2023 Resurrection Sunday

Jesus Rises From the Dead

Matthew 28:2–4, 8; Mark 16:1–7; Luke 24:1–11; John 20:2

And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat down on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his garments were white as snow. And for fear of him the guards trembled and became as dead men.

Now when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, that they might go and anoint Jesus. And on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. And as they went, they said, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the door of the tomb?” (for it was very large). But when they came within sight of the tomb, they saw that the stone had been rolled back. And they went in and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.

Then Mary Magdalene hurried away to Simon Peter and to the other disciple, the one whom Jesus especially loved, and said, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we know not where they have laid him!”

And the other women entered the tomb and saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting over on the righthand side, and they were amazed and alarmed.

“Do not be afraid,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen, and is not here. See, here is the place where they laid him. But go and tell his disciples, and Peter, that he will go ahead of you into Galilee, and you will see him there, as he told you.”

While they were still amazed by all of this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling garments; and the women were afraid and bowed their faces to the ground. But the men said to them, “Why are you seeking the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified, and on the third day rise.”

And they remembered his words, and departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy.

And they returned from the tomb and told all these things to the eleven and to all the others. It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles. But their words seemed to them as an idle tale, and they did not believe them.

Peter and John Run to the Tomb

John 20:3–10

Peter and the other disciple set out for the tomb, hurrying along together. But the other disciple outran Peter and, arriving first at the tomb, peered inside and saw the linen winding cloths lying there, but did not go in. Then Simon Peter arrived and went inside the tomb and saw the linen winding cloths lying there, and the napkin which had been around his head—not lying with the linen winding cloths, but wrapped round and round and lying in a separate place. Then the other disciple, who had arrived at the tomb first, went inside and saw these things and believed (for as yet they had not understood the scripture, how that it was necessary for Jesus to rise from the dead). Then the disciples returned to their homes.

The Women See Jesus

Matthew 28:9–10; Mark 16:11; John 20:11–18

But Mary stood before the tomb and wept. And as she wept, she peered inside the tomb and saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain—one at the head, and one at the feet.

“Woman,” they said, “why are you weeping?”

“Because they have taken away my Lord,” said Mary, “and I know not where they have laid him.”

Then she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but was not aware that it was Jesus.

“Woman,” said Jesus, “why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?”

“Sir,” said Mary (supposing him to be the gardener), “if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.”

“Mary!” said Jesus.

Mary turned to Jesus and cried, “Rabboni!” (that is to say in Hebrew, “Master!”).

“Do not hold me,” said Jesus, “for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brethren and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, and to my God and your God.’ ”

Then Mary Magdalene went away to the disciples and said, “I have seen the Lord!” and told them the things he said to her. When they heard that he was alive and that she had seen him, they did not believe it.

As the women went to bring his disciples word, behold, Jesus met them, saying, “Hail!” And they came and clasped his feet and worshipped him.

“Do not be afraid,” said Jesus. “Go and tell my brethren that they are to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.”

The Report of the Guards

Matthew 28:11–15

Some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests what had taken place. And when the priests had assembled with the elders and had taken counsel, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers and said, “Tell people, ‘His disciples came at night and stole him away while we were asleep.’ And if the governor hears of it, we will satisfy him so that you will have nothing to worry about.”

And they took the money and did as they were instructed, and this report has been circulated among the Jews to this day.

The Triumph of the Victorious Jesus

2 Corinthians 2:14 (NLT) But thank God! He has made us his captives and continues to lead us along in Christ’s triumphal procession. Now he uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume.

Jesus did that when …

Colossians 2:14–15 (NLT) He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. 15 In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross.