthew 16:21 teaches us that, “From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.” So the Lord had not withheld the knowledge of His resurrection from His followers, in the Gospels, this is extensively recorded¹. The resurrection of the Lord Jesus may be doubted and contested by unbelievers, but to us the faithful, it is a conviction that leads to salvation.

A. Our acknowledge of Jesus Christ, our Risen Saviour and God

Our knowledge of the Lord’s resurrection should be a firm and unshakable conviction deeply stamped in our minds. When Mary Magdalene first saw the Lord in the tomb garden, she did not expect to see the risen Lord, and she had mistaken the Lord for a gardener. But when the Lord revealed Himself, “Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.” (John 20:16). Mary immediately recognized and confessed Christ as Master and Lord.

Dearly beloved, let the resurrection of the Lord Jesus be our firm and unshakeable confession too. We must firstly settle it within ourselves that this is the cornerstone of our faith. This resurrection Sunday, make it our contemplation, and our thanksgiving for the Almighty God the Lord Jesus. Our Lord and Saviour whom the jaws of death cannot lay hold, neither can corruption of the flesh detain, but He was mightily and wondrously brought to life by the power of God.

The Bible describes our salvation as resting upon this important tenet of faith. Let us not forget how Romans 10 speaks of the criteria for salvation, “That if thou shalt … believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” (Romans 10:9).

B. Our duty to witness of Christ’s resurrection

One important observation in the reading of John 20 is the urgency and zeal which Mary Magdalene testified of having seen the risen Lord Jesus. It is recorded that, 

“Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her.” John 20:18

The Bible tells of how she related her encounter in the garden, and not only she had seen the Lord Jesus, but He had spoken to her. This is the appropriate response one would expect from someone who had just witnessed such a spectacular miracle. It was as if something so wonderful had happened that a witness cannot withhold from others. She told them “that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her.”. The Bible verse seems to state the obvious, yet its very plain statement shows us the pattern for how we must witness for our Lord.

Brothers and sisters, let us not withhold such a wonderful salvation from others who are yet unsaved. Remember the exhortation from Romans 10:9 “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” Dearly beloved, while the Lord tarries, let us be zealous is witnessing for Him. May God’s name be praised.

Footnote 1: The Lord Jesus had foretold of His death and resurrection in the following references. Matthew 16:21; 17:22-23; 20:17-19 and Luke 9:22; 18:31-38; 24:6-7.

In His Service,
Rev. Lim Seh Beng, Pastor