Wednesday Evening Bible Study

July 31, 2002

Introduction

Paul says that the resurrection of Jesus from the dead is the very heart of the gospel.

If Jesus did not rise from the dead, then there’s nothing to what we believe.

(1 Cor 15:12-17 KJV)  Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? {13} But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: {14} And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. {15} Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. {16} For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: {17} And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.

The resurrection of Jesus from the dead proved that He had finished paying for the sins of the world on the cross.  If Jesus did not rise from the dead, then our sins have not been paid for.

:1  Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them.

first – heis – one

the week – sabbaton – the seventh day of each week which was a sacred festival on which the Israelites were required to abstain from all work; seven days, a week

early in the morning – orthros – daybreak, dawn; at early dawn, at daybreak, early in the morning

very – bathus – deep

they came – erchomai – to come.  Aorist.

sepulchre – mnema – a monument or memorial to perpetuate the memory of any person or thing; a sepulchral monument; a sepulchre or tomb

which they had prepared – hetoimazo – to make ready, prepare

spices – aroma – spice, perfume

When Jesus was buried, His body already had an initial preparation.

(John 19:39-40 KJV)  And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight. {40} Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury.

a mixture of myrrh and aloes – The spices were not used to embalm the body, but to perfume it as it decayed.  They used roughly about 75 pounds of spices.  This was extremely costly.

Strips of cloth were wound around the body with the spices packed in.

Now the ladies come with additional spices to put on the body, spices to cover up the smell of the decaying body.

they … and certain others – Luke is referring to the women he mentioned at the end of chapter 23:

(Luke 23:55-56 KJV)  And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid. {56} And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment.

Note:  We mentioned last week that some have suggested that the women went to the wrong tomb.  But Luke recorded that the gals had followed Joseph of Arimathaea as he buried Jesus in his tomb.  They knew where to go, they had been there.

Who were the women?

John tells us that Mary Magdalene was one of the women.

(John 20:1 KJV)  The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.

Matthew records that there was another Mary there as well:

(Mat 28:1 KJV)  In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.

Mark adds one more gal, Salome:

(Mark 16:1 KJV)  And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.

Which account is correct?  They all are.  Some of the authors just chose to include more names than others.

In fact, our account will mention all three gals, in addition to others (Luke 24:10).

Lesson

Sabbath versus Sunday

The question is often asked, “Why do Christians go to church on Sunday, when God commanded that we honor the Sabbath (which is Saturday)?”

Some have suggested that we do this because of some Roman Catholic decree.

The very root of why we go to church on Sunday lies in this verse.  Jesus rose from the dead on Sunday.

We worship on Sunday out of honor and celebration for the resurrection.

The Sabbath is technically on Saturday.

This is a command that is given to Israel as part of the Ten Commandments.

(Exo 20:8-11 KJV)  Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. {9} Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: {10} But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: {11} For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.

It was reiterated again:

(Exo 31:13-17 KJV)  Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the LORD that doth sanctify you. {14} Ye shall keep the sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you: every one that defileth it shall surely be put to death: for whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people. {15} Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the sabbath of rest, holy to the LORD: whosoever doeth any work in the sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death. {16} Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant. {17} It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.

It is clearly a commandment given to the Jews, the “children of Israel”.

Originally, the church was composed of Jews.

It wasn’t until Acts 10, around A.D. 40, that the first Gentile was converted.  It was a centurion named Cornelius.  To the early church, this was a very strange thing that God would save a Gentile.  It even caused a meeting to be held as Peter was questioned about what he was doing meeting with Gentiles (Acts 11).

As Paul began to minister to Gentiles around the world, eventually the church came to the point where they had to answer the question, “What shall we do with these Gentile believers?”  They didn’t know if these people should first be required to convert to Judaism and be circumcised, or whether simply believing was enough to be saved.  The church held a council in Acts 15.  During this council, Peter spoke and said:

(Acts 15:10-11 KJV)  Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? {11} But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.

The final outcome was:

(Acts 15:19-21 KJV)  Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God: {20} But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood. {21} For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.

The church did not require the Gentiles to become Jews.  But they wanted them to be careful about things like fornication, etc, so they wouldn’t be offensive to the Jews.

