TOPIC: “GO BACK”
TEXT: JOHN 20:1-18
INTRODUCTION: It is known in history that the first person to see the risen Lord was Mary Magdalene, but many people never knew how it all came about.
On the resurrection morning three women went early before the day broke to the sepulcher with sweet spices they bought to anoint the body of Jesus Christ. But when they got there, they did not find His body and thus returned to the disciples (Mark 16: 1-4).
- The Race is Not For The Swift
Whenthe women (Mary Magdalene and her company) got to the disciples, Mary Magdalene (the assumed leader of the group) gave the report of their visit to the sepulcher to the disciples. Simon Peter and John the beloved then went to check what happened.
John being swifter outran Peter (John 20:4) and came first to the sepulcher. He got to the mouth of the sepulcher and stopped. He stooped down, looked into the sepulcher and saw the linen clothes lying showing that the Lord had merely passed out of them without disturbing them, not needing to be loosed like Lazarus (John 11:44).
“Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulcher” “so they both ran together and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulcher And he stooping down, and looking in saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in” (John 20:3-5).
‘YET WENT HE NOT IN’. John swifter outran Peter, got first to the sepulcher, looked in, saw the linen clothes lying. “yet went he not in”.
Lord please help me never to stop my journey half way, until I reach my heavenly home, indeed the race is not for the swift, nor the battle for the might but mit is of God that gives grace.“I returned, and saw under the sun that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill, but time and chance happeneth to them all” (Eccl. 9:11).
Why, Bro John, why did you stop your journey just at the point of your glory? Many have started the journey strong, running the race strong, receiving applause from both angels and men. You were among the first in spiritual matters, a challenge to some that started the journey ever before you, an example to younger believers and a joy and pride of heaven. But may be because of satisfaction you have begun to slide back. Your prayer life and personal bible study and devotion were a challenge and encouragement to other believers around you, your evangelistic exploits and kingdom service were challenge and encouragement to other believers around. But because of satisfaction or discouragement you have slided back.
Why are you stopping when you have not breasted the line? John got to the sepulcher, looked in and saw “Yet went he Not In” he ran and out ran others but did not receive the prize (1 Corint. 9:24-27).
There was the story of an old man enthusiastically preaching the gospel every morning and evening at ajunction by sharing tracts to every passer-by and vehicle that passed. This he did for many years sunshine or rain, he never relented. But one day he got discouraged that having preached for many years without winning a soul and thus stopped preaching the gospel.
Then after three months a man took over the position doing joyfully and enthusiastically what the old man was doing.
However, one day the old retired evangelist was passing that way, and the replacement enthusiastically shared him a tract which he sadly collected and went to a corner to reminiscent while waiting for his replacement to finish his morning duty.
When the young evangelist finished, the old man called him aside, appreciated his work and asked him about the work. To which the young preacher replied that it was an old man who was preaching at that junction many years past and one day gave him a tract which he read and led him to Christ. He further explained that after sometime he was no longer seeing the old man and he felt he was dead and decided that the good work he started must not die with him hence, he decided to continue the good work of soul winning at that junction through tracts distribution as the old man was doing.
Before he finished his story (The old man perceived to be dead)was in tears and in tears he identified himself to the young man saying he was not dead, he was only discouraged and left his duty post.
“Yet went he not in”as you run this race, will you endure to the very end as Jesus Christ admonished so that you will be saved (Matt. 24:13).
The hymn writers say;
- If I walk in the pathway of duty,
If I work till the close of the day,
I shall see the great king in His Beauty
When I’ve gone the last mile of the way,
Prelude: When I’ve gone the last mile of the way
I will rest at the close of the day…
And I know there are joys that await me
When I’ve gone the last mile of the way.
- If for Christ I proclaim the glad story
If I seek for His sheep gone astray
I am sure He will show me His Glory
When I’ve gone the last mile of the way.
Prelude:
- Here the dearest of ties we must sever,
Tears of sorrow are seen everyday,
But no sickness, no sighing forever,
When I’ve gone the last mile of the way.
Prelude:
- And if here I have earnestly striven,
And have tried all His will to obey,
‘I will enhance all the rapture of heaven
When I’ve gone the last mile of the way.
Prelude:
Are you planning to stop your journey half way? Are you getting discouraged and despondent? Is the way you are trudging getting rougher and more jeopardous? Its not time to stop, its not time to give up. There is but a little more way to go.
Some people have been waiting and patiently believing God for a breakthrough or a miracle, but got discouraged at the point of receiving it. You can’t afford to rest until you reach your rest. The devil will try every possible best using every possible means just to get you loose it and eventually miss it, don’t let in, don’t give in, just hold on, just hold fast (Revelation 2:25).
PRAYER POINTS
- Every power from any quarter seeking to terminate your journey at the point of entereing your great and effectual open door be destroyed by fire and thunder in Jesus’ name.
- Every adversary at the point of entering of your great and effectual open door be destroyed by fire in Jesus’ name.
