Wednesday: The Empty Tomb
Daily Lesson for Wednesday 18th of December 2024
Read John 20:1-7. What is the importance to us about what is depicted in these verses?
Jesus died late on a Friday afternoon and rose early on Sunday. Because the Sabbath was near when He was buried (John 19:42), the burial process was done hastily and not completely. However much they loved Jesus, His followers kept the Sabbath day and did not go to the tomb (compare with Mark 16:1, Luke 23:56).
Image © S. M. Davis at Goodsalt.com
After the Sabbath, a number of women bought spices to the tomb on Sunday morning. To their shock, the stone was rolled away, and the tomb was empty.
Mary Magdalene was one of those who came early to the tomb. She ran to tell Peter and John what she saw. The two men ran there. John outran Peter and arrived first. Stooping down, he looked inside and saw the linen cloths with which Jesus had been wrapped. But he did not go in.
Peter, however, went inside and saw the linen cloths lying there. He saw, too, the face cloth that had been on Jesus’ head, but it was not with the rest of the cloths. It was folded up and sitting apart.
Read John 20:8-10. What was the meaning of the folded face cloth?
After Peter entered the tomb, John also entered. John 20:8 says that he went in, saw, and believed. Why would seeing the grave cloths lying there and the face cloth lying separately, folded up, lead John to believe Jesus had risen from the dead?
To answer this question, it is necessary to ponder why the tomb would be empty in the first place. The most typical answer would be grave robbers. But this explanation fails for three reasons. First, Matthew tells us that the tomb was guarded (Matthew 27:62-66), making grave robbery unlikely. Second, grave robbers typically steal valuables, not rotting bodies. Third, grave robbers are in a hurry and do not fold up grave cloths. No wonder, then, that when John saw the face cloth folded, he believed that Jesus had risen from the dead.
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I have read several books providing arguments for the evidence of the resurrection. While these books provide a sense of assurance to those of us who believe, they do little to convince unbelievers. To put it bluntly, they believe that a resurrection is impossible and willingly accept alternative theories explaining the empty tomb. Barbara Thiering's book, "Jesus the Man" and "The Holy Blood and the Holy Grail" by Michael Baigent, Richard Leigh, and Henry Lincoln offer scholarly alternative natural explanations. To the secular mind it is easier to accept the improbable rather than the impossible.
Paul's experience in Areopagus in Athens in instructive for us.
The notion of the resurrection was difficult to swallow. And, while some wanted to hear more, most treated it as nonsense and laughed as if it was a joke. In our modern times when scepticism is king how does any mention of the resurrection get a hearing?
Sometimes in our effort to prove the literalness of the resurrection, we lose sight of the spiritual. Jesus rose, not to provide an enigma about an empty tomb but to make a difference in the way we live. We worship Jesus, not by proving an empty tomb but providing a living example.
Paul says it so well:
If we want to prove that Christ is risen, we must show that he is alive in us. That is the 21st-century argument for the resurrection.
Very good, Maurice Ashton. So my question to you would be, how do we show that Jesus is alive in us to others? I myself do not concern myself about making sure that I somehow show to others that Jesus is alive in me. I just simply start my day by making sure that what Jesus promised in John 14:16-19 I fully accept for myself and fully believe it and then let God lead me as I go about my daily duties and responsibilities and also let Him work His Will for me with others for that day.
Thanks for the illustration.
Lee Strobel's books on the subject are excellent. He maintains that there is enough evidence that the Resurrection would stand up in a court of law.
It could be possible for one or 2 deranged people to claim a false resurrection, but it's inconceivable that 11 men (and then many more) would, at the risk of their lives, preach a message which they knew to be false.
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Rumor has it that in Hebrew tradition, a folded napkin was a sign from a master to a servant that the master was returning to the table. In today's vernacular, "I'll be back!" It could simply be that Christ in His Glorified body passed out of his burial clothes leaving them somewhat molded to the shape that they were wrapped in while He was dead. He left them behind like a butterfly 🦋 leaving it's cocoon.
Had the disciples stole His body, they wouldn't have been concerned about neatly handling the burial cloths, just successfully getting past the guards around the tomb with the body.
As important as Jesus death on the cross was, His resurrection was even more important. If Jesus isn’t risen, then He is little more than a martyr who died for a cause. There is no power in a dead Savior, only a risen one.
1 Corinthians 15:14-19 sums it up pretty well. If Christ hasn't risen, then religion is nothing more than a cruel game and a crutch, to get us through this life, always chasing after the "carrot on a stick," but never being able to catch it. The grave then becomes a chasm of no return. Life ultimately, has no meaning or purpose. You live, you die, that's it. Game over!
Tetelestai, "it is finished," or most appropriately, paid in full, was the declaration of the debt against us being satisfied. The resurrection of Christ was the receipt.
