John 20:1-10
Jesus’ Resurrection
We continue to study through John’s account of the crucifixion of
Jesus.
1. Jesus’ arrest
2. Jesus’ trial
3. Jesus’ interrogation
4. Jesus’ suffering
5. Jesus’ crucifixion
6. Jesus’ resurrection
Although this day could not stand alone, without doubt, Resurrection
Day is the most exciting day in the history of mankind! It will be
told and retold for eternity.
I. \\#Matt 27:62-66\\ Precautions
A. The chief priests and the Pharisees wanted a guard.
1. I am always amazed how well they listened to Jesus!
2. If they heard what Jesus said, His disciples must have
too.
3. Of course Jesus did not just tell of the resurrection but
of His death too.
a. Somehow their faith could not believe that Jesus’
death was part of the plan.
Luke 24:21 But we TRUSTED that it had been
he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside
all this, to day is the third day since these
things were done.
b. If I had to guess, I would say that suffered from
"broken faith."
c. They were so unprepared for what God allowed and what
man did that they could not (or would not) believe
any more.
d. I believe that is what happened to Peter—even with
Jesus’ warning to him.
Lu 22:32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy
faith fail not: and when thou art converted,
strengthen thy brethren.
B. \\#Matt 27:65\\ Pilate gave them their guard.
1. The Bible does not tell us how many were there,
2. Typically a squad was four, i.e. \\#John 19:23\\ the
guards divided Jesus’ garment into 4 parts.
3. The day was divided into a day and night shift, then each
shift was divided into three hours with one guard
standing watch while the other three were present.
http://biblehub.com/topical/q/quaternion_of_soldiers.htm
C. What is significant in the guards being there?
1. They and all of the other things done, help prove the
validity of the resurrection!
John 19:35 And he that saw it bare record, and
his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith
true, that ye might believe.
2. John was speaking of the piercing of Jesus with the spear,
but all the things that were done just prove the
resurrection.
a. The fact that they pierced Jesus.
b. \\#John 19:36\\ The fact that the religious leaders
were in a hurry to get everyone off the cross, but
they did not break Jesus’ bones!
c. The fact that you have a quaternion of soldiers making
sure no one got into the tomb.
d. The fact that Roman sealed the tomb with their
official seal.
e. The fact that the stone used to seal the tomb would
have been very heavy, requiring several men to move
it out of the way. Most believe it was a round stone
that was rolled in a trough, downhill to block the
tomb, meaning the stone had to be rolled back UP
the hill to move it.
f. The fact that many people testified to seeing angels.
g. The fact that many people testified that the tomb was
empty.
h. The fact that NO ONE ever produced a body!
i. The fact that many people SAW Jesus - Mary, women,
Peter, those on the road to Emmaus, the Ten, then
Thomas with them, 500 at one time, James, and Paul.
3. The more precautions put around the tomb, the better!
Everyone of them confirms our faith!
II. The Witnesses - There are many and no one writer listed them all.
A. The empty tomb!
1. No, the tomb is not a person; but the fact that it was
empty and stayed empty speaks volumes!
2. Why did no one EVER produce a body? Did they have so many
unidentified bodies laying around that Jesus’ body just
got lost in the shuffle?
3. John tells us that at least three people visited the tomb
to find it empty.
a. \\#John 20:1\\ Mary Magdalene
b. \\#John 20:2\\ Peter
c. An unnamed disciple who we thing was John.
4. The truth is that there were many others.
a. The Bible tells us of others.
b. That site would have become Jerusalem’s hottest
tourist center!
c. If Jesus’ body was anywhere in that area, it would
surely have been stumbled over.
B. \\#John 20:5\\ The empty clothes
1. Again, another inanimate object, but how did Jesus get
out of those clothes?
2. The word used is linen bandages. These were clothes one
might dress in but strips of cloth used wrap around the
body.
3. These bandages were moistened and stuck together using the
oils and herbs brought in by the family.
a. \\#John 19:39-40\\ For Jesus, 100 pounds was used!
b. That is just what Nicodemus brought.
c. \\#John 19:40\\ Notice they "wound" the body in these
stripes of cloth.
d. In one manner of speaking, they were mummifying Jesus’
body. His arms and hands would have been down at His
side and Jesus would have been wrapped like a
4. They did the same thing to Lazarus—except probably to a
lesser scale since few would have that much in spice and
oils—and he could NOT get free.
John 11:44 And he that was dead came forth,
bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and
his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus
saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.
