Jesus Is Gone

Lesson #324

Mary Magdalene came to the tomb, along with Mary the mother of James, and Salome, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. “So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.”” (John 20:2 ESV). In the previous lesson we made reference to Matthew 28:1 – 6 to learn that an angel came and rolled back the stone, sat on it and told the women that Jesus was not there, but had risen. They were instructed to look inside and see that he was gone. In Luke 24:3 – 4 they went inside and did not find the body. They found this perplexing and then two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. Luke continues: “And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.” And they remembered his words, . . .” (Luke 24:5 – 8 ESV).

John leaves much detail out and simply states that Mary Magdalene ran and went to Simon Peter and John and explained to them that “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” When you compare the witness of Mark, given above, with what John says, you have an example of how two witnesses seem to remember things differently after the passing of several years. However, we must remember that neither Peter or John were at the tomb and what they are writing is from what they heard from Mary and probably the other two women who were there. Each shares what they remember and stress what they feel is important in the story they are telling.

John indicates that Mary told only Peter and John, but Matthew states that she told the disciples. It appears that since only Peter and John went to the tomb to check on what Mary was saying, that may have been be why he only mentions the two being told. The rest of the disciples either did not care or didn’t believe and were willing to, maybe, sleep a little longer and wait for a report from Peter and John. Another interesting point is about who is meant by “they” in reference to removing Jesus from the tomb. Was Mary referring the two men in dazzling apparel or maybe someone else?

This lesson is a bit short, but this is a good break point because the next several verses are about Peter and John going to the tomb to investigate the claims of Mary.

Prayer

Father, the fact that Jesus is not in the tomb is a big problem for many because it validates the claim Jesus made about rising from the dead. If Jesus actually died on the cross and then rose from the dead, then his claim that he is the only way to obtain eternal life is also validated. Father, I believe another validation of this is the fact that the Bible has been translated into more than 2000 languages, that it can be studied for a lifetime and still not be completely understood and that there has been since the time of Jesus, persecution against those who claim to be his followers. Without the death and resurrection of Jesus there is no hope beyond the grave. Father, thank you that we have a living hope today.