Celebrating the Resurrection

Jesus is Risen! He is Risen Indeed!

May His Life Be In You!

A Sequence Sealed in Time

Beginning at The Upper Room Seder

Washing the Disciples’ Feet

Predicting the Betrayal

Sharing the Supper

Jesus’ New Command

Jesus’ Last Teachings

Jesus Prays for Us

Prayer in the Garden

Arrest by the Temple Guard

Jesus is In Control of These Things

Peter’s Denials

Sentenced by Jewish Priests

Sent to Pilate

Questioned by Pilate

Discussed Jesus’ Kingdom

Acquitted by Pilate

Barabbas Redeemed

Flogged and Mocked by Soldiers

The Beaten King Presented

Crucify! Crucify! is the Demand

Jesus is Still In Control

John 19:11 CSB

11 “You would have no authority over me at all,” Jesus answered him, “if it hadn’t been given you from above. This is why the one who handed me over to you has the greater sin.”

Jesus Surrendered for Crucifixion

He Carried His Cross

“They Crucified Him”

Titled by Pilate:

John 19:19 CSB

19 Pilate also had a sign made and put on the cross. It said: Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.

He Accepts our Sins

He Willingly Surrenders His Life

John 19:30 CSB

30 When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished.” Then bowing his head, he gave up his spirit.

Buried by Nicodemus and Joseph

John 19:38 CSB

38 After this, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus—but secretly because of his fear of the Jews—asked Pilate that he might remove Jesus’s body. Pilate gave him permission; so he came and took his body away.

John 19:39–40 CSB

39 Nicodemus (who had previously come to him at night) also came, bringing a mixture of about seventy-five pounds of myrrh and aloes. 40 They took Jesus’s body and wrapped it in linen cloths with the fragrant spices, according to the burial custom of the Jews.

John 19:41–42 CSB

41 There was a garden in the place where he was crucified. A new tomb was in the garden; no one had yet been placed in it. 42 They placed Jesus there because of the Jewish day of preparation and since the tomb was nearby.

The Tomb is Sealed

The Disciples Hide and Grieve

Having suffered the betrayal of their friend, the arrest of their leader, the injustice of the trial, the rejection of the Temple leaders and the horror of the Crucifixion. the disciples had holed up and hid, feeling alone, afraid, saddened and confused. Some of them had the memories of Jesus’ teachings running through their heads, and some could barely remember his face.

Peter and John, who had followed Jesus to the High Priest’s home and to the judgement pavement of Pilate, were together since that terrible day when they witnessed Jesus’ Crucifixion and death. Mary, the mother of Jesus was in the house too, since John was given care of her.

It was the day of preparation for the Passover feast when Jesus died. In fact, it was at the time when so many passover lambs were being slaughtered in preparation for the oldest celebration in the Jewish calendar; when the destroyer passed over the homes that were marked with the blood of the sacrifice, and the firstborn were spared.

It was a only a shadow, an ancient sign of what was accomplished on the cross, as the blood of Jesus, spilled through flogging and the drain of the cross, and the spear into his heart, became the atonement for our sins—you, me. and every human who looks to God for forgiveness in the name of His son, no matter when they live. Seeing the blood of Jesus, God passes over our sin instead of leaving us to die because of our guilt.

They had spent that first night after the Crucifixion with some crumbs of a passover shared after dark. Then there was the second day, the Passover Sabbath. Then there was the third day, the weekly Sabbath.

All the while waiting, wondering, hoping, planning what’s next, commiserating and keeping away from the public.

But the women were not about to leave Jesus’ body unwashed and uncared for now that Sabbath was ending. Mary Magdalene, from whom Jesus had cast 7 demons, was first to arrive,

Before the Day Dawns

The day had begun at sundown the night before. While the others might have been waiting for first light, that was too late for Mary.

So John tells us what she found.

John 20:1 CSB

1 On the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark. She saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb.

Still dark, but some early glow in the sky, at least enough to tell that the stone, meant to keep out the curious and the scavengers, wasn’t there.

What could this mean? What would it mean to you?

The Tomb is Open and Empty!

John 20:2 CSB

2 So she went running to Simon Peter and to the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said to them, “They’ve taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they’ve put him!”

A Race to the Tomb

John 20:3–5 CSB

3 At that, Peter and the other disciple went out, heading for the tomb. 4 The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and got to the tomb first. 5 Stooping down, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in.

What Is There

John 20:6–7 CSB

6 Then, following him, Simon Peter also came. He entered the tomb and saw the linen cloths lying there. 7 The wrapping that had been on his head was not lying with the linen cloths but was folded up in a separate place by itself.

What Isn’t There

John 20:8–9 CSB

8 The other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, then also went in, saw, and believed. 9 For they did not yet understand the Scripture that he must rise from the dead.

To Home Without Answers

John 20:10 CSB

10 Then the disciples returned to the place where they were staying.

Mary Needs to Know

John 20:11 CSB

11 But Mary stood outside the tomb, crying. As she was crying, she stooped to look into the tomb.

God’s Messengers Meet Mary

John 20:12–13 CSB

12 She saw two angels in white sitting where Jesus’s body had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet. 13 They said to her, “Woman, why are you crying?” “Because they’ve taken away my Lord,” she told them, “and I don’t know where they’ve put him.”

Jesus Meets Mary

John 20:14–15 CSB

14 Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know it was Jesus. 15 “Woman,” Jesus said to her, “why are you crying? Who is it that you’re seeking?” Supposing he was the gardener, she replied, “Sir, if you’ve carried him away, tell me where you’ve put him, and I will take him away.”

Mary Sees Jesus

John 20:16–17 CSB

16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.” Turning around, she said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!”—which means “Teacher.” 17 “Don’t cling to me,” Jesus told her, “since I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and tell them that I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.”

Mary Tells the Disciples

John 20:18 CSB

18 Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them what he had said to her.

Jesus Greets the Disciples

John 20:19 CSB

19 When it was evening on that first day of the week, the disciples were gathered together with the doors locked because they feared the Jews. Jesus came, stood among them, and said to them, “Peace be with you.”

The Disciples See Jesus

John 20:20 CSB

20 Having said this, he showed them his hands and his side. So the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.

Our Future is Secured By Jesus