1 Corinthians 15:17 And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.
V. 1- First day of the week- For the Jews, it was Sunday.
Mary Magdalene– Jesus had previously cast seven demons out of her. (Luke 8:2; Mark 16:9)
Her spiritual dark past was behind her, and now out of love she comes to the tomb.
It is thought that Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea hadn’t had enough time to properly prepare Jesus’ body, and that Mary had come to finish the task.
NOTE- Great love compelled Mary to go to the tomb, but we are not told how she expected to gain access to the body of Jesus; she simply showed up because of love and gratitude.
Love and gratitude towards Jesus resulted in a miraculous discovery about Jesus.
V. 2- Mary had great love for Jesus, but didn’t have the awareness or the faith to think He had been raised from the dead.
…we do not know…John writes about Mary, but Mark tells us there were four women.
Vs. 3, 4- The “other disciple” was probably John the Gospel writer.
He refers to himself in the third person.
It is generally thought that John was much younger than Peter, and therefore, he outran him.
V. 5- Saw- blep’-o; behold, beware, lie, look (on, to), perceive, regard, see, sight, take heed. More of a quick look.
John saw the grave clothes, yet did not enter in, perhaps thinking the body might still be there, and he didn’t want to be ceremonially defiled.
Vs. 6, 7 Peter always seems to be impulsive. He did not wait, but entered immediately.
Saw- theh-o-reh’-o; (theater) to be a spectator of, i.e. discern, (literally, figuratively (experience) or intensively (acknowledge)):—behold, consider, look on, perceive.
folded together in a place by itself- If a body was stolen, the thieves wouldn’t have taken time to fold the handkerchief that had been placed upon His head. They would have thrown it down quickly.
V. 8- There was something about seeing the burial cloths that convinced John that Jesus had been raised from the dead.
It has been suggested that if Jesus would have been unwrapped by human hands, the cloths would have appeared a certain way, but if He simply passed through them, they would have looked very orderly and undisturbed.
Saw- different word than verse 5. (To see with understanding)
V. 9- At this point, the disciples were unable to connect the truths between the many Old Testament Scriptures that pointed to Jesus’ resurrection.
Psalm 16:10 For You will not leave my soul in Sheol, Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption.
NOTE- The disciples did not manufacture a resurrection story to agree with Old Testament prophecy, because they didn’t understand the Old Testament prophecy. They believed in the resurrection because of the physical evidence, and they later understood how the Old Testament pointed to the resurrection.
Vs. 10, 11- Weeping- sobbing and wailing.
Mary had not yet seen the grave clothes. She had no evidence for the resurrection yet.
V. 12- These angels do not appear in a way that would frighten Mary. They looked like men.
Hebrews 13:2 Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels.
V. 13- No thought of resurrection yet.
Vs. 14, 15 Jesus was not recognizable by sight. Perhaps it was dark in the tomb, but in His resurrection appearances, Jesus was not usually immediately recognized.
1 Corinthians 15:42b-44 (NKJV) The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. 43 It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. 44 It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.
V. 16- Jesus appeared differently, but there was something about his tone of voice that was recognizable. It was a very personal and intimate moment for Mary. She knew it was Jesus.
V. 17- Do not cling to Me- Literally, stop clinging to me.
The resurrected Jesus wasn’t a phantom, but had a body which could be touched.
Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended-Don’t cling to me. Since I have not yet ascended go…
V. 18- Mary became the first eyewitness of the risen Jesus.
In that day, women were not allowed to testify in court, but Jesus made Mary His first witness.
V. 19- Jesus appeared among them without having had to enter through a door or window.
His resurrection body was not subject to the laws of nature as we know them.
The same day at evening: This took place on the same day that the tomb was found empty and Mary met the resurrected Jesus. We are told of five appearances of Jesus on the resurrection day.
· To Mary Magdalene (John 20:11-18)
· To the other women (Matthew 28:9-10)
· To the two on the road to Emmaus (Mark 16:12-13, Luke 24:13-32)
· To Peter (Luke 24:33-35, 1 Corinthians 15:5)
· To ten of the disciples, Thomas being absent (John 20:19-23)
Peace be with you- They were fearful, and had abandoned Him, but He wishes them peace.
He also rebuked them for their lack of faith.
Mark 16:14 Later He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen.
V. 20- There were others there besides the Eleven.
Luke 24:36-43 (NKJV) Now as they said these things, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them, and said to them, “Peace to you.” 37 But they were terrified and frightened, and supposed they had seen a spirit. 38 And He said to them, “Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39 Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have.” 40 When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet. 41 But while they still did not believe for joy, and marveled, He said to them, “Have you any food here?” 42 So they gave Him a piece of a broiled fish and some honeycomb. 43 And He took it and ate in their presence.
He reassured them by allowing them to examine His body. Then they were sure it was Jesus.
V. 21– G. Campbell Morgan- “He had faced and defeated all the forces which destroy the peace of man. As He said, ‘Peace be unto you,’ He was doing infinitely more than expressing a wish. He was making a declaration. He was bestowing a benediction. He was imparting a blessing.”
V. 22- I believe it is at this moment that they are born again, and indwelt by the Spirit of God.
They are given the Spirit so that they can effectively do the work of the Kingdom of God.
In fifty days, Pentecost will come, and they will be overflowed with the Spirit.
V. 23- Guzik- This lays down the duty of the church to proclaim forgiveness to the repentant believer, and the duty of the church to warn the unbeliever that they are in danger of forfeiting the mercy of God. We don’t create the forgiveness or deny it; we announce it according to God’s word and the wisdom of the Spirit.
Vs. 24, 25- Thomas asked for empirical evidence.
The testimonies of his fellow disciples were not enough for him.
Vs. 26-28- Jesus allowed for Thomas’ desire/demand of physical evidence before he would believe.
Jesus repeated the words that Thomas had said, and though Jesus had not been there, He knew.
Thomas didn’t just believe that Jesus was raised from the dead.
He now believed in the divinity of Jesus.
Jesus accepted this recognition, for it was correct and appropriate. Jesus didn’t correct him.
V. 29- There is a blessedness that comes from seeing and believing, and yet another kind of blessedness that comes from believing without seeing.
Vs. 30, 31-
John admits that the book isn’t totally comprehensive, but that it is sufficient to bring people to faith.
John tells us why he wrote his testimony: so that people would read it and believe.
and that believing you may have life in His name- This speaks of eternal life.