To see the introduction of this post series, please go to Part 1.
PART 6 is about Jesus’ resurrection. He is alive again! He has demonstrated victory over death!
Resurrection – When?
When was the tomb found already empty?
- The apostle John describes it as before sunrise (“while it was still dark”) on the first day of the week (John 20:1).
- Luke describes it as the first day of the week and deep, very early rising of light (Luke 24:1).
- Mark describes it as exceedingly/much at the watch of daybreak/dawn (Mark 16:2).
- Matthew describes it as after the end of Sabbath (i.e. the first day of the week) and as it began to dawn (Matthew 28:1).
The angel rolled the stone away to show an empty tomb. (This is different than storybooks which have Jesus walking out of the tomb after the stone was rolled away.)
Jesus had risen from the dead before sunrise. He already was out of the tomb. The stone didn’t keep Jesus in until an angel rolled it away. Rolling it away only let people see He wasn’t in there (Luke 24:6)!
In His resurrected body, Jesus would also go through walls/door when the door was locked and stand in the midst of His disciples (John 20:19). That body wasn’t as limited as the previous one. And ours won’t be as limited either when our bodies are changed someday (Philippians 3:20-21)!
Seeing Angels and Two Witnesses
There was an angel who rolled the stone away and then promptly sat down on it, scaring the Roman guards. He also talked to the women who had come. (See Matthew 28:2-7.)
There were angels inside the empty tomb when Mary Magdalene came back, after going to tell Peter and John (John 20:11-13).
But have you ever wondered about the “two men in shining apparel” who aren’t called “angels” in the resurrection story? (Luke 24:4)
- Some people think these characters might be the same as the “two men in shining apparel” at the ascension (Acts 1:10).
- Some wonder if these “two witnesses” of the resurrection are the same as the ones mentioned in Revelation 11:3-12.
- Some think back to the time of the transfiguration when Moses and Elijah came to talk to Jesus about His upcoming death (Luke 9:30-31) and wonder if these two men were Elijah and Moses (or Enoch), being given this role in rejoicing over their Lord’s resurrection.
Seeing Jesus
Mary Magdalene was the first to see Jesus and be told by Him that it was indeed Him and that He had risen (John 20:14-18, Mark 16:9-11).
Jesus also greeted the group of women that morning as they were going to tell his disciples, He used the Greek word “Chairo” which means, ‘We meet again, oh joy! Rejoice!” (Matthew 28:9-10).
He also met with Peter that day (Luke 24:34).
To Him, it must have been such a day of wonderful delight and rejoicing to go around seeing those who loved Him dearly again!
He talked with the two people on the road to Emmaus (Cleopas and some think his wife since she might be mentioned in John 19:25 or perhaps it was another friend who also came to eat at Cleopas’ house).
And then, Jesus also met and ate fish later that day with a group of His followers still amazed at the news that He was alive again (Luke 24:42).
It wasn’t just a spiritual resurrection, it was a bodily one. People could again see Jesus for the next number of days until He ascended back up to His heavenly home (1 Corinthians 15:1-11)!
And, we’re told that He looks forward to the day when we’re with Him too!
“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.” Hebrews 12:1-3 NKJV
How We Know He is Alive
The Garden Tomb which tourists see now can be a good illustration of what an empty tomb looked like with a rolling stone, etc.. And we enjoyed putting together the model of Jerusalem for the time period of Jesus’ life on earth and watching the various videos which teach us about Biblical and historical background.
But we know that Christ is risen and alive again, because God chose to use living people as the witnesses to personally see Jesus after He arose from the dead.
Our faith does not rest in us seeing an empty tomb or shrine. And it wasn’t God’s plan to have our faith rest in technology like a security video camera either, to prove that Jesus is alive, even though I’m sure the soldiers and religious leaders would not have wanted such evidence.
God chose to prove the resurrection was true through the witness of simply ordinary people, including women who were not always believed, who saw their risen LORD, talked with Him, and then passed the news along.
