Key Facts:
Who?
Mary Magdalene and the other women – coming to the tomb to anoint the body
The other disciples – not yet believing or understanding
Two angels – the messengers of God
Jesus Christ – risen from the dead, alive once more against all the laws of nature
Where?
The rock-cut tomb in a garden just outside Jerusalem.
Bible references:
This is the central claim of the whole Bible – so eyewitness accounts are found in all 4 accounts: Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24, and John 20.
Key Verses:
And you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses.
Acts 3:15
We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
Romans 6:4
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
1 Peter 1:3
For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God
Job 19:25-26
Reflect:
Early on Sunday morning, Mary Magdalene, one of the followers, and two other women came with spices and oil to anoint Jesus/ body in the tomb. But when they got there, they found that the tomb was empty and the stone rolled away. All that was left was the linen – left where it had fallen.
Whilst Mary was in the tomb, two angels appeared. They asked her, “Mary, why are you crying?”
“Someone has taken Jesus away,” she sobbed.
But then she heard someone else say her name. Although she would have known that voice anywhere, she could not believe it.
But there he was – Jesus, her friend and teacher, standing in front of her.
“Go and tell my friends that I am alive,” he said. On his hands and side she could still see the wounds of the nails and the spear. He had not escaped, but truly had died and risen again.
She did as she was asked, and brought the good news to all of Jesus’ followers. And over the next few weeks, Jesus appeared to his friends and followers sixteen times, before eventually returning to heaven.