Sermon Tone Analysis

THE FIRST EASTER MORNING \\ (THE EMPTY TOMB)

/Consolidated Gospel §301–306/

*PURPOSE*

The first purpose of this study is to present an integrated account of the events of that first Easter Sunday.

Probably nowhere else in the Gospels does as much confusion reign in the minds of believers, for each gospel writer chose different elements from the most bewildering day in history, and consequently their reports appear to be contradictory, whereas in fact they are complementary.

This study and the next harmonize all the biblical reports of resurrection day, so hopefully will dispel confusion.

By studying the four Gospels together, we get a better grasp of the mood of the day, the original bewilderment of the embryo church, the excitement of spiritual creation at what had taken place, and develop a better understanding of God’s patience with man.

A further purpose of this study is to consider the theological implications of Jesus Christ’s resurrection.

Another purpose is to emphasize both the trustworthiness of the record (attested to by the lives and deaths of the apostles) and the significance of Jesus Christ’s resurrection.

*INTRODUCTION*

If you have puzzled over the four gospel records of resurrection day, you are in good company for many, many Christians have done likewise.

Like everything else in the Bible, however, there is a special satisfaction for anyone interested enough to harmonize these apparently divergent records, for in so doing a rich narrative emerges, one which portrays both the astonishment and then the ecstatic joy of the believers to whom Christ appeared, and yet also displays the fear that had permeated their very beings as a result of the crucifixion.

As I edited these notes, I was reminded of Martin Luther’s truism: the Bible is written for thinking men.

Indeed, there is rich satisfaction in thinking our way through the record of the most significant day in human history; so join me as we work with God’s eternal word.

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the whole basis of our Christian faith; it is the unique bedrock on which Christianity stands.

In His death Jesus was but one of many tens of thousands whom the Romans crucified; He, Himself, raised men from the dead, but they were to die again; however, in His resurrection He is unique, for He is the first to be raised to life never to die again.

As I Cor 15:23 promises men that He is the firstfruits of the resurrection, His resurrection guarantees that all mankind will be resurrected.

Revelation 20:4–6, 12–15 make it plain that some of mankind will be resurrected to glory and the rest to damnation, but all dead mankind will be resurrected.

It behooves us, therefore, to know the historical events of that momentous, significant day, and having learned them, to understand the significance of this supreme event, for no other event in all the history of creation can rival it in splendor.

We need to know, too, what assurance we have of the accuracy of this record, for it is the foundation on which our whole Christian faith rests as the Bible itself asserts (I Cor 15:17).

Christ has not left us without witnesses, however, for He revealed Himself to the eleven remaining apostles, to His own half brother, James, to more than 500 believers at one time, and to Paul (I Cor 15:6–8).

There is no record of any one of this vast host denying Jesus’ resurrection, but most significantly, the most conservative church tradition claims that seven of the apostles sealed their testimony with their life’s blood by dying a martyr’s death (the four who died a natural death all held firmly to their testimony of the resurrection).

So we have eleven out of eleven witnesses adhering unshakably to their testimony of Jesus’ resurrection, seven of them sealing that testimony with their lives.

This is remarkable indeed, for while one can theorize that the first man could die not realizing what the cost of his testimony would be, it is unthinkable to claim that six others would follow unflinchingly along the same path to certain death if they knew that they were dying for a lie!

But beside the eleven, James, our Lord’s half brother, also died a martyr’s death.

Now, if anyone could be expected to know Jesus, surely it would be His own half brother in the flesh who had known Him for all of his three decades until His death!

James did not believe in Jesus as the Christ until after His resurrection, so he was clearly a convinced skeptic—so convinced that the previous skeptic was prepared to die for his testimony, and did.

Paul, too, falls into the same category.

The liberal’s questioning of the historicity of Jesus’ resurrection is empty and vain indeed when measured against the blood of this band of men who were God’s instruments in founding our faith.

Let us attempt to follow the events of that first Easter morning sequentially.

*COMMENTARY*

*/§301.

The Journey to the Tomb (Matt 28:1; John 20:1a)/*

*/Exegesis/*

(Matt 28:1)

v 1     began to dawn = this word is imprecise; it can mean ‘dawn drew near.’

they came = (lit.)

she went (singular; emphasizing Mary Magdalene).

see = (or) view; or even ‘experience.’

(John 20:1a)

v 1     came = (or) returned (bagd, 311).

*/Purpose/*

This section introduces the first witnesses to Jesus’ resurrection.

*/Exposition/*

The narrative of the most momentous day in history opens with the departure of several ladies from Bethany (home of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus).

These were the women who had stayed close to Jesus during His crucifixion and had watched His death and burial.