People telling other people the good news that Jesus Christ is the living Saviour and God! And then more people telling other people the good news that Jesus Christ is the living Saviour and God! And then more people telling other people the good news that Jesus Christ is the living Saviour and God!
And that is how God has continued to spread the gospel message in our generation too. Even though we can use technology, it is actually living people God wants to be His witnesses to others, not technology itself.
(Dr. Roy Lawson (I knew both him and his wife personally) spoke about making a difference in our world as Christ’s representatives, basing his message on Luke 24 (the post-resurrection appearance of Jesus to His followers in Emmaus). Here is a link to the audio of it: Abide with Us | The Word In Our Hearts.)
God has chosen us – people – to be His witnesses of the same truths that those who had met with Him years ago proclaimed.
The Easter message is really good news!
The Good News
What is the good news that Christians should carry? Our Lord gives His disciples this commission:
“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, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And you are witnesses of these things. 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.””
Luke 24:46-49 NKJV
“And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.” Matthew 28:18-20 NKJV
Gospel is a word that means “good news”. I remember years ago hearing the phrase “gossip the gospel”. I went to look up where that phrase might have come from and came across this article (by a Christian author I had not heard of before, Peter Jeffery) and thought it was good to share here: Gossiping the Gospel.
The fact of Jesus’ bodily resurrection from the dead – 1 Corinthians 15:14-22 – is the reason we can speak the truth about Him to people we meet. And Christ Himself is the cornerstone of our faith. We can celebrate our Living Saviour, not just at Easter when we take time to especially think about the events of ” Passion Week”, but anytime.
Someday, we like the original bunch of witnesses to His resurrection, will also see Him and together rejoice with Him!
Song Suggestions
(Most of these songs are hyperlinked. There are a variety of musical styles represented.)
- He is Lord (with 3 verses and the chorus; sung by children)
- Rise Again (Holm)
- Were You There?
- Arise, My Love (from an Easter play, Greater Grace Church)
- Was It a Morning Like This? (instrumental)
- Then Came the Morning (quartet)
- Crown Him with Many Crowns (hymn)
- He’s Alive (I attended public school in Ontario. A former teacher of mine decided to have his class(es) do some historical research and writing composition work to arrange and act out a play about Jesus, focusing on His death and resurrection. I went back to see the school play at our Town Hall and it was excellent! In my recollection, the play also interwove the story of Simon Peter – his denial of Jesus and his delight on discovering that his Lord had risen again. The students DID use this song, “He’s Alive” near the end of the play, to act alongside its words. To me, that was the most memorable part of their play! I think of that play and my teacher’s desire that his students understand who Jesus is, when I hear this song.)
- Behold the Empty Tomb (Parks)
- See What a Morning (Townend/Getty) (We sing it a bit slower but can’t find a version like that.)
- We Welcome Glad Easter (different words to the hymn tune often used for “Immortal, Invisible”)
- Rolled Away (my mom’s words to an old children’s chorus)
- Christ the Lord is Risen Today (hymn)
- We Have Seen God’s Glory (a song about the witnesses of Christ’s resurrection)
- Abide with Me (hymn)
- Because He Lives! (Gaither)
- He Lives, He Lives (from “The Story of Little Tree”)
- Easter Song (instrumental, Dino)
- The Blood Will Never Lose Its Power
- Scars in the Hands of Jesus/O How I Love Jesus (My sister and I sung these songs as a medley when I was very little. I don’t have a recording at present of that but I can find the songs separately online.)
- My Tribute (instrumental)
- More Than Wonderful (duet)
- We Shall See Jesus (quartet)
- Away on a Hillside (tune: Away in a Manger)
Other References
Earth’s Greatest Day, a booklet written and published by E. L. C. Austin, Heaven and Home Hour, 1979.
The Stranger on the Road to Emmaus by John R. Cross, Good Seed International, Durham, Ontario, 1997.
Also, see the reference section of Part 1.