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.
Each of the Gospels fix the time of Jesus’ resurrection at first light on Sunday morning. Upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning… at the rising of the sun (Luke 24:1; Mark 16:2); the first day of the week…early, when it was yet dark (John 20:1). These loyal women were up early, walking to the tomb as the rising sun began to lighten the eastern sky. One can almost imagine the first rays of the sun touching the huge stone and rolling it back for all to see that it was empty!
At this very moment, Jewish priests were performing the wave offering of Firstfruits in accordance with the Mosaic law concerning the Passover/Unleavened Bread convocation (Lev 23:5-14). The way that God commanded the priests to determine the day for this ceremony is unique among the Old Testament rituals. Instead of upon a set date (ie, the 17th day of the 1st month), the ritual of Firstfruits was required to be performed upon a particular day (the first Sunday) within a certain feast-week (Unleavened Bread). Given by God thousands of years earlier, this simple and little known offering perfectly matches the details of Jesus’ death (see note on Mat 26:2). It appears that Noah’s Ark touched land in the new world on this exact day also (see note on Gen 8:4).
Many of the greatest events in the life of the Messiah correspond typologically with a ceremony, a feast, or an offering designed by God’s hand in the Mosaic Law. On the 10th day of the month Jesus entered Jerusalem mounted on a donkey, the same day that each family was to select a perfect lamb for the Passover (Ex 12:3). For four days the scribes and Pharisees proved Him, trying to find a blemish in Jesus’ life and teaching, and on that lurid day of His betrayal, Jews everywhere were carefully cleaning and removing from their homes any spot of leaven. At the very moment He hung dying on the cross, the Passover lambs were being slain in the temple; Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us (1Cor 5:7). The day His body rested in the tomb, all Judaism was observing the holy high day Sabbath, and at the hour of His resurrection the priests were offering the Firstfruits (a type of resurrection). Later, on the exact day of the coming of the Holy Spirit, the Old Testament ceremony of Pentecost was being celebrated. Amazing details, yet many more could be given.
The women had prepared sweet spices the night before, but after sundown so as not to profane the Sabbath (Mark 16:1; Luke 23:56). Then, early in the morning, they went to the tomb to anoint His body. Matthew describes the experience of the two Marys (Mat 27:61), but Luke names several other women who also went to the tomb that morning (Luke 24:10). Coming from several homes, they arrived in separate companies and at slightly different times. Mary and Martha for example, lived outside the city walls in Bethany. They came not knowing how they would move the great stone from mouth of the sepulchre (Mark 16:3) and unaware that the chief priests had installed a guard at the tomb. John’s more detailed account gives only Mary Magdalene’s experience (John 20:1-18), probably because she was the first to see Him risen from the dead.
In spite of the clear language in the Gospel accounts, some propose that the women went to the tomb at nightfall instead of sunrise. Their idea is that the women set out for the tomb as soon as the Sabbath day had ended and they were free to work (Saturday evening). The only motivation for this exercise is to create time for Jesus to be in the grave for three days and three nights according to His words in Matthew 12:40. While I applaud all efforts to be Biblical, there is a better way to understand Jesus’ sign (see our note for Mat 12:40). The simple record of the Gospel is that the women watched His burial Friday evening and stayed in their homes on Saturday. Sunday they went to the tomb as it began to dawn…at the rising of the sun (Mark 16:1-2; Mat 28:1; Luke 23:54-56; John 20:1; Luke 24:1). The idea that the women went to the tomb and found it empty at nightfall is absolutely untenable with the Gospel accounts. The Greek word translated began to dawn, is a form of the common word phos, which means “light.” The women came to the tomb “as it began to grow light.”
