The Empty Tomb Mystery. Has Christ Risen?
Bible Study Guide
(Verses 1-2) Mary Magdalene finds an empty tomb where Jesus was placed. Had Jesus risen from the dead or was He moved?
For many studying this Bible passage, the answer is clear. Jesus had risen from the dead. One of the most remarkable things about Jesus rising from the dead was that John’s gospel account isn’t even necessary to prove it.
There are over 500 witness accounts who saw Jesus after the tomb was found empty. This includes historians of Jesus’ day recording additional eye witness accounts. Christ left nothing to doubt as to the power of His Father and His resurrection.
Friday’s Disappointment is Sunday’s Empty Tomb
In desperation of her Lord, Mary runs to tell Simon Peter and John the disciples.
(Verses 3-8) Unfortunately, the testimony of a woman in those days was not held to be as trustworthy as a man. The disciples thought they were speaking nonsense. Simon Peter and John had to see for themselves. In the same desperation as Mary, they raced toward the tomb.
John arrives first but doesn’t enter the tomb. He examines the linen inside the empty tomb from outside the entrance. This might suggest that John looked and believed that Jesus had risen even without looking closely at the evidence.
Peter arrives at the tomb after John. Like someone who had just been beat in a race, he advances beyond John and enters the tomb first. Peter examines the facts that remained where Jesus was placed. Then Peter comes to believe.
When Was John’s Account of the Risen Christ Written?
(Verse 9) This verse hints at the fact that John’s gospel account was written at a time well after the empty tomb was found. John acknowledges that they still didn’t quite understand everything that was taking place with the risen Jesus.
The closest suggestions as to when John’s gospel was written places it around 90-100 AD. This means that it was around the time Christ appeared to John to reveal the events of the book of Revelation. This would coincide with estimates of when John died.
(Verse 10) They tried their best to comprehend the sighting at the tomb and all Jesus had told them. It’s likely their confusion mixed with their emotions of disappointment and sadness. They had so many questions swirling in their minds. What they didn’t realize is all those questions were about to be answered.
Something was about to happen that would change everything. The full measure of God’s wisdom and understanding was about to enter them.
The Risen Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene
(Verses 11-13) Mary Magdalene again takes the center stage in this scene. She’s desperate to find her Lord so she can take proper care of His body. This time the tomb is not empty.
In complete sadness and anguish, Mary sees two angels sitting where Jesus’ body had been placed. Angels have often played pivotal roles in doing the will of God. They’re God’s closest messengers. They fulfill His commands to serve His desires and will.
The Angel’s Reminder
Luke’s gospel account records the angels reminding them of the things Jesus spoke about.
“He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: 7 ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’” (Luke 24:6-7)
In this case, they’re a testimony to Christ. Their presence in the tomb testifies to the presence of heaven and the power of God.
It won’t be long before we’ll see a similar scene in Acts 1:11. The apostles, standing on the Mt. Of Olives will watch Jesus ascend into heaven to the right hand of God for the last time. Then angels will appear in a similar fashion testifying for Christ.
“They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11 “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:10-11)
(Verses 14-16) When Mary hears Jesus call her name, it must’ve been unmistakable. She knew it was the sound of her Lord’s voice when He said her name.
Do you suppose the feelings that Mary experienced will be similar to when we are raptured? Imagine the moment, when Christians who wait with great expectation of the Christ’ return for His church. The feelings that we’ll experience to gaze upon our glorified Lord will likely be similar and even greater.
“Go and Tell Them” of the Risen Jesus
(Verse 17) It’s not revealed to us exactly what Jesus meant when Jesus told Mary not to cling to His body because He had not yet ascended to God. It likely may have had to do with his glorified body that He received upon His resurrection.
It would be dangerous to speculate and add anything else to this passage since it’s not revealed to us. In similar fashion, we’ll receive glorified bodies at the rapture or resurrection from our “sleep.” Unfortunately, we don’t have a complete grasp of how it’ll all work. Let’s leave it in God’s hands. He’s the only One we can trust with certainty.
Look carefully at the middle phrase of this verse. Jesus says, “Go instead to my brothers and tell them.” This is truly a remarkable statement coming from Jesus and spoken to Mary Magdalene.
It’s very highly unlikely that the men of Jesus’ day would’ve expected Jesus’ first encounters to have occurred with a woman. Evidence points to this in Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well. Then the disciples were taken back by Jesus interaction with the Samaritan woman.
A Woman Was the First
Do you notice a pattern here with these first encounters with Jesus. They’re all with a woman. Not just any woman. But a woman whom Jesus cast out seven demons. Since then Mary’s followed Jesus every step of His ministry.
This first person to gaze into the empty tomb of Jesus was Mary. She was also the first person that the risen Jesus appeared to. Remarkably there’s more. This is where the significance of Jesus’ command comes in on this passage.
The very first command to share the “good news” that Jesus has risen is given by Jesus to a woman. If you were to ever ask a man of Jesus’ day if this is what he expected would happen, he’d likely deny that it would happen to a woman. But, yes indeed! Not just any woman, but to one of Jesus’ closest followers.
Mary Was the First to Spread the Gospel of the Risen Jesus
Mary Magdalene was indeed not only the first woman to be told to go share the good news of the resurrection, she was the first person to spread the gospel of Christ after His death.
While Jesus and Mary are standing next to the empty tomb, Jesus says something else truly remarkable to Mary. The last part of verse 17 closes with a beautifully welcoming statement from Jesus.
Jesus says, “I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.” A wonderfully inclusive phrase indicating her acceptance by Jesus into God’s family. A position that both her and Jesus share together according to His words.
What an incredibly wonderful thing to say. How astonishingly welcoming her heart must have felt to receive those words from Christ’ lips. Perhaps her heart burned like the two disciples who encountered Jesus on the road to Emmaus in Luke’s gospel (Luke 24:13-35).
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