Easter Story Analysis

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Okay we left off last week with John and Peter running to the tomb. John stood looking in but Peter crawled right on inside.

We read at verse 8 through 10

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.

Disciples' Understanding of The Resurrection

I want to talk about this for a moment because last week I mentioned how I did not understand how Jesus could have told the disciples over and over again that He would rise from the dead but that they did not believe in this but that the chief priests went to Pilate and asked for a watch over the grave because they remembered Jesus saying He would rise.

This is important. And when things are important I dig a little deeper to understand and so I consulted the thinking of William Lane Craig, a great mind out of Biola.

Examination of Scripture References

This is what I learned. When we ask, “What Scriptures is John speaking of when he says that they knew not the scriptures?” Listen – NOT very many – if any at all. Hosea 6.2 is one. Psalm 16:10 is another and of course the story of Jonah and the great fish is another. Hosea 6:2 says “After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will raise us up, that we may live before him.” It has been suggested that because this passage mentions the “third day” it is prophetic of His resurrection. But Hosea 6.2 is never explicitly cited by any New Testament author, much less applied to Jesus’ resurrection.

Fact of the matter is Hosea 6.2 has nothing to do with resurrection of the dead but with the restoration of the national fortunes of Israel. In Acts we find Psalm 16.10 interpreted to apply to Jesus’ resurrection. It says: “For thou dost not give me up to Sheol, or let thy godly one see the Pit.” But at the time Psalm 16.10 had to do with David’s confidence that God will not allow him to see defeat and deathSeparation from God—now overcome. Physical death remains, but it no longer separates us from life with God..

Old Testament Passages and Misinterpretation

The principal Old Testament passage cited in the Gospels with respect to Jesus’ resurrection is the story of Jonah and the whale. Matthew has Jesus say: “For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the whale, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” The problem however is that nobody, especially a first century Jew (reading the story of Jonah and the whale) would think that this has anything whatsoever to do with Jesus’ burial and resurrection!

This includes the disciples. They did NOT yet believe He would rise from the dead and so therefore they could NOT see the passages in the Old Testament that pictured Him doing so! The point is that no one who did not already have a belief in Jesus’ resurrection would find in these Scriptures any impetus to think that Jesus had been raised from the dead. Add in the fact that in Jewish belief the resurrection of the dead was always an event at the end of the world involving all the people, an event which obviously had not yet taken place.

The problem we face is we fail to put ourselves in the shoes of a first century Jew when confronted with Jesus’ crucifixion. Instead, we tend to look at the disciples’ situation through the rearview mirror of 2,000 years of Christian theology which is anachronistic.

Here’s the deal: The Chief priests did not believe that Christ was going to rise from the dead. The story of Jonah and other allusions in the Old Testament didn’t move them to guard the tomb. They feared the followers of Jesus were going to steal their master’s body and did not want another deception. But the disciples, though they were taught that He would rise after three days didn’t believe Him.

Listen – HAD they believed Him they would have been able to understand the Old Testament scriptures that scantly relate or picture His resurrection. But John says it was only when they saw the empty tomb and grave clothes that they believed and adds, because we knew not the scripture – another way for saying, we could not see His resurrection pictured in the OT – yet.

One more point – all aimed at truth. The idea that Elaine presented last week that His grave clothes were in the shape

The Resurrection of Jesus

The topic at hand revolves around the resurrection of Jesus, focusing particularly on the details surrounding His body and the reactions of His disciples at the empty tomb. There is logical support for the theory that Jesus' resurrected body was capable of moving in and out of rooms with closed doors, which would negate the necessity for the wrappings around His body to be unwrapped. Some suggest that the aloe and myrrh coating the linen could have formed a shell that retained its shape even after the body was transformed.

It is commonly taught that the linens maintained their shape, and upon seeing them without a body, John declared, “I do believe.” However, this remains conjecture, as neither the Greek language nor any other language explicitly suggests that the linens retained the body's shape. The linens' presence in one place simply indicated to John that the body hadn't been stolen; if it had been, the linens would have been taken too. Thus, it suggests that right there in the tomb, His body exited the linen confines. While the theory of the cocoon-like linens is logical, it remains suppositional rather than historical or biblical.

The Disciples' Understanding

John and Peter's response to the empty tomb is intriguing. Verse 10 states: “Then the disciples went away again unto their own home.” This reaction suggests they didn't entirely grasp the concept of resurrection. They might have known He rose from the grave, but perhaps they believed He ascended to the heavens. They certainly didn't expect Him to linger in the area, unlike Mary Magdalene, as seen in John 20:11-25.

