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JOHN 16:20

"WHAT A DIFFERENCE A DAY MADE"

I. "YE SHALL WEEP AND LAMENT."
        A. Mark 6:10, tells us that Mary came to the disciples as they mourned and wept.
                1. Well might they weep.
                        a. They were all convinced that Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of the
                           living God.
                                1. They were expecting the establishment of God's Kingdom on
                                   the earth.
                                        a. They were weary of the hatred and wars.
                                        b. They were tired of the oppression and greed.
                                        c. They desired the new kingdom of peace and
                                           righteousness and had even discussed their possible
                                           positions.
                                2. But now their King is dead and the hope of the kingdom 
                                   destroyed.
                                        a. They watched in horror as their King was beaten and
                                           slain.
                                        b. What can you do now? Where do you go?
                        b. Many tears were shed in those dark days.
                                1. It's hard to be so sure you are right and turn out wrong.
                                2. It's hard when you have invested everything into something
                                   that fails.
        B. Jesus had made such glorious claims.
                1. He claimed to have power over death.
                2. He claimed He was the only way to God
                3. He claimed He was sent by God to save man.
                4. He claimed He could give peace to those who would come to Him
                5. He claimed to be the Son of God.
                6. He claimed to be one with God.
                7. Those claims must all be discounted now for He is dead and His body lies in
                   the tomb, as they mourned and wept.

II. "YOUR SORROW SHALL BE TURNED INTO JOY."
        A. The resurrection reaffirmed His divinity.
                1. He is the Messiah, the Son of the living God.
                        a. His kingdom will come.
                        b. Good will triumph over evil.
        B. The resurrection confirmed His claims.
                1. He is the Son of God.
                2. He is the Savior of the world.
                3. He did conquer over death.
                4. He is the path to God.
                5. He has power to give life.
        C. The resurrection brought a new understanding of the cross.
                1. It would no more be the symbol of man's hate.
                2. It would now become the symbol of God's love.
                3. The cross was necessary to open the path to God.
                        a. Sin had long barred the way for man to come to God.
                        b. Through the cross sins forgiven.

Ill. SOME OF YOU HAVE NOT DISCOVERED THE EMPTY TOMB.
        A. Your life has been a long quest for meaning.
                1. Your world is hopeless, dark and bleak.
                        a. Still survival of the fittest.
                        b. Dog, cat, dog.
                        c. Little hope for the present, no hope for the future.
        B. What a different a day can make!
                1. The day you discover the empty tomb.