Easter 2026, 2nd week

Happy Resurrection Sunday!!

This morning we celebrate the Resurrection of our Lord.

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Grace Recovery

1 John 1:9 NKJV

9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

John 4:24 NKJV

24 God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”

2 Timothy 2:15 NKJV

15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

2 Timothy 3:16–17 NKJV

16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Hebrews 4:12 NKJV

12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Our Passage this morning is from 1 Corinthians 15:3-4

1 Corinthians 15:3-4

1 Corinthians 15:3–4 NKJV

3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures,

Happy Resurrection Sunday!!

I want you to notice that I have included the Easter Lily in my graphic .

Why the Lily Became Associated With Easter

The lily — specifically the white trumpet lily (Lilium longiflorum) — in a rather modern sense, became an Easter symbol from within Christian tradition, not from paganism, as some have thought. It is not a blending of Easter with the pagan spring rites as with the eggs and rabbits that have found their way into the Christian celebration.

Many ancient cultures used eggs as:

spring symbols

fertility symbols

“new life” motifs

Rabbits (and hares) were brought into Easter symbolism through European pagan cultural backgrounds.

symbols of fertility

symbols of spring

associated with Germanic seasonal folklore

However, for the Lilly, the association is layered, but every layer is internal to Jewish and Christian symbolism.

Let’s walk through the real reasons.

🌼 1. The Lily Symbolizes Purity and Glory in Scripture

While the Easter lily itself is not native to Israel and is a modern adaptation, lilies as a word symbol appears repeatedly in Scripture:

For example,

— “lily among thorns” Song of Solomon 2:1–2, 16

Song of Solomon 2:1–2, 16

Song of Solomon 2:1–2, 16

Song of Solomon 2:1–2 NKJV

1 I am the rose of Sharon, And the lily of the valleys. 2 Like a lily among thorns, So is my love among the daughters.

Song of Solomon 2:16 NKJV

16 My beloved is mine, and I am his. He feeds his flock among the lilies.

— Israel blossoms like a lily Hosea 14:5

Hosea 14:5

Hosea 14:5 NKJV

5 I will be like the dew to Israel; He shall grow like the lily, And lengthen his roots like Lebanon.

— “Consider the lilies…” Matthew 6:28–29

Matthew 6:28–29

Matthew 6:28–29 NKJV

28 “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; 29 and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

In Jewish and early Christian interpretation, the word lily and the white flowers it often had became a symbol of:

purity

beauty

God’s provision

renewal

While these were not connected to the resurrection historically, These themes naturally connect to the Resurrection, and have been connected to it through the romantic era until now.

🌿 2. Early Christians Used White Flowers in Resurrection Imagery

By the 3rd–4th century, Christian art used white flowers(including stylized lilies) to represent:

resurrection

new life

the glory of Christ

the purity of the saints

This predates any modern “pagan spring” claims by more than a millennium. Now the Biblical references are actually to native Levantine species (e.g., Lilium candidum, anemones, irises)

Here is a picture of the Levantine Lilly, which blooms in late spring/early summer not actually around Passover/Easter.

Here is a picture of the Anemone, which is very likely the Lilly of the field mentioned by Christ. These do bloom around Passover

Here is the white version

Here are native levantine irises which also bloom around Passover.

These bloom in late winter/spring

🌼 3. The Modern Easter Lily’s Shape Is now Interpreted Symbolically

The Modern Easter lily has a trumpet shape, and so Christians see it as:

•             a symbol of proclamation (“He is risen”)

•             a symbol of victory

•             a symbol of the angelic announcement at the tomb

This is why lilies often appear in Resurrection art and on Easter altars nowadays.

🌿 4. The Blooming Season Reinforced the Association

In the Mediterranean climate, white lilies bloom around Passover/Easter. Christians adopted the flower seasonally — just as Jews used seasonal agricultural symbols in the feasts.

This is not pagan borrowing; it’s seasonal symbolism, the same way First Fruits uses barley and Pentecost uses wheat.

🌼 5. The “Easter Lily” Itself Is Not Pagan at All

This is the part most people don’t know:

✔ The Easter lily is native to Japan and Taiwan, and regions of the far east and not Europe.

Oregon over at the Brookings, southern Oregon and Northern California border is actually the Easter Lilly Capital of the United States.

✔ This lilly variety was introduced to the West only in the 19th century.

In fact The U.S. Easter lily industry was founded by a Japanese grower, Mr. Hirotaka Matsuda, in 1919 in Humboldt County, California. He imported bulbs from Japan and began cultivating them on the West Coast.

✔ No ancient pagan culture in Europe used it for spring rites.

So it literally cannot be a pagan holdover.

The association is entirely Christian.

🌼 Bottom Line

The lily is associated with Easter because Christians adopted it as a symbol of purity, resurrection, and proclamation — not because of paganism.

There is zero historical evidence of pagan origin. The symbolism is:

biblical

early Christian

seasonal

theological

Now I want to turn turn to the timing of the Festival of Easter, and the Judaic history of the Festival of First Fruits.

Passover **(Nisan 14)** in 2026 began at **sundown on Wednesday, of this last week April 1, 2026**, and ended at **sundown on Thursday, April 2, 2026** — that is **חַג הַפֶּסַח (Chag HaPesach)**. The **Feast of Unleavened Bread** — **חַג הַמַּצּוֹת (Chag HaMatzot)** — then commenced at **sundown on Thursday, April 2, 2026**, continuing for seven days. The **Feast of First Fruits** — **רֵאשִׁית קְצִירְכֶם (Rêshit Qetzirkhem)** — occurs on the **first day after the Sabbath (Friday–Saturday)** during the **Feast of Unleavened Bread**, which would place it on **Sunday, April 5, 2026**.

Here is a universal depiction of how the calendar looks as a graph through the year.

The first three feasts are all prophetically fulfilled in the person of Christ and occur together, in the same time frame. Notice that the timeline has spring events, then one feast in a middle or summer time, then the remaining three feasts in the Fall.

The summer event is a gap event that separates the two eras, and is the time that we are currently fulfilling, which we call the Church Age. We also know it as Pentecost, or Shavuot 7hich means the Festival of Weeks. That is because it is 50 days or 7 weeks from the Festival of First Fruits, which we are celebrating today. But the more specific name of the summer festival is

Hebrew: חַג הַקָּצִיר (Chag Ha‑Qatzir)

Meaning: “Feast of the Harvest” or “Firstfruits of the Wheat Harvest”

Source: Exodus 23:16; Numbers 28:26

Essentially this means that we are in the midst of the harvest that began on the day of Pentecost under the oversight of the 11 Apostles, and eventually the 12 Apostle Paul.

Exodus 23:16

Exodus 23:16 NKJV

16 and the Feast of Harvest, the firstfruits of your labors which you have sown in the field; and the Feast of Ingathering at the end of the year, when you have gathered in the fruit of your labors from the field.

Numbers 28:26

Numbers 28:26 NKJV

26 ‘Also on the day of the firstfruits, when you bring a new grain offering to the Lord at your Feast of Weeks, you shall have a holy convocation. You shall do no customary work.

Timing of First Fruits/Easter

This year Easter is placed exactly on the Festival of First Fruits which is when Christ was Resurrected as the First Fruits from the Dead. Last year we noted that Easter 2025 Was Not Celebrated on the Actual Feast of First Fruits

You saw that in 2025, Passover fell on April 11–12, and First Fruits on April 13, but Easter was a week later on April 20th.

We explained why the Church does not celebrate the resurrection according to the biblical calendar.

We saw that:

The Council of Nicaea (AD 325) detached Pascha from the Jewish calendar.

They chose the first Sunday after the first full moon after the spring equinox.

Their motives included:

Distinguishing Christian practice from Judaism (“Separation from the Jewish calendar”).

Achieving unity across the Church.

Anchoring the celebration to the Lord’s Day (Rev 1:10; Acts 20:7; 1 Cor 16:2)

Why Easter

We saw last year why English uses the word Easter, unlike most languages that retain Pascha or some form of the Passover.

English is the outlier

Most languages use a form of Pascha, from:

Hebrew Pesach (Passover)

Greek Πάσχα (Pascha)

Latin Pascha

Examples:

Italian: Pasqua

Spanish: Pascua

French: Pâques

Russian: Пасха (Paskha)

Arabic: Fesḥ / Bāsḫā

Amharic: Fasika

These all preserve the connection to Passover. English inherited the German name which comes from the Spring celebration festival of Ostern. The universal name for the entire 8 day feast that included First Fruits was Pasach, or Pascha, so that is what everyone used. This explains why many are actually celebrating the entire passion week, and not just resurrection. We have a bit more of a focus on the resurrection, and therefore are more theologically centered around what is First Fruits, the day of the resurrection.

The Resurrection Message of Paul

In Acts 13, we see Paul’s Resurrection Message as he teaches in the Synagogue at Antioch in Pisidia which is not the church that sent out Paul, but the town up on the continent that they sailed to after Cyprus.

You tied the sermon to your ongoing Acts series, especially Acts 13:26–37, where Paul proclaims:

Acts 13:26-37

Acts 13:26–37 NKJV

26 “Men and brethren, sons of the family of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, to you the word of this salvation has been sent. 27 For those who dwell in Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they did not know Him, nor even the voices of the Prophets which are read every Sabbath, have fulfilled them in condemning Him. 28 And though they found no cause for death in Him, they asked Pilate that He should be put to death. 29 Now when they had fulfilled all that was written concerning Him, they took Him down from the tree and laid Him in a tomb. 30 But God raised Him from the dead. 31 He was seen for many days by those who came up with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are His witnesses to the people. 32 And we declare to you glad tidings—that promise which was made to the fathers. 33 God has fulfilled this for us their children, in that He has raised up Jesus. As it is also written in the second Psalm: ‘You are My Son, Today I have begotten You.’ 34 And that He raised Him from the dead, no more to return to corruption, He has spoken thus: ‘I will give you the sure mercies of David.’ 35 Therefore He also says in another Psalm: ‘You will not allow Your Holy One to see corruption.’ 36 “For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell asleep, was buried with his fathers, and saw corruption; 37 but He whom God raised up saw no corruption.

Now I want to emphasize Paul’s description and emphasis of the saving Gospel in the following verse, because there is debate in the Free Grace community on what one must believe to be saved:

Acts 13:38-41

Acts 13:38–41 NKJV

38 Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins; 39 and by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses. 40 Beware therefore, lest what has been spoken in the prophets come upon you: 41 ‘Behold, you despisers, Marvel and perish! For I work a work in your days, A work which you will by no means believe, Though one were to declare it to you.’ ”

It says that everyone who believes is justified, which you could not be justified by the law of Moses. This raises two important points:

No man was justified by the law of Moses. No one was saved by keeping the Law. No one was saved by studying the Law.

It is through the preaching of forgivness of sins that comes through this man: this is substitutionary atonement.

There are those who are proclaiming that you don’t have to know anything about the work of Christ on the Cross to be saved — just that He give eternal life. Well, they are getting that twisted around, and leaving the actual text of scripture out of their thinking. They do this by using a wrong interpretive method in the Gospel of John, and making Christ mean less than it actually means in the Old Testament and in John’s Gospel itself.

Jesus was condemned and crucified according to prophecy.

God raised Him from the dead.

The resurrection fulfills Psalm 2, Isaiah 55, and Psalm 16.

David saw corruption; whereas the Messiah did not and the true fulfillment applies literally to Him.

Raised on the Third Day According to the Scriptures”

We see the resurrection mentioned in 1 Corinthians 15:3-8

1 Corinthians 15:3-8

1 Corinthians 15:3–8 NKJV

3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. 6 After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. 7 After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. 8 Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time.

Now, 1 Corinthians 15:4 predates the Gospels, so Paul must be referring to the Old Testament. He is not saying this is the fulfillment of the Scripture of the Gospels.

There are three OT passages that point to a third day resurrection:

Hosea 6:2

Hosea 6:2 NKJV

2 After two days He will revive us; On the third day He will raise us up, That we may live in His sight.

Jonah 1:17, as interpreted by Jesus in Matthew 12:40

Matthew 12:40

Matthew 12:40 NKJV

40 For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

Jonah 1:17

Jonah 1:17 NKJV

17 Now the Lord had prepared a great fish to swallow Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.

Psalm 16:10, is used by both Peter (Acts 2) and Paul (Acts 13). I pick up in verse 9 to set the context, because it speaks of his flesh resting, which is not sin nature, but body.

Psalm 16:9-10

Psalm 16:9–10 NKJV

9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices; My flesh also will rest in hope. 10 For You will not leave my soul in Sheol, Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption.

Interestingly this hinges on an allegorical use of the term corruption. Because, used allegorically it means hades, or the side that is not Abraham’s bosum. But used literally it means corruption.

Paul calls this out Acts 2, where he specifies that Christ was here and his body was rotten, he stayed in the grave or sepulcher, but Christ did not:

Acts 2:29-36

Acts 2:29–36 NKJV

29 “Men and brethren, let me speak freely to you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30 Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, He would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne, 31 he, foreseeing this, spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ, that His soul was not left in Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption. 32 This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses. 33 Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear. 34 “For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he says himself: ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, 35 Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.” ’ 36 “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”

Paul echoes the same, as we read in Acts 13:34-37

Acts 13:34-37

Acts 13:34–37 NKJV

34 And that He raised Him from the dead, no more to return to corruption, He has spoken thus: ‘I will give you the sure mercies of David.’ 35 Therefore He also says in another Psalm: ‘You will not allow Your Holy One to see corruption.’ 36 “For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell asleep, was buried with his fathers, and saw corruption; 37 but He whom God raised up saw no corruption.

Isaiah 53:10 further mentions the resurrection, (“He shall prolong His days”) as a resurrection prophecy.

Isaiah 53:10

Isaiah 53:10 NKJV

10 Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief. When You make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, And the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand.

End of Easter April 5, 2026

Sunday, April 12, 2026

Good Morning:

Updates/Prayer Requests

Silent Prayer - Grace Recovery

Scripture reading

Scripture Reading:

Psalm 119:105

Psalm 119:105 NKJV

105 Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.

We pick up from our previous study on Easter, looking at the testimony of those who witnessed the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Resurrection Witnesses

In 1 Corinthians 15, The Resurrection Witnesses are established by Paul:

Paul gives us the legal witness list in 1 Corinthians 15, giving a Jewish legal standard list of qualified witnesses.

But when we harmonize all four Gospels to reconstruct the full sequence of resurrection appearances, it includes:

Mary Magdalene

The other women

Peter

The Emmaus disciples

The Twelve (including Thomas later)

The seven at the Sea of Galilee

The 500

James

All the apostles

Paul

Stephen’s vision (Acts 7)

It is important to emphasize that women were the first witnesses, which would never be fabricated in a Jewish context—because they cannot be legal witnesses in the Judaic legal system. This actually supports the authenticity of the resurrection accounts, because what Jew in his right mind would make up an account and insert women as the first witnesses when they have no legal standing. No Jew could be convinced of the legality of it. However it is what happened — it is reflective of God’s divine providence. The unlikeliness of it, makes it confirmatory that this is true and not fabricated.

