Well the Jewish Sanhedrin court, made up of the chief priests, the Sadducees, and the Pharisees have “won.” For three years they have been confronted and embarrassed by an itinerant Rabbi who came out of the city of Nazareth in the land Galilee and Who had made blasphemous claims that He was the Son of God. They understood well that the Son of God would be God. But this Jesus was only a Man, they said.
Galilee? Everyone who knows anything at all knows that “No prophet has arisen from Galilee.”
Jesus had even said that God was His Father making Himself equal with God.
The Jews had tried to stone Him to death because He made such outrageous claims, but in some strange way He was always able to escape from the mobs that they had incited. It was reported that He said it was because His “hour had not yet come,” whatever that may mean.
They knew that it was His custom to come to Jerusalem for the three appointed feasts each year and now it was Passover week. One of His disciples came to the Sanhedrin and made a deal that for the price of a slave. This Judas Iscariot would lead them to the place where He went to pray and there they could “arrest” Him.
The Jews put Him on trial in the Sanhedrin court and it was easy enough to convict Him of blasphemy. But the Roman Government did not allow the Jews to carry out capital punishment and so the Jews made up a charge that because Jesus had said that He was a “king” that would make Him guilty of treason and the Romans would kill Him for them.
Even though the Roman governor of Judea found Jesus not guilty the Jews were able to threaten Pilate and he had Jesus crucified.
So this Man who said that their father was the devil and who had called them hypocrites and whitewashed sepulchers was dead. All they had to do now was make sure that His disciples did not steal His body. If that happened His disciples could say that the preposterous claim He made that after three days and three nights that He would arise from the dead was true.
But He is dead and all that remains is to bury Him and guard the tomb.
John 19:38 - John 20:31
38 After this, Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly, for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus; and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took the body of Jesus.
39 And Nicodemus, who at first came to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds.
40 Then they took the body of Jesus, and bound it in strips of linen with the spices, as the custom of the Jews is to bury.
(38-40) Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus
We know about Nicodemus fro John chapter 3 and 7.
The town of Arimathea is about 20 miles NW of Jerusalem.
Matthew writes that this Joseph was a rich man.
Matthew 27:57-61
57 Now when evening had come, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who himself had also become a disciple of Jesus.
58 This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be given to him.
59 When Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth,
60 and laid it in his new tomb which he had hewn out of the rock; and he rolled a large stone against the door of the tomb, and departed.
61 And Mary Magdalene was there, and the other Mary, sitting opposite the tomb.
Mark in his gospel writes that Joseph was an important member of the Sanhedrin and that he was a devout man.
Mark 15:42-47
42 Now when evening had come, because it was the Preparation Day, that is, the day before the Sabbath,
43 Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent council member, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, coming and taking courage, went in to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.
44 Pilate marveled that He was already dead; and summoning the centurion, he asked him if He had been dead for some time.
45 So when he found out from the centurion, he granted the body to Joseph.
46 Then he bought fine linen, took Him down, and wrapped Him in the linen. And he laid Him in a tomb which had been hewn out of the rock, and rolled a stone against the door of the tomb.
47 And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses observed where He was laid.
Luke writes that Joseph was not a party to the plot to kill Jesus and was absent when the Sanhedrin voted to kill Jesus.
Luke 23:50-56
50 Now behold, there was a man named Joseph, a council member, a good and just man. 51 He had not consented to their decision and deed. He was from Arimathea, a city of the Jews, who himself was also waiting for the kingdom of God.
52 This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.
53 Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a tomb that was hewn out of the rock, where no one had ever lain before.
54 That day was the Preparation, and the Sabbath drew near.
55 And the women who had come with Him from Galilee followed after, and they observed the tomb and how His body was laid.
56 Then they returned and prepared spices and fragrant oils. And they rested on the Sabbath according to the commandment.
That is all we are told about Joseph of Arimathea but it is enough to reveal the fulfillment of Isaiah 53:9:
And they made His grave with the wicked —
But with the rich at His death,
Because He had done no violence,
Nor was any deceit in His mouth.
Jewish burial involved strips of linen wrapping the arms and the legs and the body and placing myrrh and aloes enclosed with the wrappings.
