Unlike the writings of many other religions, the Holy Scriptures are true history. The things they record really happened. They are true. They are real. Yeshua really died just the way this history tells us He did. And, He really rose again from the dead, which has the greatest ramifications for you and me, and the entire human race.
In this passage, we have a very strong historical case for the resurrection. Evidences for the risen Lord include: empty tomb, the huge stone that was moved, the empty grave clothes, the prophecies in the Tenach, the witness of angels and human beings, and the appearance of Yeshua Himself. Let’s begin with verse 1:
Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came early to the tomb, while it was still dark, and saw the stone already taken away from the tomb.
It’s very late Saturday night. It’s still dark, before dawn of Yom Rishon – the first day – Sunday, and Mary Magdalene arrives at the new tomb that belonged to Joseph of Arimathea, that out of love and appreciation he gave to bury Yeshua’s body. It took and love and devotion for Yeshua for Mary to be up so early. Yeshua obviously meant a lot to her. Does He mean that much to you?
When she comes to the tomb, this faithful, loyal woman discovers that the stone that covered the entrance had been moved. Stones that covered tombs weighed around 2,000 pounds. Yet somehow that heavy stone had been removed. Whoever moved the stone had the strength to move 2,000 pounds, and wasn’t concerned about the Roman soldiers who guarded the tomb, or Roman seal that sealed the tomb. They were not afraid of the power of Rome!
So she ran – not walked, because she knew her discovery was very important – and came to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Yeshua loved (no doubt John, the author of this book, who was particularly close to Messiah, and love by Him. And, due to his great humility, John does not name himself, setting us an example we should follow), and said to them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.”
She had looked in the tomb, and discovered that it was empty. Her beloved Rabbi’s body was gone! But, since she wasn’t expecting Yeshua to be raised from the dead, she concluded that some men had moved her dear Rabbi’s body!
Notice that it was a woman who was the first one to discover the empty tomb. Due to the low view of women’s credibility – they weren’t allowed to be witnesses in Jewish courts of law – it makes no sense to believe that this account of a woman being the first to discover the empty tomb was made up. No, this is a true and accurate historical account of what really happened.
So Peter and the other disciple went forth, and they were going to the tomb. The two were running together; and the other disciple ran ahead faster than Peter and came to the tomb first; and stooping and looking in, he saw the linen wrappings lying there; but he did not go in. And so Simon Peter also came, following him, and entered the tomb; and he saw the linen wrappings lying there, and the face?cloth which had been on His head, not lying with the linen wrappings, but rolled up in a place by itself. So the other disciple who had first come to the tomb then also entered, and he saw and believed.
This is obviously eyewitness testimony from John, describing in detail the next ones to discover the empty tomb – it was he and Peter; he tells us who ran faster – John; who discovered the empty tomb first – John; he had to stoop to look in, since the tomb was not high enough for him to stand upright in; John looked in the tomb, but didn’t enter it. He saw the burial wrappings, and he tells us what kind of material they were – linen; then Peter arrives, and goes directly into the tomb. Peter also saw the linen wrappings, and in addition he also noticed the cloth that covered Yeshua’s face; but the face-cloth had been rolled up and moved to another place; then John enters the tomb, sees everything, and then suddenly everything falls into place. He understands the great thing that has happened. He knows that His Rabbi has been resurrected from death! John is among the very first to understand and believe this great truth that all mankind must believe.
Did Yeshua’s resurrection come as a surprise? Yes, it did. John tells us for as yet – up until this moment – they did not understand the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead.
The Scripture, the writing that God inspired holy prophets to write, had foretold that the Son of God would come to Earth, and that the Messiah would die and then rise from the dead.
Where? I’ve found four places that predicted that the Messiah would rise again from the dead:
Psalm 16:10: For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol; nor will You allow Your Holy One to undergo decay. God’s Holy Messiah would die, and come back to life!
Psalm 22: after describing one who dies a horrible death, surrounded by mocking enemies, his bones out of joint, his hands and feet pierced, stripped naked, his clothes divided up by casting lots, laid in the dust of death, this same Crucified One is alive, declaring God’s goodness in front of a great assembly of those who love God!
Isaiah 53: He was cut off out of the land of the living… His grave was assigned with wicked men, yet He was with a rich man in His death… He will see His seed, He will prolong His days… Therefore, I (God) will allot Him a portion with the great… because He poured out Himself to death, and was numbered with the transgressors; yet He Himself bore the sin of many, and interceded for the transgressors.
Zech 12:10: They will look on Me whom they have pierced; and they will mourn for Him, as one mourns for an only son, and they will weep bitterly over Him like the bitter weeping over a firstborn. Pierced, and yet alive again.
So the disciples went away again to their own homes. They either had residences near Jerusalem, or others had homes where they stayed when in the city. But Mary was standing outside the tomb weeping; this faithful, loyal women remains. She still doesn’t understand the amazing event that has happened to Messiah. She is still upset by Yeshua’s missing body.