The order of the appearance of Christ:

To whom did Jesus appear after the resurrection?

First of all, He appeared to Mary Magdalene, and this is recorded in Mark 16:9-11 and John 20:11-18.

Mark 16:9-11

Mark 16:9–11 NKJV

9 Now when He rose early on the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had cast seven demons. 10 She went and told those who had been with Him, as they mourned and wept. 11 And when they heard that He was alive and had been seen by her, they did not believe.

John 20:11-18

John 20:11–18 NKJV

11 But Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping, and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the tomb. 12 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. 13 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.” 14 Now when she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus. 15 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.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to Him, “Rabboni!” (which is to say, Teacher). 17 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.’ ” 18 Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that He had spoken these things to her.

Mary was coming to the tomb to wrap His body in more spices because they had been in a hurry to prepare the body after they had taken Him down from the cross.

After His appearance to Mary Magdalene, there were other women coming to the tomb to help her in wrapping and preparing the body, and Jesus appeared to them as well. This is recorded in Matthew 28:9-10.

Matthew 28:9-10

Matthew 28:9–10 NKJV

9 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. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see Me.”

Then we know He appeared to Peter alone. We are not told that the Lord appeared to Peter in any specific place.

But the story is somewhat intermixed with the 4th appearance, because what we are told is that on the fourth appearance, He appeared to one disciple, not one of the twelve but one other student of the Lord, a believer named Cleopas, and an unnamed disciple on the road to Emmaus.

This is a remarkable record in Luke 24:13-32 because Jesus doesn’t identify Himself.

Luke 24:13-32

Luke 24:13–32 NKJV

13 Now behold, two of them were traveling that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 And they talked together of all these things which had happened. 15 So it was, while they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them. 16 But their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him. 17 And He said to them, “What kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as you walk and are sad?” 18 Then the one whose name was Cleopas answered and said to Him, “Are You the only stranger in Jerusalem, and have You not known the things which happened there in these days?” 19 And He said to them, “What things?” So they said to Him, “The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a Prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20 and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death, and crucified Him. 21 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. 22 Yes, and certain women of our company, who arrived at the tomb early, astonished us. 23 When they did not find His body, they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said He was alive. 24 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.” 25 Then He said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?” 27 And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself. 28 Then they drew near to the village where they were going, and He indicated that He would have gone farther. 29 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. 30 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. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight. 32 And they said to one another, “Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?”

Somehow, He veils Himself so they don’t recognize Him, and He begins to ask them about all the events of the past couple of days in Jerusalem. They will go through all the details, but they don’t really understand who Jesus is. So, because they are disturbed and confused, the Lord then begins to go through the Old Testament, through prophecy after prophecy, to show that all the things that had just transpired in Jerusalem were all prophesied in the Old Testament.

Then, when they arrived at Emmaus, they suddenly realized who He was, and then He left.

Then, when they report this, what is recorded in Luke 24:34 is that they make the comment that He had already appeared to Peter.

Luke 24:34

Luke 24:34 NKJV

34 saying, “The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!”

We are never told about the Lord’s appearance to Peter. That must have been quite a conversation when the Lord appeared to Peter, and Peter realized that he was forgiven for his sins and for denying the Lord. But we are not given the details; we are just told that He had already appeared to Peter. So we know He appeared to Peter before He appeared to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus.

Then, fifth, He appeared to the twelve. They are called “the twelve,” despite missing one. That tells us that “the twelve” had become a technical designation for the disciples. Judas is gone; he is off the scene.

In John 20:19-23 while they were gathered in a locked room, likely out of fear of the Jewish authorities. He greeted them with "Peace be with you" and showed them His hands and side as proof of His resurrection. This event is often referred to as the First Appearance to the Eleven (excluding Thomas, who was absent).

John 20:19–23

John 20:19–23 NKJV

19 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.” 20 When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. 21 So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” 22 And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”

Yet in 1 Corinthians 15:5, Paul says Jesus was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve, but there are only eleven.

The term “twelve” is a technical term for the disciples; even if there had been only ten, they were still called the twelve. It was just a nickname for the team.

Thomas wasn’t there at first, but later, Jesus appeared to all of them, including Thomas, and that was the sixth appearance. John 20:26-29.

John 20:26-29

John 20:26–29 NKJV

26 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!” 27 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.” 28 And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

The seventh appearance: he appears to seven of the disciples by the Sea of Galilee, John 21:1-23.

