A Few Thoughts on John 20:8 The Empty Tomb

This Blood Landmark Baptist Church Shelby NC featuring Ashley Blanton

John 20:8 GW Then the other disciple, who arrived at the tomb first, went inside. He saw and believed.

Happy Resurrection Day

The setting

B1 Jesus was murdered by crucifixion by the Romans with the blessing of the Jewish leaders.

B2 Despite all protections by the Roman guard, the tomb is empty.

B3 Now it is early Sunday morning.

B4 The eastern sky had just begun to show its glow of the coming sun.

B5 Mary Magdalene came to the tomb.

B6 She saw the stone which had been covering the opening to the tomb rolled away.

B7 Not entering, she ran to find Simon Peter and John.

B8 Mary was confused and perhaps distraught.

B9 She told Peter and John, “They have removed the Lord from the tomb, and we don't know where they've put him."

B10 Peter and John left her and started running towards the tomb. Note, they knew where it was.

B11 John was faster than Peter. Arriving, John looked in, saw the linen clothes, but did not go in the tomb.

B12 Peter arrives and goes into the tomb.

B13 Peter sees the folded cloth that had been on Jesus’s head.

B14 John then goes in, sees the empty tomb, and believes.

B15 They didn’t understand the Scriptures which spoke about the resurrection of the Messiah.

B14 They left.

B15 Mary stayed and looking in starts to weep, not understanding the resurrection.

The empty tomb

B1 Foretold

C1 Soul in Sheol and body not decayed: Psalm 16:10 NASB For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol; Nor will You allow Your Holy One to undergo decay.

C2 We learn: Isaiah 53:10-12 ESV Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. 11 Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities. 12 Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors.

D1 It was Yahweh’s decision for Messiah to be crushed (suffer disfigurement).

D2 It was Messiah’s soul that was an offering for sin. My sin, your sin, everyone’s sin. Forgiveness comes when conditions are meet, namely, if we believe and trust in Jesus Christ alone for salvation.

D3 Even though Messiah goes through all these things, He will see His offspring, that is, He will be raised from death and see those who did believe and trust in Him.

D4 Messiah’s soul suffered anguish.

D5 He is righteous, that is, sinless.

D6 He is the satisfactory payment for the penalty of sin. Either each individual suffers eternal torment or Messiah.

D7 Messiah died, dead.

D8 Messiah was considered as evil. He carried our sins and the punishment for our sins.

D9 Bore the sin of many, that is, the multitudes of all humans. It is clear from this statement that Messiah did not bare (punished) for his sins; He did it for the sins of all other humans.

D10 He is the Mediator between God and humans (makes intercession for the transgressors).

B2 Fulfilled (Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24, John 20)

B3 Significance of

C1 Proves His deity. He is God. Romans 1:2-4 ESV which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, 3 concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh 4 and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord,

C2 Proves God’s power, ability, is the life-giver. Acts 3:14-15 BSB You rejected the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. 15 You killed the Author of life, but God raised Him from the dead, and we are witnesses of the fact.

C3 Proves Jesus is the Messiah: John 20:30-31 BSB Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book. 31 But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name.

C4 Proves His salvation is true salvation: 1 Corinthians 15:14-15 BSB And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is worthless, and so is your faith. 15 In that case, we are also exposed as false witnesses about God. For we have testified about God that He raised Christ from the dead, but He did not raise Him if in fact the dead are not raised.

C5 Proves His death completed the punishment for sins and His resurrection granted justification: Romans 4:25 ESV who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.

C6 Proves He is the intercessor for believers: Romans 8:34 NIV Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.

C7 Proves He is the resurrecting power for believers. The believers will be resurrected. 1 Corinthians 15:20-23 NIV But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. 22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. 23 But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him.

C8 Proves He is lord of both the living and the dead: Romans 14:9 NLT Christ died and rose again for this very purpose—to be Lord both of the living and of the dead.

Romans 5:1 NLT Therefore, since we have been made right in God's sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.

Peace with God

Jesus Christ is risen. Yes, He is risen indeed.

