Death Doesn't Win

St. Charles | Bob Ingle
April 5, 2026

John 20:1-10

“Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus' head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead. Then the disciples went back to their homes.” John 20:1-10 (ESV)

1. THE ASSUMPTION: DEATH WINS!

“Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark…” John 20:1a (ESV)

“…and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb.” John 20:1b (ESV)

““They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.”” John 20:2 (ESV)

“If the dead are not raised, “Let’s eat, drink, and be merry for tomorrow we die.”” 1 Corinthians 15:32 (ESV)

“(God) has planted eternity in the human heart.” Ecclesiastes 3:11 (NLT)

You will never be satisfied with temporary things because you were made for an eternal reality.

2. THE REVELATION: JESUS LIVES!

“So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first.” John 20:3 (ESV)

“He saw the linen cloths lying there, and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus' head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself.” John 20:6-7 (ESV)

The empty tomb isn’t just a miracle; it’s a message.

“(Jesus) was shown to be the Son of God when he was raised from the dead.” Romans 1:4 (NLT)

“The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you.” Romans 8:11 (NLT)

3. THE INVITATION: YOU DECIDE!

“Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed…Then the disciples went back to their homes.” John 20:8, 10 (ESV)

“For as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead.” John 20:9 (ESV)

Faith is not having all your questions answered, it’s trusting what God has made clear.

“If you confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:9 (ESV)