the church of jesus christ is built upon the empty tomb “as the church is too holy for a...

The church of Jesus Christ is built upon the Empty Tomb

““As the church is too holy As the church is too holy for a foundation of for a foundation of

rottenness, so is it too rottenness, so is it too real for a foundation of real for a foundation of

myth!”myth!”

The Discovery of the Empty Tomb

• The Visit of the Women

–Matt 28:1-8 & Lk 24:1-10

Now after the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward Now after the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to look at the graveother Mary came to look at the grave. 2 And . 2 And behold, a severe earthquake had occurred, for an behold, a severe earthquake had occurred, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and came and rolled away the stonerolled away the stone and sat upon it. 3 and sat upon it. 3 And his And his appearance was like lightning, and his appearance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snowclothing as white as snow. 4 The guards . 4 The guards shook for shook for fear of him and became like dead men. fear of him and became like dead men. Matt 28:1-4Matt 28:1-4

Matt 28:5-8

5 The angel said to the women, " Do not be 5 The angel said to the women, " Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified. 6 Jesus who has been crucified. 6 "He is not "He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying.Come, see the place where He was lying. 7 7 "Go quickly and tell His disciples that He "Go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the deadhas risen from the dead; and behold, He is ; and behold, He is going ahead of you into Galilee, there you going ahead of you into Galilee, there you will see Him; behold, I have told you." 8 will see Him; behold, I have told you." 8 And they left the tomb quickly with And they left the tomb quickly with fear and fear and great joy and ran to report it to His great joy and ran to report it to His disciples.disciples.



–Matt 28:1-8 & Lk 24:1-10

• Luke 24:1-11 But on the first day of the Luke 24:1-11 But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had bringing the spices which they had prepared. 2 And they found the stone rolled prepared. 2 And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they away from the tomb, 3 but when they entered, they did not find the body of the entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. Lord Jesus.

Luke 10:4-6

4 While they were perplexed about 4 While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men suddenly this, behold, two men suddenly stood near them in stood near them in dazzling dazzling clothingclothing; 5 and as the women were ; 5 and as the women were terrified and bowed their faces to terrified and bowed their faces to the groundthe ground, the men said to them, , the men said to them, "Why do you seek the living One "Why do you seek the living One among the dead? 6 "He is not here, among the dead? 6 "He is not here, but He has risen.but He has risen.

Lk 10:6b-11Remember how He spoke to you while He was still Remember how He spoke to you while He was still in Galilee, 7 saying that the Son of Man must be in Galilee, 7 saying that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again." 8 And they crucified, and the third day rise again." 8 And they remembered His wordsremembered His words, 9 and returned from the , 9 and returned from the tomb and reported all these things to the eleven tomb and reported all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. 10 Now they were and to all the rest. 10 Now they were Mary Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James;James; 11 But their words appeared to them as 11 But their words appeared to them as nonsense, and they nonsense, and they would not believe them.would not believe them.



–Matt 28:1-8 & Lk 24:1-10

• Find Peter and John who run to the tomb. Jn 20:1-10

Mary Magdalene came early to the tomb, while it was still Mary Magdalene came early to the tomb, while it was still dark, and saw the stone already taken away from the tomb. dark, and saw the stone already taken away from the tomb. 2 So she ran and came to Simon Peter and to the other 2 So she ran and came to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and said to them, " disciple whom Jesus loved, and said to them, " They have They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him."where they have laid Him." 3 So Peter and the other disciple 3 So Peter and the other disciple went forth, and they were going to the tomb. 4 The two were went forth, and they were going to the tomb. 4 The two were running togetherrunning together; and the ; and the other disciple ran ahead faster other disciple ran ahead faster than Peter and came to the tomb first; 5 and stooping and than Peter and came to the tomb first; 5 and stooping and looking in, he saw the linen wrappings lying therelooking in, he saw the linen wrappings lying there; but he ; but he did not go in. 6 And so Simon Peter also came, following did not go in. 6 And so Simon Peter also came, following him, and entered the tomb; and he him, and entered the tomb; and he sawsaw the linen wrappings the linen wrappings lying there, 7 and the face-cloth which had been on His lying there, 7 and the face-cloth which had been on His head, not lying with the linen wrappings, but rolled up in a head, not lying with the linen wrappings, but rolled up in a place by itself. 8 So the other disciple who had first come to place by itself. 8 So the other disciple who had first come to the tomb then also entered, and he the tomb then also entered, and he sawsaw and believed. 9 For and believed. 9 For as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that He must as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead. John 20:1-9rise again from the dead. John 20:1-9

• Peter Peter sawsaw: “To recognize, : “To recognize, visually perceive.”visually perceive.”

• John John saw:saw: “To understand, “To understand, comprehend.” comprehend.”


• The Visit of the Women– Matt 28:1-8 & Lk 24:1-10

• Find Peter and John who run to the tomb. Jn 20:1-10

• Mary follows back to tomb (still disbelieves) Jesus appears to her– John 20:11-18

Jn 20:11-18

11 But Mary was standing outside the tomb 11 But Mary was standing outside the tomb weeping; and so, as she wept, weeping; and so, as she wept, she stooped she stooped and looked into the tomband looked into the tomb; 12 and she ; 12 and she saw saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head two angels in white sitting, one at the head and one at the feetand one at the feet, where the body of Jesus , where the body of Jesus had been lying. 13 And they said to her, " had been lying. 13 And they said to her, " Woman, Woman, why are you weeping?"why are you weeping?" She said to She said to them, them, "Because they have taken away my "Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him." Him."