Happy Resurrection Day!

Or

Happy Easter!

I’m sure there are more.

B1 Some benefits of Jesus’s resurrection

C1 A fulfillment of a promise

D1 Psalm 16:10 NKJV - For You will not leave my soul in Sheol, Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption.

D2 Acts 2:27 NKJV - For You will not leave my soul in Hades, Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption.

D3 Acts 13:35 NKJV - Therefore He also says in another [Psalm]: 'You will not allow Your Holy One to see corruption.

D4 John 2:19-21 NKJV - Jesus answered and said to them, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." Then the Jews said, "It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?" But He was speaking of the temple of His body.

C2 Proof of Jesus’s sinlessness: Romans 1:3-4 NKJV - concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, [and] declared [to be] the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.

C3 Proof of Jesus’s deity: Romans 1:3-4 NKJV - concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, [and] declared [to be] the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.

C4 To give salvation: Acts 5:30-32 NKJV - "The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree. "Him God has exalted to His right hand [to be] Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. "And we are His witnesses to these things, and [so] also [is] the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him.

C5 To exalt to the Father’s right hand: Acts 5:30-32 NKJV - The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree. "Him God has exalted to His right hand [to be] Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. "And we are His witnesses to these things, and [so] also [is] the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him.

C5 To judge the world with righteousness: Acts 17:31 NKJV - because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.

C6 The highest authority under the Father: Ephesians 1:19-23 NKJV - and what [is] the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated [Him] at His right hand in the heavenly [places], far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. And He put all [things] under His feet, and gave Him [to be] head over all [things] to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

C7 Creation hopes in Jesus’s resurrection: Romans 8:19-22 NKJV - For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected [it] in hope; because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now.

C8 The new creation of the saints, the believers. Jesus was the first, the believers, the church, is next: 2 Corinthians 5:17 NKJV - Therefore, if anyone [is] in Christ, [he is] a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

C9 Jesus has all the rights of the firstborn: Colossians 1:15 NKJV - He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.

C10 To turn us away from sins, to the Jew first, then to us Gentiles: Acts 3:26 NKJV - To you first, God, having raised up His Servant Jesus, sent Him to bless you, in turning away every one [of you] from your iniquities.

C11 Shows us the Jesus is the one to put our faith in: Romans 4:24-25 NKJV - but also for us. It shall be imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification.

C12 Proof of our justification: Romans 4:24-25 NKJV - but also for us. It shall be imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification.

C13 Showing us to live a new life, one of righteousness: Romans 6:4 NKJV - Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

C14 Showing us that after resurrection, there is no more death. Jesus is already raised; ours is coming: Romans 6:4, 9 NKJV - Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. ... knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him.

C15 No longer under the authority of Mosaic Law: Romans 7:4 NKJV - Therefore, my brethren, you also have become dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another--to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God.

C16 A promise for our resurrection: Romans 8:11 NKJV - But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.

C17 We have to believe in His resurrection to be saved: Romans 10:9 NKJV - that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

C18 The believers who have died will be raised to a new body like Jesus’s. The living believers will ascend, never to die: 1 Corinthians 15:52 NKJV - in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

C19 Delivers us from the wrath to come (hell): 1 Thessalonians 1:10 NKJV - and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, [even] Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.

C20 Jesus can now show light (understanding) to both Jews and Gentiles: Acts 26:23 NKJV - that the Christ would suffer, that He would be the first to rise from the dead, and would proclaim light to the [Jewish] people and to the Gentiles.

C21 To reign over the Gentiles (He would have to live forever to be able to accomplish this): Romans 15:12 NKJV - And again, Isaiah says: There shall be a root of Jesse; And He who shall rise to reign over the Gentiles, In Him the Gentiles shall hope.

C22 Fulfillment of Old Testament Scriptures:

D1 Mark 12:26-27 NKJV - But concerning the dead, that they rise, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the [burning] bush [passage], how God spoke to him, saying, 'I [am] the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob' ? "He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living. You are therefore greatly mistaken.

