All talks » Can we really know for sure?

Date: 08 Nov 2020
Bible: John 20:11-18
Speaker: Andrew Latimer

 

 

  Can we really know for sure?

 

11 But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. 12 And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. 13 They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” 14 Having said this, she turned round and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). 17 Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” 18 Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”—and that he had said these things to her.

 

[John 20:11-18]

 

Can we really know for sure?

 

1) Jesus reveals himself

 

 

 

 

2) ...and He welcomes us into relationship

 

 -The Son who invites us into his family

 

 

 -The Bridegroom who fulfils our longings

 

 

 

3) So let’s not keep it to ourselves!

 

 

 

 

COFFEE QUESTIONS

Are you tempted to think that the decisive element in someone coming to faith is careful, logical, investigation? What difference does it make that Jesus revealing himself to us is the decisive element (in terms of our humility, our encouragement, our evangelism etc)?

J I Packer states: “If you want to judge how well a person understands Christianity, find out how much he makes of the thought of being God’s child, and having God as his Father.” What difference does it make to you practically knowing that God is your Father? What about knowing that Jesus is the Divine Bridegroom?

In what ways are we tempted to keep the news about Jesus to ourselves? How can the truths of this passage help us to overcome that temptation?