Jn 20:14-1814 When she had said this, she turned 14 When she had said this, she turned around and around and saw Jesus standing theresaw Jesus standing there, and , and did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, to her, " Woman, why are you weeping?" Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?"Whom are you seeking?" Supposing Him to Supposing Him to be the gardener, she said to Him, be the gardener, she said to Him, "Sir, if you "Sir, if you have carried Him away, tell me where you have carried Him away, tell me where you have laid Him, and I will take Him away."have laid Him, and I will take Him away." 16 16 Jesus said to her, Jesus said to her, "Mary!""Mary!" She turned and She turned and said to Him in Hebrew, said to Him in Hebrew, " Rabboni!"" Rabboni!" (which (which means, Teacher). means, Teacher).

Jn 20:17-1817 Jesus said to her, 17 Jesus said to her, "Stop clinging to Me,"Stop clinging to Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but but go to My brethren and say to them, 'I go to My brethren and say to them, 'I ascend to My Father and your Father, and ascend to My Father and your Father, and My God and your God.'"My God and your God.'" 18 Mary 18 Mary Magdalene came, announcing to the Magdalene came, announcing to the disciples, disciples, "I have seen the Lord,""I have seen the Lord," and that and that He had said these things to her.He had said these things to her.


• The Guards report the resurrection to the High Priests– Matt 28:11-15

Matt 28:11-1511 Now while they were on their way, some of the 11 Now while they were on their way, some of the guard came into the city and reported to the chief guard came into the city and reported to the chief priests all that had happened. 12 And when they priests all that had happened. 12 And when they had assembled with the elders and consulted had assembled with the elders and consulted together, they gave a large sum of money to the together, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, 13 and said, "soldiers, 13 and said, "You are to say, 'His You are to say, 'His disciples came by night and stole Him away while disciples came by night and stole Him away while we were asleep.'we were asleep.' 14 "And if this should come to 14 "And if this should come to the governor's ears, we will win him over and the governor's ears, we will win him over and keep you out of trouble." 15 And they took the keep you out of trouble." 15 And they took the money and did as they had been instructed; and money and did as they had been instructed; and this story was widely spread among the Jews, this story was widely spread among the Jews, and is to this day. and is to this day.

The Post Resurrection Appearances

• To Mary MagdaleneJn 20:14ff

• To the other women as returned from the sepulcher. Matt 28:9

Matt 28:9-10 And behold, Matt 28:9-10 And behold, Jesus met Jesus met them and greeted them.them and greeted them. And they And they came up and came up and took hold of His feet and took hold of His feet and worshiped Himworshiped Him. Then Jesus said to . Then Jesus said to them, " them, " Do not be afraidDo not be afraid; go and take ; go and take word to My brethren to leave for word to My brethren to leave for Galilee, and there they will see Me." Galilee, and there they will see Me."




• To Simon Peter. Lk 24:34

• Two men on Road to Emmaus Two men on Road to Emmaus Luke 24:35 " The Lord has really Luke 24:35 " The Lord has really risen and has risen and has appeared to appeared to Simon." Simon."

• Mark 16:7 “Go tell the apostles Mark 16:7 “Go tell the apostles and Peter.”and Peter.”




• To Simon Peter. Lk 24:34

• To the two disciples on the road to Emmaus. Lk 24:13

• Luke 24:15-27 While they were Luke 24:15-27 While they were talking and discussing, Jesus talking and discussing, Jesus Himself approached and began Himself approached and began traveling with them. 16 But their traveling with them. 16 But their eyes were prevented from eyes were prevented from recognizing Him. 17 And He said to recognizing Him. 17 And He said to them, "What are these words that them, "What are these words that you are exchanging with one you are exchanging with one another as you are walking?" And another as you are walking?" And they stood still, looking they stood still, looking sad.sad.

18 One of them, named Cleopas, answered and said to Him, "Are You the only one visiting Jerusalem and unaware of the things which have happened here in these days?" 19 And He said to them, "What things?" And they said to Him, "The things about Jesus the Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word in the sight of God and all the people, 21 "But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. 22 "But also some women among us amazed us. When they were at the tomb early in the morning, 23 and did not find His body, they came, saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said that He was alive.

Luke 24:24-26.

24 "Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just exactly as the women also had said; but Him they did not see." 25 And He said to them, "O foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! 26 " Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His glory?"


• To the eleven. Lk 24:33• Luke 24:33-35 They found Luke 24:33-35 They found

gathered together the eleven gathered together the eleven and those who were with them, and those who were with them, and they began to relate their and they began to relate their experiences on the road and experiences on the road and how He was recognized by them how He was recognized by them in the breaking of the bread. in the breaking of the bread.


• To the eleven. Lk 24:33• To 500 brethren at once. I Cor

15:5• To James (brother) I Cor 15:7• To all the apostles with Thomas

–Jn 20:26-29 (after 8 days)


• To many of the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias (Jn 21:1-14)

• The eleven at the Mt. Of Olives as he gave the great commission at his ascension.

• Last of all to Paul. (I Cor 15:8)

the church of jesus christ is built upon the empty tomb “as the church is too holy for a...

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