1 Cor. 15:19; "If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable."
How about we start "be living our beliefs." Maybe that will persuade more people than arguing about who is right.
A thought worth pondering.
There's a bit of commentary on the folded grave clothes that I consider reliable and very interesting:
(You can purchase your own copy of The Desire of Ages at Amazon in electronic or paper format.)
There are two main sites (Church of the Holy Sepulchre and The Garden Tomb) purported to be the tomb of Jesus. These sites attract millions of visitors/tourists annually. For instance, records show that 4 million visitors/tourists visit Church of the Holy Sepulchre each year (https://www.patheos.com/sacred-spaces/church-of-the-holy-sepulchre?utm_source=chatgpt.com). The Book of Luke 24:5, has got a question which is worth reflecting upon. “Why do you seek the living among the dead?” (NKJV).
The women were looking for Jesus in the wrong place - among the dead, when He had already risen. They were seeking life in a place of death! Are we looking for answers, hope, and fulfillment in the wrong places—places of "spiritual death" instead of where true life is found? Like the pilgrims who visit the empty tomb of Jesus without having a living relationship with Him is “seeking the ling among the dead”. Is it possible to "seek the living among the dead" in a spiritual sense? Are we searching for meaning, fulfillment, or salvation in places, practices, or ideologies that cannot offer true spiritual life?
We human beings often pursue happiness, identity, and purpose in material possessions, relationships, careers, or achievements. However, these things, though not inherently bad, are temporary and cannot satisfy the soul. In Ecclesiastes 2:10-11, Solomon pursued wealth, pleasure, and achievements but declared: “Indeed all was vanity and grasping for the wind. There was no profit under the sun.” True joy and life are found in a relationship with Jesus (John 10:10). Visiting the empty tomb of Jesus many times is nothing but “seeking the living among the dead”. Practicing empty rituals, traditions, or religion without a genuine relationship with Jesus is like seeking life among the dead. Religion without Christ lacks power and transformation. The Pharisees in Jesus' time adhered strictly to rituals but lacked spiritual life (Matthew 23:27-28): “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones.”
Life is found in Christ alone. We should seek Christ through His Word, in prayer, in worship, and in the power of His resurrection (Philippians 3:10). Any pursuit apart from Christ leads to emptiness and death, much like seeking the living among the dead. The question “Why do you seek the living among the dead?” serves as a powerful reminder to align our hearts and lives with Christ. Spiritually, it challenges us to avoid looking for life, hope, and purpose in dead and temporary things. Instead, we must turn to the living Savior, Jesus Christ, who alone offers eternal life, hope, and joy.
Life is not found in the grave of sin, dead religion, or worldly pursuits. True life is found in the risen Christ, and we must seek Him with all our hearts (Jeremiah 29:13).
This was a special empty tomb though. Our Saviour made it empty with only the Roman guards as witnesses and a Holy Angel who John-Mark discribed the Angel as a young man who said He has risen. Later in the am, John reports along came Mary Magdalene before dawn. For you see Christ came forth from the tumb after the Holy Angel rolled away the stone. The light from God's Angel was so bright that the Roman soldiers fell powerless on the ground unable to guard the stone any longer for Pilate. This took place before before Mary arrived. That is why Mary found the tomb empty. She ran all the way back to the upper room telling the disciples. When Mary came back again too, she met the Master, she assumed Him to be a gardener, I wish sometimes I were assumed to be the gardener. Every step it seems that Christ made was a lesson to us. Even folding the face cloths. Do you as a guest take sheets off the bed and put them in a pillow case for the cleaning lady to pick up? Yes, cleanliness is a character of God.
How come the guard did not report that Jesus has risen, since he was there guarding the tomb.
Matthew 28:11-15 gives the account of the soldiers reporting to the chief priests what had happened. I would have loved to see the expressions on the faces of the high priests when they first received word of the soldier's eyewitness testimony. That would have been priceless. The chief priests were now fearing for their lives, and concocted a false report, and money, to bribe the soldiers with. The Captain of the guard foolishly accepted the bribe under the pretense of immunity by the chief priests. They were being "thrown under the bus," as we say today. The guards were possibly executed by Pilate for the report of having fallen asleep while on watch duty (A capital offense). The captain of the guard should have stayed with the truth regardless of the size of the bribe to lie. This lie possibly cost many soldiers their lives.
Can you just imagine the feelings of all who had believed in Jesus after hearing of His resurrection? From the agony of defeat, to the thrill of victory, they went on the most stupendous roller coaster ride of emotions.
A most compelling description of the resurrection of Jesus is written by one of my favorite of authors. https://www.ellenwhite.info/books/ellen-g-white-book-early-writings-ew-43.htm
I don't think it's likely that the guards were executed by Pilate given that the story was still circulating when Matthew wrote his gospel. Dead men can't tell stories.