- Any evil personality that will not allow you to entre into your glory and fulfill your destiny shall be dashed into pieces by the right hand of God.
- Every power that will not allow me to arrive my destination or that will make me labour, see the harvest and not allow me to eat maximally and optimally the fruit of my labour, fire of Holy Ghost destroy it now in Jesus’ name.
- The power that worked against Moses, that he labored and suffered for 120years only to get to the border and saw the land afar off without getting into it, that is now sent against me, O Lord of Hosts arise and destroy it for me now in Jesus’ name.
- By the covenant in the blood of Jesus Christ, I decree and declare, that my journey will not end at the entrance of my destiny opened doors, I will possess my possession, my glory will radiate and I will be settled in Jesus’ name.
- I decree and declare that I will not end my journey half way, I will not end my journey in shame, I will end my journey gloriously, I will be what God has destined me to be. I will not end a failure, I will end successfully in Jesus’ name.
“Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulcher, and seeth the linen clothes lie”, Andthe napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself” (John 20:6-7).
Peter later came from behind and went in to the sepulcher. John ran and nearly breasted the line, I could imagine the angels watching and applauding him as he ran and out ran all others and nearly breasting the line but stopped suddenly just before breasting the line to the consternation and disappointment of the spectators. John may be because of complacency and the intoxicating from applause he was receiving stopped the journey. God help me that I will never stop my journey half way until I reach my goal, and until I reach my heavenly home.
Peter whom the spectators might have been deriding or abused, came from behind, breasted the line and entered in. indeed slow and steady win the race. I pray for you “You will entre in, you will not miss what God has prepared for you in Jesus’ name”. Peter was blind to the compliments, he was deaf to the applause, the criticism, the abuse from everyone and everything, he was focus on the journey, though he may not be swift but, finishing strong was all that mattered to him since slow and steady wins the race.
He ran without discouragement even when it seems he was losing out in the race. He refused to give up,he wasresolutely persistent and diligent till he got the prize.
John came truly first to the sepulcher, stooped down without going into the sepulcher. The farther you are the more blur your vision and the more limited you are to access useful information. John could only see the linen clothes lying. But when Peter came, he boldly went in and saw like John, the linen clothes lying but, much more he saw what a viewer from afar off could not see, “the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself” (John 20:7).
The closer the clearer the vision, the closer the more access to useful information. Peter went in and saw clearer evidence of the Lord’s resurrection; the wrapped napkin, lying separately from the linen clothes.
To get a clearer vision of heaven to get a deeper knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom, to access a deeper revelation of God, to hear a clearer voice of God, then there must be a closer walk with Him. Those who follow Him afar off can only get an unclear view of Him. Those who follow Him afar can only hear His voice faintly and at times misrepresented, the voice of stranger for the voice of the Shepherd and thereby be misled (Matt. 26:58; John 10:5).
I AM COMING BACK
“And the napkin, that was about His head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself” (John 20:7).
When Jesus raised Lazarus from death, he came out bound with grave clothes and needed to be loosed (John 11:44). But when Christ resurrected, the grave clothes (i.e the linen clothes were lying in place as they were when they were wrapped about Him). Christ merely passed out of them without disturbing them. This was a proof that a resurrected body could come out without disturbing material object.
But the napkin that was wrapped about His head was not lying with the linen clothes but was found by Simon Peter wrapped together in a place separately. It was obviously wrapped together and placed in a place by itself.
In Jewish culture, when a servant serves his master, he waits on him until he finishes at the table. If he used the napkin or hand towel and just drop it and leave the servant gets the message that his master has finished eating, he then clears the table.
However, if the master wrapped the napkin or hand towel and placed it by itself while leaving, the servant understands that the message of the master is “I am not done yet, I am coming back”.
So, when Peter saw the napkin that was about the head of Jesus wrapped together in a place by itself, he understood the message of the Master “I am Coming Back Again”.This was what Peter showed John who also got the message and came into the sepulcher to get a clearer view.
Yes, the message of the Lord is very clear “Jesus Is Coming Back Again” He is coming like a thief in the night (1Thessalonians 5:1-3).
In Acts 1:10-11 “And while they looked steadfastly towards heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; which also said, ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven”.
The angels announced that “Jesus Is Coming Back Again”but before them, He had unequivocally declared that His death is not the final nor His resurrection or ascension. He said “He is Coming Back Again”this message He repeatedly passed across to the disciples again and again in His teachings before His Crucifixion (Read matt. 16:27;24:3-14, 27-51;25:1-13).
Likewise, after His resurrection He passed the message to His close associates who would faithfully passed the message to other disciples, through the wrapped napkin that was lying separate, that He is surely coming back again.
That was why the Epistles of Apostles Peter and John succinctly declared the certainty of Christ’s coming back again and the need to get prepared for Him (1 Peter 2:11-12; 2 Peter 3:1-14). “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance”
“but the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up” “Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved; what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness” (2 Peter 3:10-11).