John 21:1-23

John 21:1–23 NKJV

1 After these things Jesus showed Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias, and in this way He showed Himself: 2 Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples were together. 3 Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We are going with you also.” They went out and immediately got into the boat, and that night they caught nothing. 4 But when the morning had now come, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5 Then Jesus said to them, “Children, have you any food?” They answered Him, “No.” 6 And He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast, and now they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of fish. 7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment (for he had removed it), and plunged into the sea. 8 But the other disciples came in the little boat (for they were not far from land, but about two hundred cubits), dragging the net with fish. 9 Then, as soon as they had come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid on it, and bread. 10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish which you have just caught.” 11 Simon Peter went up and dragged the net to land, full of large fish, one hundred and fifty-three; and although there were so many, the net was not broken. 12 Jesus said to them, “Come and eat breakfast.” Yet none of the disciples dared ask Him, “Who are You?”—knowing that it was the Lord. 13 Jesus then came and took the bread and gave it to them, and likewise the fish. 14 This is now the third time Jesus showed Himself to His disciples after He was raised from the dead. 15 So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Feed My lambs.” 16 He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Tend My sheep.” 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep. 18 Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish.” 19 This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, “Follow Me.” 20 Then Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following, who also had leaned on His breast at the supper, and said, “Lord, who is the one who betrays You?” 21 Peter, seeing him, said to Jesus, “But Lord, what about this man?” 22 Jesus said to him, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me.” 23 Then this saying went out among the brethren that this disciple would not die. Yet Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you?”

The eighth appearance is mentioned in 1 Corinthians 15:6

1 Corinthians 15:6

1 Corinthians 15:6 NKJV

6 After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep.

So those 500 witnessed the resurrection; most are still alive.

The term “fallen asleep” is from the Greek verb KOIMAO [κοιμάω], which means to fall asleep, but it is used figuratively as an idiom for the believer’s body going into the grave. It is not talking about soul sleep. When the believer dies, he is instantly face-to-face with the Lord.

1 Corinthians 11:30 uses the term “sleep” when Paul warns the Corinthians that they had been abusing the Lord’s table and that for this reason many were sick and weak among them, “and many sleep.”

There, that is a term for the sin unto death; they had died physically.

1 Thessalonians 4:14 talks about the fact that when the Rapture comes, those who are asleep, the dead in Christ, will rise first.

1 Thessalonians 4:14

1 Thessalonians 4:14 NKJV

14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.

The ninth appearance is mentioned in 1 Corinthians 15:7

1 Corinthians 15:7

1 Corinthians 15:7 NKJV

7 After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles.

This is when the Lord appears to His half-brother James, and it is not mentioned in any of the Gospel accounts. Both James and Jude trusted the Lord after the resurrection, and James became the leader in the church in Jerusalem, as we see mentioned in Acts 1:14 and Galatians 1:19.

Acts 1:14

Acts 1:14 NKJV

14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.

Galatians 1:19

Galatians 1:19 NKJV

19 But I saw none of the other apostles except James, the Lord’s brother.

The tenth appearance was to the disciples at the ascension. Luke 24:44-49; Acts 1:3-8.

Luke 24:44-49

Luke 24:44–49 NKJV

44 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.” 45 And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures. 46 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, 47 and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 And you are witnesses of these things. 49 “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.”

Acts 1:3-8

Acts 1:3–8 NKJV

3 to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God. 4 And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me; 5 for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” 6 Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. 8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Again and again and again the disciples witnessed the resurrected Jesus Christ.

The eleventh appearance was to Stephen, Acts 7:55-56.

Acts 7:55-56

Acts 7:55–56 NKJV

55 But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, 56 and said, “Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!”

The Twelfth witness is Paul Himself. Acts 9:1-8

Acts 9:1–8 NKJV

1 Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3 As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. 4 Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” 5 And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” 6 So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” Then the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” 7 And the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice but seeing no one. 8 Then Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened he saw no one. But they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus.

Acts 22:6-21

Acts 22:6–21 NKJV

6 “Now it happened, as I journeyed and came near Damascus at about noon, suddenly a great light from heaven shone around me. 7 And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?’ 8 So I answered, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He said to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.’ 9 “And those who were with me indeed saw the light and were afraid, but they did not hear the voice of Him who spoke to me. 10 So I said, ‘What shall I do, Lord?’ And the Lord said to me, ‘Arise and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all things which are appointed for you to do.’ 11 And since I could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of those who were with me, I came into Damascus. 12 “Then a certain Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good testimony with all the Jews who dwelt there, 13 came to me; and he stood and said to me, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight.’ And at that same hour I looked up at him. 14 Then he said, ‘The God of our fathers has chosen you that you should know His will, and see the Just One, and hear the voice of His mouth. 15 For you will be His witness to all men of what you have seen and heard. 16 And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.’ 17 “Now it happened, when I returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, that I was in a trance 18 and saw Him saying to me, ‘Make haste and get out of Jerusalem quickly, for they will not receive your testimony concerning Me.’ 19 So I said, ‘Lord, they know that in every synagogue I imprisoned and beat those who believe on You. 20 And when the blood of Your martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by consenting to his death, and guarding the clothes of those who were killing him.’ 21 Then He said to me, ‘Depart, for I will send you far from here to the Gentiles.’ ”

Acts 26:12–18 NKJV

12 “While thus occupied, as I journeyed to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests, 13 at midday, O king, along the road I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and those who journeyed with me. 14 And when we all had fallen to the ground, I heard a voice speaking to me and saying in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ 15 So I said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He said, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 16 But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you. 17 I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you, 18 to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.’

1 Corinthians 15:8

1 Corinthians 15:8 NKJV

8 Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time.

