Christ's Tomb
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Christ rose from the dead early Sunday morning while it was still dark after being in the tomb exactly 3 days and 3 nights. See our file Sign of the Messiah.
Matthew 28:1-6
Now after the Sabbaths, as it began to light
up into the first of Sabbaths [SUNDAY], Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to look
at the grave. And behold, a SEVERE EARTHQUAKE HAD OCCURRED, for an angel
of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled away the stone and sat
upon it. And his appearance was like lightning, and his clothing as white
as snow. The guards shook for fear of him and became like dead men. The angel
said to the women, "Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for
Jesus who has been crucified. He is not here, for He has risen, just as He
said. Come, see the place where He was lying."
1. Notice that the earthquake had already occurred before dawn.
2. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came early to the tomb as it began to light up, but Jesus was already risen.
3. An angel rolled away the stone during the earthquake (the earthquake probably broke the seal of the stone), and he sat on the stone.
4. Roman guards became as dead men when they saw the angel.
5. The Roman guards leave the tomb before the women arrive.
| Mark 16: 2-6 Exceedingly early to the first of Sabbaths [SUNDAY], they came to the tomb when the sun rises. They were saying to one another, "Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?" Looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away, although it was extremely large. Entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting at the right, wearing a white robe; and they were amazed. And he *said to them, "Do not be amazed; you are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who has been crucified. He has risen; He is not here; behold, here is the place where they laid Him." |
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Mark and Luke corroborate the statements made by Matthew in reference to the time of Christ's resurrection. When the women came to the tomb, Jesus was already risen, but the guards were not there. The women went inside the tomb, and there they met two angels (with the appearance of men) who told them that Jesus was already risen.
Luke 24:1-6 But on the
FIRST OF THE SABBATHS
[SUNDAY], at early
dawn, they came to the tomb bearing the spices which they had prepared. And
they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did
not find the body [of the Lord Jesus.] While they were perplexed about this,
behold, two men suddenly stood near them in dazzling clothing; and as the women
were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them,
"Why do you seek the living One among the dead? He is not here, but
He is raised. Remember how He spoke to you while He was still in Galilee..."
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John also relates the story about
Mary Magdalene who came to the tomb before dawn and found Jesus already risen.
John 20:1 To the FIRST OF SABBATHS [SUNDAY] Mary Magdalene is coming early to the tomb, WHILE IT WAS STILL DARK, and is looking at the stone that had already been taken away from the tomb. |
The 4 gospels agree that on Sunday morning before dawn Yeshua/Jesus was already risen.
Some people believe that Jesus rose the day before (on a Saturday) around 6 PM. If that were so, the guards would have gone immediately to the Roman officials or to the Chief priests to report the incident, but the Bible does not say anything like that. Also, there would have been other witnesses because people in the area were awake as there was still some daylight on Saturday at 6 PM.
Matthew 28:10-15 Then [Sunday morning] said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me. Now when they were going, behold, some of the watch came into the city, and shewed unto the chief priests all the things that were done. And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers, Saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept. And if this come to the governor's ears, we will persuade him, and secure you. So they took the money, and did as they were taught: and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.
The bible relates that the guards went on Sunday morning to the chief priests.
Not only that, but if Jesus rose on Saturday, there would be no reason for Him not to appear to His followers on Saturday.
On the other hand, there are some people who believe that Jesus' resurrection occurred on Sunday AFTER the sun had risen. But the bible states that Mary Magdalene came to the tomb "while it was still dark." She did not feel the earthquake; she did not see the breaking of the seal in front of the stone; she did not see the angel rolling away the stone, and she did not see the guards fainting, waking up, or walking away. Therefore, all these things had to have happened at least half an hour before sunrise, BEFORE Mary Magdalene came to the tomb.
The truth according to the scriptures, as we show you, is that Jesus resurrection occurred Sunday morning, but before dawn. In this way, it was fulfilled the Sign of the Messiah -- a literal 3 days and 3 nights in the belly of the earth.
For the details of Jesus' burial, which started during the night of the Passover Feast, just as the symbolism of the Last Supper/Passover implies,
please read our file Time of Christ's Burial.
