Seeing and Beleiving

Event Details

Mary Magdalene (v. 1, 2)

The Person

Mary Magdalene was a woman from whom Jesus cast out seven demons (Luke 8:2).

The name Magdalene likely indicates that she came from Magdala, a city on the southwest coast of the Sea of Galilee. After Jesus cast seven demons from her, she became one of His followers.

Mary Magdalene has been associated with the "woman in the city who was a sinner" (Luke 7:37) who washed Jesus’ feet, but there is no scriptural basis for this.

The city of Magdala did have a reputation for prostitution. This information, coupled with the fact that Luke first mentions Mary Magdalene immediately following his account of the sinful woman (Luke 7:36-50), has led some to equate the two women. But there is no scriptural evidence to support this idea. Mary Magdalene is nowhere identified as a prostitute or as a sinful woman, despite popular portrayals of her as such.

Mary Magdalene is also often associated with the woman whom Jesus saved from stoning after she had been taken in adultery (John 8:1-11). But again this is an association with no evidence. The movie “The Passion of the Christ” made this connection. This view is possible, but not likely and certainly not taught in the Bible.

Mary Magdalene witnessed most of the events surrounding the crucifixion.

She was present at the mock trial of Jesus; she heard Pontius Pilate pronounce the death sentence; and she saw Jesus beaten and humiliated by the crowd.

She was one of the women who stood near Jesus during the crucifixion to try to comfort Him.

The earliest witness to the resurrection of Jesus, she was sent by Jesus to tell the others (John 20:11-18).

Although this is the last mention of her in the Bible, she was probably among the women who gathered with the apostles to await the promised coming of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:14).

There have been claims that Jesus and Mary Magdalene were married. Some of the non-biblical early Christian writings (considered heresy by the early Christians) hint at a special relationship between Mary Magdalene and Jesus. However, there is no evidence whatsoever to support the belief that Jesus and Mary Magdalene were married. The Bible does not even hint at such an idea.

The first day of the week - Sunday

Early - “when it was still dark” i.e. before dawn

Discovers the stone has been taken away from the tomb.

She runs to tell Peter and John.

She assumes that this is the result of grave robbery.

Jesus’ disciples were afraid that the Jewish leaders would steal the body of Jesus in oder to further humiliate Jesus.

The Jewish leaders were afraid that the disciples would steal the body to fake a resurrection.

She tells them that “we know not where they have laid Him.” - Mary’s use of the plural “we” probably indicates that there were other women with her as the other Gospels also indicate.

Peter and John (v. 3-10)

The other Gospels tell us that Mary was not immediately believed by some of the disciples.

However, something caused Peter and John to react swiftly as they ran to the tomb.

John arrived first but didn't go in.

Peter then arrives and goes right in.

They find an open tomb, no body, the grave clothes left neatly behind.

When John observes all of the evidence he believes.

They are still struggling to understand.

They go home.

Mary Magdalene (v. 11-18)

Two Important Interpretational Details

Seeing

Mary saw the stone rolled away

John stooped down and looked into the tomb

Peter went in and saw the linen clothes

John “saw and believed”

Running

Mary ran to Peter and John

Peter and John ran to the tomb

John outran Peter

These are the details that eyewitnesses provide.

Three Strange Details

The Witness of Women

A cultural abnormality.

If the disciples were just making this up they would not have presented women as the first witnesses to the resurrection.

Biblical Christianity has always been a step ahead of culture when it comes to the issues of protecting the vulnerable.

John outrunning Peter

Why include this detail?

Pride

Competitiveness

Again probably just an additional detail showing that John was an eyewitness to these events.

John may have been significantly younger than Peter.

The Grave Clothes

Why does John spend so much time detailing the position and nature of the grave clothes?

Because it was the position and nature of the grave clothes that pushed John over the line to believing that Jesus had raised Himself from the dead. (v. 8)

Considerations

If grave robbers stole the body why would they leave the grave clothes?

If grave robbers did remove the grave clothes why did they do it so neat and tidy?

The evidence led John to believe that the person wearing the grave clothes removed them because they had no more need of them. So Jesus neatly set them aside.

Three Responses to the Resurrection

Slanderers

Skeptics

Believers - Do you live everyday in the reality that Jesus is alive and an active part of you life?

How should believers respond to the resurrection?

Awe

Gratitude

Joy

Passion (to tell others)

The list could go on.