Mary Magdalene at the Tomb

John 20:11-13 describes Mary standing outside the sepulchre, weeping and looking in to see two angels in white where Jesus' body had lain. Responding to their question, she expresses her fear that His body has been taken away, not knowing where it is. In verses 14-15, she turns to see Jesus but doesn't recognize Him at first. Assuming He's the gardener, she asks Him where the body is. When Jesus calls her name, she recognizes Him and calls Him "Rabboni," meaning Master. Jesus instructs her not to touch Him as He hasn't yet ascended to His Father, and tells her to inform the disciples of His impending ascension. Mary then reports to the disciples that she has seen the Lord and relays His message.

On the same day, while the disciples fearfully gathered behind closed doors, Jesus appears among them and greets them with “Peace be unto you” (John 20:19). This moment highlights the miraculous nature of Jesus' resurrected form and His ability to comfort His followers despite their lack of understanding.

11 But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre. Upon initially seeing the rolled-away stone, Mary assumed His body was taken and reported this to the apostles. This time, after the apostles had visited the tomb, she looked inside herself.

12 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. Mark and Matthew mention angels but highlight only one, suggesting that although there were two, only one spoke.

The Significance of the Angels

John's description of angels at both the head and feet of where Jesus lay is reminiscent of the Mercy Seat that resided in the Holy of Holies within the temple. This imagery emphasizes the sacredness and divine nature of the event being witnessed. God instructed Moses to create a sacred cabinet or chest known as the ark to symbolize His presence and promise to His people.

Covenant Symbolism

Covenant.

It was made of acacia (or shittim) wood and was a cubit and a half wide (and high) and two cubits long. It was also covered with the purest gold. Inside of it were the two tables of stone which constituted the "testimony" or evidence of God's covenant with the people (Deuteronomy 31:26), the "pot of manna" (Exodus 16:33), and "Aaron's rod that budded" (Numbers 17:10).

The Mercy Seat

This ark had a lid which was called the Mercy Seat and it had a rim of gold around it with two gold rings on each side so they could slide the poles through the rings to carry it around. Then attached to each end of the ark were two cherubim figures with their faces turned toward each other and they had wings that flipped over their shoulders (so to speak) and met in the middle. This platform (formed of angel wings) was called “the throne of God” while the ark itself was referred to as “His footstool.” This elaborate piece of furniture was set in the "holy of holies," and was placed in such a way that one end of the poles by which it was carried touched the veil – a thick hanging carpet like wall that separated the two apartments of the tabernacle (1 Kings 8:8).

Well once a year the High Priest on Yom Kippur or the Day of Atonement would go into the holy of holies and sprinkle blood upon it. Now think about this – the seat was the place where the blood of a slaughtered animal for the sins of the people. Life laid out between the cherubim, right? This is what it says in Exodus 25:18-20:

“And thou shalt make two cherubims of gold, of beaten work shalt thou make them, in the two ends of the mercy seat. And make one cherub on the one end, and the other cherub on the other end: even of the mercy seat shall ye make the cherubims on the two ends thereof. And the cherubims shall stretch forth their wings on high, covering the mercy seat with their wings, and their faces shall look one to another; toward the mercy seat shall the faces of the cherubims be.”

Mary Magdalene's Encounter

And one thousand five hundred years later Mary Magdalene stoops down and looks inside a tomb Peter and John had just entered and exited and what does she see? All the symbolism culminating together in living color – except now – the sacrifice rose up off the place he was laid dead – to new eternal life.

13 And the angels said 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.” Mary could have meant the Jews but I think she was speaking of others – like Joseph of Arimathea or Nicodemus or others. She obviously was not under the impression that He had risen from the dead.

Maybe there was a general understanding among those who were at the crucifixion that His body would lie in that tomb only until after the Sabbath and the intention was then to come to the tomb on the first day of the week and move Him somewhere else – which is why she and the other women showed up early with spices. And maybe Mary supposed they had arrived before her and had taken him away without telling her where. This seems to explain her language and reaction to the empty tomb.

I find it fascinating that Mary does not seem shocked by the angels and seems to speak to them plainly. (verse 14)

14 And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus. It could have been it was still dark. It could have been because He was somehow transformed which seems likely when we take into account that others who met Him as a resurrected being had trouble identifying Him.

