The Tomb of Jesus Is Empty
The Women Find the Tomb Empty
Three days later,1 behold, there was a great earthquake. For an angel of the Lord had come down from heaven, rolled the stone away, and then sat down on top of it. His appearance was as bright as lightning and his clothing as white as snow. And from fear of him, the guards shook and then fell down as though they were dead2 (M 28:2-4).
2 Now quite a while later, after the Sabbath's - both the Passover and the regular weekly Sabbath3 - on Sunday, the first day of the week, Miriam Magdalene and the other Miriam went to the tomb early in the morning (M 28:1a14:15 & c, L 24:1a, J 20:1a).
3 And now, being raised from the dead, Jesus first appeared early on Sunday morning, the first day of the week, to Miriam Magdalene (of whom He had cast out seven demons). She went and reported it to those who had been with Him while they were mourning and weeping. And when they heard that He was alive, and that she had seen Him, they still did not believe it (K 16:9-11).
4 This is how it happened, Miriam came to the tomb while it was still dark and saw that the stone had already been moved up away from the tomb's entrance. After which, she then ran and came to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, "They have taken the Lord's body from the tomb and put it somewhere, and we do not know where" (J 20:1b-2).
5 Peter and the other disciple got up and ran to the tomb. They both ran together. But the other disciple began to outrun Peter and came to the tomb first. Once he arrived, he stooped to the side,4 looked in, and saw the linen cloths lying there. But he did not go in (L 24:12a, J 20:3-5).
6 Then Simon Peter came after him, stooped to the side,5 looked in, and then went in. He saw the linen cloths lying there, as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around His head. But the cloth that was wrapped around His head6 was not lying with the other linen cloths. It was crumpled up and lying in a place by itself7 (J 20:6-7).
7 Then the other disciple, the one who came to the tomb first, went in, saw, and believed (For they were not yet aware of the Scripture on how He needed to rise from the dead) (J 20:8-9).
8 After that, Peter left, puzzling8 to himself over what had happened (L 24:12b).
9 Miriam, however, stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she also stooped to the side9 and looked into the tomb. She saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had been placed. One was sitting at the head and the other at the feet. And so they asked her, "Woman, why are you crying?" (J 20:11-13a).
10 She said, "Because they have taken my Lord away, and I do not know where"10 (J 20:13b).
11 After saying this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there. But she did not know it was Him. He said, "Woman, why are you crying? And who are you looking for?" (J 20:14-15a).
12 Thinking He was the gardener, she said, "Sir, if You have carried Him away, tell me where You put Him, and I will go and take Him off your hands" (J 20:15b).
13 "Miriam!" Jesus said (J 20:16a).
14 Just then, she turned to Him and said, in Hebrew,11 "Rabboni!" (Which is to say "My Teacher") (J 20:16b).
15 Jesus said, "Do not hold on to Me like that, Miriam.12 For I have not yet gone up to My Father. But go to My brethren and tell them that I am going to go up to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God" (J 20:17).
16 So Miriam Magdalene went back and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord this time, and that He had also said these things to her (J 20:18).
17 Simultaneous to this situation with Miriam Magdalene, as the first day of the week began to dawn, very early in the morning, once the sun had already begun to rise, after the Sabbath had ended,13 Miriam (the mother of Jacob),14 Salome, 15 came to the tomb bringing the spices they had prepared so they could come and anoint Him16 (M 28:1b but not a or c, K 16:1-2, L 24:1b).
18 Then as they were approaching the tomb, they said to each other, "Who is going to roll the stone away from the door for us?" (For it was very large) (K 16:3a & c).
19 When they looked up, however, they saw that the stone had already been rolled away, and so they went in. But they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus17 (K 16:3b but not a or c & -4, L 24:2-3).
20 Then it happened, as they were confused from all of this, behold, two men in very bright clothes were standing near them. And when they looked in, they saw that one of them who looked like a young man wearing a very white robe was sitting on the right side of the inside of the tomb, and they were amazed. And being afraid, the women bowed their faces to the earth (K 16:5, L 24:4-5a).
21 "Do not fear," the angels18 said, "you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth who was crucified. But why are you looking for the living among the dead. He is not here. He is risen! Look at the place where they laid Him. Remember how He said to you while He was still in Galilee, 'The Son of Man must be handed over into the hands of sinful men, crucified, and then rise again on the third day.'"19 (Then they remembered Him saying this.) (M 28:5-6, K 16:6, L 24:5b-8)
22 "But hurry! Go tell His disciples, and specifically Peter, that He is going into Galilee ahead of you20 (See Matthew 26:32 and Mark 14:28). You will see Him there just as He told you. Now, behold, I have told you" (M 28:7, K 16:7).
