Jesus’ Resurrection

THE STORY chapter # 27

(My home church is participating in the study of THE STORY – The Bible As One Continuing Story Of God And His People. Foreword by Max Lucado and Randy Frazee. Each week, my Thursday post focuses on our current study chapter.)

The Jewish leaders got what they wanted, Jesus dead on a cross. What they did not know was, death on The Cross had no hold on Christ.

Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Council, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. Mark 15:23

Pilate was surprised Jesus was already dead, so he asked a centurion, and the centurion confirmed it. So Pilate gave the body to Joseph.

He [Joseph] was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds. Taking Jesus’ body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs. John 19:39-40

and placed it in his [Joseph] own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there opposite the tomb. Matthew 27:60-61

Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Joseph, saw where Jesus was laid early that Friday evening. On Saturday, the Sabbath, they rested in obedience to the commandment. Then early on Sunday, the first day of the week, they went to the tomb. Here, Mary Magdalene saw a man.

He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?” Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.” Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”). John 20:15-16

Mary Magdalene, a woman, was the first to see the risen Lord. That same day, Jesus appeared to two believers on a road from Jerusalem to Emmaus, one whose name was Cleopas. These two believers quickly returned to Jerusalem. They found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together. As the two told what happened to them, Jesus appeared among them.

They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.” Luke 24:37-39

A week later, with the doors locked, Jesus appeared again to the disciples. Thomas, who doubted the resurrection because he was not with the disciples the first time Jesus appeared, was now present. He saw and believed.

Jesus then appeared to the disciples a third time, by the Sea of Galilee, and gave the Great Commission.

Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:16-20