Resurrection Morning

Women prepare to pay their respects.

Mark 16:1 Now when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, that they might come and anoint Him.

I would like to point out here that the book of Matthew does not include Salome. John only includes Mary Magdalene. It doesn’t matter, because they don’t give conflicting information. Everyone is given their divinely inspired account they do not contradict each other. They are not colluding with each other. I believe that they are both right. In math class we talk about the ideal postulate it must be independant, consistant, and complete. I always tell my students consistancy is required and completeness is impossible. The scriptures according to the scriptures are inspired as holy men were moved by the Holy Spirit to give their accounts. I believe that in the power of the Holy Spirit the scriptures are consistant but according to the writer of John they are not complete meaning every detail is included. If all four gospels were completely the same and claimed to have every specific detail beyond an eye witness account we would call it collusion.

An angel opened the grave.

Matthew 28:2–4 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.

Sonrise at Sunrise!

Mark 16:2 Very early in the morning, on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen.

Angels announce His resurrection.

Luke 24:3–7 Then they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. And it happened, as they were greatly perplexed about this, that behold, two men stood by them in shining garments. Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, saying, ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.’ ”

Remember the Christmas story angels announce his birth, angels we have heard on high, do you wonder if the same angels were there to announce his resurrection but do they have to take turns?

Jesus’ words instantly all made sense.

Luke 24:8 And they remembered His words.

Remember Jesus said over and over again that He was God and that He would be crucified and three days later He would rise again. Like the time He spoke about the rising the temple in three days

The Resurrection was a frightening, wonderful event.

Mark 16:6–8 But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him. But go, tell His disciples—and Peter—that He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, as He said to you.” So they went out quickly and fled from the tomb, for they trembled and were amazed. And they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.

Mary informs the disciples.

John 20:2 Then she ran and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.”

Chaotic moments.

Luke 24:9–12 Then they returned from the tomb and told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them, who told these things to the apostles. And their words seemed to them like idle tales, and they did not believe them. But Peter arose and ran to the tomb; and stooping down, he saw the linen cloths lying by themselves; and he departed, marveling to himself at what had happened.

Do you get the chaos of the matter of minutes that this happened. All the commotion. These women were hysterical the disciples don’t know how to react they aren’t sure they beleive it. I know we give Thomas grief but I believe every one in that room had there questions. The disciples aren’t sure yet. The women are trembling. Things are just chaotic and remember no one has seen Jesus yet.

My question and a lot of other people’s question, is… was Thomas present to hear this news. Luke says they said all these things to the eleven. Was that a headcount a term used to describe the disciples after the cross. It is used in other places to describe the group of guys. It was like their club name. The twelve!

I still ask, was Thomas present to hear this information? I think so. and I think that when Jesus arrived for some reason he stepped out.

The race to the tomb.

John 20:3–10 Peter therefore went out, and the other disciple, and were going to the tomb. So they both ran together, and the other disciple outran Peter and came to the tomb first. And he, stooping down and looking in, saw the linen cloths lying there; yet he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; and he saw the linen cloths lying there, and the handkerchief that had been around His head, not lying with the linen cloths, but folded together in a place by itself. 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.

THIS IS IN MY #1 moment in the Bible HE SAW AND BELIEVED!!!!! There are a lot of amazing moments in the Bible I am not sure will be replayed in the Bible. But I hope that we get a God’s eye view. The eternal security cameras of heaven recording the moment John runs into the tomb and it hits him JESUS IS ALIVE! Has it hit you yet! JESUS IS ALIVE! That is why we are here today. Forget about what you feel about anyone else we are only here for one reason JESUS IS ALIVE!

Jesus first appearance.

John 20:11–18 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.’ ”…

Jesus shows Himself to the women.

Matthew 28:9–10 And as they went to tell His disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, “Rejoice!” So they came and held Him by the feet and worshiped Him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see Me.”

News spreads, JESUS IS ALIVE!

Matthew 28:11 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.

No lie of the enemy will stop the truth. JESUS IS ALIVE!

Matthew 28:12–15 When they had assembled with the elders and consulted together, 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.

The men on the road to Emmaus.

Mark 16:12–13 After that, He appeared in another form to two of them as they walked and went into the country. And they went and told it to the rest, but they did not believe them either.

Luke gives us a more in depth look at this encounter and if we spoke about that encounter this morning at the sonrise service. I believe that Jesus appearing to them caught them off guard. Of course it did. Jesus coming back to life isn’t something that happens every day.

Jesus interrupts dinner.

Mark 16:14 Later He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen.

Again what is meant by the eleven. Here is my thought on the subject. Luke and Mark who used the phrase the eleven were not part of the group. They were not present, they are getting there information from eyewitness accounts. Mark is an associate of Peter’s influence and Luke seems to have a close relationship with Paul. I am not saying you shouldn’t trust the author’s the Holy Spirit is accurate. Listen to this a partial report is not a false report. Maybe Thomas left after the reports were given or Luke and Mark are using the phrase the eleven as general

At Evening Jesus meets with His disciples.

John 20:19–20 Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.

Jesus lets them inspect His resurrection.

Luke 24:38–39 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.”

This is important, JESUS IS ALIVE No question about it. They thoughly inspected the product. He was no apparition or ghost. Today I think people are more inclined to believe in a ghost over Jesus. JESUS IS REAL!

Jesus gives the disciples a taste of the Holy Spirit.

John 20:21–22 So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”

Jesus enjoys a meal with His disciples.

Luke 24:41–43 But while they still did not believe for joy, and marveled, He said to them, “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.

We will be like Him in heaven. We will eat in heaven!!!

Doubting Thomas

John 20:24–25 Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” So 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.”

Bonus: 8 Days later!

John 20:26–27 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.”

Believe in Jesus!

John 20:28–29 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.”

There is more to this story… It is the greatest story ever told!

John 20:30–31 And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.