23 They quickly went out and fled from the tomb with fear and great joy. They were trembling and amazed. Therefore, they did not say a thing to anyone since they were so frightened (M 28:8a, K 16:8).
24 However, they ran and reported this to His disciples. But as they were on their way, behold, Jesus met them and said, "Rejoice!" They came, grabbed Him by His feet and worshipped Him (M 28:8b-9).
25 Jesus said, "Do not be afraid! Go and tell My brothers to go to Galilee, and they will see Me there." So they returned from the tomb and told the eleven and the rest of His disciples about all this (M 28:10, L 24:9).
26 Meanwhile, while they were on their way, behold, some of the guards came into the city and told the chief priests about everything that had happened. In turn, they had a meeting with the elders. They all conspired together and agreed to give the soldiers a lot of money and said, "Tell anyone who asks, 'His disciples came during the night and stole His body while we were sleeping.' And if the governor finds out about it, we will persuade him not to harm you" (M 28:11-14).
27 The soldiers took the money and did what they were instructed. And this is what is told all over among the Jews, wherever it is they are scattered among the nations,21 even to this day (M 28:15).
28 Now it was Miriam Magdalene, Joanna, Miriam (the mother of Jacob)22 and the other women with them who had told these things to the ones he had appointed to be sent out to preach the good news,23 the apostles. But the women's words just seemed to be like nonsense to them, to where they did not believe it (L 24:10-11).
The Risen Lord Appears to His Disciples
He Appears to Two of Them on the Road
29 After that, He appeared in another form to two of them as they were walking on their way into the countryside. And this is how He had appeared to them: On the same day that the women found the tomb empty, behold, two men were traveling to a village called Emmaus (a village about seven miles northwest of Jerusalem). They were walking and talking to each other about everything that had happened. As they were talking with each other, trying to figure everything out, Jesus Himself came up to them and began to walk with them. But they were kept from recognizing Him. He asked them, "What are you talking with each other about as you walk?" (K 16:12-13, L 24:13-17a).
30 They stopped and stood there looking sad . . . (L 24:17b).
31 Then the one whose name was Cleopas,24 said, "Are You the only stranger in Jerusalem not knowing everything that has happened these last few days?" (L 24:18).
32 "What things?" He asked (L 24:19a).
33 They said, "The things about Jesus of Nazareth. The One who was a Prophet. A man mighty in word and in the presence of God and all the people. And how the chief priests and our rulers had given Him over to be sentenced to death by crucifixion. But we were hoping He was the one who was going to redeem Israel" (L 24:19b-21).
34 "On top of that, today is the third day since all these things have happened, and some of the women who were part of our group stunned us when they went to the tomb and did not find His body. Instead, they came back and told us they had also seen a vision of angels who had said He was alive. And some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said.25 But they did not see Him" (L 24:21b-24).
35 Jesus said to them, "O you who lacks understanding, who are also slow of heart to believe in everything the prophets have said! Was the Anointed One not suppose to have suffered these things and then to enter into His glory?" Then starting with Moses all the way through the Prophets, He thoroughly explained the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures (L 24:25-27).
36 Then as they came close to the village they were going to, He made as if He was going to continue walking (L 24:28).
37 But they prevented Him, saying, "Stay with us for the night since it is almost evening and the day almost over" (L 24:29a).
38 He went in to stay with them (L 24:29b).
39 Then it happened, while He was reclining with them at the table, that He took bread, blessed, broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened so that they recognized Him (J 24:30-31a).
40 Just then He vanished from their sight (L 24:31b).
41 When that happened, they said to each other, "Did our hearts not burn within us while He was talking with us on the road and while He opened up the Scriptures to us?" (L 24:32).
Jesus Appears to the Rest
42 Later on that same day, in the evening, still on the first day of the week, they returned to Jerusalem and found the eleven, and those who were with them,26 gathered together, saying, "The Lord really is risen. And now He has also appeared to Simon!" So then the two men told them about all the things that had happened to them on the road, and how they could recognize Him when He broke the bread (L 24:33-35).
43 Now the doors where the disciples were assembled were shut because they were afraid of the Jews. But as the two men were saying this, Jesus Himself appeared to the eleven27 as they were reclining at the table. He came and stood right in the middle of them all and said, "Peace be with you" (K 16:14a, L 24:36, J 20:19).
44 But they were stunned and very fearful thinking that they were seeing a ghost (L 24:37).
45 He expressed His disapproval28 of their unbelief and hardness of heart (since they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen) and said, "Why are you troubled? And why do doubts rise up in your hearts?" Once He said this He showed them His hands and side and said, "Look at My hands and feet; you can see that it is I, Myself. Go ahead, touch Me and see. A ghost does not have flesh and bones as you can see I have" (K 16:14b, L 24:38-40, J 20:20a).
