Oakhaven Church Podcast

4.17.22 - Gospel of John XXXI - "Death Cannot Keep His Prey" - Easter Sunday

April 19, 2022 Larry Mudd
Oakhaven Church Podcast
4.17.22 - Gospel of John XXXI - "Death Cannot Keep His Prey" - Easter Sunday
Show Notes

As we have been journeying through the Gospel of John these many months, John has been weaving together themes for us to notice along the way. Many of those themes find their fulfillment in the resurrection of Jesus in John 20. In particular, John’s focus on Jesus’ role of the Bringer of New Creation is powerfully displayed on Easter Morning, the first day of the week. 

This ties closely into how John begins his gospel, “In the beginning…,” making sure we understand his desire for us to track with and see parallels between Jesus and Genesis 1. Baby Hebrew boys are circumcised on the 8th day of their lives to convey the symbol of their continuing the work that God had begun in the first 7 days. Jesus’ resurrection on the “8th day” carries similar but even greater weight. 

God also vindicates His Son with the resurrection and anoints Him as king of the universe, something officially proclaimed in John 18 as Pilate hangs the sign, “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews) upon the cross. What Pilate may have intended as sarcasm is in fact the climax the entire story from Abraham on has been building to. 

There is so much to glean from these brief paragraphs about the amazing truth of Jesus’ resurrection. The fact that Jesus choose Mary Magdalene instead of Peter and John - who swing by the tomb briefly but then go home - Mary as the bearer of the most important news in history speaks volumes. 

We must guard against feeling that rising from the dead is commonplace because we hear about it weekly in worship (worship was shifted from the Sabbath - Saturday - to Sunday BECAUSE this is the day He was raised). Death is permanent. At least it was, until Jesus!

To investigate this most important of stories further, go here.