A Wednesday or Thursday crucifixion just does not fit the Scriptural records and also conflicts with the early church’s testimony of a Friday crucifixion. Nevertheless, Matthew 28:1 is a primary verse used to advance that idea. In the end of the sabbath, they say that is Saturday evening. The next phrase however, explains further: as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week (also Mark 16:1). Very obviously, that is Sunday morning. Unfortunately, these well-meaning readers use long-shot speculations and erroneous statements to create “clear” proofs for their pet interpretations. Reader beware. The simple reading of the Word will seldom (if ever) be overturned by Greek word studies! In this case the speculators are severely wrong, for a deeper knowledge of Judaism and the Greek language does not confute the simple reading, but actually clarifies it. One benefit of having four Gospels is to avoid misinterpretations, yet even then there are those who will not learn (see note John 20:1).
The re-interpreters have falsely exploited the fact that in the original Greek of Mat 28:1, the word sabbath is in plural form. This, they inform us, means that there were two sabbaths upon consecutive days. Yet, the plural form of the Greek word sabbath is common usage, being a basic part of Jewish culture of that day. The Jews had no names for the days of the week and instead called each day of the week by its number from the sabbath: the first of the sabbath, the second of the sabbath, the third of the sabbath, etc. So when Matthew wrote, “At the end of the sabbaths,” he literally meant, “at the end of the days of the sabbath.” In English we would say, “The week being ended, as it began to dawn toward the first of the new week…” Thus, the Greek word for “week” is the same word for sabbath (sabbaton, see Luke 18:12) and that explains Matthew’s wording. Young’s literal translation shows this: “And on the eve of the sabbaths, at the dawn, toward the first of the sabbaths…” Adam Clarke clarifies that “on the eve” (KJV, in the end) should be translated “after the end,” and he cites several ancient Greek writings which use the same grammatical construction in this sense.
It is eminently clear to me that the women came to the tomb at first light on Sunday morning and they found the tomb empty. They did not witness the moment of Jesus’ resurrection, which motivates some to propose that He had risen during the night, or even upon the Sabbath day before. The gospel of Mark though, cuts off all argument: Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week (Mark 16:9). Matthew’s account contains a proof as well, for it says that as the women were returning to the city, the frightened guards were arriving at the chief priests with a story that would worry the rulers even more (Mat 28:11). The inference is strong that the resurrection had just taken place, for the guards would not have waited much time to give their report. They were in danger of their lives. John’s gospel also indicates that Jesus’ resurrection had taken place moments before the women arrived that morning, for Jesus forbade Mary Magdalene to touch Him because He had not yet ascended to the Father (John 20:17), yet not long after He allowed the women to touch His feet (Mat 28:9; also John 20:20, 27).
Luke, meanwhile, gives the clearest succession of days: Jesus died and was buried on Friday, for that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on (Luke 23:54). The women watched His burial and returned to their homes to prepare ointments; they rested the next day according to the commandment (Luke 23:55-56) and then early the following day they went to the tomb (Luke 24:1). He was thus three days in the grave: parts of Friday and Sunday plus all day on Saturday.
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: 4 And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.
It is unclear if the women saw these things, or if they had already taken place before they arrived. The other Gospels do not mention the guard or an earthquake. My impression is that the stone was already rolled away (Mark 16:3-4) and the keepers had just fled. The women saw only the angel sitting upon the stone and the watch was even then going to report what had happened to the chief priests (Mat 28:11). From Mark’s account, it is also possible that the angel who spoke to the women was not the one that had frightened the watch, but appeared to them inside the tomb.
From the description, this was not your average angel. He is a notable and powerful being with features similar to the angel in Daniel’s vision (Dan 10:6), Ezekiel’s cherubim (Eze 1:13-14) and John’s vision of Christ (Rev 1:14-16). By the other Gospels, we understand that there were several angels at the tomb.
5 And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. 6 He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.
Matthew gives only a brief sketch of how the disciples learned that Jesus had risen from the grave. Using the other Gospels we can better piece together the comings and goings of the women, and also the appearances of angels and Jesus Himself. Almost certainly more than one group of women went to the tomb that morning and they did not all arrive at the same time. Mark’s record shows that one group of women came to the tomb wondering, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre? And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great. And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted (Mark 16:3-5).
