The Resurrection of Jesus Christ
Scripture: Mark 16; Matthew 28; Luke 24; John 20
The Story:
Early Sunday Morning - The Empty Tomb
The women's journey: Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, the women (Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome) were on their way to the tomb, bringing spices they had prepared to anoint Jesus's body
Their concern: They asked each other, "Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?" (It was very large)
The earthquake: There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it (Matthew)
The angel's appearance: His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men (Matthew)
Finding the tomb open: When they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away
Entering the tomb: As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed
The angel's announcement: "Don't be alarmed," he said. "You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him"
The commission: "But go, tell his disciples and Peter, 'He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you'"
The women's response: Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid (Mark's original ending)
Mary Magdalene's Encounter
Mary's grief: Mary Magdalene stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb
Two angels: She saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus's body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot
Their question: They asked her, "Woman, why are you crying?" "They have taken my Lord away," she said, "and I don't know where they have put him"
Turning around: At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus
Jesus's question: He asked her, "Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?" Thinking he was the gardener, she said, "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him"
Recognition: Jesus said to her, "Mary." She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, "Rabboni!" (which means "Teacher")
Jesus's instruction: Jesus said, "Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, 'I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God'"
Mary's testimony: Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: "I have seen the Lord!" And she told them that he had said these things to her
Peter and John at the Tomb
Mary's report: Mary Magdalene came running to Simon Peter and John and said, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don't know where they have put him!"
The race: So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first
John's observation: He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in
Peter enters: Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus's head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen
John believes: Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. (They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead)
Return home: Then the disciples went back to where they were staying
The Guards' Report
The bribe: While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened. When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, telling them, "You are to say, 'His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.' If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble." So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day (Matthew)
The Road to Emmaus
Two disciples traveling: That same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking with each other about everything that had happened
Jesus joins them: As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing him
Jesus's questions: He asked them, "What are you discussing together as you walk along?" They stood still, their faces downcast. One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, "Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?"
Their explanation: They told him about Jesus of Nazareth, a prophet powerful in word and deed, how the chief priests and rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death and crucified him. "But we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel," they said. They also mentioned the women's report of the empty tomb and angels, and that some of their companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus
Jesus's rebuke and teaching: He said to them, "How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?" And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself
The meal: As they approached the village, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. But they urged him strongly, "Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over." So he went in to stay with them. When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them
Recognition: Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight
Their response: They asked each other, "Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?" They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together and saying, "It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon!" Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread
Appearance to the Disciples (Sunday Evening)
Jesus appears: On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!"
Their reaction: They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost
Jesus's reassurance: He said to them, "Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have"
Showing his wounds: When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet (and side - John). The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord
Still doubting: And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, "Do you have anything here to eat?" They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate it in their presence
Teaching from Scripture: He said to them, "This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms." Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. He told them, "This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things"
The commission: Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." And with that he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone's sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven"
Thomas's Doubt and Belief
Thomas absent: Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came
His demand: So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord!" But he said to them, "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe"
Jesus appears again: A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!"
Invitation to Thomas: Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe"
Thomas's confession: Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!"
