Paradise Restored John 20 1to18

The Resurrection of Our Lord (Easter Dawn)               5-April-2026
Sermon Text: John 20:1-18
Sermon Theme: “Paradise Restored!” by Rev. Nathan J. Rusert

I.N.R.I. “Alleluia! Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!” Words spoken leaving the garden. A garden in which with tears we’ve sown the seed of a beloved parent, grandparent, child, grandchild, spouse, or friend. It was the same with those who followed Jesus. History records: Joh 19:41-42 Now in the place where He was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. (42) So there they laid Jesus, because of the Jews' Preparation Day, for the tomb was nearby. There wasn’t time for a proper funeral. The sun would soon set. Families rush to bury their dead suffer the pain of foregoing a proper funeral and the time to grieve.
      Joseph of Arimathea requested the corpse of Jesus. Pilate granted it. Nicodemus and Joseph, members of the Sanhedrin - the Jewish ruling council of 70 - carry the body of Jesus to a new tomb in a garden. Joseph bought the linen burial cloth to swaddle the lifeless body of the Rabbi. Hurriedly they washed off as much blood as they could from His beaten bloodied body. It was like trying to wash the blood off a crushed worm and not a man. Nicodemus brought along about a hundred pounds of myrrh and aloes. Spices to cover the stench a rotting corpse brings. Carefully they wrapped the body of Rabbi Jesus in linen burial clothes applying the spices to begin a proper burial, there is no time to finish. Nicodemus and Joseph weren’t alone in the garden. History records: Luk 23:55 And the women who had come with Him from Galilee followed after, and they observed the tomb and how His body was laid.
        At least six of Jesus’ followers witness the corpse of Jesus laid in the garden tomb. They were more, Jesus’ enemies, representatives from the high priest witnessed the exact cave tomb where Jesus’ corpse was swaddled and put to rest on a stone shelf. At sundown the Passover Sabbath began. Time to rest. All shops closed. The Jews observed the pattern the Creator knit into His creation. He rested on the 7th day from all the work that He had done by His Word and Hands. On the 6th day He had planted a garden, created man from the dust of the ground. Planted the Tree of Life for mankind to have communion feasting with the Gardener. He invited man to gather and feast with Him and be ever sustained with Life in the Creator. Planted the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil with its one prohibition as the altar where mankind could exercise trust in their Creator by obeying His command not to eat from it. The Gardener set Adam over all of creation to tend and keep it as God’s gift to him. Still it wasn’t good for man to be alone. So the Lord on that first Friday caused a deep deathlike sleep to fall on Adam. The Gardener opened up Adam’s side and took of his flesh and blood to build a woman. A wife for Adam - a female - a woman. The Gardener instituted marriage knitting it into nature - the union of one man and one woman for life that they may have the blessing of intimate companionship and children. Only then did the Gardener declare His creation - very good - Paradise! Then He rested from all the work that He had done. St. John begins the history of Jesus with these words: Joh 1:1-5 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (2) He was in the beginning with God. (3) All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. (4) In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. (5) And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.” Jesus is the eternally only begotten Son of the Father. One True God with the Father and the Holy Spirit. He is the Master Gardener who planted Eden’s beauty. Learn with Mary Magdalene today to rejoice for in Jesus is “Paradise Restored”
         Death wasn’t the Creator’s plan for creation. Satan, a created angel, rebelled against his Creator. Wanting to overthrow God he led many angels in a war. They failed. Thrown out of heaven they sought to destroy that which God called, “very good.” Masquerading as a serpent he strove into Paradise speaking lying words to the woman. She listens, trusts her feelings and desires, as does her husband Adam who is with her. Eating of the forbidden fruit -rebelling against the Creator’s Life sustaining Word - paradise is lost - immediately they die to all true spiritual reality. They try cloaking shame with fig leaves, content running with Satan deeper into darkness as he tears them from their Creator and from one another. Satan still attacks marriage and the family seducing you to listen to his voice in all the screen noise distracting you - rather than to open your Bible and hear the voice of the Creator Gardener - your Good Shepherd Jesus - the living Rabbi - the Truth - the Way - the Life.
         The Triune Creator didn’t abandon His once very good world. He promised to redeem it - to reclaim it as His own. Joh 1:14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. The Master Gardener became one with the dust of the earth from which we are created. In the fullness of time taking on our flesh by the power of the Holy Spirit in the womb of the Virgin Mary. He comes to redeem, restore, and reclaim us.
             Have you ever felt all was lost? Mary Magdalene, Mary, John standing at the foot of Jesus’ cross did. They heard His last triumphant cry, ‘It is finished!” saw life drain from His body as His head and body slumped. The Roman spear piercing His heart confirmed His death. From the open wound blood and water flowed out onto the dust of the earth. Their hope was lost. They wept at the hasty burial without a proper funeral for their Teacher.
       Sabbath comes they find no rest torn by grief they plan to make it right. As soon as the sun sets on Saturday and the markets open - the women spare no expense buying the final burial spices and fragrant oils. Like many women they are planners and doers. While the apostles hide in fear they plan their trip to the garden before sun rise the next morning. They owe their Teacher this last service of honoring Him with a proper burial. Our bodies matter. Created in the image of God, they are to be protected from the moment of conception. They are to be honored as God’s creation as He writes His will on every cell of our bodies calling us to be male or female. Our bodies matter to our Creator.
