Overview:
John 19:38–20:10
“It is finished.” To John, this must have sounded more like, “It’s all over.” Jesus’ marred and bloodied body finally sagged on the cross, finally still and quiet. The One who had snatched the official’s son from death and called Lazarus out of the tomb—the Resurrection and the Life—now hung limp and lifeless, drawn down from a tree and buried in a cold tomb.
Listen as Chuck Swindoll carefully guides you from the Cross to the tomb and from death to the reality of the resurrection. You’ll learn the true meaning of Jesus’ words, “It is finished!” And discover, as John ultimately did, that it was far from over!
Message Summary:
In this message, Chuck Swindoll examines the resurrection of Jesus Christ not merely as a religious tradition, but as a historical fact supported by “irresistible logic.” Opening with the story of Frank Morrison—a skeptical lawyer who set out to disprove the resurrection but ended up writing Who Moved the Stone? as a confession of faith—Swindoll invites listeners to examine the evidence with the curiosity of a Sherlock Holmes.
The sermon first establishes the certainty of Jesus’ death, refuting the “swoon theory.” Swindoll points to the professional executioners who saw no need to break Jesus’ legs and the medical evidence of blood and water separating from the spear wound, proving He was a “cool corpse” before being placed in the tomb. He details the Jewish burial custom performed by Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus, describing how the body was wrapped in linen and cemented with 75 to 100 pounds of spices, effectively encasing Jesus in a mummy-like cocoon.
Swindoll then analyzes the scene inside the empty tomb on Sunday morning. He highlights the progression of “seeing” experienced by John and Peter—from a mere glance to a careful theorizing, and finally to understanding. The climax of the message focuses on the grave clothes: the body had vanished, yet the wrappings remained in their rolled shape, undisturbed and flattened, convincing John that a miracle had occurred. The message concludes with a sober warning using the dying words of skeptics Will Durant and Robert Ingersoll, urging listeners not to face a “barren eternity” by rejecting the overwhelming evidence of the living Lord.
Message Key Facts:
- Frank Morrison’s Investigation: Swindoll cites Frank Morrison, a British lawyer and skeptic who intended to write a book denying the miraculous. Overwhelmed by the “stubbornness of the facts,” he instead wrote Who Moved the Stone?, declaring the resurrection undeniable.
- Wednesday Crucifixion View: To reconcile Jesus’ prophecy of being in the earth “three days and three nights” (Matthew 12:40), Swindoll holds that Jesus was likely crucified on a Wednesday and buried just before sunset, allowing for three full nights (Wednesday, Thursday, Friday) and three days before rising after the Sabbath.
- The Three Stages of “Seeing”: Swindoll explains three different Greek terms used for “saw” in John 20:
- Blepo (Verse 5): A simple glance or look (John).
- Theoreo (Verse 6): To scrutinize, theorize, or observe carefully (Peter).
- Eido (Verse 8): To perceive with understanding; the moment the truth “clicked” for John.
- Refuting Alternative Theories: The sermon briefly dismantles the “Kidnap Theory” (enemies wouldn’t remove the body, and friends couldn’t past the guards) and the “Gas Theory” (the body evaporating within three days would be a miracle in itself).
- The Grave Clothes Evidence: The undisturbed linen wrappings, still containing the spices but without the body (like a hollow cocoon), provided the visual proof that led John to believe. The head cloth was also rolled up separately, indicating care rather than the haste of grave robbers.
Message References:
- John 19:38–42: The burial of Jesus by Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus.
- John 20:1–10: The discovery of the empty tomb by Mary Magdalene, Peter, and John.
- Matthew 12:40: Jesus’ prophecy regarding the “sign of Jonah”—three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
- Mark 15:44–45: Pilate’s confirmation of Jesus’ death via the centurion.
- Psalm 16:10: The prophetic promise that God would not allow His Holy One to undergo decay (referenced in context of the “gas theory”).