They left in the dark, shortly before dawn, to cover the two miles to the tomb at Golgotha.

None of the gospel writers claim to submit a full list, but Luke 24:10 makes it plain that there were several women (John, for instance, only names Mary Magdalene in v.1, but using the plural in her speech [v.2] clarifies that she was not alone).

Recent scholarship has indicated that the King James Version ‘late on’ in Matt 28:1 should be rendered ‘after’ (see nasb, niv, etc., to support the nkjv which we are following.).

It is important to note this incorrect kjv translation, for if this is not done, Matthew and Mark appear contradictory.

Mark 16:1 tells us that three women went and purchased burial spices at the close of the Sabbath (i.e., our Saturday evening after sunset), planning to go to the tomb early the next morning, so the context confirms this understanding of ‘after the Sabbath.’

Luke 23:56 records the fact that some of the Galilean women disciples prepared spices before the Sabbath; apparently there was a spontaneous and very natural desire in several women’s hearts to perform this service and they may well have purchased the necessary embalmments while Jesus was dying (or used a surplus from Lazarus’ recent funeral).

*/§302.

Angels Open the Tomb (Matt 28:2–4)/*

*/Exegesis/*

v 2     was = (or) happened.

v 3     countenance = a similar word means ‘visible form.’

v 4     and = but.

guards = custodians.

shook = quaked (the Greek text uses the same pun; there was an earthquake and they quaked!).

*/Purpose/*

The purpose of this section is to indicate God’s hand in, and the time of, the resurrection.

*/Exposition/*

Matthew’s sequence indicates that the women of §301 were en route to the tomb when this earthquake ‘happened.’

As the ‘behold’ of v.2 indicates, God’s hand is evident in Jesus Christ’s resurrection, for He alone controls great earthquakes and He alone commands the angels.

The guards were understandably scared to death and fled!

There had been an earthquake when Jesus died (§293); there was an earthquake when He rose—it seems Earth shuddered when His soul went into Sheol, and Sheol shook when His soul burst its bonds.

The angel sitting on the stone he had so easily rolled away, a stone intended to seal Jesus in the tomb, displays a delightful disdain for the power of death, let alone man’s puny attempts at security!

The brilliance of the person of the angel is the unveiled glory of one who has been in the presence of God; it is a reflection of God’s righteousness in the face of which man is terror struck, realizing his own inadequacies.

It is altogether appropriate that such an illustrious personage should herald the wonderful news that the grave could not hold Jesus Christ, for the angel’s great excitement lay in the fact, later to be revealed, that Jesus had broken the power of death for all time.

Scripture has drawn our attention to the fact that the witnesses of Jesus’ resurrection knew what they were about and could positively testify to His death, having witnessed the whole crucifixion (§296) as well as His burial (§298).

So, indisputably, they would have visited the correct tomb.

Do you see how thorough God is in presenting the evidence of Jesus’ resurrection?

Finally, the earthquake marked the moment of the resurrection, for the soldiers guarded the tomb to that point; so we know that Jesus Christ arose before 6 a.m.

Jerusalem time on Sunday, April 5, 33 (after dawn and before sunrise).

*/§303.

The Women Visit the Tomb (Matt 28:5–8; Mark 16:2–8; Luke 24:1–8; John 20:1b–2)/*

*/Exegesis/*

(Mark 16:2–8)

v 2     risen = (or) dawned (Matt 4:16); this aorist participle indicates that the sun had at least lightened the sky as the women arrived at the tomb.

v 4     looked up = (or) becoming able to see.

This indicates that v.2 talks of the dim light of early dawn, not sunrise.

saw = perceived (Mark uses the present tense to dramatize the record, yet there is a sense in which the believer constantly sees the open tomb).

v 5     robe = a flowing robe (our English ‘stole’ comes from this Greek word).

alarmed = greatly surprised, even distressed.

v 6     who was crucified = (lit.)

the One who was crucified.

He is risen = (lit.)

He has been raised.

laid = (or) placed.

v 7     go = this is an intensive, urgent word, ‘go away,’ ‘up and go.’

v 8     were amazed = ecstasy (/‘//ekstasis’/) had come upon (gripped) them.

for they were afraid = i.e., out of fear (denoting that they said nothing to anyone whom they could fear).

(Luke 24:1–8)

v 1     very early in the morning = (lit.)

at deep dawn.

they = the women of 23:55.

spices = aromatics, perfumes.

v 4     perplexed = at a loss, disturbed, uncertain.

about this = concerning this.

stood by = (or) appeared.

shining = flashing (like lightening).

v 5     as they were afraid = as they became frightened.