There are hints in the Scriptures that the early church met on Sunday:

(Acts 20:7 KJV)  And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.

(1 Cor 16:1-2 KJV)  Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. {2} Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.

Paul says that we should be careful in judging people in regards to days.

(Rom 14:4-6 KJV)  Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand. {5} One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. {6} He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.

Some people think one day is better than another.  Others like to worship God every day.  I think that’s the best.

:2 And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre.

stone – lithos – a stone

rolled away – apokulio – to roll off or away. This word is used in the Gospels to refer to the stone that was in front of the tomb of Jesus. In Palestine, graves were usually in a depression and the stone was rolled down an incline to cover the mouth of the tomb. For a small grave, about twenty men were required to roll a stone down hill to cover the door of the tomb.  The Bible tells us that the stone covering the door of the tomb was a large stone. The women would have needed more men than even a full Roman guard of sixteen men to roll away the stone. This was a major task.

The stone was so large that the women had been wondering:

(Mark 16:3 KJV)  And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre?

Lesson

God has it all taken care of

Many times we wonder how some certain thing is going to be able to be done.

And when we get there, God has already taken care of it.

:3 And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.

:4 And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments:

were much perplexed – diaporeo – to be entirely at loss, to be in perplexity; from aporeo – to be without resources, to be in straits, to be left wanting, to be embarrassed, to be in doubt, not to know which way to turn

stood by – ephistemi – to place at, place upon, place over; to stand by, be present; to stand over one, place one’s self above; used esp. of persons coming upon one suddenly; an angel, of the advent of angels

shining – astrapto – to lighten; of dazzling objects; from aster – a star

garments – esthesis – clothing, apparel

These were angelic beings.

:5 And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead?

afraid – emphobos – thrown into fear, terrified, affrighted

bowed – klino – to incline, bow; to cause to fall back; to recline

faces – prosopon – the face

they said unto them – the angels spoke to the women

seek – zeteo – to seek in order to find; to seek i.e. require, demand

:6 He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee,

The implication is that these women had been taught by Jesus 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.

must – dei – it is necessary, there is need of, it behooves, is right and proper

be delivered – paradidomi – to give into the hands (of another); to give over into (one’s) power or use; to deliver up one to custody, to be judged, condemned, punished, scourged, tormented, put to death; to deliver up treacherously; by betrayal to cause one to be taken

sinful – hamartolos – devoted to sin, a sinner; not free from sin; pre-eminently sinful, especially wicked; all wicked men

be crucified – stauroo – to stake, drive down stakes; to crucify

rise again – anistemi – to cause to rise up, raise up; raise up from laying down; to raise up from the dead; of the dead

:8 And they remembered his words,

remembered – mnaomai – to remind; to be recalled or to return to one’s mind, to remind one’s self of, to remember; to be recalled to mind, to be remembered, had in remembrance; to remember a thing; be mindful of

words – rhema – that which is or has been uttered by the living voice, thing spoken, word; any sound produced by the voice and having definite meaning; subject matter of speech, thing spoken of

“Oh, THAT’S what He meant!”

Lesson

Slow to believe His Word

Jesus had told His disciples several times about His death and resurrection.

Yet it still didn’t really click.

Sometimes we are reluctant to take God at His Word because it all just seems too good to be true.

For the disciples and these gals, the resurrection teaching of Jesus must have seemed too good to be true.

I think for some of us, the idea that God really loves us seems too good to be true.

(Rom 8:31-34 KJV)  What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? {32} He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? {33} Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. {34} Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

Sometimes we are reluctant to take God at His Word because we are offended by it.

And so we pick and choose which parts we want to believe.

(1 Pet 1:13-16 NLT)  So think clearly and exercise self-control. Look forward to the special blessings that will come to you at the return of Jesus Christ. {14} Obey God because you are his children. Don't slip back into your old ways of doing evil; you didn't know any better then. {15} But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God--who chose you to be his children--is holy. {16} For he himself has said, "You must be holy because I am holy."