46 But while they still did not believe because of their excitement, and while they just stood there and marveled, He said, "Do you have anything here for Me to eat?" They gave Him a piece of a broiled fish and some honeycomb. He took it and ate it right in front of them. Then He said, "This is what I told you while I was still with you, how everything written about Me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the Psalms had to all be accomplished" (L 24:41-45).
47 Then the disciples rejoiced from seeing the Lord (J 20:20b).
48 Jesus said to them again, "Peace to you!" Then He said: "This is what is written, that the Messiah must suffer and rise again from the dead the third day; and that upon His name all this is to be proclaimed to all the nations, for the changing of ones direction of thinking29 into the forgiveness of sins, beginning here at Jerusalem. And you are the witnesses of all this. Therefore, just as the Father has sent Me, I also send you" (L 24:46-48, J 20:21).
49 Once He said this, He breathed on them and told them, "Receive the Holy Spirit." Then He said, "When you forgive the sins of anyone, they have been forgiven them. But whenever you hold anyone to their sin, their sin remains"30 (J 20:22-23).
Thomas Touches Jesus Hands and Side
50 Now Thomas (sometimes called "the double," meaning the twin), being one of the twelve, was not with them the first time Jesus came. The other disciples had only told him, "We have seen the Lord." When they did, he told them, "I will not believe it unless I first see His hands, put my finger into their nail marks, or put my hand into His side for myself" (J 20:24-25).
51 Eight days after this, His disciples again being there, but this time with Thomas, Jesus came to them while the doors were shut, stood in their midst, and said, "Peace to you!" Then He said to Thomas, "Reach your finger out and put it here. Look at My hands! Reach your hand out and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving but believe!" (J 20:26-27).
52 "My Lord and my God!" Thomas said (J 20:28).
53 "Thomas, do you believe now because you have seen Me? Well I tell you, blessed are those who have not seen and still believe" (J 20:29).
54 After this, the disciples went back to Galilee and into their own homes (M 28:16b but not a or c, J 20:10).
Jesus asks, "Do You Love Me Peter?"
55 While they were in Galilee, Jesus again showed Himself to the disciples; but this time it was out at the Sea of Tiberias (which is also called the sea of Galilee). And this is how it happened, Simon Peter, Thomas (called "Didymus" or "the double"), Nathanael (from Cana of Galilee), the two sons of Zebedee (Jacob and John), and two other disciples of His were all together when Simon Peter said to them, "I am going fishing (See Matthew 24:45-47) (J 21:1-3a but not b or c).
56 "We're coming with you,"31 they said (J 21:3b but not a or c).
57 So then they went out, got into the boat, and caught nothing the entire night (J 21:3c).
58 When morning came, Jesus was standing on the shore; but the disciples did not know it was Him. Jesus asked them, "Children, do you have anything to eat?" (J 21:4-5a).
60 He said, "Then throw the net over on the right side of the boat, and you will find some." So they did, and now they were unable to pull it back in to the boat because their was such a large number of fish (J 21:6).
61 Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It's the Lord!" When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put his outer garment back on (since he had taken it off to work) and dove into the sea (J 21:7).
62 The other disciples, however, came over to Him in the little boat since they were already not far from the land but only about a hundred yards away.32 They came dragging the net with the fish. As they got out of the boat and up on to the land, they saw a pile of hot coals with some fish and bread cooking on them (J 21:8-9).
63 Jesus said, "Bring some of the fish you have just caught" (J 21:10).
64 Simon Peter went out and dragged the net full of fish to the land.33 It had one hundred and fifty-three fish. And although there were so many, the net still had not torn (J 21:11).
65 "Come and have breakfast," Jesus said. None of the disciples even dared to ask Him, "Who are You?" because they knew it was the Lord (J 21:12).
66 Jesus came, took the bread, and gave it to them. The same with the fish (J 21:13).
67 This, then, is now the third time Jesus showed Himself to His disciples after He was raised from the dead (J 21:14).
68 After eating breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon of Jonah,34 do you love Me unconditionally - more than these?"35 (J 21:15a but not b or c).
69 "Yes, Lord," he said, "You know that I love You as a friend" (J 21:15b but not a or c).
70 Jesus said, "Feed My lambs" (J 21:15c).
71 He said to him again, a second time, "Simon of Jonah, do you love Me unconditionally?" (J 21:16a but not b or c).
72 "Yes, Lord, You know I love You as a friend" (J 21:16b but not a or c).
73 "Shepherd My sheep" (See 1 Peter 5:1-4) (J 21:16c).
74 This time, however - the third time - He said: "Simon of Jonah, do you love Me as a friend?" (J 21:17a but not b or c).
