Luke 24:36-53; Acts 1:4-14; Matthew 28:16-20; Mark 16:14-20b
EVENTS OF THE RESURRECTION
November 18, 2011 by Linwood Kemp
In the evening after the crucifixion, Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus took down the body of Jesus and laid it in the tomb. (Matt. 27:57-60; Mark 15:42-46; Luke 23:50-54; John 19:38-42)
The women observed the burial. (Matt. 27:61; Mark 15:47; Luke 23:55-56)
The next day, during the Sabbaths, Pilate had a seal placed on the tomb and set a guard. (Matt. 27:62-66)
On the first day of the week, Jesus rose from the dead sometime during the night. (Not specified.)
Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, Salome, and some other women, set out to the tomb very early. They carried spices to anoint the body. They wondered who would open the tomb. (Matt. 28:1; Mark 16:1-3; Luke 24:1; John 20:1)
Note: The women set out in the dark. (John 20:1) and arrived as the sun rose (Matt. 28:1; Mark 16:2). The earthquake occurred while they were en route. (Matt. 28:2) The use of “and” (Greek: “kai”) instead of “then” (“tote”) in this verse suggests that the events were simultaneous instead of sequential. Therefore, the women did not observe the opening of the tomb nor immediately see the angels.
When the earthquake occurred, the angel of the Lord rolled stone away and sat on it. The guards shook from fear and fainted. (Matt. 28:2-4)
When the women arrived, they found the stone rolled away, and no one there. (Mark 16:4; John 21:1).
The women entered the tomb and found no body there. (Luke 24:3)
Mary Magdalene immediately departed and ran to tell Peter and John that the body was missing. (John 20:2)
The women who remained at the tomb then saw two angels in the form of men, one of whom told them that Jesus had risen from the dead. (Matt. 28:5,6; Mark 16:5,6; Luke 24:4-8)
The angel instructed them to go tell the disciples that Jesus had risen and that He would meet them in Galilee. (Matt. 28:7; Mark 16:7)
The women departed the tomb quickly with the intent to find and tell the disciples what they had seen, but because of their fright they did not go to them right away. (Matt. 28:8; Mark 16:8)
Meanwhile, Peter and John ran to the tomb, and confirmed that it was empty. Then they departed. (Luke 24:12; John 20:3-10)
Mary Magdalene, who had followed after Peter and John, stayed at the tomb. When she looked in, she saw two angels who spoke to her. As Mary went out of the tomb again, Jesus, whom she at first thought was the gardener, appeared to her. She was the first to see Jesus after his resurrection. (Mark 16:9; John 20:11-17)
Mary immediately returned to the rest of the disciples to tell them the news. (Mark 16:10; John 20:18)
Meanwhile, Jesus appeared to the other women. They fell down and worshiped him. He instructed them to continue on their way to tell the disciples. (Matt. 28:9)
The women found the disciples shortly after Mary Magdalene did. They confirmed Mary’s words and reported what they had seen. The disciples remained skeptical. (Luke 24:9-11)
While all this was occurring, the guards who had fled the tomb reported to the chief priests. The priests and elders bribed the guards to say that the body had been stolen. (Matt. 28:11-15)
Jesus was seen by Peter. (1 Cor. 15:5a; Luke 24:34)
Jesus appeared to two disciples who were walking to Emmaus. (It is not specified if they were two of the Eleven.) They did not recognize Jesus at first, until he explained the Scriptures to them. Then he vanished. (Mark 16:12; Luke 24:13-32)
They returned to Jerusalem to tell the other disciples that they had seen him, but the they still did not believe. (Mark 16:13; Luke 24:33-35)
Jesus appeared to the “Eleven” (except that Thomas wasn’t with them). Jesus rebuked them for their unbelief. (Mark 16:14; Luke 24:36-48; John 20:19-24; 1 Cor. 15:5b)
Eight days later, he appeared to all the disciples including Thomas. He invited Thomas to touch his wounds. (John 20:25-29)
Later, he appeared to seven of the disciples at Lake Tiberius (the Sea of Galilee). (John 21:1-14)
On this occasion, Jesus restored fellowship with Peter. (John 21:15-23)
Jesus was seen by 500 believers at one time. (1 Cor. 15:6)
He was seen again by James. (1 Cor. 15:7a)
Finally, 40 days after his resurrection, Jesus met with the Eleven in Galilee at a hill which he had specified. He pronounced to them the Great Commission. (Matt. 28:16-20; Mark 16:15-18; 1 Cor. 15:7b)
He commanded them to return to Jerusalem and to wait for the Holy Spirit. (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:3-8)
Note: There is a 40-day gap between Matt. 28:15 and 16. This is a point of confusion for some skeptics.
Jesus then walked with the disciples to Bethany and to the Mount of Olives. (Luke 24:50)
While the disciples were watching, Jesus ascended into heaven. (Mark 16:19,20; Luke 24: 51; Acts 1:9-11)
The disciples returned to Jerusalem. (Luke 24:52,53; Acts 1:12)
After receiving the Holy Spirit, the disciples went out and preached everywhere. (Mark 16:20)
November 23: A post by Mark McGee today brought to my attention a detail about the resurrection timeline that I had overlooked. Matt. 27:52,53 says, “And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many.” No specific time is given, but it gives the sense that the appearances occurred throughout the day. You could probably make mention of it almost anywhere on resurrection day.
Ichthus77 