The Resurrection
- Dates
- 31 AD
Jesus dies on the cross on Friday afternoon. Early Sunday morning an angel descends from heaven and rolls back the stone and calls Jesus from the tomb. The soldiers fall as dead to the ground. Christ rises from the dead.
In detail
The Bible teaches that the resurrection of Christ from the grave is a literal historical fact. The guarded but empty tomb, with the graveclothes left behind in an orderly manner (John 20:6, 7), convinced John of the Resurrection (John 20:8, 9). The theories that Jesus swooned but did not die, that the body was stolen by the disciples, that an empty tomb was mistaken for the one in which Jesus had been placed, or that Joseph of Arimathaea removed the body require more faith to believe than acceptance of the events recorded in the NT. There was, as well, the testimony of the Roman guard (Matt. 28:11f.), the announcement of the angels at the tomb (verses 4—7), and the testimony of those resurrected with Christ (Matt. 27:52, 53).
Even stronger evidence is found in the 10 post—Resurrection appearances of our Lord. Five of these took place on the day of the Resurrection—to Mary Magdalene (John 20:11—18), to the other women (Matt. 28:8—10), to Simon Peter (Luke 24:33—35 1 Cor. 15:5), to Cleopas and a companion on the way to Emmaus (Luke 24:33—34), and to the 10 disciples in Jerusalem (John 20:19—31). Five additional appearances came later—to the 11 in Jerusalem (John 20:26—28), to the seven by the Sea of Galilee (John 21:1—23), to more than 500 on a mountain in Galilee (Matt. 28:16—20 1 Cor. 15:6), to James (1 Cor. 15:7), and to the 11 in Jerusalem and Bethany (Luke 24:44—49).
Bible passages
- Matthew 28:1-15
1 In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. 2 And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. 3 His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: …
- Mark 16:1-11
1 And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him. 2 And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun. 3 And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre? …
- Luke 24:1-12
1 Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them. 2 And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre. 3 And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus. …
- John 20:1-18
1 The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre. 2 Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him. 3 Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre. …
Text of the King James Version.
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