Three Days Later…

*image originated here

Matthew 27:27-66, Mark 15:16-47, Luke 22:63, 23:26-56, John 20:1-23

Jesus’ followers, family, and friends have just had the worst three days of their lives. They are grieving and in hiding scared of the Romans and the religious leaders hunting them. They didn’t even get to finish burying this man they had loved so much. Now that the Sabbath has passed the women, in particular, Mary Magdalene go to the tomb to finish that burial.

And what they found there changes everything for the rest of history…

After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going into the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightening, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.” So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”

Matthew 28:1-10

One of the many beautiful parts of this story is now how each person involved has a very different and very personal reaction to the empty tomb from the women to the disciples and from the Roman guards to the Pharisees and teachers of the law all the way to Pilate.

Mary Magdalene

What we know for certain is that this Mary traveled with Jesus among the other women who were supporting him out of their own resources. She has also been considered the same as Mary of Bethany and in other studies considered a separate person altogether. It is clear, however, that Jesus is very important to her and she is very important to Him.

She was there at the cross and now she is one of the first witnesses of the resurrection!

Then the disciples went back to their homes, but Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot. They asked her, “Woman, woman why are you crying?” “They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” At this she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize it was Jesus. “Woman,” he said, “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.” Jesus said to her, and I will get him.” Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’ ” 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.

John 20:10-18

The Disciples

The remaining Eleven are hiding out together lost as to what to do or where to go next when the women come to them with this incredible news. Some stay and wonder at their words thinking that they sound like gibberish. But Peter and the disciple Jesus loved run to the tomb.

Early on the first day of the week, while it was dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, adn said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!” So Peter and the otehr disciple started for the tomb. Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. Then Simon Peter, who was behind him, arrived and went into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, as well as the burial cloth that had been around Jesus’ head. The cloth was folded up by itself, separate from the linen. 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.)

John 20:1-9

They still do not understand that Jesus didn’t just predict his death, he also predicted that he would live again! The very accusation that the chief priests and Pharisees used to condemn him to death has been fulfilled because Jesus was and is exactly who he said! If Jesus hadn’t of risen from that tomb the cross would’ve been meaningless because he would not have been the Son of God and we would not have the power to conquer sin and death so that we could be redeemed!

On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” After this he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father sent me, I am sending you.” And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”

John 20:19-23

The Roman Guards

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 get 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 28:11-15

The Roman Guards know the truth of what has happened and they also know that is why they were posted at the tomb because of the chief priests’ concern that it might happen or the disciples might spread rumors that it had. They also knew that they would be severely punished for failing in their duties, sleeping while on watch, and leaving their post. Knowing the truth the chief priests pay the soldiers to lie and promise to protect them from that punishment. The soldiers do lie and that lie is believed by many but that is not the end of the story.

Jesus is going to make it more than obvious to hundreds of people that he is indeed alive and his body no longer rests in any tomb or hiding place any person may have devised!