The Jews did not embalm as did the Egyptians, who removed the brain and the entrails.
They used strips of linen, therefore not a single "shroud" as in the so- called "Shroud of Turin."
41 Now in the place where He was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid.
42 So there they laid Jesus, because of the Jews' Preparation Day, for the tomb was nearby.
(41, 42) We simply do not know the place where His tomb is located. If we did it would probably have more honor than Christ, seeing we are idolaters by nature.
Note: This is why God buried Moses so the Jews couldn't make his remains or tomb an object of worship.
Deuteronomy 34:5-6
5 So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the LORD.
6 And He buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, opposite Beth Peor; but no one knows his grave to this day.
The tomb was nearby; it was new, i.e., never before used, so no corruption had ever been in it (Psalm 16:10); it was owned by Joseph (Matthew 27:60), Cf. Isaiah 53:9; it was hewn out (Mark 15:46); closed with a great stone (Matthew 27:60); had a low entrance, had to stoop to enter (John 20:11); large enough for a place to sit on either end where the angels sat.
In spite of all that men can do, there is victory!
Psalm 2:1-6
1 Why do the nations rage,
And the people plot a vain thing?
2 The kings of the earth set themselves,
And the rulers take counsel together,
Against the LORD and against His Anointed, saying,
3 "Let us break Their bonds in pieces
And cast away Their cords from us."
4 He who sits in the heavens shall laugh;
The LORD shall hold them in derision.
5 Then He shall speak to them in His wrath,
And distress them in His deep displeasure:
6 "Yet I have set My King
On My holy hill of Zion."
It is noteworthy that man’s sin problem began is a garden and man’s propitiation for sin is accomplished in a garden.
The Jews thought that His death would be the end of the matter. But the Christian faith is not grounded in a Man who is dead but the Man who is alive forever!
John 20
The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the very heart of the Gospel! This does not in any way diminish other aspects of the record of Jesus of Nazareth; but it authenticates all the claims of OT Scripture as to the promises of God and how God deals with sin.
1 Corinthians 15:1-8
Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, 2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you — unless you believed in vain.
3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,
4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve.
6 After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep.
7 After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles.
8 Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time.
Verses 12-14
12 Now if Christ is preached that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?
13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen.
14 And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty.
The theme of all of the sermons in the Book of Acts is the resurrection!
The Old Testament, in types and shadows, indicated the resurrection but until the event occurred in actual history it was still a promise yet to be fulfilled or even understood. The disciples did not fully understand until Jesus breathed on them the Holy Spirit.
But “It Is Finished!”
Some of the OT references:
Genesis 3:15 (the serpent’s head after the seed’s heel is bruised)
Genesis 22:4 & Hebrews 11:19 (Isaac received from the ‘dead.’)
Jonah is 3 days & 3 nights in the belly of the fish.
Psalm 16:9-11 is explicit.
The three Persons of the Godhead are always found in concert:
Event
FatherSonHoly Spirit
IncarnationHeb 10:5 Phil 2:7 Lu 1:35
AtonementIsa 53:6,10 Eph 5:2 Heb 9:14
Resurrection Ro 6:4 Jn 10:17 Ro 8:11
The Holy Trinity always is in unity because there is only one will of God.
The Incarnation of the Christ
Incarnation: God the Father - Hebrews 10:5-7
Therefore, when He came into the world, He said:
"Sacrifice and offering You did not desire,
But a body You have prepared for Me.
6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin
You had no pleasure.
7 Then I said, 'Behold, I have come —
In the volume of the book it is written of Me —
To do Your will, O God.'"
Incarnation: God the Son - Philippians 2:5-7
Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.
Incarnation: God the Holy Spirit - Luke 1:35
And the angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.
The Atonement by the Christ
Atonement: God the Father - Isaiah 53:6
All we like sheep have gone astray;
We have turned, every one, to his own way;
And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.
Atonement: God the Son - Ephesians 5:1-2
Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.
Atonement: God the Holy Spirit - Hebrews 9:14
… how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
The Resurrection of the Son
Resurrection: God the Father - Romans 6:4
Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
Resurrection: God the Son - John 10:17
"Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again.
