Christ was in the tomb by Wednesday night 6:00 pm. And now for our 3 days and 3 nights. Wednesday night, Thursday night, Friday night, and Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Christ arose on the Jewish beginning of Sunday, which would be Saturday evening at 6:00 pm, the Gentile's Saturday night.
The two women who had watched where Jesus was buried were hurrying on their way to the tomb early Sunday morning with spices to embalm Jesus' body.
Mark 16:1-3- And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him. And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun. And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre?
On the way they were wondering who would remove the stone from the entrance to the tomb. It was certainly large and heavy!
Matthew 28:2-4- And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.
A great earthquake happened when an angel came down from heaven and rolled the stone away. The soldiers that were guarding the tomb were so scared that they shook and fell down and wouldn't move!
The angel just sat down on the stone and waited for the two women.
Mark 16:5-8- And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted. And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him. But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you. And they went out quickly, and fled from the sepulchre; for they trembled and were amazed: neither said they any thing to any man; for they were afraid.
The tomb was empty and there was a strange, frightening looking man who told them that Jesus was risen. They saw that the tomb was empty, but they were too scared to talk to anyone.
John 20:2-5- Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him. Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre. So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre. And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in.
The women ran to tell Peter and John that someone had taken Jesus' body. Peter, John, and Mary Magdelene went back to the garden. John ran faster than Peter and got to the tomb first, but he just stood looking into it!
John 20:6-10- Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie, And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself. Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed. For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead. Then the disciples went away again unto their own home.
When Peter got there, he went inside and John follow him. They both saw that the tomb was empty. The clothes that He was wrapped in were still lying where He was, except the napkin that had been across his head- that was folded and set to the side by itself.
Peter and John looked about and then went home, but Mary Magdelene couldn't leave. She and the other Mary just stood in the garden trying to understand what was going on.
John 20:11-13- But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre, And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him.
Luke 24:4-8- And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments: And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again. And they remembered his words,
The angels kept trying to tell them that Jesus was alive, He had resurrected, but they just couldn't seem to understand!
Mark 16:9- Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.
John 20:14-15- And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.
Mary was the first to see Jesus, although when she saw Him in His resurrected, glorified body she didn't know that it was Him! She thought He was the gardener.
Why would she think that? Perhaps because He was gathering some plants.
Pay attention! This is where it gets a little complicated.
Numbers 19:17-19- And for an unclean person they shall take of the ashes of the burnt heifer of purification for sin, and running water shall be put thereto in a vessel: And a clean person shall take hyssop, and dip it in the water, and sprinkle it upon the tent, and upon all the vessels, and upon the persons that were there, and upon him that touched a bone, or one slain, or one dead, or a grave: And the clean person shall sprinkle upon the unclean on the third day, and on the seventh day: and on the seventh day he shall purify himself, and wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and shall be clean at even.
Psalm 51:7- Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
In the old testament, when someone was to be made clean they had to sprinkled with water and blood that had been put on some hyssop (that's a plant). And, the old testament was a pattern for something in heaven.
Hebrews 9:7, 11-12, 19-24, 28- But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people: But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people, Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you. Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry. And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
So, once every year the High Priest was suppose to kill a spotless sacrifice and bring it's blood into the Holiest of Holies and place the blood on the ark of the covenant right in the center where it's called the Mercy Seat. Then, the priest would use hyssop and dip it in the blood and water and sprinkle whoever was to be cleansed.
Jesus, Himself, was the perfect spotless lamb, and He paid the price for our sins with His blood. Remember, when they pierced His side both blood and water came out?
The things that the Jews had to do in the Old Testament were pictures of things that happened in heaven. Perhaps, Mary though Jesus was the gardener because He was gathering hyssop.
John 20:15-17- Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away. Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master. Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.
Jesus told Mary Magdelene that He hadn't ascended to Heaven yet. She was still a sinner and she couldn't touch Him because of that. Jesus had to take His sinless blood to the Mercy Seat of The Lord God Almighty in heaven.
He told her to go tell His disciples that He was going to come see them when He finished.
Matthew 28:9-10- And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word. And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him. Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me.
Jesus went to heaven and came back so fast that He was able to meet the two women before they even got back to the city! They were allowed to touch Him now because He had ascended to His father and put His sinless blood on the Mercy Seat of God's throne for the sins of the world.
It is possible that He has the blood and water and hyssop to sprinkle on those who accept His salvation. Something incredible happens when you ask Jesus to forgive you of your sins and to cover you in HIs blood. A debt you could never pay is marked as paid in full!
The women went to tell the disciples, and Jesus went to wait for them in Galilee.
But, what about the soldiers? Remember, the watch that had been about the tomb?
Matthew 28:11-15- Now when they were going, behold, some of the watch came into the city, and shewed unto the chief priests all the things that were done. And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers, Saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept. And if this come to the governor's ears, we will persuade him, and secure you. So they took the money, and did as they were taught: and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.
The soldiers went to the Chief Priests and told them happened. But, instead of repenting and asking for forgiveness. They paid the soldiers to lie! They said that they would talk to the governor and make sure they weren't killed for sleeping on their watch.
John 20:18- Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her.
Luke 24:10-11- It was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles. And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not.
So, the men didn't believe the women. They were going to have to see Him for themselves.
Luke 24:13-16- And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs. And they talked together of all these things which had happened. And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them. But their eyes were holden that they should not know him.
As two of the disciples were heading to another city, they were talking about all the things that had happened and what the women had claimed to have seen.
Jesus, Himself, came and started walking with them. But, they didn't recognize Him at first, either.
Luke 24:17-19- And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad? And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days? And he said unto them, What things?
Jesus pretended not to know about the crucifixion. He wanted these disciples to tell Him what had happened. Perhaps He was hoping that they would figure it out as they talked, but they didn't.
Luke 24:25-27- Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.
Jesus spent the rest of their walk going over the Old Testament and pointing out the things that God had said by His prophets about the coming of the Messiah.
Galatians 3:13- Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
I John 4:10- Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
Ephesians 1:7a- In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins,
The two men listened to Jesus as they walked and they felt something inside, like an ache and a burning, and acknowledging that He was speaking the truth. But soon, they were at their destination.
Luke 24:28-34- And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone further. But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them. And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them. And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight. And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures? And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them, Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon.
So, Simon and Cleopas finally realized that it was Jesus that they were talking with! They ran back to Jerusalem that very moment to tell the 11 disciples that they, too, had seen Jesus and that the women were telling the truth!
Why wouldn't the 11 believe? These were the ones who were always with Jesus. These men had seen everything that He had done!
Luke 24:35-39- And they told what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them in breaking of bread. And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit. And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.
Jesus wasn't going to let them be doubtful any longer! He appeared as the two disciples were telling their story.
John 20:24-28- But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe. And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.
Thomas, like the others, had to see Jesus for himself! He just couldn't hear and believe.
John 20:29- Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.
Do you know who is blessed? We are! We, who believe that Jesus died for us and ask Him to save us, are the blessed ones. Jesus died for our sins and if we accept His free gift of salvation, we are forgiven of an eternal debt! We are blessed forever!