Luke is very similar, except that the two men appeared a little after the women entered the tomb: And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus. And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments, and they were afraid (Luke 24:3-4). Some have made a big deal of the fact that Mark mentions one angel but Luke describes two angels. Yet that is easily accounted for by considering the various women’s experiences and the fact that angels can choose to be seen or remain invisible. The gospel of John follows only Mary Magdalene’s experience. She also saw two angels, one at the head and the other at the feet where Jesus’ body had lain (John 20:12). A little while later, John and Peter came to the empty tomb, and while they saw the grave clothes strewn about, there were no angels.
7 And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you. 8 And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word.
The twelve disciples still sat in shock in their Jerusalem quarters, discouraged, demoralized and extremely disappointed. Their hope was dead, for they had trusted that it had been He which should have redeemed Israel (Luke 24:21). Now, suddenly, He was gone; killed in an unthinkable, lowly manner, disgraced and cruelly mocked by the Jews. Neither they nor the women expected to find Jesus alive in three days. So slow were they to believe in His resurrection that even when presented with an empty tomb Mary thought that the gardener had removed His body. And the two on the road to Emmaeus thought the women had simply seen a vision of angels. (Luke 24:23). Even after hearing the women say they had seen Jesus risen from the dead the disciples took them for idle tales (Luke 24:11). They were even skeptical upon seeing Him in person, willing to believe it was His ghost rather than the actual body of Jesus! They needed to watch Him eat, touch Him and note the marks in His hands and side.
While the fact that the disciples were not expecting Jesus to rise from the dead lends credibility to their witness accounts of His resurrection, it must be asked how they could have been so blind to that event after all the prophetic teaching He had given them on the subject (see Mat 17:22-23; 20:17-19). To answer that we should first note that this was something God had withheld from their understanding (John 20:9). Second, given that Jesus frequently spoke in parables which the disciples often could not understand, it is likely that they attributed Jesus’ prophecies concerning His death and resurrection to more of the same spiritually-intended language beyond their mental grasp (see Mat 16:21-23). And finally, the twelve Apostles were not the most intelligent, sharp-minded individuals Jesus could have chosen. He chose honest, humble, God-seeking, uneducated and unrefined men to be witnesses of His ministry. It was extremely hard for them to accept the new covenant truths He was teaching. They simply could not think outside of their pre-conceived ideas that the Messiah would deliver them from the Romans in power and strength, not die an ignoble death at the hands of their enemies! It took special, specific teaching by the risen Christ to the eleven to open their eyes to His purpose in dying on the cross (Luke 24:45).
He goeth before you into Galilee. The disciples evidently stayed in Jerusalem until the Feast of Unleavened Bread was finished (John 20:26), and then went to Galilee where Jesus appeared to seven of the disciples while fishing (John 21:1-14). Later He showed Himself to the eleven on a mountain He had chosen (Mat 28:16). Then they went back to Jerusalem for Pentecost, where Jesus bestowed the Holy Spirit in the same upper room that He had shared with them the day before He died.
9 And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him.
Reconstructing the exact details of the women’s experiences on this tumultuous day is difficult because different groups were moving between their homes, the tomb and the disciples’ hideout. Apparently the women did not feel threatened by the Jewish authorities, but the disciples were in hiding for fear (John 20:19). Half a dozen women, if not more, were involved: Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and John, Joanna, Salome, Jesus’ mother, Martha and Mary of Bethany (Luke 24:10). The Psalmist had written, weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning (Ps 30:5). And so it would be for these women, the first humans to whom Jesus chose to reveal Himself – even before the Eleven. It is a wonder, for the Judaic religion was strongly skewed to benefit the male. In the greater picture though, how appropriate that the first witness of the Savior be the Woman, for she first fell into sin by the deceits of Satan. Furthermore, Christ came into the world through the seed of the Woman (no man involved) and to her the promise was first given (Gen 3:15). It is fitting then that she would be first to see the Victor alive again.