Resurrection: God the Holy Spirit - Romans 8:11
But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.
Exposition of the text – John 20:1-10
John 20
1 Now the first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb.
(1) Mary Magdalene and other women came to complete the burial process (Luke 24:1; Mark 16:1).
Luke 24:1-12
1 Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they, and certain other women with them, came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared.
2 But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb.
3 Then they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.
4 And it happened, as they were greatly perplexed about this, that behold, two men stood by them in shining garments.
5 Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them, "Why do you seek the living among the dead?
6 He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee,
7 saying, 'The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.'"
8 And they remembered His words.
9 Then they returned from the tomb and told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest.
10 It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them, who told these things to the apostles.
11 And their words seemed to them like idle tales, and they did not believe them.
12 But Peter arose and ran to the tomb; and stooping down, he saw the linen cloths lying by themselves; and he departed, marveling to himself at what had happened.
Mark 16:1
Now when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, that they might come and anoint Him.
The women were concerned about the large stone that blocked the entrance to the tomb.
Mark 16:2-4
2 Very early in the morning, on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen.
3 And they said among themselves, "Who will roll away the stone from the door of the tomb for us?"
4 But when they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away — for it was very large.
The stone was removed (lit, lifted) and laying flat: not so that Jesus could be released but to show that the grave was empty and so Peter and John could enter and then tell the others about it.
2 Then she ran and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and said to them, "They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him."
(2) Mary Magdalene still does not grasp was has happened. She can only think that His body has been taken away. She runs to Peter and John. Notice that Mary does not go in to the tomb. Under law a woman could not be a witness.
3 Peter therefore went out, and the other disciple, and were going to the tomb.
4 So they both ran together, and the other disciple outran Peter and came to the tomb first.
5 And he, stooping down and looking in, saw the linen cloths lying there; yet he did not go in.
6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; and he saw the linen cloths lying there,
7 and the handkerchief that had been around His head, not lying with the linen cloths, but folded together in a place by itself.
(3-7) Peter goes first; John outruns him, stooped and "glanced" (5) but did not enter; "studied" (6); orderliness is the point (proof); the linen strips were not scattered as if ripped off by thieves (who might steal the valuable spices), but were as though His body passed through the clothes. If friends had stolen the body the clothes would not even be there.
8 Then the other disciple, who came to the tomb first, went in also; and he saw and believed. 9 For as yet they did not know the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead.
(8, 9) John enters and "perceived with understanding" and believed. Believed what? John believed the OT Scriptures and what Jesus had told him over the three years he lived with Jesus.
10 Then the disciples went away again to their own homes.
(10) They went home.
What else to do? Their hope is dead and now they do not even know where His body has been moved to.
The disappointment is well expressed by the two on the Road to Emmaus in Luke 24. They had hoped that He was the Christ but they saw Him crucified. They know that He is dead!
But Jesus is not dead but alive!
Mary Magdalene: John 20:11-18
11 But Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping, and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the tomb. 12 And she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.
(11, 12) Mary Magdalene returns, sobbing, and she too looks.
She sees two angels.
13 Then they said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?"
She said to them, "Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him."
(13) Why are you weeping (instead of rejoicing?)
14 Now when she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus.
(14) Mary sees Jesus but does not recognize Him.
15 Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?"
She, supposing Him to be the gardener, said to Him, "Sir, if You have carried Him away, tell me where You have laid Him, and I will take Him away."
(15) She asks the same question again. She still does not know who it is but He looks like a man.
16 Jesus said to her, "Mary!"
She turned and said to Him, "Rabboni!" (which is to say, Teacher).
(16) "Miriam" is her original Aramaic name that only her family and friends would know. She replies in Aramaic "Rabboni" and John adds that in Hebrew it means Teacher.
John 10:4
And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.
17 Jesus said to her, "Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, 'I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.'"
(17) "Stop clinging to Me," not, do not touch Me absolutely, Cf. 20:27.
Meaning? My earthly relationships are ended but will be replaced by the Holy Spirit.
2 Corinthians 5:16
Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer.
John 16:12-15
12 "I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.