Galatians 1:11-16

Galatians 1:11–16 NKJV

11 But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. 12 For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ. 13 For you have heard of my former conduct in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it. 14 And I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries in my own nation, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers. 15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, 16 to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood,

The Narrative:

We should note that what Paul presents in 1 Corinthians 15 is not an incidental listing, but is the actual legal list of those who are qualified to testify of having sighted Christ, to meet the legal standards of Judaism.

So Paul, gave us each of the legal witnesses or witness groups.

1 Corinthians 15:5-8

1 Corinthians 15:5–8 NKJV

5 and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. 6 After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. 7 After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. 8 Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time.

Now the twelfth appearance which was to Paul in Acts chapter nine is when Paul was saved, when the Lord Jesus Christ commissioned him on the road to Damascus.

1 Corinthians 15:8

1 Corinthians 15:8 NKJV

8 Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time.

This phrase “untimely born” or “born out of due time” is the Greek word EKTROMA [ἔκτρωμα], which also means an abortion, a premature birth, or a miscarriage.

It is a birth that violates the normal period of gestation (whether induced as abortion, or natural premature birth or miscarriage

The term was used as an insult in the ancient world to refer to someone who had some deficiency in how he was born. So, Paul refers to his salvation as an EKTROMA because it was out of time; it wasn’t like the other apostles. He emphasizes the fact that he was the one who was persecuting the church and that he is the least worthy to be saved. The emphasis there is grace.

1 Corinthians 15:9

1 Corinthians 15:9 NKJV

9 For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

Least means trivial, lessor, insignificant by comparison

Worthy is ἱκανός -- HIKANOS a status of sufficiency, adequacy, qualification when used in terms of recognition.

We have seen that an apostle was not an office in the church; it was a spiritual gift. Spiritual gifts are given by the Lord Jesus Christ and distributed by the Holy Spirit at the moment of salvation. In Acts chapter one, we have an example of what happens when good intentions get ahead of themselves and people start trying to solve problems without divine authorization: the election of Matthias.

1 Corinthians 15:10

1 Corinthians 15:10 NKJV

10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

It had nothing to do with his achievements prior to salvation.

1 Corinthians 15:10

His grace saved Paul for a purpose, and Paul has been fulfilling that purpose as an apostle.

Paul worked. If you are really grace-oriented, you will grow as a believer through the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ, get involved in Christian service, and fulfill your role in your spiritual gift in the body of Christ.

1 Corinthians 15:11

1 Corinthians 15:11 NKJV

11 Therefore, whether it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.

In summary, in verse 11, Paul says no matter who communicated the gospel to you, it all had the same basis: Christ died on the cross as a substitute for your sins, and Christ was raised again on the third day according to the Scriptures. This is what was witnessed, and is what we preach and what we believe.

The resurrection of the King was the second sign of Jonah; it is also the third point of the gospel: that he has been raised on the third day (I Cor. 15:4).

Note that the first appearance of the resurrected Messiah was to a woman, not a man. This was significant because women could not serve as witnesses by Jewish law. The two or three witnesses necessary in a court of law had to be men, never women, as a woman’s testimony was not considered valid. Here are some examples:

R. Eliezer and R. Joshua say they must not allow a woman to be remarried based on the evidence of a single witness. R. Akiba says, Neither on the testimony of a woman (nor of a slave nor a bondwoman) nor of relatives.

“Thus, we have learned that a woman does not judge or give testimony in court.”

R. Jacob bar Zabedi, R. Abahu in the name of R. Yoḥanan: “A woman is permitted to testify, ‘I have given birth,’ or ‘I have not given birth.’ But she is not permitted to testify, ‘It is masculine,’ or ‘It is feminine.’”

But let not the testimony of women be admitted, on account of the levity and boldness of their sex.

There were, however, very rare exceptions allowed.

Said R. Ammi to R. Ashi, But the School of Menasseh taught: Is a witness testifying what he heard from another witness valid in testimony concerning a woman alone?—Say: Only in testimony for which a woman is valid . . .

(2) A woman is a valid witness only in some cases, including a firstling’s blemish; hearsay is also admissible in these cases.

Those who do not believe that Yeshua-Jesus rose from the dead often claim that the Gospels are fabricated. If that were true, then it was a Jewish fabrication, because the apostles were all Jewish. However, they would not have fabricated the story like this. They would have tried to make it as believable and acceptable to their audience as possible, making sure that all the witnesses were men, not women. But they had to report it the way it really happened, with a woman as the first witness to the resurrection. This fact is a strong argument for the authenticity of the resurrection account.

Jews did not allow women to testify. Yet the main witnesses at first are all women.

The setting of Yeshua-Jesus’s resurrection was this: The women who had watched His crucifixion also watched as He was buried. They knew where His tomb was. After the Sabbath, they returned to anoint His body with spices.

They did not do this to preserve the remains, as “Jews did not embalm corpses,” but to lessen the stench.

As faithful Jews, the women waited until the Sabbath rest was over.

Matthew 28:1

Matthew 28:1 NKJV

1 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.

Mark 16:1

Mark 16:1 NKJV

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.

Three things suddenly occurred on the 17th of Nisan, or April 9, A.D. 30, closer to the wee hours of Sunday morning before sunrise.