Here is a possible reconstruction of events at Jesus’ resurrection:
- Jesus is hastily buried Friday evening by Joseph and Nicodemus. Many of the women who saw His crucifixion also witnessed His burial (Mat 27:60-61). These made plans to meet together at the tomb as soon as possible to anoint His body more carefully.
- Early on Sunday morning, just as the day was dawning, the groups of women went to the grave. Some wondered how they would move the stone (Mark 16:3), unaware that an angel had just rolled it away to reveal an empty grave! The keepers had fled in terror.
- Arriving at the tomb, the first group of women were greeted by the silent scene of a gaping entrance – the huge stone had been rolled to one side. They entered the tomb and were much perplexed at not finding the body of Jesus (Luke 24:2-4). Thinking that someone had stolen His body, Mary Magdalene left the group and ran to tell the disciples (John 20:2).
- The other women continued at the tomb, wondering what might have happened. They may have explored the tomb further, for these tombs often had numerous niches to hold the bodies of the whole family. Suddenly two angels appeared and one spoke to them, explaining that Jesus had risen from the dead and that they should go and tell the disciples.
- The women obeyed, runnning from the tomb back into the city. They did not see Mary Magdalene, who was ahead of them and reported first to the disciples of Jesus’ missing body. Peter and John immediately ran to the tomb, they did not see the group of women bringing the angel’s message either, probably because they took a different route. Or maybe the disciples had not all spent the night at the same place.
- Mary, Peter and John ran at full speed to the tomb, but John was the faster runner. The two men are amazed by the scene, finding the grave clothes but no body. They do not see any angels. They leave the tomb wondering what it all meant.
- Mary arrived a little later, but remained longer than Peter and John at the tomb, alone and weeping. Stooping down to look into the tomb again, she suddenly saw two angels appear right where Jesus’ body had lain. At that moment, Jesus spoke from behind her and Mary became the first to see the risen Lord (Mark 16:9). Overjoyed with excitement, she ran off again to tell the disciples. Some of them have a hard time believing her story.
- The other women, enroute to tell the disciples their story of seeing two angels at the empty tomb, were unaware that Peter and John have already been told. On the way, Jesus suddenly appeared to them and greeted them. Many manuscripts do not have the first part of Mat 28:9, And as they went to tell His disciples (see NASB, NIV). It is possible then, that Jesus did not appear to these women until later.
A slightly modified reconstruction has Mary Magdalene arriving earlier and alone at the tomb. Seeing it empty, she runs to tell John and Peter, who go to see for themselves with Mary following. They also see that the tomb is empty and leave wondering about it. Mary stays at the tomb, distraught and weeping, when Jesus suddenly appears and speaks to her. She runs back to tell the disciples what she has witnessed. Meanwhile, the other women arrive at the tomb, where an angel announces that Jesus has risen from the dead. Not knowing that Mary, John and Peter have already been to the tomb, these women run with to the disciples with the news. On the way Jesus meets them and they worship Him.
10 Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me.
The disciples would see Jesus that evening (John 20:19), but it was in Galilee that He spake to them many things pertaining to the Kingdom of God (Acts 1:3; 13:31). There they would also witness Him ascending back into heaven. See verses 16-20. Perhaps around this time Jesus appeared to Peter alone, an event mentioned in Luke 24:34 and 1Cor 15:5, but of which there is no further account in the Scriptures.
11 Now when they were going, behold, some of the watch came into the city, and shewed unto the chief priests all the things that were done. 12 And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers, 13 Saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept. 14 And if this come to the governor’s ears, we will persuade him, and secure you. 15 So they took the money, and did as they were taught: and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.