75 Peter, grieved that He had only said "Do you love Me as a friend?" the third time and not "do you love me unconditionally, answered Him, "Lord, You know all things. You know that I love You as a friend" (J 21:17b but not a or c).
76 Jesus said, "Feed My sheep. And I assure you, when you were younger you girded yourself and walked where you wanted to walk, but when you are old you will stretch out your hands and someone else will gird you and carry you to where you do not want to go." (He said this to signify the kind of death Peter was going to glorify God with.) Then having said this, He said, "Follow Me" (J 21:17c-19).
77 Turning around, Peter saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following (the one who had also leaned back onto His chest at the supper)36 and said, "Lord, who is the one who betrays You?"37 Peter, seeing the disciple Jesus loved,38 then asked, "Lord, but what about this man?" (J 21:20-21).
78 "If I want him to remain until I come," Jesus said, "what is that to you. You follow Me." Then because Jesus had said this, it went out among the brethren that He had said that this disciple was not going to die.39 However, Jesus did not say to him that he would not die but only, "If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you?" (J 21:22-23).
79 This is that disciple who testifies of these things and wrote all this down, and so we know that his testimony is accurate (J 21:24).
The Great Commission
80 Sometime shortly after that, the eleven disciples went out to the mountain Jesus had appointed for them.40 And when they saw Him, they worshipped Him. But some of them still doubted (14:24M 28:16a14:50 & c-17).
81 When Jesus came, He said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. So, therefore, as you go on your way, make disciples of all the nations, immersing them into water in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy spirit - teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And, behold, I am with you every moment of your life, even until the end of this age. Then you will be where I a (See John 14:3)" Amen (M 28:18-20).
82 Jesus had also been seen by over five hundred brethren at once, and by His brother according to the flesh, Jacob (commonly known these days as James (1 Corinthians 15:6a & 7a)).
83 And so it was, Jesus led His disciples out from Galilee until they got as far as Bethany (which is on the mount of Olives). And being assembled together with them, He told them, "As you go into the whole world, proclaim the good news to all creation. And whoever believes and is immersed will be saved. But whoever has not believed, he will be condemned" (K 16:15-16, L 24:50a).
84 "The following signs will go with those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons, speak with new languages,41 and pick up serpent (See Acts 28:3-5). If they drink anything deadly it will not hurt them. They will also lay hands on those who are sick and they will recover" (K 16:17-18).
85 Then He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem but to wait for the Promise of the Father, "Which," He said, "you have heard from Me." He also said, "John truly did immersions with water, but you will be immersed with the Holy Spirit not many days from now" (Acts 1:4b-5).
86 So having come together, they asked Him, "Lord, are You going to give the kingdom back to Israel at this time?"42 (Acts 1:6).
87 He replied, "It is not for you to know the chronology43 or times that the Father has determined in His own authority (See Daniel 12:2, 8:25). But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be witnesses of Me in Jerusalem, all Judea, Samaria, and then to the end of the earth (See Romans 1:16)" (Acts 1:7-8).
88 "But, behold, I am sending the Promise of My Father upon you. So stay in the city of Jerusalem until you are clothed with the power from on high" (L 24:49).
89 Then having said this, He lifted His hands up and blessed them. Then it happened, as He was blessing them, and while they were watching Him depart, He was lifted up and carried into heaven, as a cloud received Him out of their sight. And they worshipped Him while they attentively looked into the heavens (L 24:50b-52a, Acts 1:9-10a).
90 As He went up, behold, two men stood next to them in bright white clothes, who also said, "Men of Galilee, why are you standing here looking up into heaven? This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven will come back in the same way you have just seen Him go"44 (See Matthew 24:30 and Ezekiel 11:23) (Acts 1:10b-11).
91 After hearing this, they returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and they were in Yhvh's House continually blessing God. Amen! (See Psalm 26:12, 34:1, 96:2) (L 24:52b-53)
This is the Good News
92 This, then, O friend of God45 is what Jesus began to both do and also teach, even until the day in which He had been taken up - after He had given commandments through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom He had chosen, to whom He also presented Himself alive through many provable evidences after His suffering, being seen by them throughout forty days, and speaking to them about the things involving the kingdom of God (Acts 1:1-3).
93 And so it was, the Lord Jesus, having spoken to them, was received up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. And the disciples went out and preached everywhere, as the Lord worked with them and confirmed the word by the signs that came with it (K 16:19-20).
94 Now Jesus certainly did many other signs and things in the sight of His disciples that are not written in this book. But if every one of them were to be written down I think even the world itself would not be able to contain all the books that would be written! Amen. (J 20:30 & 21:25)
95 However, these things, here, are written so that you can believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God; and that in believing, you can have life in His name (J 20:31).