First, behold, there was a great earthquake (Mt. 28:2). This was the second earthquake, the first marking the moment of Yeshua’s death, and the second marking the moment of His resurrection.

Second, an angel descended from heaven and rolled the stone away, thus breaking the Roman seal.

Third, because the angel’s appearance was as lightning, and his raiment white as snow (Mt. 28:3), fear fell upon the Roman guard, and they became as dead men (Mt. 28:4), literally scared stiff!

Matthew 28:2-4

Matthew 28:2–4 NKJV

2 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. 3 His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. 4 And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men.

Mark 16:2-8

Mark 16:2–8 NKJV

2 Very early in the morning, on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen. 3 And they said among themselves, “Who will roll away the stone from the door of the tomb for us?” 4 But when they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away—for it was very large. 5 And entering the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a long white robe sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. 6 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. 7 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.” 8 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.

Luke 24:1-8

Luke 24:1–8 NKJV

1 Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they, and certain other women with them, came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared. 2 But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb. 3 Then they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 And it happened, as they were greatly perplexed about this, that behold, two men stood by them in shining garments. 5 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? 6 He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, 7 saying, ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.’ ” 8 And they remembered His words.

John 20:1

John 20:1 NKJV

1 Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb.

Matthew 28:5-8

Matthew 28:5–8 NKJV

5 But the angel answered and said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. 7 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.” 8 So they went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word.

At first glance, the Gospels appear to give four different accounts of the women’s visits to the tomb. While differences exist, there are no discrepancies, no contradictions. Instead, each Gospel complements the information found in the other three, and by combining all four accounts, a complete picture of the events of resurrection morning emerges.

On Sunday morning (Mk. 16:2a ), several women went to the tomb in two separate visits.

The first to arrive was Miriam Magdalene, who went alone early, while it was yet dark (Jn. 20:1). This is about 6:00am in Jerusalem on Nisan 16.

Miriam found the stone rolled away and the tomb empty. She did not see an angel and assumed that the body had been removed. With that, she left the tomb area.

Later, after she left, a group of women arrived when the sun was risen (Mk. 16:2b), providing more light.

They also found the stone rolled away, but unlike Miriam, they saw the angel, whose message was twofold. First, Yeshua had risen from the dead, just as He said He would (Mt. 28:6).

Therefore, there was no reason to seek the living among the dead as Luke records the angels telling them. (Lk. 24:5).

Second, the women were to go to the apostolic group and tell the disciples to leave for Galilee where Yeshua would meet them (Mk. 16:7).

This was the second time they received this command. The first time was during the last Passover when Yeshua told them they would leave Jerusalem immediately after His arrest (Mt. 26:32; Mk. 14:28).

Matthew 26:32

Matthew 26:32 NKJV

32 But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee.”

Mark 14:28

Mark 14:28 NKJV

28 “But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee.”

They did not understand what He meant, so they were caught by surprise and never left the city. Therefore, the angel repeated the message, telling them that Yeshua would appear to them in Galilee.

Then two specific things happened:

First, the women remembered his words (Lk. 24:8),

the prophecy about His death and resurrection on the third day (Lk. 24:7).

Second, the frightened women ran to tell the disciples what they had seen and what the angel had told them (Mt. 28:8).

They told no one outside the apostolic group (Mk. 16:8).

Luke 24:9-12

Luke 24:9–12 NKJV

9 Then they returned from the tomb and told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. 10 It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them, who told these things to the apostles. 11 And their words seemed to them like idle tales, and they did not believe them. 12 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.

John 20:2-10

John 20:2–10 NKJV

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.” 3 Peter therefore went out, and the other disciple, and were going to the tomb. 4 So they both ran together, and the other disciple outran Peter and came to the tomb first. 5 And he, stooping down and looking in, saw the linen cloths lying there; yet he did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; and he saw the linen cloths lying there, 7 and the handkerchief that had been around His head, not lying with the linen cloths, but folded together in a place by itself. 8 Then the other disciple, who came to the tomb first, went in also; and he saw and believed. 9 For as yet they did not know the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead. 10 Then the disciples went away again to their own homes.

So, Miriam aka Mary Magdalene ran to tell two of the apostles, Peter and John, that the body had been removed from the tomb. She assumed this when she saw that the tomb was open and empty. As we shall see, Peter and John believed Mary.

The other women told the other nine apostles but did not believe the reports (Lk. 24:9-11).

To them, it was idle talk, or lēros in Greek. Most concordances and dictionaries translate this word simply as “that which is totally devoid of anything worthwhile, idle talk, nonsense, humbug.” However, Hippocrates seems to have used it to describe a certain form of delirium. The fact that Luke was familiar with this is another indication of his profession, and Bock observes:

In medical contexts, the term describes the talk of a sick patient delirious from pain. Thus, the ancients were as skeptical as any modern might be about such a report. They did not believe the women.

Peter and John raced together to the tomb to investigate (Lk. 24:12; Jn. 20:2-10).

Luke 24:12

Luke 24:12 NKJV

12 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.