15 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.” Again, it is obvious that she was not thinking resurrection. Now, because Peter and John had both been there we would think that resurrection was somehow discussed but this does not seem to be the case. Mary was still under the impression that He had merely been moved.

The Encounter at the Tomb

In the real chronology here, if Peter and John were at the tomb simultaneously as Mary Magdalene, they must have left not thinking He was risen. If they believed He was risen, they would have surely conveyed that to Mary. No such luck. Assuming that Jesus was a gardener, she asks him if he took the Lord away. If he had, she says, tell me where and I will take Him away – obviously believing that He was still dead.

16 Jesus saith unto her, “Mary.” She turned herself, and saith unto him, “Rabboni;” which is to say, “Master.” Jesus saith unto her, Mary. This was probably spoken in a tone of voice or a delivery that she recognized.

Titles of Honor

The Jews have three titles they apply to teachers.

(1) Rab, means master and is the lowest degree of honor yet still honorable.

(2) Rabbi, means, my master and is obviously a title of higher dignity. And then

(3) Rabboni, which means my great master and is the most honorable of all.

Rabboni was given to seven people historically and so to use it was a sign of the greatest respect. Obviously it was used by Mary with the greatest esteem and in acknowledging Him as her Lord and Master she was probably moving to throw herself down at His feet but

17 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.”

The Greek word used here for touch is haptomahee and it means . . . touch. Every time touch or touched is used in the New Testament Haptomahee is used. It means touch. I say this because in the religious tradition I came out of this verse was translated by the founder as hold with the implication being marital intimacy being conveyed. Unfortunately, the Greek does not support this uninspired translation.

Interpretations of "Touch Me Not"

However, this passage has given rise to a number of different interpretations. One of the problems is Jesus will tell Thomas to touch him in just a few verses so it's difficult to understand why Jesus told Mary to avoid doing so. Another thing is when Jesus meets the other women in Matthew 28:9 they held Him by the feet. What are we to conclude? One thought is that Jesus had Thomas touch Him to increase his belief. Mary didn’t need this but that reason is sort of anemic. Another reason suggests that Mary was going to impede His forward progress and at this point He wanted her to go and tell the others that He really had risen – in other words, she had something He wanted her to do and when He says, “Touch me not I have not yet ascended unto my Father” it was like He was saying, “Don’t take the time now. I’ve not ascended to my Father yet and there will be time to touch me later.”

Finally, and this is the view most people take when they read this, Jesus had to go before the Father clean, and to be touched prior to that would have made Him unclean. Why? Especially since the other women and Thomas did touch Him? Maybe Mary was unclean according to the Law relative to her cycle and for this reason, prior to ascending she was forbidden, but others were not.

But then we have to ask, “Wasn’t the Law nailed to the cross, along with all of its tenets?” So why would her cycle make her unclean to touch? Finally, as long as we’re on the subject, the LDS view (from the past) was that Jesus was married to Mary and there would have been some sort of special defilement that would have occurred had she touched or held Him. So easy to come up with stuff in the gaps, right?

Jesus' Message to the Brethren

Jesus also says something extremely important here. He says, “but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.” First of all, Jesus does refer to God as His Father and your Father in other parts of the Gospels. He speaks of your Father which is in heaven giving good gifts, etc. God is the Father of all life, and so we might see how referring to God as their Father works. But never does Jesus refer to God as “your God.” He speaks to the Pharisees god being…

The Relationship Between God and Christ

Satan but this combo description is amazing and telling. It says:
“Now that I have reconciled the world, He is my Father and your Father and my God and your God.”

Some suggest that when He says, “My Father,” He is speaking of His literal Father and when He says, “Your Father” He is speaking of whom He becomes for those who receive Him by faith. And when He says, “My God,” he is speaking of God as a Man and your God in the same way.

We do run into trouble when we read these lines and take them literally. The reason is IF Jesus was saying that as a resurrected being God was “His God” we find ourselves in a real paradox relative to His nature as God in the flesh.

I do not know how to respond to this.

Biblical References to God and Jesus

Paul plainly writes in 2nd Corinthians 11:31
“The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not.”

He opens Ephesians 1:3 saying:
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,”

And then 14 verses later says:
Ephesians 1:17 “That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him.”

Peter wrote in 1Peter 1:3 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

I would say that God is God and the Father and Jesus is Lord and Savior in whom the fullness of God dwelled bodily. And becoming flesh He represents all of humanity then and forevermore. Too big a subject to solve here – or maybe anywhere else while we abide on earth.