Sure, the story made them worthy of death, but I suspect Pilate wanted the story covered up as much as the religious leaders. Much easier to accept a supposed grave robbery than to face the fact that you killed the Son of God.
According to Matthew 28:11-14 some of the guard did tell the priests what had happened. It appears that they kept the news from Pilate for fear of punishment and the priests had them assured them that they would smooth things over with him. It looks like Tim beat me to this answer!
Pilate eventually learned the truth, because he interviewed the soldiers himself. He never had peace the rest of his life and eventually committed suicide.
Jesus resurrected! How interesting is it to think of a God who spends time "sleeping" as the Bible describes the state of death? The critical fact is that Jesus did what He came to do —He rose to be pleading for us before the Father!
Amen,thanks for all the comments
Why is there no definitive proof from secular sources that Jesus lived? Definitive physical or archaeological evidence is unnecessary because incontrovertible proof of His existence is revealed through the Holy Spirit. To perceive this as proof, one must first believe He existed and the reason why He came into existence; this belief leads naturally to faith in the Father who sent Him.
This presents a conundrum: the world attempts to prove spiritual truths through physical means. Yet, by relying solely on physical evidence, many deny themselves the opportunity to witness the spiritual proof that requires faith - empty tomb = Jesus Christ's resurrection.
How could the same reasoning that condemned Jesus on physical grounds now be used to prove His identity as King of a spiritual kingdom and Son of God? No amount of physical, archaeological evidence or textual reasoning can fully address the core issue of Jesus’ existence - His message! - pointing humanity to the Father who offers salvation by His Grace through our faith in His existence and His Word.
The true evidence lies in the believer's transformed heart and mind, manifested in their daily life. As we show respect toward others we share God's love, demonstrating His Truth through our actions. The purpose of a born-again life is to reflect God's Glory residing within the heart and mind of the living soul unto life everlasting. By His Grace and Mercy, our spiritual transformation becomes the only evidence/proof that Jesus lived and rose again to change the heart and mind of unbelievers - 1 Cor.15:20.
Brigitte, there is loads of evidence from secular sources that Jesus Christ lived and died on this planet, even though it may not come up easily in a Google search. (Search engines are biased - but not in favor of Christianity.)
Whether someone considers the evidence "definitive proof" is a highly subjective matter.
It takes some digging in historical sources to find the evidence. Books that deal with the subject are normally labeled as "apologetics." You can check out Lee Strobel's The Case for Christ, for example, and also the classic, Evidence that Demands a Verdict by Josh McDowell. If you prefer stories, you can find some evidence in Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus: A Devout Muslim Encounters Christianity by Nabeel Qureshi.
Thank you for your comment.
Brigitte, the reasons are many and varied. The writers of the Bible didn't set out to prove what they wrote. They wrote the things that the Holy Spirit inspired them to write under the assumption and knowledge that they were true.
The burden of proof of deniability has to be on the unbeliever or the secular writers. To this day, the "prosecution" hasn't produced clear and compelling, objective, forensic, evidence of Jesus' non-existence. The scholarly efforts have failed. It's hard to claim nonexistance when so many secular sources have supported the historicity of Jesus. See Inge's comment. Indeed they must be searched carefully for because of secular biases. I really enjoyed reading, and still have in my book collection Josh McDowell's "Evidence that Demands a Verdict," and "More Evidence..."
I like this saying from one of my favorite authors.
Wikipedia has an interesting writeup on the historicity of Jesus.
The trouble with referencing the Wikipedia is that, by the time people read this, the article may have dramatically changed after being edited by an editor with an opposing view. That's the problem with crowd-sourcing information. 😉
I still wonder why John outran Peter and not go inside the grave. What's the significance of this part?
Well, John was likely the youngest disciple so being younger he was probably faster. We can also sense that he was not as brash as Peter. No surprise Peter went in first.
I doubt there's a lot of significance to the details beyond John putting some personal details into the account. It shows the human element. Perhaps he wanted everyone to know that he beat Peter to show how much he loved Jesus? Just a thought.
I wondered what happens if a Jew died on Sabbath. Google search says that someone was to watch the body until it could be buried without violating the Sabbath. However, I believe that one of EGW's funerals was on Sabbath.
The Jewish Sabbath rules were likely stricter than those of even Ellen White's time. I don't know that it is any more wrong to handle a dead body on Sabbath than work in a hospital. But the Jews in Jesus time had a lot of strict rules.
They didn't have any good methods for keeping the body from rapidly decomposing in the warm climate, so they needed to bury it as soon as possible.
We need to seek for life where we have been assured of eternity, and thats in Christ Jesus. He has promised us that even when He still died for our sins he has still gone to make for us a stay in his Father’s house, accepting jesus is equal to searching for life where theres existence for it , its as simple as if a friend calls you and tells you he/she is standing near a morgue , the next question you will ask is who died, because we know well its not a place we expect life , unlike getting a call from a friend from a restaurant or picnic trip.