John 20:2-10

John 20:2–10 NKJV

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.” 3 Peter therefore went out, and the other disciple, and were going to the tomb. 4 So they both ran together, and the other disciple outran Peter and came to the tomb first. 5 And he, stooping down and looking in, saw the linen cloths lying there; yet he did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; and he saw the linen cloths lying there, 7 and the handkerchief that had been around His head, not lying with the linen cloths, but folded together in a place by itself. 8 Then the other disciple, who came to the tomb first, went in also; and he saw and believed. 9 For as yet they did not know the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead. 10 Then the disciples went away again to their own homes.

John outran Peter. However, when he reached the entrance to the tomb, he stopped without entering. He stooped down, looked inside, and saw the strips of linen cloths still rolled up, indicating the resurrection had occurred right through the grave clothes, as the cloths were not unwrapped. The headpiece, however, lay by itself, separated from the cloths that had wrapped the body. The fact that John hesitated to enter the tomb may indicate that he was a Levite, but this is not certain.

Peter finally caught up and, always impetuous, ran right into the tomb, seeing the same thing as John, who now also entered in. When the two men left the area, each had come to a different conclusion.

Yochanan believed that the resurrection had taken place (Jn. 20:8).

Peter was perplexed, uncertain of what he should make of the evidence (Lk. 24:12). Bock observes: “Since those who marvel are usually trying to understand what has happened, it is debated whether this is a note about Peter’s faith.”

Matthew 28:9-10

Matthew 28:9–10 NKJV

9 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. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see Me.”

After Miriam Magdelene left, the other women arrived, and Yeshua greeted them. And they came and took hold of his feet, and worshipped him (Mt. 28:9). This act of devotion surpassed mere touching or feeling and shows that sometime between talking to Miriam and talking to these women, Yeshua had ascended into heaven, and became touchable.

The fact that the second appearance was also to women and not to men strengthens the argument that the Gospel accounts are genuine. Any Jewish author fabricating a story would not have written it this way, but the Gospel writers reported the truth.

Yeshua told the women, Go tell my brethren that they depart into Galil (Mt. 28:10b), where He would meet them. For the third time, the apostles received a clear message to leave Jerusalem, but they did not believe the second report of the resurrection, so they never left town.

Matthew 28:11-15

Matthew 28:11–15 NKJV

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. 12 When they had assembled with the elders and consulted together, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, 13 saying, “Tell them, ‘His disciples came at night and stole Him away while we slept.’ 14 And if this comes to the governor’s ears, we will appease him and make you secure.” 15 So they took the money and did as they were instructed; and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.

In this section, the Roman guard’s report to the chief priests triggers the initial rejection of the second sign of Jonah, the resurrection of Yeshua, as is evident in their collusion that the tomb was empty because the body had been stolen.

When the men responsible for securing the tomb finally overcame their fear, they came into the city (Mt. 28:11). By Roman law, they would be executed for failing in their mission to guard the tomb, so they avoided Pilate, knowing he would not believe their story of an angel that looked like lightning rolling away the stone. Instead, they reported to the chief priests who had arranged the guarding of the tomb.

Realizing the enormity of these events and their possible impact, the chief priests quickly assembled the Pharisees, or elders, thus reconvening the Sanhedrin (Mt. 28:12). After taking counsel, they conspired to give the soldiers a large sum of money to walk through the city telling people that the apostles had stolen Yeshua-Jesus’s body while they were sleeping (Mt. 28:13). This was the origin of the oldest of many explanations for the empty tomb: the stolen body theory. The chief priests also told the guard that if the report reached the ears of Pontius Pilate, they promised to intervene so that the soldiers would not be executed: And if this come to the governor’s ears, we will persuade him, and rid you of care (Mt. 28:14). After the Passover, the governor would return to Caesarea possibly never to hear of their failure.

The guards did as they were told, spreading the story that while they were sleeping, the disciples had stolen Yeshua-Jesus’s body (Mt. 28:15). If a thoughtful Jewish person heard this explanation, he or she should have detected the discrepancy in the testimony. If the soldiers were sleeping, how could they know who stole the body?

Only two groups had a vested interest in risking their lives to commit the crime of stealing the body: Yeshua-Jesus’s enemies or His friends. The book of Acts records many instances of Yeshua-Jesus’s enemies trying to silence the apostolic preaching of the resurrection. While they tried all kinds of ploys, they could never produce the body, indicating that they did not have it. The second group with a vested interest was Yeshua-Jesus’s friends.

These same disciples later underwent tremendous persecution for preaching the resurrection. James, for example, was beheaded. According to church tradition, Peter was crucified upside-down. Matthew was killed by the sword. Philip was hanged from a pillar. Bartholomew was flayed alive. Andrew was crucified. Thomas was run through with a lance. Matthias was first stoned and then beheaded. Of those outside the apostolic group and yet eyewitnesses, Mark was tortured to death. Yeshua-Jesus’s half-brother James was thrown down from the pinnacle of the Temple and then stoned. Jude was shot to death with arrows. They all died horrendous deaths. In almost every case, they were given the option of renouncing their faith and dying in a more humane way or being released. They refused in each case. It is difficult to believe they would all be willing to undergo such tremendous suffering for what they all knew was a lie. The only reasonable explanation for their actions in the book of Acts and beyond is that they believed Yeshua-Jesus was resurrected.