20160530 Monday, May 30 2016
John 20: The First Witnesses Of The Messiah's Resurrection

by Wayne Blank
See also 1 Year Holy Bible Reading Plan

"Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the LORD, and that He had spoken these things unto her"

The first humans to witness that the Resurrection of the Messiah had happened were Mary of Magdela, Mary the mother of James (i.e. Mary the mother of Jesus and His brother James; Matthew 13:55 and see What Does The Bible Really Say About Mary? and Why Did Jesus Have Brothers and Sisters?) and Salome (Mary's sister /the apostle John's mother / Jesus' aunt; see The Kinsfolk Of Jesus Of Nazareth). The other witnesses were the Tomb guards who had been posted there to guarantee that no one could fake a resurrection (see The Sign Cover Up).

"16:1 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." (Mark 16:1 KJV)

"28:1 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. 28:2 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. 28:3 His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: 28:4 And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men." (Matthew 28:1-4 KJV)

Mary of Magdela then told Peter and John - who rushed back to the Tomb with her (see Why Did They Find The Tomb Already Empty At Sunrise?).

"20:1 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. 20:2 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.

20:3 Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre. 20:4 So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre. 20:5 And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in. 20:6 Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie, 20:7 And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself. 20:8 Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed. 20:9 For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead." (John 20:1-9 KJV)

The apostles, as well as all of the other believers, including Mary of Magdala, were not yet fully aware that the resurrection was going to happen. As stated in the verse above, "For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead" so they simply returned home from the empty Tomb. All except Mary of Magdala who stood weeping outside.

Two angels then appeared to Mary and asked her why she was crying. Her answer shows that she, like the others, did not yet fully understand that it was going to happen then. She thought that someone had moved the Body i.e. "Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him."

Mary then became not only the first to discover the empty Tomb, and not only the first to fully realize that the Messiah had indeed risen from the dead, but the first human to speak with the resurrected Messiah. As such, it was Mary of Magdela who was the first to proclaim the key factor of the Gospel to other humans: "Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her."

"20:10 Then the disciples went away again unto their own home. 20:11 But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre, 20:12 And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.

20:13 And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou?

She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him.

20:14 And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.

20:15 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou?

She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.

20:16 Jesus saith unto her, Mary.

She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.

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.

20:18 Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her." (John 20:10-18 KJV)

Hours later, in the evening of the next day (the beginning and end of days were reckoned from sunset), the risen LORD (see The Identity Of The LORD God and The LORD God Our Saviour) appeared to the disciples who were gathered together out of fear of attack (see Why Was The South A Dangerous Place?).

"20:19 Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. 20:20 And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord.

20:21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. 20:22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: 20:23 Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained." (John 20:19-23 KJV)

The famous incident that resulted in Thomas becoming popularly known as "doubting Thomas" was moreover a matter of showing him to be "prove all things Thomas" - a Biblical principle of faith (see Prove All Things, Hold Fast What Is Good)

"20:24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. 20:25 The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord.

But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.

20:26 And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. 20:27 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.

20:28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.

20:29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.

20:30 And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: 20:31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name." (John 20:24-31 KJV)

Fact Finder: What is the significance of the timing of the Messiah's Resurrection to Pentecost - and the correct counting of days to Pentecost?
See The Passover To Pentecost Connection