Risen from the Dead!

u003c!u002du002d wp:heading u002du002du003enu003ch2 class=u0022wp-block-headingu0022u003eIntroductionu003c/h2u003enu003c!u002du002d /wp:heading u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennOur lesson this week is our Easter – Resurrection Sunday – Sunday School lesson.  After Jesus was crucified, His body was taken by Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea who placed Jesus’ body in Joseph’s tomb (u003ca href=u0022https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matt.+27%3A57-61%3B+Mark+15%3A43-46%3B+John+19%3A38-42u0026amp;version=NKJVu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022u003eMatt. 27:57-61; Mark 15:43-46; John 19:38-42u003c/au003e).  In our lesson this week, we take a look at the resurrection of Christ.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:heading u002du002du003enu003ch2 class=u0022wp-block-headingu0022u003eHe is Risen from the Deadu003c/h2u003enu003c!u002du002d /wp:heading u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennOur lesson opens on the u003cemu003efirst day u003c/emu003eof the week with Mary Magdalene.  I always make a point when it comes to the resurrection of Christ to emphasize Jesus being resurrected the third day.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:heading {u0022levelu0022:3} u002du002du003enu003ch3 class=u0022wp-block-headingu0022u003eThe third dayu003c/h3u003enu003c!u002du002d /wp:heading u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennJesus, when He first predicted His death to the disciples, said, “the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death, and deliver Him to the Gentiles to mock and to scourge and to crucify.  And the u003cemu003ethird day u003c/emu003eHe will rise again (u003ca href=u0022http://Matt. 20:18-19u0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022u003eMatt. 20:18-19u003c/au003e).”nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennThere is often conversation as to whether or not Jesus really rose on the third day.  Many people that argue against Jesus truly rising on the third day often try to count days according to the u003cemu003emodern u003c/emu003e24 hour clock.  Something we must realize is that the Jews counted days by sunset to sunset.  So, sunset was the beginning of a new day.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennJesus was crucified starting at the third hour (9am) according to Mark’s gospel (u003ca href=u0022https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+15%3A25u0026amp;version=NKJVu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022u003eMark 15:25u003c/au003e).  Then, by the sixth hour (12pm) to the ninth hour (3pm), scripture tells us that darkness fell over the land (u003ca href=u0022https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+15%3A33u0026amp;version=NKJVu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022u003eMark 15:33u003c/au003e).  It was around the ninth hour that Jesus physically died.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennNow, the Jews desired for Jesus to have been crucified u003cemu003ebefore u003c/emu003eSabbath which would start at sunset.  Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus placed Jesus in the tomb u003cemu003ebefore u003c/emu003esunset because they could do no work on Sabbath.  So, by the Jews’ keeping of time, Jesus was crucified and buried u003cemu003eon the same dayu003c/emu003e; still on the grave on Sabbath, and then the next sunset would begin the third day.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennWe are told that the first day of the week, Mary went to the tomb while it was still dark (v.1).  So, before sunrise, on the first day of the week (Sunday), Mary went to the tomb and found it empty.  The fact that there was no body in the tomb on what was the third day, meant that u003cemu003esomething u003c/emu003ehad happened, in Mary’s mind.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:heading {u0022levelu0022:3} u002du002du003enu003ch3 class=u0022wp-block-headingu0022u003eEmpty tomb conspiracyu003c/h3u003enu003c!u002du002d /wp:heading u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennSo, we’re told that Mary ran to where Peter and “the disciple whom Jesus loved” were, saying, “they have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and u003cemu003ewe u003c/emu003edo not know where they have laid Him (v.2).”nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennMary was of the belief that Jesus’ body had been stolen from the tomb which, honestly, at that time made some sense for her to believe.  In Matthew’s gospel, we are told that there were guards that stood watch over Jesus’ tomb (u003ca href=u0022https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matt.+27%3A62-66%3B+28%3A1-4%2C+11-15u0026amp;version=NKJVu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022u003eMatt. 27:62-66; 28:1-4, 11-15u003c/au003e).  Why?  Because the religious leaders did not want Jesus’ body to be taken by Jesus’ followers; they didn’t want people to buy into Jesus’ resurrection.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennSo, on both ends of it, you had the religious leaders fearing that Jesus’ body would be stolen.  Then, on the opposite side, Mary Magdalene thought “they” stole Jesus’ body; “they” being the religious leaders.  So, conspiracy was essentially born from the religious leaders u003cemu003eafter u003c/emu003eJesus was crucified and for Mary Magdalene and the others that were with her.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennFrom this scripture, we know that others were with Mary because she said to Peter and the disciple whom Jesus loved that “‘u003cemu003ewe’u003c/emu003e do not know where they have laid Him.”  The others that were with Mary Magdalene are told to us in the synoptic gospels: Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and Salome (u003ca href=u0022https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matt.+28%3A1u0026amp;version=NKJVu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022u003eMatt. 28:1u003c/au003e; u003ca href=u0022https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+16%3A1u0026amp;version=NKJVu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022u003eMark 16:1u003c/au003e; u003ca href=u0022https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+24%3A10u0026amp;version=NKJVu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022u003eLuke 24:10u003c/au003e).nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennAlso, we need to discuss the “disciple whom Jesus loved” that is mentioned here as well.  The disciple mentioned here is John.  John referred to himself essentially in third person throughout his gospel so as not to bring attention to himself for glory.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennHowever, we know that John is the beloved disciple because at the end of his gospel he spoke of the time when Peter asked Jesus about the future of the disciple whom Jesus loved (John 21:20).  Afterwards, John wrote, “This is the disciple who testifies of these things, and wrote these things; and we know that his testimony is true (u003ca href=u0022https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+21%3A24u0026amp;version=NKJVu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022u003eJohn 21:24u003c/au003e).”nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:heading {u0022levelu0022:3} u002du002du003enu003ch3 class=u0022wp-block-headingu0022u003eConfirmation of Jesus’ resurrectionu003c/h3u003enu003c!u002du002d /wp:heading u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennNow, what’s fascinating about Mary Magdalene’s thinking is that, when she and the others initially went to the tomb, there was an angel.  