5. For those who DO NOT BELIEVE in the resurrection,
they must conceive a very strange sight. On the third
day after being crucified, Jesus regained consciousness,
stood up, broke the bands around him, rolled the stone
up the hill from the inside of the cave, and walked off
naked.
6. The truth is that it is very unlike the bands were
broken.
a. It seems to me to be more plausible that Jesus just
past through the bands of cloth, leaving them like
they were only empty.
b. The clothes probably looked something like an empty
cocoon.
7. There is a story going around the internet that the head-
piece being folded and laid to one side means something.
a. The story is that when dining, the master would fold
his napkin if he was not finished and planned to
come back and he would wad it up when finished.
b. The conclusion is that since the napkin was folded,
it meant that Jesus was coming back.
c. That account might be true but I have not been able
to verify it. It just floats along the interest.
d. If it is true, GLORY! If it is not, we have a more
sure word than the napkin. We have Jesus’ word!
John 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for
you, I will come again, and receive you unto
myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
C. Mary Magdalene
1. There are many Marys mentioned in the Bible but this woman
is specially mentioned 12 times. The only Mary
mentioned more is Mary the mother of Jesus.
2. Consider Mary’s love
a. It was her love that caused her to be mentioned so
many times. If Jesus was in Jerusalem, Mary
Magdalene seemed to there!
b. Both Mark and Luke tell us what may have created this
love for Jesus.
Lu 8:2 And certain women, which had been healed
of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called
Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils,
c. Her sins, which were many, were forgiven and she loved
Him much \\#Luke 7:47\\.
d. You can see Mary’s love.
(1) Everyone else is gone but she is still at the
tomb!
(2) She weeps, and weeps, and weeps.
(a) Her eyes are swollen; her vision is
distorted, her heart is crushed….
(b) Still, she weeps.
(c) That’s love dripping down her face!
e. You can see Mary’s doubt.
(1) \\#John 20:13\\ She tells the angels why she is
weeping. The body of her Lord is gone!
(2) Mary is still looking for a body!
(a) Mary had heard Jesus speak of His death and
resurrection, but still she looked for a
body.
(b) Mary had seen the angels that morning and
heard the word that Jesus was alive.
(c) Mary had gone to get Peter and John.
(3) What do you supposed caused her to revert back to
looking for a body?
(a) Could it have been an outside force?
i. \\#John 20:8\\ The Bible says that when
John saw the empty tomb, he believed.
ii. It doesn’t say that of Peter.
iii. I wonder if Peter said something that
might her doubt again?
(b) Perhaps it was from within?
i. Human beings have a tendency to doubt
spiritual things.
ii. I think the devil helps.
iii. Maybe just thought it through and
decided that the dead don’t rise from
the dead.
iv. But then, she had known of others,
Lazarus for example!
v. I quote an expression that I am not
quite certain who to give credit for:
"Don’t doubt in the dark what you
knew in the light."
f. \\#John 20:16\\ You can see Mary’s reward.
(1) The heart that loved was rewarded with a personal
visit from the Savior!
(2) I don’t know how Jesus selected who He would
appear to but I believe this appearance was
selected because she loved Him so much!
3. \\#John 20:17\\ Notice Jesus’ yet incomplete work.
John 20:17 Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not;
for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go
to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend
unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God,
and your God.
a. Jesus had to make at least one more trip to the
Father.
b. It is hard to know what Jesus did while His body lay
in the grave and what He waited to do until AFTER
His resurrection.
(1) He had to take His blood to the altar.
Heb 9:11 But Christ being come an high priest
of good things to come, by a greater and more
perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that
is to say, not of this building;
12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves,
but by his own blood he entered in once into the
holy place, having obtained eternal redemption
for us.
(a) \\#Ex 29:12\\ In the Old Testament, the
blood of the bullock had to be sprinkled on
the altar and then the priest had to be
consecrated for seven days \\#Ex 20:35\\.
(b) Jesus, having no sin, may not have had to be
consecrated seven days.
(c) But I am pretty sure His blood had to be
placed on the altar.
(2) He had to take those in paradise to heaven.
Eph 4:8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended
up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave
gifts unto men.
9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that
he also descended first into the lower parts
of the earth?
10 He that descended is the same also that
ascended up far above all heavens, that he
might fill all things.)
(a) Note that the timing of giving the gifts of
Holy Ghost to the church is WHEN He led
captivity captive.
(b) This was most likely done around Pentecost.
(3) Maybe He just wanted to go see the Father!
4. Notice our name for God.
a. He is OUR Father.
b. This is not the first time Jesus has called God our
Father, but it sure feels good!
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