BS7A- AN EMPTY TOMB
According to John’s account of the resurrection, Mary Magdalene one of Christ’s women followers, arrived back at the tomb very early on Sunday morning while it was still dark. And when she reached it what did she see and then do?
John 20:1-2
Peter and John sprang into action.
John 20:3-5
When Peter got there, he went inside and found something truly remarkable.
John 20:6-9
The strips of linen that had been wrapped around Christ’s body were in one place and the covering wound around his head in another. It was all left like a chrysalis case after the butterfly has emerged!
Puzzled about what they had seen, Peter and John went back to their homes, but Mary Magdalene lingered at the tomb weeping and looking inside.
John 20:10-11
John records her testimony as to what she saw and heard next.
John 20:12-13
Then Mary turned around, probably at the sound of a step, and saw a man she didn’t recognize – remember it was very early in the morning before the sun was up.
He asked her the same question as the angels:
John 20:14-15
The man said only one word back to Mary’s response.
John 20:16
“Mary”. He knew her name and suddenly the sound of his voice saying her name flooded her with the realization that this was her teacher, this was Jesus!
She just wanted to hold onto Him and never let him go. But instead, Jesus gave her an assignment. What did He want her to do?
John 20:17-18
There was now no doubt in anyone’s mind that the tomb was empty --- but why and how? In the final analysis -- there are only 2 possibilities:
The first possibility is that Christ’s body was stolen. But who would do that? Let’s look at the cast of characters and what their motive could have been.
- Would Christ’s enemies have taken his body? Hardly. They wanted Jesus dead. (John 19:6-7) If and when the Christ followers would claim he had risen from the dead all they would have had to do is produce the body. But they didn’t.
- Would Christ’s friends have taken his body? No. This argument won’t stand either. Christ’s followers soon became transformed men and women who went all over the known world proclaiming that Jesus was the Son of God, and that he was alive because God had raised him from the dead.
Acts 2:32-33
Many, if not most of these disciples were tortured and martyred for proclaiming this. The first martyr being a man named Stephen.
Acts 7:54-60
They would not have suffered and died knowing that it was all a lie.
- Would the guards at the tomb have allowed Christ’s body to be stolen? No. Their own lives would have been on the line. They were professionals and had no reason to jeopardize their lives and careers over this man named Jesus.
Therefore, only one possibility remains as to why the tomb was empty. God had raised Jesus from the dead--- just as Jesus said He would.