The soldiers had no choice but to accept the elders’ advice. If they went to Pilate with this news, they risked being put to death for failing in their duty. Would Pilate believe their tale of angels opening the tomb and stealing the body? And so they collaborated with the Jews to keep quiet. Pilate was only in Jerusalem to keep peace during the Passover. In a few days he would be leaving for his home in Caesarea. We will persuade him, and secure you, the Jews told the men. It was not an empty promise, for the Roman governors were known to take bribes. Felix, for example, kept Paul in prison because he hoped to obtain money from him (Act 24:26).
The Jews’ story is the most popular argument of skeptics to discount the resurrection of Jesus Christ even today, yet common sense declares it entirely impossible that the 11 disciples would go to their individual violent deaths preaching something they knew was a lie. One famous skeptic proposed that Mary Magdalene stole His body, yet that highly improbable idea does not account for the fact that the Apostles testified to have seen Him on multiple occasions alive from the dead: talking, walking and eating. Indeed, one of them would not be convinced even by an empty grave; he must see Him and touch the nail prints before he would believe that Jesus had risen from the grave (John 20:25). He too would turn from skeptic to fervent belief. One tradition says that doubting Thomas was stabbed to death while preaching the resurrection of Christ in far-away India about 40 years later. No, these men were absolutely sure that Jesus was alive; there was not the slightest doubt in their minds. With their own eyes they witnessed Him risen from the dead, they had heard Him speak and had touched His resurrected body (1John 1:1).
16 Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. 17 And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted.
Some think this was the same mountain where He had preached the Sermon on the Mount (Mat 5-7), and that more than five hundred men assembled there to see Him (1Cor 15:6). Luke gives more details surrounding the first appearances of Jesus to His disciples (Luke 24:13-47). John records that Jesus appeared twice to the disciples in Jerusalem before they returned to Galilee (John 20:19, 26).
But some doubted. Thomas, who was absent the first time Jesus appeared to the disciples, was one of these (John 20:26-29). Fears and doubts are major obstacles to saving Faith and originate in the intellect and/or emotions. Satan is very adept at manipulating these areas of Mankind’s minds to keep them from believing and following Christ.
18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
Jesus did not receive His God-powers in the sense of being granted or bestowed with supernatural Power. Rather, He possessed them by nature, by being the son of God. At the Cross however, He gained a new authority or power over Satan and his kingdom of darkness. See this described in Rev 12. At that moment, the throne of the New Kingdom was set up (Dan 9:7), and He will rule in it forever and ever (Is 9:6-7). See also Eph 1:20-22. This tremendous victory over Satan meant that Christ could justly announce to His disciples, All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth.
19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
The Greek is better translated, “Go and make disciples of all peoples, baptizing them in the names of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and teaching them to keep and obey all the things that I have commanded you.” The parallel passage says, Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature (Mark 16:15-16). This is the missionary mandate which the Apostles received and followed. Their working results are remarkable and without peer in the histories of the world.
Unto the end of the world (Gk – aion). Some translations read, unto the end of the age. The Apostles (and early church writers) used the term aion when referring to the literal, physical end of the world such as described in 2Pet 3:10-12. The same expression is used in Mat 13:40 in describing the final destruction of the earth and judgment of all mankind. Three words should be studied in this subject: the world in the social sense of an age, era or generation (aion), the world in the cosmic sense of the creation of earth and heavens, the universe (cosmos), and the world in the physical sense of land and territory (ge). These terms are used almost interchangeably in the New Testament, but do have individually unique connotations.
The false doctrine of Preterism is abruptly halted by Jesus’ promise to be with His people to the end of the age, for Preterists claim that the age ended at the fall of Jerusalem in AD 70.
Those who reject the doctrine of the Trinity are also greatly convicted by these verses. They say that Jesus was only a man or angel and that the Holy Spirit is not a person but the power or spirit of God. Why then baptize into the names of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, if one is not God and the other is just a concept? It is folly to so manipulate the Scriptures.