Yesterday, when I gave you the Scriptures in Isaiah 53; that was a prophesy that GOD had given to Isaiah nearly 750 years before the birth of the CHRIST child. This is an exciting day. The Sabbath Day of the Jews was over and the women were going to the tomb to further anoint the LORD's body so that it won't stink. We will pick up the Scriptures very early in the morning of the LORD's rising from the dead.........
Matthew 28:1-8 Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb.
And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the LORD descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it.
His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men.
But the angel answered and said to the women, " Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek JESUS WHO was crucified. HE is not here; for HE is risen, as HE said. Come, see the place where the LORD lay.
And go quickly and tell HIS disciples that HE is risen from the dead, and indeed HE is going before you into Galilee; there you will see HIM. Behold, I have told you."
So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and GREAT JOY, and ran to bring HIS disciples word.
Now in other accounts the women had talked, before they got to the tomb, about who would roll the stone away from the door. As we see above, there was no need to worry. Also, in other accounts when the angel told the women to go and tell HIS disciples that the LORD was alive and would meet them in Galilee, the angel had also made a special request for the women to single out Peter for this great announcement, since Peter was the one who denied HIS LORD 3 times before the cock crowed.
John 20:1-18 On the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. Then she ran and came to Simon Peter and to the other disciple, whom JESUS loved (John), and said to them, " They have taken away the LORD out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid HIM."
Peter therefore went out, and the other disciple, and were going to the tomb. So they both ran together, and the other disciple out ran Peter and came to the tomb first.
And he, stooping down and looking in, saw the
Then the other disciple, who came to the tomb first, went in also; and he saw and believed. For as yet they did not know the Scripture, that HE must rise again from the dead. Then the disciples went away again to their own homes.
But Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping, and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of JESUS had lain. Then they said to her, " Woman, why are you weeping ?" She said to them, " Because they have taken away my LORD, and I do not know where they have laid HIM."
Now when she had said this, she turned around and saw JESUS standing there, and did not know that it was JESUS. JESUS said to her, " Woman, why are you weeping ? Whom are you seeking ?" She supposing HIM to be the gardener, said to HIM, " Sir, if you have carried HIM away, tell me where YOU have laid HIM, and I will take HIM away.
JESUS said to her, " Mary !" She turned and said to HIM, " RABBONI !" (which is to say, TEACHER).
JESUS said to her, " Do not cling to ME, for I have not yet ascended to MY FATHER, but go to MY brethren and say to them, I AM ascending to MY FATHER and your FATHER, and to MY GOD and your GOD.
Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the LORD, and that HE had spoken these things to her.
Now of course for a Roman soldier to allow a dead body to be stolen from an officially Roman sealed tomb would mean death to those soldiers, so a story / lie had to be concocted to cover them from any retribution.
Matthew 28:11-15 Now while they were going, behold, some of the guard came into the city and reported to the chief priests all the things that had happened. When they had assembled with the elders and taken counsel they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, saying, " Tell them, HIS disciples came at night and stole HIM away while we slept."
And if this comes to the Governor's ears, we will appease him and make you secure." So they took the money and did as they were instructed; and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.
Now CHRIST appears to the 11 disciples but some still doubted. CHRIST also appeared to two of HIS followers on the road to Emmaus. In that appearance HE either did not allow them to see WHO HE was clearly or changed HIS appearance so that they would not recognize HIM. As they walked with HIM they were sad and HE asked them why. We will pick up the Scriptures there.
Luke 24:21-43 But we were hoping that it was HE WHO was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since these things happened. Yes, and certain women of our company, who arrived at the tomb early, astonished us. When they did not find HIS body, they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said HE was alive. And certain of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but HIM they did not see. Then HE said to them, " O, foolish ones and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken ! Ought not the CHRIST to have suffered these things and to enter into HIS glory ?" And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, HE expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning HIMSELF.
Then they drew near to the village(Emmaus) where they were going, and HE indicated that HE would have gone farther. But they constrained HIM, saying, " Abide with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent." And HE went in to stay with them. Now it came to pass as HE sat at the table with them, that HE took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they knew HIM; and HE vanished from their sight.
And they said to one another, " Did not our hearts burn within us while HE talked with us on the road, and while HE opened the Scriptures to us ?"
So they rose up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, saying, " The LORD is risen indeed and has appeared to Simon !"
And they told about the things that had happened on the road, and how HE was known to them in the breaking of bread. Now as they said these things, JESUS HIMSELF stood in the midst of them, and said to them, " Peace to you." But they were terrified and frightened and supposed they had seen a spirit. And HE said to them, " Why are you troubled ? And why do doubts arise in your hearts ? Behold MY hands and MY feet that it is I MYSELF. Handle ME and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have."
When HE had said this, HE showed them HIS hands and HIS feet. But while they still did not believe for joy, and marveled, HE said, " Have you any food here ?" So they gave HIM a piece of a broiled fish and some honeycomb, and HE took it and ate in their presence.
Now just to stop for a moment, this was also the time that Thomas was NOT with them and when he came to them in John 20:25...The other disciples said to him, " We have seen the LORD." But he said to them, " Unless I see in HIS hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into HIS side, I will NOT believe."
Now 8 days went by before the LORD came to HIS disciples and Thomas was with them. I don't want to go beyond the day of resurrection but this unbelief of Thomas was such a pivotal point in his and the LORD's relationship that I want to just give this one section. As I said it happened 8 days after the LORD's resurrection. John 20:26-29 reads:
And after eight days HIS disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. JESUS came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, " Peace to you !" Then HE said to Thomas, " Reach your finger here, and look at MY hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into MY side. Do not be unbelieving but believing." And Thomas answered and said to HIM, " My LORD and my GOD !"
JESUS said to him, " Thomas because you have seen ME, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."
Now we will finish up in Luke 24 when the LORD had eaten the fish and the honeycomb in front of the disciples, except for Thomas. The LORD explained the Scriptures more fully to them.
Luke 24:44-49 Then HE said to them, " These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that ALL things MUST be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning ME." And HE opened their understanding that they might comprehend the Scriptures.
Then HE said to them, " Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the CHRIST to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in HIS name to ALL nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
And you are witnesses of these things. Behold, I send the PROMISE of MY FATHER upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high."
John has said at the end of his gospel, in chapter 21 verse 25, " And there are also many other things that JESUS did which IF they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. AMEN " We will end here and I hope that you were able to get a sense of all the other things that the LORD did, besides Palm Sunday, HIS crucifixion on Friday and HIS resurrection on the following Sunday. The LORD had HIS purpose and direction laid out and HE never got off course. The FATHER, the SON and the HOLY SPIRIT's redemptive plan went forward and culminated to a glorious day, on RESURRECTION SUNDAY. And we know the price for our redemption was paid in full because, " HE is NOT in any tomb, HE is RISEN as HE said "
Your servant in CHRIST,
Julie
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