Risen, Just as He Said
The empty Tomb
The First Day – This is the foundation for Christian worship on the first day
Notice the mention again of this in John 20:1 and its reiteration in 20:19
Another first day appearance John 20:26
Apparently, Paul expected all the churches to meet for worship on the first day – 1 Corinthians 16:1, 2
John received his messages to the churches when in the Spirit on “The Lord’s Day.” Rev. 1:10 – Even in exile John set aside this day for particular exercises of worship and while isolated became a pastor and preacher to all churches throughout the world, throughout the ages, until the Lord comes. On this day of the week he first saw the resurrected Lord and as he appears to him now, he calls himself the one who lives and was dead; “and behold I am alive for evermore.” Rev 1:18.
Theologically, This constitutes the completion of redemption and the inauguration of the new creation which will culminate in the New Heavens and the New Earth. It is the day subsequent to the completion of the work of redemption and the beginning of his work of continual intercession for us. So the Sabbath of the nation
The Work of the Angel cf. 1 Timothy 3:16; Hebrews 1:4
1. rolled the stone away with a great display of power 2 – The earthquake occurred because of the angel’s action. “ . . . for an angel.” The angel descended, then came, then rolled back the stone, and then sat.
2. overwhelmed the guards with his glory 3, 4 “The became as mere dead men,” so overwhelmed with helplessness that they could not move. – Angels always strike fear into those who see them. The combination of lightening [how brilliant is lightening?!] and whiteness shows the difficulty, often seen in Scripture, of describing things that form part of the environment in which the glory of God dominates. Think of the face of Moses when he came from his time with God and had received the tablets (Exodus 34:29 ff). This is the first time angels are said to appear in white [afterwards. Acts 1:10, 10:30] They do not appear as the cute cherubs that adorn the hearth, the bookshelf, and the mantle. They have come directly from the throne of God and have a specific mission. They don’t linger around and engage in light banter, or amuse those to whom they are sent like a litter of two-week old puppies, but they finish their assignment with forthrightness and authority. If these beings are so glorious [Rev. 18:1] and yet cover their faces [Isaiah 6:2] before the holy glory of God, what must the glory of God be like.
3. delivered his message 5-7
He knows their intention – His knowledge of their purpose was supposed to quiet their immediate fears. This event probably is the historical background for the first three assertions of the Confession in 1 Timothy 3:16 – “He was manifested n the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seem by angels.” This entire series of events constituted the staggering condescension of the Son of God “into which angels long to look” (1 Peter 1:10-12).
He leaves them in no doubt as to why the tomb is empty – No one has stolen the body; he has risen from the dead. The chronology of this event must be developed in the context of John 20:1-18.
He reminds them that this is in accord with what he has said – Mt. 16:21; 17:9, 23; 20:17-19 – The elect angels [1 Timothy 5:21] those who kept their estate of being servants of God, serve him day and night and have nothing that gives them more joy and more fulfills their very reason for being than to highlight the redemptive activity of the Son. They themselves marvel at these things and long for fuller grasp of the grace of God shown toward sinners in this astonishing work of substitution.
He commissions them to tell the disciples that Christ is risen and is going ahead of them into
He indicates the completion of that he has been sent to do. “Behold I have told you.” So faithfully should his messengers today say everything that he has told us to say. We should do this neither adding nor subtracting from the revealed message.
An Appearance of the Resurrected Christ 8-10
Other Appearances – Mk. In disputed texts, Mary Magdalene and 2 on the road; Lk 24, 2 on Emmaus road; Simon 34, and the 11; John 20, Mary Magdalene, disciples without Thomas, disciples with Thomas, disciples by the sea of Tiberias. cf. Paul , Acts 9:4-6; 13:31;1 Cor 15:5-9; Acts 1:3 calls these “many convincing proofs, over a period of forty days”
The First Worship of the Resurrected Christ 9; See also verse 17 – also John 20:16, 17, 28; Christian worship is specifically christocentric. When the women and the disciples worshipped Jesus, this was no violation of the second commandment. Nor were the Father and the Holy Spirit offended by this. Instead only such worship can draw us into a full experience of the Trinity. We can not know and love the Father except through the Son and we do not receive the Spirit apart from the Son, Look at Galatians 4:4-7.
Message to the Brethren –The title “brethren” is filled with grace. They were servants, disciples, then friends, then brethren. And this after having forsaken him and fled. The disciples, brethren, future apostles, are now tested to believe the announcement of witnesses, and women witnesses at that. They will be called on to do this very thing and expect their hearers to believe them [see Acts 1:21, 22; 2:24, 32]. Peter would know the immediate difficulty of giving credit to such a report. The call to believe the resurrection, however, is not merely a call to give credit to an anecdote. This event is connected with a body of promises and a series of spiritual necessities which only it can effect.
The Attempted Cover-up cf. 12:22-29 and Luke 16:31
Report of the Guards 11
Bribe, lie, multiplied deception 12-14 – On investigation, a lie doesn’t convince – “The disciples stole the body while we slept.” Really! This is precisely what they had asked Pilate to help them provide against [Matt. 27:62-66]. Their actions to secure the grave only make their lie less believable and the resurrection more strongly confirmed. Broadus says, “The statement is absurd on its face, for if asleep they did not know it, and if one of them knew, he could have awakened the others. It also confesses on their part a criminal breach of discipline.” Of course this breach of discipline was exactly the thing that the Jews promised to deal with the governor about should the news reach his ears.
Love of Money – They knew the most astounding truth possible, but were willing to sell it; Love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Money was used to prompt Judas to betray innocent blood and now
Application