13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.
14 He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.
15 All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you.
He has not risen to remain with them, but to ascend to the Father, therefore go and tell My brethren....
Psalm 22:22
I will declare Your name to My brethren;
In the midst of the assembly I will praise You.
Hebrews 2:11-12
11 For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren,
12 saying:"I will declare Your name to My brethren;
In the midst of the assembly I will sing praise to You."
18 Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that He had spoken these things to her.
(18) Mary obeys Him.
Mary Magdalene is the first one to see the risen Christ.
Mary Magdalene is the first one to receive the truth of the resurrection.
Mary Magdalene is the first one to obey the risen Christ.
Jesus Appears to His Disciples: John 20:19-25
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, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, "Peace be with you."
(19) A point is made that it is the evening of the same day (John uses Roman time, otherwise evening would be the next day).
They were afraid of the Jews, probably thinking they would be killed too.
Suddenly He was standing in their midst.
We are not told how He entered the room.
"Peace," not "shame on you."
20 When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.
(20) It is really the same Jesus they buried! Nail marks. A body, not a phantom. Not a "spiritual" resurrection only which some claim so as to deny His bodily resurrection. They rejoice!
21 So Jesus said to them again, "Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you."
(21) Cf. 17:20; equality with the Father. He sends and I send.
22 And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit.
23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."
(22, 23) Jesus breathed... Receive the Holy Spirit. They were already regenerate; therefore as to their mission, being sent. Notice the Holy Spirit before Pentecost.
Under the authority of Christ the Church has authority (Luke 24:47). Only God can forgive sin and that by the blood of Christ. There is no record of an apostle ever taking to himself the power to forgive sin. But, as believers, the church can proclaim forgiveness through faith in Christ.
24 Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 The other disciples therefore said to him, "We have seen the Lord." So he said to them, "Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe."
(24, 25) Thomas, the "twin," was prepared to die with Jesus (11:16); contradicted the Lord and expressed doubt (14:5); and is absent at a very important time (20:24).
Thomas missed a week of blessing because he was not with the church.
Verse 25 shows that Thomas did not have "peace." Thomas wants to determine the conditions of believing.
My Lord and My God! John 20:26-29
26 And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, "Peace to you!"
27 Then He said to Thomas, "Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing."
28 And Thomas answered and said to Him, "My Lord and my God!"
(26-28) The time is the next Sunday. Jesus answers Thomas precisely on each condition. Did Thomas actually feel His side, etc? Probably not. On other occasions they did touch Jesus after His resurrection (Luke 24:39; 1 John 1:1)
Thomas is now submissive and calls Jesus "God." This is the only direct reference in the New Testament where a Jew called Jesus God.
29 Jesus said to him, "Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."
(29) Proofs and signs do not produce faith. True faith is grounded in the Word of God.
The Purpose of John's Gospel: John 20:30-31
30 And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.
(30, 31) Cf. John 1:1 The purpose is to show that Jesus of Nazareth is God, or the Son of God (which means the essence of God). The greatest evidence that Jesus is God is that He arose from the dead according to the Scripture (Old Testament).
There are many much more comprehensive expositions of the burial and resurrection of Jesus the Christ. What I have tried to give to you is a distillation of much study and to emphasize what I believe are the crucial truths of this passage of Scripture.
The matter before each of us is, do we believe that Jesus of Nazareth died according to the Scriptures and that He has arisen from the dead. Do we believe that our own sin condemns us to an eternal hell? Do we believe so much that we can repent and turn from our sin and come in simple faith to Jesus? Do we believe that what Jesus has already done for sinners is sufficient and that anything that we might add to what Jesus has already done will further condemn us?
This is the Gospel. Christ died for sinners.
Saved sinners repent and trust in Jesus.
Are you a saved sinner or are you still a lost sinner?
We preach the Gospel and we call on sinners to trust Jesus Christ. We do not know nor do we need to know how the Holy Spirit uses the word of the Gospel to convict of sin and brings sinners to repentance and commitment to Jesus Christ. But this I do know, that you are called on to confess Jesus Christ in a public manner and to follow Him in believer’s baptism.
Amen