And so, as she wept, she stooped and looked into the tomb; and she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and one at the feet, where the body of Yeshua had been lying. Mary, upset, weeping, looks again into the tomb, but suddenly, now there are two beings there, dressed in white, the color of purity, sitting at the head and feet where’s Yeshua’s body had been placed!
And, they do more than sit. They speak to her. And they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” because they know that there’s no reason to be! But Mary still didn’t understand. And so she said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.” My beloved Rabbi’s body is gone! Some men must have taken my dear Rabbi’s body!
Yeshua’s resurrection is verified by angels. When God’s angelic messengers appear they come with very important messages. God wants not only Mary, but the entire world to know that “He is risen!”
First Mary saw the angels, and talked to them. When she had said this, she turned around and saw Yeshua standing there, and did not know that it was Yeshua. Suddenly, miraculously, Yeshua was there, but she was unable to recognize Him. Yeshua understood the situation, and is the first to speak: Yeshua said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Yeshua knows the reason she is upset, and by His questions, tries to guide her to the right answers.
Supposing Him to be the gardener, she said to Him, “Sir, if you have carried Him away, tell me where you have laid Him, and I will take Him away.” But it wasn’t the man in charge of taking care of the property. So, Yeshua speaks again: Yeshua said to her, “Mary!” And when He spoke her name, God opened up her understanding. She suddenly realized who it was, and that somehow a great miracle had occurred, and that her beloved Yeshua was alive, risen from the dead, and standing right there!
She turned and said to Him in Hebrew, “Rabbani!” which means, my great Teacher. The title Rabban was reserved for great teachers – like the heads of religious academies and leaders in the Sanhedrin. Mary regarded Yeshua as her great, great Rabbi and Teacher, and so He was, and is for all who love the risen Messiah – they know He is the Supreme Source of Truth.
The first resurrection appearance is to a woman, Mary Magdalene, who was in the right place at the right time because of her great love and devotion for her Rabbi. There is no reason to think that this story is made up. Women couldn’t give evidence in a Jewish court of law.
This is not an overly flattering description of Mary. John tells us that she didn’t expect Yeshua to be raised. She didn’t even recognize Him at first. But it’s real history. This is exactly what happened.
Mary must have been so overwhelmed with relief and joy and love, that she hugged the Lord, because then Yeshua said to her, “Stop clinging to Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; “Stop holding onto Me Mary. We need to establish new boundaries in our relationship. I am no longer in the same humble position that I was in only a few days ago. I am the risen and glorified Son of God, and the Son of Man, who will ascend to My throne in Heaven, ruling ov er the universe at the right hand of God My Father. You are going to have to relate to Me in a new way.
Messiah has other instructions for Mary as well. But go to My brothers and say to them, ‘I ascend to My Father and your Father, and My God and your God.'” The One who died and came back to life is still concerned for His disciples, most of whom had abandoned Him in His hour of need, and one who openly denied Him. Despite their failures, Yeshua is gracious to them. He still loves them, and considers them to be sons of God, and His brothers. He shares important knowledge with them, telling them about His plan to ascend soon back to His God.
His Father and His God? Does the Son of God have a God? Yes! Even though there is only One God, He is Three Persons, and there is a hierarchy within the Tri-unity. The Son of God is fully God in that He shares the same Name and nature, deity and essence with His Father, but as far as His position within the Trinity, He is submitted to the Father, who is His Father and His God, who is in the Supreme Position of Highest Authority.
Mary Magdalene came, announcing to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord,” and that He had said these things to her. Mary knew that Yeshua had really risen from the dead, and she witnessed that reality to others. And, if we have seen the Lord, we must likewise tell others that He is risen.
Why? Yeshua’s resurrection makes Messianic Judaism and Christianity different from all other religions, philosophies or ideologies.
Yeshua’s resurrection makes Him absolutely unique among human beings. It puts Him on a level far higher than any of the prophets of Israel or any other religion. Buddha is still in his tomb, as are Mohammed and Confucius. Charles Darwin is dead and is not evolving! Marx, Lenin, Freud and Einstein are still dead. Only Yeshua, of all human beings, has overcome death.
Yeshua’s resurrection is God’s seal of approval on everything that Yeshua did and said. Yeshua’s resurrection validates His claims, His ministry and His message. It means that He is sinless, flawless in all He ever said and did. It declares that He is Lord. It means that He is God in the flesh. It tells all of humanity that He is the true and only Savior, and the only hope of mankind.
Yeshua’s resurrection means that the words of Yeshua are completely trustworthy, since God would not raise back to life a liar or deceiver. Therefore we ought to listen very carefully and do every word our Great Rabbi uttered, since He is the Supreme Source of Truth.
Yeshua’s resurrection gives us power to be alive to God, to have a fresh start on life. The same power that raised Yeshua from the dead is now operating in us.
Messiah’s resurrection guarantees our resurrection. When He rose from the dead, He defeated Satan and all his hosts. He conquered sin. He even defeated death! And, if you confess with your mouth Yeshua as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved – raised with Him to experience eternal life. Do you know that He is risen? Do you believe? And, are you living every aspect of your life in light of that reality?