D2 Daniel 12:2 NKJV - And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, Some to everlasting life, Some to shame [and] everlasting contempt.

D3 Job 19:25-27 NKJV - For I know [that] my Redeemer lives, And He shall stand at last on the earth; And after my skin is destroyed, this [I know], That in my flesh I shall see God, Whom I shall see for myself, And my eyes shall behold, and not another. [How] my heart yearns within me!

D4 Ezekiel 37:12-13 NKJV - Therefore prophesy and say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "Behold, O My people, I will open your graves and cause you to come up from your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel. "Then you shall know that I [am] the LORD, when I have opened your graves, O My people, and brought you up from your graves.

D5 Hosea 13:14 NKJV - I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death. O Death, I will be your plagues! O Grave, I will be your destruction! Pity is hidden from My eyes.

He Is Risen!

 

Resurrection Day


 

And on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they, and certain other women with them, came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared. But they found the stone having been rolled away from the tomb. And going in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. And it happened, as they were greatly perplexed about this, that behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. Then, as they became afraid and bowed their faces to the ground, they said to them, "Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, saying, 'The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again.' " And they remembered His words. And returning from the tomb, they reported all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the rest with them, who told these things to the apostles. And their words seemed like nonsense before them, and they disbelieved them. But Peter rose up and ran to the tomb; and stooping down, he saw the linen strips lying by themselves; and he departed, marveling to himself at what had happened. (Luke 24:1-12, EMTV)

 

The women who went to the tomb very early Sunday morning expected the body of Jesus to be there. They did not expect a risen Lord even though Jesus had told them that He would met with them in Galilee after He had risen. We see here the love and loyalty to the Lord Jesus.


 

Arriving at the tomb they were surprised that there were no soldiers guarding, no body lying, only (in this group anyway) 2 men in shining clothes.


 

The message they received both startled and surprised them. They went to tell the others, but the others would not believe.


 

The controversy of one or two angels (see Mark 16:1-8 and Matthew 28:1-5) is understood that one angel was outside when the first group went to the tomb and sitting by the tomb stone that was rolled away. When the second group arrived the angel who was outside went inside the tomb to join the angel who was already inside. So when the second group came and went inside, they saw two angels.


 

Matthew Henry in the Condensed Version of his commentary writes:


 

IV. Their satisfaction in this account, v. 8. The women seemed to acquiesce; they remembered his words, when they were thus put in mind of them, and thence concluded that if he was risen it was not more than they had reason to expect; and now they were ashamed of the preparations they had made to embalm on the third day him who had often said that he would on the third day rise again. Note, A seasonable remembrance of the words of Christ will help us to a right understanding of his providence.

      V. The report they brought of this to the apostles: They returned from the sepulchre, and told all these things to the eleven, and to all the rest of Christ's disciples, v. 9. It does not appear that they were together in a body; they were scattered every one to his own, perhaps scarcely two or three of them together in the same lodgings, but one went to some of them and another to others of them, so that in a little time, that morning, they all had notice of it. But we are told (v. 11) how the report was received: Their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not. They thought it was only the fancy of the women, and imputed it to the power of imagination; for they also had forgotten Christ's words, and wanted to be put in mind of them, not only what he had said to them in Galilee some time ago, but what he had said very lately, in the night wherein he was betrayed: Again a little while, and ye shall see me. I will see you again. One cannot but be amazed at the stupidity of these disciples,--who had themselves so often professed that they believed Christ to be the Son of God and the true Messiah, had been so often told that he must die and rise again, and then enter into his glory, had seen him more than once raise the dead,--that they should be so backward to believe in his raising himself. Surely it would seem the less strange to them, when hereafter this complaint would justly be taken up by them, to remember that there was a time when it might justly have been taken up against them, Who hath believed our report?