Jesus's blessing: Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed"
John's Purpose Statement
Why it was written: Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name (John 20:30-31)
Significance:
The Empty Tomb:
The timing: Jesus rose on the third day, exactly as he predicted (Mark 8:31; 9:31; 10:34)
The stone rolled away: Not to let Jesus out, but to let witnesses in—the resurrection had already occurred
The grave clothes: John notes they were lying there undisturbed, with the burial cloth folded up by itself (John 20:6-7)—strong evidence against theft (thieves wouldn't carefully unwrap the body)
The guards: Roman soldiers guarding the tomb witnessed supernatural events and were bribed to lie about it
Women as first witnesses: In a culture where women's testimony wasn't valued in court, God chose them as primary witnesses—showing the Gospel's counter-cultural nature and authenticity (no one inventing a story would use women as chief witnesses)
The angel's message: "He has risen! He is not here"—the most important announcement in human history
The Resurrection Body:
Physical and real: Jesus had a tangible body—he could be touched, he ate food, he had scars from crucifixion
Yet transformed: He could appear and disappear, pass through locked doors, travel instantly, and was sometimes not immediately recognized
The firstfruits: Jesus's resurrection body is the prototype for believers' future resurrection bodies (1 Corinthians 15:20, 42-44)
Continuity and discontinuity: Same person, same identity, but glorified and imperishable
The Appearances:
Multiple witnesses: Jesus appeared to individuals (Mary, Peter, James) and groups (the disciples, 500+ believers at once - 1 Corinthians 15:6)
Over 40 days: Between resurrection and ascension, Jesus appeared many times (Acts 1:3)
Different locations: Jerusalem, Emmaus, Galilee—showing this wasn't mass hallucination in one place
Skeptics convinced: Thomas demanded physical proof and received it; James (Jesus's brother) was a skeptic who became a believer after seeing the risen Christ
Transformed disciples: From fearful, hiding men to bold proclaimers willing to die for their testimony
Theological Significance:
Victory over death: Jesus conquered humanity's greatest enemy—death itself
Validation of Jesus's claims: The resurrection proved he was who he said he was—the Son of God, the Messiah
Atonement accepted: The resurrection showed God accepted Jesus's sacrifice for sin
Justification: "He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification" (Romans 4:25)
Hope of resurrection: Because Jesus rose, believers will also rise (1 Corinthians 15:20-23)
Defeat of Satan: The resurrection crushed Satan's head and broke the power of sin and death (Hebrews 2:14-15)
New creation begun: Jesus's resurrection inaugurated the new creation—the age to come breaking into the present age
Foundation of Christianity: Paul wrote, "If Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith... But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead" (1 Corinthians 15:14, 20)
The Road to Emmaus - Special Significance:
Jesus explains Scripture: He showed how all of Scripture points to him—his suffering, death, and resurrection
Recognition in breaking bread: They knew him when he broke bread—echoing the Last Supper and pointing to communion
Burning hearts: The Word of God, explained by Jesus, ignited their hearts
Immediate response: Once they recognized Jesus, they immediately returned to Jerusalem to share the news
Thomas's Story:
Honest doubt: Thomas expressed his doubts openly—Jesus didn't condemn him but provided evidence
Personal encounter: Jesus met Thomas where he was, offering exactly what he said he needed
Greatest confession: "My Lord and my God!"—the clearest declaration of Jesus's deity in the Gospels
Blessing on future believers: "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed"—that's us!
This Story Powerfully Illustrates:
The historical reality of the resurrection: Multiple witnesses, physical evidence, empty tomb, transformed lives
Jesus conquered death: The grave could not hold him—he has the keys of death and Hades
Hope beyond death: Because Jesus rose, believers will also rise to eternal life
The reliability of Scripture: The accounts include embarrassing details (women witnesses, disciples' fear and doubt, Thomas's skepticism) that wouldn't be included if fabricated
Jesus's patience with doubt: He provided evidence for Thomas and others—faith seeking understanding
The importance of eyewitness testimony: "We have seen the Lord!"—Christianity is based on historical events, not myths
The transformation of the disciples: From fearful, hiding men to bold proclaimers willing to die for their testimony
Jesus's continued presence: He didn't abandon his followers after rising—he appeared, taught, encouraged, and commissioned them
The mission continues: "As the Father has sent me, I am sending you"—the Great Commission
Scripture fulfilled: Everything written about the Messiah in the Law, Prophets, and Psalms was fulfilled
Repentance and forgiveness: The message to be preached to all nations—the gospel
The Holy Spirit given: Jesus breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit"—empowerment for mission
Peace in the midst of fear: Jesus's repeated greeting: "Peace be with you"
Joy replaces sorrow: The disciples went from grief to overwhelming joy
The centrality of the resurrection: It's the cornerstone of Christian faith, hope, and proclamation
The Resurrection is the pivotal event of human history. It validates everything Jesus said and did, defeats the power of death and Satan, proves God's acceptance of Jesus's atoning sacrifice, and offers hope of eternal life to all who believe. Without the resurrection, Christianity collapses. With it, everything changes. Death is defeated. Sin is conquered. Hope is secured. The future is guaranteed. As Paul triumphantly declared: "Death has been swallowed up in victory. Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?" (1 Corinthians 15:54-55).
The resurrection accounts challenge us to believe in the risen Christ, to live in the power of his resurrection, to share this good news with the world, and to live with hope knowing that because he lives, we too shall live. Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!
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