Mary Magdalene and the Witness of Resurrection

(Verse 18 takes us off now to Mary Magdalene and her assignment, saying)

18 Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her.

So, according to John’s account, Mary Magdalene was the first eye witness of the resurrected Lord – and she came and explained to them He was around.

What occurred between the hours she told them this and what happens next is unknown but I bet it was a beehive of activity.

19 Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, “Peace be unto you.”

So it’s the same day but now approaching dusk. And this day was the first day of the week, the day of the resurrection of Christ.

The apostles were gathered together and they were unquestionably agitated. The report from Mary that she had seen the Lord in all probability did not convince them He was really back from the dead. It was common among the Jews to claim to see the departed.

So they are assembled together in a room John where John says the doors were shut. I think he adds this to show that Jesus was transmitting Himself here and there without the inhibition of walls and doors. But admittedly it could have just been an added fact to describe the scene and convey their fears. I mean they had seen Jesus taken away and put to death but they also had the very interesting news that some of their group had claimed to have seen Him alive – and not only seen but talked to and touched. So they were gathered in what seems to have been a place of security. John here notes that this was the first day of the week – or Sunday.

Understanding the Sabbath

Why don’t we wrap today up with a little chat on Sunday, Saturday, the third commandment and the biblical understanding of it.

Let’s start with some basics – the Sabbath day is from Friday at dusk to Saturday at dusk. It’s not – cannot be – never was and never will be on a Sunday. Secondly the covenant under the Law was for the House of Israel to obey the tenets of that day – no one else.

There are no laws or tenets to be obeyed or observed on Sunday because Sunday is NOT the Sabbath and the demands for Sabbath observance applied only to the Jews. Some people try and say that the day of rest was established by God before Moses and the law and therefore Sabbath observance is mandatory I would reply, (without taking the time to supply sound biblical proofs (which are there) that all the Law and the Prophets pointed to Christ and Sabbath

The Shift from Sabbath to the Lord's Day

Observance is no exception. Was Sabbath observance a commandment? Of course. But since Christ, we read in Hebrews that there is a “new covenant, (and) he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.” But didn’t Jesus observe the Sabbath (Friday to Saturday?) He did – to fulfill the Law.

Galatians 4:4-5 says: “But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.” So there are four reasons why Sunday is not a Sabbath and the Sabbath is done.

1. The Sabbath is Saturday.
2. It was a covenant with the House of Israel.
3. Jesus fulfilled the old Covenant.
4. There is a new covenant now written on our hearts.

The New Rest

How is the Sabbath – the day of rest – now abiding in our hearts rather than in what our hands and feet do on a certain day of the week? Prior to Jesus' arrival, God’s people, the house of Israel, had their rest on the last day of the week – the Sabbath. But remember what Jesus said: “Come to me all you who are heavy laden and I will give you rest?” This is the concept – we find our rest with Him abiding in us every day of the week, not just on one day – and one day that isn’t even the biblical definition of Sabbath.

Well, isn’t it significant that Jesus was raised from the tomb on the first day of the week? Doesn’t that make Sunday the Christian Sabbath? A lot of people suggest that this is so. Certainly, the Christians gathered on the first day of the week in the Bible. But they gathered on other days too, and the fact that they chose to meet on the first day of the week could be emblematic of starting the week out in worship of Him rather than laboring under the law all week only to end in exhaustion on a mandated day of rest.

Gathering on the Lord's Day

So while we do not read about Christians obeying the real Sabbath after the ascension of Christ (in fact, Paul wrote Colossians 2:16): “Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days . . . “ We do read of them gathering together on the first day of the week. Is this mandatory? Nothing is mandatory. It’s all by the Spirit. Traditionally, Christians gather on Sunday, but it’s not a Sabbath, it’s the Lord’s day where we congregate to START our week off looking to glorify and study about Him. But it is in no way a new or another Sabbath.

Let’s stop here in the room with the apostles. We’ll pick it up next week.

Synopsis and Reflection

Q and A

PRAYER

1 or 2 Paragraph Synopsis of Sermon: In today’s sermon Shawn talks about whether or not the disciples and Mary Magdalene were aware that Jesus had resurrected when they first encountered the empty tomb. We also discuss Mary’s prohibition from touching the Lord but Thomas’s invitation. Finally, we wrap it up talking about what Jesus meant when He said, “My God and your God.”