      VI. The enquiry which Peter made hereupon, v. 12. It was Mary Magdalene that brought the report to him, as appears, John 20:1; John 20:2, where this story of his running to the sepulchre is more particularly related. 1. Peter hastened to the sepulchre upon the report, perhaps ashamed of himself, to think that Mary Magdalene should have been there before him; and yet, perhaps, he had not been so ready to go thither now if the women had not told him, among other things, that the watch was fled. Many that are swift-footed enough when there is no danger are but cow-hearted when there is. Peter now ran to the sepulchre, who but the other day ran from his Master. 2. He looked into the sepulchre, and took notice how orderly the linen clothes in which Christ was wrapped were taken off, and folded up, and laid by themselves, but the body gone. He was very particular in making his observations, as if he would rather credit his own eyes than the testimony of the angels. 3. He went away, as he thought, not much the wiser, wondering in himself at that which was come to pass. Had he remembered the words of Christ, even this was enough to satisfy him that he was risen from the dead; but, having forgotten them, he is only amazed with the thing, and knows not what to make of it. There is many a thing puzzling and perplexing to us which would be both plain and profitable if we did but rightly understand the words of Christ, and had them ready to us.

What more can we say?


 

Do we believe?

The Day after the Crucifixion

Then they returned and prepared spices and perfumes. And they rested on the Sabbath, according to the commandment. (Luke 23:56, EMTV)

Jesus died as was foretold.

Jesus was buried as foretold.

Now His body is in the tomb.



The Jews observed their Sabbath. What were the people thinking? It must have been a repeated conversation. For some they wondered about the prophecies of the Scriptures, for others perhaps fear. They did know the prophecies of the resurrection. They did not know specially that Messiah would rise from the dead but understood the resurrection to refer to all people. Nevertheless this first passage might have some hints.

1. Isaiah 53:9-12 ESV And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth. (10) Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. (11) Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities. (12) Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors." (Note for Messiah to see and experience the blessings of the last half of verse 10 through verse 12, He would have to be alive).

2. Daniel 12:2 NKJV And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting contempt.

There is the men traveling the road to the village of Emmaus who were talking about these things when Jesus joined them in their journey. This conversation, of course, would have been on Sunday after Jesus had risen.

Luke 24:13-24 NKJV Now behold, two of them were traveling that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was seven miles from Jerusalem. (14) And they talked together of all these things which had happened. (15) So it was, while they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them. (16) But their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him. (17) And He said to them, "What kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as you walk and are sad?" (18) Then the one whose name was Cleopas answered and said to Him, "Are You the only stranger in Jerusalem, and have you not known the things which happened there in these days?" (19) And He said to them, "What things?" So they said to Him, "The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a Prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, (20) and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death, and crucified Him. (21) But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since these things happened. (22) Yes, and certain women of our company, who arrived at the tomb early, astonished us. (23) When they did not find His body, they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said He was alive. (24) And certain of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but Him they did not see."

It would have been a trying of their faith, for they did not understand completely about the resurrection of Jesus even though He had foretold this at least 4 times.

1. Matthew 20:19 EMTV "...and they will hand Him over to the Gentiles to mock and to scourge and to crucify. And the third day He shall rise again."

2. Mark 9:9 EMTV "And as they came down from the mountain, He commanded them that they should relate to no one the things they had seen, till the Son of Man should rise from the dead."

3. Mark 14:28 EMTV "But after I am raised, I will go before you into Galilee."

4. John 2:19 EMTV "Jesus answered and said to them, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up."

God kept them safe during this short time and rewarded them with the sight of their previous Savior.

Luke 24:36-48 EMTV Now as they said these things, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them, and said to them, "Peace to you." (37) But being alarmed and becoming fearful, they thought they saw a spirit. (38) And He said to them, "Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts? (39) Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have." (40) When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet. (41) But as they still disbelieved for joy, and marveled, He said to them, "Do you have any food here?" (42) So they gave Him a piece of a broiled fish and some honeycomb. (43) And taking it, He ate it in their presence. (44) Then He said to them, "These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me." (45) And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures. (46) Then He said to them, "Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, (47) and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. (48) And you are witnesses of these things.

We learn the lesson that some things are hard to understand but it is most reasonable to believe God and the Scriptures. Do not lose hope.