Apostle Paul wrote about the coming of the Lord giving detailed signs to be observed. (1 Corint. 15:1-58; 1 Thes. 4:13-18; 5:1-11; 2Thes. 1,2 and 3; 1 Timothy 4:1-end; 2 Timothy 3:1-4:10).
The question is “how prepared are you for His coming?” the day of the coming of the Lord knows no man, not even angels, that is why everyone of us not live carelessly at anytime because no one knows the hour or the day when the Lord shall come.
GO BACK
“Then the disciples went away again unto their own home” (John 20:10). Peter and John came to the sepulcher, saw the linen(grave) clothes lying, the napkin that was about the head of the LORD wrapped together in a place by itself and the empty tomb. But they did not see the risen LORD Himself, yet they impatiently left for their own home.
Note that it was not that they went back to their house, but they went back to their own home –their family, their relations, their friends, their acquaintances. They went out with Mary to find the LORD whose body Mary reported had been missing. They went to the sepulcher, found it truly empty, but where the body of the Lord they did not find nor care to get His whereabout, yet “the disciples went back to their own home”.
“Then the disciples went back….” The word ‘Then’ shows that after some things have taken place. these were not mere converts, but disciples; those that has been with the Lord for three and half years, those who had preached the gospel and went on evangelism tour (Matt. 10:1-20; Luke 10:1-24),these were men that had cast out demons and healed the sick. Ate and drank with the Master, slept in the same place went with Him everywhereHe went, even when He went to meet with His Father on the mount of transfiguration, these were men who did not taste of death, till they saw the Son of man coming in His kingdom. Yet “Then the disciples went back unto their own home” without seeing their LORD. The disciples went back, will you also go back? When the cheaps are down, beloved, will you also go back?
When the going gets tough, and the road gets rough will you also go back? When times get hard, will you also go back? When there is trials and temptations, troubles everywhere, will you also go back? When there is no money in your pocket and no food in your store, will you also go back? When you are deserted by family and forsaken by friends, will you also go back?
“Who (that is what person) shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution or famine or nakedness, or peril, or sword?” (Romans 8:35).
The Holy Spirit through Apostle Paul asked this salient question; who is that person you so much respect or fear or adore or that have influence on you that can make you go back from following the Lord or what on earth (good or bad, seen or unseen, known or unknown) that can make you go back from following the Lord? Will you also go back? Even when others you know or respect in the faith are going, will you also go back? (John 6:66-67).
How many of us will see their leaders or fathers of faith like Peter and John go back, will stand steadfastly rooted and unmoveable like Mary Magdalene without going back? When the Peter and John in your life “are going back to their own home”, will you also go back? The Lord Jesus is asking you this great question “Will you also go away?”.
ENDURING TO THE END
“But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved” (Matthew 24:13). The preacher says “Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof; and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit” (Ecclesiastes 7:8).
It is not everyone that run in a race that wins the crown but only those that finished the race and finished strong.
Peter, John and Mary Magdalene started the race. In fact, the duo of Peter and John outran Mary Magdalene yet, none of them was patient, none of them was enduring, none of them was steadfast or unmoveable, thus, “the disciples (the duo of Peter and John) went back to their own home”.
Mary Magdalene refused to go back, beloved, refuse to go back no matter what. Even when others you trust, people you look up to and respect are going back, refuse to join them, do not go back for whatever reason. Stay focused, be unmoveable unto the very end.
“But Mary (having done all to stand) stood without at the sepulchre weeping; and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre” (John 20:11).After the disciples had gone back to their own home, Mary was left alone, yes, when others are going back and you are left alone, when you are forsaken, when things are wrong, when trials and temptation are the order of the day and you turn to the right and to the left. In times like these, you need your anchor to hold. Mary held on to the very end.
When everyone went back, Mary tarry still though alone in the place of the dead unabashed with any fear, Mary tarry still. O, LORD, please help me, that until I reach my home (my heavenly home), I will never, never, stop my journey half way.
“The disciples went back to their own home…” remember, not just to their own house, but “they went back again to their own home”. “And Lord Jesus answered and said, verily I say unto you, there is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or Sisters, or Father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s, But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sister and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.
“But many that are first shall be left and the last first” (Mark 10:29-31). The disciples went back to their own home, but Mary stood without at the sepulcher weeping…”(John 20:10-11).
While others are going back, even those you trusted, those you look up to as leader and mentors, will you like Mary refuse to go back but hold on still till you see the Lord face to face (Isaiah 35:3-10).
Mary stood and refused to go with others, she refused to follow her mentors and leaders. And thank God, she stood back as she eventually saw the LORD. She saw the hosts (the angels) of God first and then the LORD saw how determined and decided she was, revealed Himself to her first before any other person.
If you also will abide still and refuse to go back, refuse to compromise, refuse to backslide no matter what, your eyes also shall see the great king in His beauty at last in Jesus’ name (Isaiah 33:17).