:9 And returned from the sepulchre, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest.

returned – hupostrepho – to turn back; to turn about; to return

the sepulchre – mnemeion – any visible object for preserving or recalling the memory of any person or thing; a memorial, monument, specifically, a sepulchral monument; a sepulchre, a tomb

told – apaggello – to bring tidings (from a person or a thing), bring word, report; to proclaim, to make known openly, declare

:10 It was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles.

Mary Magdalene – we’ll talk more about her in a minute.

:11 And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not.

seemed – phaino – to bring forth into the light, cause to shine, shed light; shine; to become evident, to be brought forth into the light, come to view, appear; to meet the eyes, strike the sight, become clear or manifest; to be seen, appear; to appear to the mind, seem to one’s judgment or opinion

to – enopion – in the presence of, before; of occupied place: in that place which is before, or over against, opposite, any one and towards which another turns his eyes

idle tales – leros – idle talk; Old word for nonsense, only here in the N.T. Medical writers used it for the wild talk of those in delirium or hysteria.

words – rhema – that which is or has been uttered by the living voice, thing spoken, word; any sound produced by the voice and having definite meaning; subject matter of speech, thing spoken of

believed … not – apisteo – to betray a trust, be unfaithful; to have no belief, disbelieve

Don’t be discouraged when people have a hard time believing what you say about Jesus.  Even the disciples had a hard time at first.

:12 Then arose Peter, and ran unto the sepulchre; and stooping down, he beheld the linen clothes laid by themselves, and departed, wondering in himself at that which was come to pass.

arose – anistemi – to cause to rise up, raise up; raise up from laying down; to raise up from the dead; to rise, stand up

The same word that is used to describe the resurrection.

ran – trecho – to run; of persons in haste; of those who run in a race course

stooping down – parakupto – to stoop to a thing in order to look at it; to look at with head bowed forward; to look into with the body bent; to stoop and look into

he beheld – blepo – to see, discern, of the bodily eye; perceive by the use of the eyes: to see, look descry; to turn the eyes to anything: to look at, look upon, gaze at; metaph. to see with the mind’s eye

linen clothes – othonion – a piece of linen, small linen cloth; strips of linen cloth for swathing the dead

laid – keimai – to lie; of an infant; of one buried; of things that quietly  cover some spot; of things put or set in any place, in ref. to which we often use "to stand"

by themselves – monos – alone (without a companion), forsaken, destitute of help, alone, only, merely

departed – aperchomai – to go away, depart; to go away

wondering – thaumazo – to wonder, wonder at, marvel; to be wondered at, to be had in admiration

John records:

(John 20:3-10 KJV)  Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre. {4} So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre.

John is letting us know that he went to the tomb with Peter.  He’s also letting us know that he is a faster runner than Peter.

{5} And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in. {6} Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie, {7} And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself.

The picture that John is giving us is the idea that linen cloth strips looked as if the body had just slipped right through them, but the napkin that covered the head was all folded neatly off by itself. It kind of sounds as if Jesus passed right through the linen cloth, then took the napkin and folded it up neatly.

{8} Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed.

It seems that John was the first to believe that Jesus had rose from the dead.

{9} For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead. {10} Then the disciples went away again unto their own home.

It was at this time that Jesus made His first appearance, to Mary Magdalene.

Mary had been delivered from much in her life by Jesus.

(Mark 16:9 KJV)  Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.

Some have said she was the prostitute who had anointed Jesus with perfume, and wiped His feet with her tears and hair. (Luke 7:37-38)

(Luke 7:36-50 KJV)  And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee's house, and sat down to meat. {37} And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, {38} And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. {39} Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner. {40} And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on. {41} There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. {42} And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most? {43} Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged. {44} And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. {45} Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet. {46} My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment. {47} Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little. {48} And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven. {49} And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also? {50} And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.

Mary would be the first person to actually see the risen Jesus. It would happen after Peter went to the empty tomb to check things out for himself.  Mary also returned to the tomb and it was then that she met Jesus.

(John 20:11-18 KJV)  But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre, {12} And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. {13} And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him. {14} And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus. {15} Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away. {16} Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master. {17} Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God. {18} Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her.

Lesson

Jesus loves mercy

Jesus loves to be merciful and loving to those who come to Him for help.

You don’t have to be perfect to come to Jesus, just someone who needs Him.