  The women weren’t the only restless ones that high Sabbath. History records, Mat 27:62-66 On the next day, which followed the Day of Preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees gathered together to Pilate, (63) saying, "Sir, we remember, while He was still alive, how that deceiver said, 'After three days I will rise.' (64) Therefore command that the tomb be made secure until the third day, lest His disciples come by night and steal Him away, and say to the people, 'He has risen from the dead.' So the last deception will be worse than the first." (65) Pilate said to them, "You have a guard; go your way, make it as secure as you know how." (66) So they went and made the tomb secure, sealing the stone and setting the guard.” Jesus’ enemies fear even a dead Jesus. They have Pilate officially seal His tomb posting battle hardened Roman soldiers ordered to kill any grave robbers.
        Day break nears. It is still dark as the women begin their journey to paradise lost. They have no idea guards are stationed there. History records: (Jn 20:1-2) There was a day the Master Gardener posted a guard in Paradise. Rebellious Adam and his descendants would not be able to return and eat of the Tree of Life - a life forever without God - is hell. The Roman guards couldn’t prevent the Fruit of the Tree of Life bursting forth to reclaim His Creation. On Monday before the Master Gardener preached ,” Joh 12:24 Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain.” The Seed of His Flesh planted into the ground with our sin and death, now rises FOR YOU - to restore you to Paradise!
         Mary Magdalene assumes desecration. The stone sealing the tomb has been catapulted from the entrance. It lays flat on the ground. Perhaps the Roman guards campfire still smoldered. The garden desecrated, the grave robbed by Jesus’ enemies. Their hatred knew no end. Not knowing where your loved one’s corpse rests causes great trauma She runs finding Peter and John still hiding from fear of the Jewish authorities. (Jn 20:3-9) Peter and John fear is overcome by grief and anger. They run to the garden. Adam and his wife had run from the garden sin made us outcasts. Now the path for sinful mankind is reversed. Coming to investigate there is no evidence of grave robbers. The linen cloth that had swaddled the body of their Lord was laying in place - perfectly undisturbed - no corpse hidden in its folds. The cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head was neatly folded up and carefully placed on a shelf. It is as you get up each morning, making your bed, laying neatly folded pajamas aside - they served you in the dark - now day has broken - life begins anew in the light. John believes- What? Mary’s evaluation that Jesus’ body was stolen - or as the beloved disciple had he taken Jesus’ Word of resurrection to heart? Still he didn’t fully know the Scriptures of His resurrection - that night they would - the Master Gardener, who for three years had sown the seed of His Word into their ears, would breathe forth the Holy Spirit opening the Scriptures to their understanding from Genesis to Malachi that they testify only of Jesus - the Paradise Restorer - crucified for our sins - raised for our justification.  
      We believe Christ rose from the dead according to the Scriptures. St. Paul catalogued over 500 eyewitnesses of Jesus’ resurrected living body after His crucifixion and death for your sins. Don’t believe the Satanic lies spouted in ignorance that reject the historical reality that Jesus lives! Study real historical documents - the Gospels - He lives! Study all the archeological and historical evidence - Jesus Lives! Hear Jesus’ living voice in His Word! Through His Word the Master Gardener harvests new life in us watering us with His life giving Spirit in baptism. Paradise is restored through His Word. St. Luke records this reality on Good Friday. A dying thief, hearing Jesus’ ongoing pleading with God the Father to forgive those mocking and crucifying Him, is brought to saving faith by the Holy Spirit. Luk 23:42-43 Then he said to Jesus, "Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom." (43) And Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise." There is only one Way to Paradise - Hear Jesus’ promise, Joh 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. It is not too late for you, stop running, repent and cling to Jesus by the Holy Spirit in Church every Sunday.    Mary mourns -(Jn. 20:11-13) death brings sorrow and sadness - the garden of the cemetery tears us from those who love. Like Mary we assume the worst - we will never see our loved ones again, we don’t know where they are...without hope we cry. Behold the Paradise Restorer! Crying at the grave she finds no comfort as the preacher asks the reason for her tears. She knows she has lost her Lord to death, now His body is gone - grief crushes her spirit. Have you felt this crushing grief?
      Listen! The Master Gardener works through loss and grief to fill you with a living hope. (Jn. 20:14-18) She can’t see Him for who He is - she assumes He is the gardener. She is right - He is the Master Gardener who has made all things new- restoring us to Paradise. On the 6th day - He recreated mankind through the sacrifice of His innocent flesh for our sin. Falling into a deep sleep God used the Roman spear to open His side - building His wife - the Church with His flesh and blood.  New Life springs forth - the 8th day of creation has come. Jesus calls Mary by name and she sees Him alive. He calls you by name baptizing you into His life. See Him. She isn’t to cling to Him. He will cling to her and you by His resurrection and ascension. In Jesus’ living wounds you are the beloved children of God of your True Father!
        Be like Mary - joyfully tell your fellow Christians - especially as you leave the garden after planting the seed of a beloved Christian into th earth! “Alleluia! Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!” Jesus lives they shall rise. Alleluia! Amen.