Resurrection Sunday

Evidence of our faith.

John 19:31–37 “Since it was the day of Preparation, and so that the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), (against the Mosaic law De 21:22-23, bodies hanging on a tree overnight would be cursed before God) the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken and that they might be taken away. So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first, and of the other who had been crucified with him. But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs (this is of vast importance, he was visibly dead to all who saw him). But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water. (Your pericardium is a fluid-filled sac that surrounds your heart and the roots of the major blood vessels that extend from your heart. Excessive anguish and extreme agony can cause excessive fluid to fill this sac and put pressure on it. The sustained rapid heartbeat caused by hypovolemic shock also caused fluid to gather in the sack around the heart and around the lungs, leading to pericardial effusion. When Jesus was pierced by the spear, this is the fluid, blood and water that came out). He who saw it has borne witness—his testimony is true, and he knows that he is telling the truth—that you also may believe. For these things took place that the Scripture might be fulfilled: “Not one of his bones will be broken.” (Num 9:12) And again another Scripture says, “They will look on him whom they have pierced.”” (Zec 12:10)

John 19:38–42 “After these things Joseph of Arimathea (all four Gospels), who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission.

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible Chapter 19

“a rich man” (

Mark 15:44–45 “Pilate was surprised to hear that he should have already died. And summoning the centurion, he asked him whether he was already dead. And when he learned from the centurion that he was dead, he granted the corpse to Joseph.”

So he came and took away his body. Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds in weight. Do you know Nico? John 3. A ruler of the Jews, a teacher of Israel. Jesus told him about being born again and Nico asked, John 3:4-5  “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.” So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. So because of the Jewish day of Preparation, since the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there.”

Mark 15:46 “And Joseph laid him in a tomb that had been cut out of the rock. And he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb.” Matthew 27:60 “and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had cut in the rock. *There’s only one entrance. And he rolled a great stone to the entrance of the tomb and went away.”

Matthew 27:62 The next day, that is, after the day of Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate 63 and said, “Sir, we remember how that impostor said, while he was still alive, ‘After three days I will rise.’ Therefore order the tomb to be made secure until the third day, lest his disciples go and steal him away and tell the people, ‘He has risen from the dead,’ and the last fraud will be worse than the first.”

Matthew 27:65–66 “Pilate said to them, “You have a guard of soldiers. Go, make it as secure as you can.” So they went and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone and setting a guard.”

John 20:1–4 “Now on the first day of the week (this is why the church started gathering on Sundays) Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first.”

Who’s at the tomb first? When is she there? Is she the only lady there? In other Gospel accounts we see other Mary’s and Salome and Johanna. We also see how this tomb is open. “an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it.” Matthew 28:2 We also see that this is why the guards trembled and fall like dead men. Because the angel’s appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow.”  

Why does John hone in on just Mary Magdalene? Perhaps she was the first one there. She was there super early. Perhaps because of their close relationship. We see Jesus gave her a chance, forgave her, healed her of 7 demons. When you are greatly touched, when you experience God’s ultimate love, grace, and mercy, when you are healed by the blood of Jesus—-do you ever forget? Do you show up? Now, she’s still a little confused, “perplexed.” She thinks “they” took the body.

Now we see in Luke’s Gospel two men stood by them in dazzling apparel (angels, you’ll see in a second John shares the two angels also). And as the women were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? 6 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, 9 and returning from the tomb they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. 

...but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them.” (Luke 24:11) Men. Typical men.

That’s when the race happens. Who races? Who wins the race?

John 20:5–10 “And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead. Then the disciples went back to their homes.”

First saw is bepeo

Second saw is their-eho

Third saw is eye-dawn

The linen cloths lying there, the face cloth folded up nicely. No signs of struggle.

ESV Global Study Bible Chapter 20

“are clear evidence that Jesus’ body had not been taken by grave robbers or by his disciples.” Would enemies take time to remove these cloths?

John 20:11–13 “But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, (the men left a crying woman-men. typical men) and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.””

John 20:14–16 “Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she 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 in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher).”

Why at first does Jesus not reveal himself? She mistakes him as the gardener. Perhaps he’s doing a little heart check, measuring sincerity. Why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking? She’ll do anything to take away the body, to anoint him with oils, to prepare a proper burial, to see him one more time. His body and all 100lbs of herbs and spices. She better be strong!

And then watch this, one word: her name. “MARY.” John 10:3 “To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.” Don’t forget Jesus assured his disciples that when he left, there would be mourning, sorrow, weeping; but those emotions would turn to joy!

And her eyes are opened. “Rabboni!” Could you imagine the excitement?

She must have leaped towards him because he pauses and says not yet. “Do not cling to me.” (why do people have to keep playing with this girl’s emotions!)

John 20:17–18 “Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’ ” Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”—and that he had said these things to her.”

Is it significant that Mary, a female, is the first person to see the risen Jesus?

Do the men believe her now? God knows how strong skepticism can be. How stiff-necked and stubborn humans are. As if the empty tomb isn’t enough. As if the angels aren’t enough. As if the removed guards aren’t enough. As if Mary’s testimony isn’t enough. Jesus is about to walk through walls and show them his wounds.

John 20:19–23 “On the evening of that day, the first day of the week (the first Easter Sunday), the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them 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 said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.””

Evangelical Commentary on the Bible D. The Resurrection (20:1–29)

This is not completely clear, but we do know

John 20:24–28 “Now Thomas...(come on now, who’s been a Thomas before) one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.” Eight days later (a week after the first Easter), his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!””

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible Chapter 20

And after eight days

The Tony Evans Bible Commentary VIII. The Resurrection (20:1–21)

“Doubting Thomas” isn’t a fair

The Tony Evans Bible Commentary VIII. The Resurrection (20:1–21)

Jesus responded to Thomas’s unbelief with grace

Whom are you seeking? If you seek you will find. Do you really want to know? Do you really want to feel and touch? It will seem like a mere idle tale if you merely remain idle. If you really want to know, you gotta do something. Pursue the evidence. John finishes with saying these are the signs written in this book so that you may believe or continue to believe!

Jesus says “oh how happy you will be when you believe even when you have not seen.”

John 20:29–31 “Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”