In Matthew’s gospel, the angel was the one to roll away stone covering the tomb and it shook the guards that were guarding the tomb (u003ca href=u0022https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matt.+28%3A2-4u0026amp;version=NKJVu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022u003eMatt. 28:2-4u003c/au003e).nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennThe angel spoke to the women and said to them that Jesus wasn’t in the tomb but that He was risen (u003ca href=u0022https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matt.+28%3A5-6u0026amp;version=NKJVu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022u003eMatt. 28:5-6u003c/au003e).  The angel then told the women to check the tomb and to then go to tell Jesus’ disciples that He is risen (u003ca href=u0022https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matt.+28%3A6-7u0026amp;version=NKJVu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022u003eMatt. 28:6-7u003c/au003e).  Matthew then wrote that the women with fear and u003cemu003egreat joy u003c/emu003eto the disciples (u003ca href=u0022https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matt.+28%3A8u0026amp;version=NKJVu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022u003eMatt. 28:8u003c/au003e).nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennSo, does what Matthew writes in his gospel come into conflict with John’s writing?  I don’t necessarily think so.  I do believe that Mary Magdalene and the others were moving in great haste to get to the disciples and when they reached Peter and John, they said the first thing that came to their minds.  I also think it’s possible that while the women spoke, Peter and John rushed out before they could finish speaking.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennI make that last suggestion because we see the rush that both Peter and John were in racing to the tomb (vss.3-4).  John, the younger man, beat Peter to the tomb and peeked inside.  When he peeked inside the tomb, John saw the linen that Jesus had been wrapped in lying in the tomb (v.5).nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennLet’s consider for a moment what this meant.  When Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, Lazarus came out of the tomb bound, hand and foot, wearing graveclothes; his face was also wrapped with a cloth as well.  Jesus said to the people, “Loose him, and let him go (u003ca href=u0022https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+11%3A44u0026amp;version=NKJVu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022u003eJohn 11:44u003c/au003e).”nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennSo, for the linen to be lying in the tomb would either suggest that someone was there to loosen the linen that He had been wrapped in u003cemu003eor u003c/emu003eJesus was able to come out of them Himself.  Now, if you did go over my study about u003ca href=u0022https://newfoundfaith.org/the-transfiguration-of-jesus-bible-study/u0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022 data-type=u0022postu0022 data-id=u002210428u0022u003ethe transfiguration of Jesusu003c/au003e, then you should definitely want to do so because we took a look at His post resurrected body.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennIn His post resurrected body, Jesus could u003cemu003evanish u003c/emu003eand appear wherever and whenever.  So, when He was resurrected, Jesus wouldn’t have needed for anyone to remove the linen from Him as He was no longer bound to our physical world. The fact that the clothes were simply lying there would suggest there was no foul play.  If Jesus’ body had been taken, there would have been no clothes.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennThen Peter arrived at the tomb and he walked into the tomb to see the linen as well.  He also saw the handkerchief that would’ve been on Jesus’ head that was lying separately from the linen.  However, what is significant about the handkerchief is that it was folded up (v.7).nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennWhat did the folded up handkerchief signify?  Well, it was indication more to that there was no foul play with Jesus’ body being taken.  John then went into the tomb and he saw the same thing with the handkerchief.  When John saw this, we are told that he believed (v.8).nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:heading {u0022levelu0022:3} u002du002du003enu003ch3 class=u0022wp-block-headingu0022u003eBelieving in the resurrectionu003c/h3u003enu003c!u002du002d /wp:heading u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennWhat did John believe?  John didn’t believe that the body of Jesus had been taken.  What John did believe was that Jesus was risen.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennWhat’s fascinating about this point is that John writes that they did not know the Scripture that He must rise again (v.9).  What is fascinating about this point is that Jesus had said on separate occasions to the disciples that He would be killed and rise the third day.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennTo this point, I am not going to blame the disciples for not remembering because many of us can become quite forgetful of things we read and hear as well.  It is in those moments where the Holy Spirit serves in the role of leading us to the truth.  As Jesus said to the disciples, after He would go away, the Spirit of Truth would come to those that genuinely believe (u003ca href=u0022https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+16%3A12-13u0026amp;version=NKJVu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022u003eJohn 16:12-13u003c/au003e).nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennWhen Jesus was washing the disciples’ feet, prior to His arrest as the feast of Passover, He said something to Peter that rang true in the end.  Jesus said to Peter, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this (u003ca href=u0022https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+13%3A7u0026amp;version=NKJVu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022u003eJohn 13:7u003c/au003e).”  Though they did not understand what Jesus had to do, prior to His crucifixion, they believed and understood u003cemu003eafterwards u003c/emu003ebecause of the inner dwelling of the Holy Spirit.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ennAs Paul wrote, nobody can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit (u003ca href=u0022https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Cor.+12%3A3u0026amp;version=NKJVu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022u003e1 Cor. 12:3u003c/au003e).  The resurrection of Christ is the fulfillment of scripture.  Not only is the resurrection of Christ fulfillment of scripture but it is also the fulfillment of God’s everlasting covenant with mankind.  Again, should you believe in His only begotten Son, you will have everlasting life.nnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e