Shocking and Surprising Discoveries about the Resurrection from the Last Chapter of Matthew!

[Carry_Your_Name]

- You've heard about the "Rock and Roll" in all kinds of sermons and worship songs, but Jesus didn't do it by His own power even if he could, the rock didn't automatically roll away either, it was an angel who descended from heaven and rolled away the stone (Matt. 28:2)! Some speculated that it was Gabriel.

- Jesus didn't rise secretly in the dead of the night and penetrate through the stone as some believe. Roman soldiers were dispatched to guard the tomb, they were present till the angel descended. The sight scared the hell out of them, they just fainted and then ran away. (28:4)

- There were devout women who stood in awe from a distance, including Mary Magdalene. The same angel instructed them to tell the news to the disciples (Matt. 28:7), and off they went (28:8), then Jesus appeared to them when they were on their way (28:9-10, Mark 16:8), but Mary was not among them, for Jesus appeared FIRST to Mary (Mark 16:9).

- Combine that piece of information with John 20, a likely scenario is, all the women first saw the angel rolling away the stone, then Mary went to tell Peter and John, while other women headed off to other desciples who were at a distant hideout. The 11 disciples were separated at that point, Peter and John stayed throughout the trial and crucifixion, while others had fled away.

- Peter, John and Mary returned to inspect the scene. Peter and John found an empty tomb and they just left, Mary stayed there and wept. Then there was the appearance in Mark 16:9 - the risen Lord himself instructed her that "don't cling to me," go tell the disciples, that He is risen - He is risen indeed!

- Those soldiers reported what they saw to the high priests, and they were bribed to suppress the truth. Notice that the high priests didn’t dismiss it or ridicule them. They pulled off their prepared cover story, that the soldiers were sleeping on the job, while as they assumed that the disciples rolled away the stone and stole the body, so they can spread "disinformation"!

- And the saddest part is that despite compelling evidence and eye witness accounts, most Jews still held onto that "official narrative" - TILL THIS DAY! Does that sound familiar?

- In the last verse, Jesus issued the Great Commission - go make disciples in all nations on Earth, baptizing in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. This is where the concept of the Holy Trinity came from.

 

[Subhumanoidal]

I'm neither shocked nor surprised. And as far as it being labeled a "discovery"? Not exactly. It's plainly stated and easily accessible and has been for quite some time. Click bait title.

 

[Carry_Your_Name]

I'm neither shocked nor surprised. And as far as it being labeled a "discovery"? Not exactly. It's plainly stated and easily accessible and has been for quite some time. Click bait title.

You don't get it. What's shocking and surprising is not the resurrection, but the "official narrative" part. If you've been paying attention on the news since 2016, you may have noticed that fake news outlets are broadcasting pre-written propaganda instead of what's really happening to push an official narrative, anything contrary to that narrative will be ruthlessly censored and ridiculed as disinformation. That's why I said that till this day some Jews and muslims still believe this particular narrative that disciples stole the body for propaganda. There's nothing new under the sun.

 

[Live4Him2]

If you've been paying attention on the news since 2016, you may have noticed that fake news outlets are broadcasting pre-written propaganda instead of what's really happening to push an official narrative, anything contrary to that narrative will be ruthlessly censored and ridiculed as disinformation.

Although I wholeheartedly agree with you that "fake news outlets are broadcasting pre-written propaganda" or what I would call a "scripted narrative", I can assure you this problem began WAAAAAYYYYYYYY BEFORE 2016. In fact, I personally stopped watching the news (and all TV) almost 34 years ago, and the problem began WAAAAAYYYYYYY BEFORE then as well.

 

[Live4Him2]

 

[Nehemiah6]

Jesus didn't rise secretly in the dead of the night and penetrate through the stone as some believe.

Yes He did. The Gospel record says exactly that. So from where did you get this false notion? The angel rolled away the stone in order for the disciples to enter the tomb, not for Jesus to exit it. He had already risen sometime between midnight and 4:00 a.m.

The Gospel records need to be properly reconciled in order to understand the sequence of events which took place on that day.

1. The female disciples of Christ were not aware that He had already been embalmed. They had also completely forgotten that Jesus had said He would rise again. So Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, Joanna, and Salome bought sweet spices after the Sabbath, and came to the tomb very early in the morning at sunrise to properly bury Jesus.

2. As they approached the tomb, there was a great earthquake, while an angel descended from Heaven, and rolled away the stone at the mouth of the tomb. The angel then sat on the stone, but the guards were so fearful that they trembled and became as dead men. Another angel then joined him.

3. The angels told the women that Jesus had already risen from the dead, and would meet them in Galilee. They could enter the tomb and see it for themselves. Then they told them to go quickly and tell all the other disciples. The women left with fear and great joy, and ran to inform the other disciples.

4. While they were on their way Jesus met them and greeted them with "Rejoice and be glad". Then He told them not to be fearful, but to go and tell the disciples that He would meet them in Galilee.

5. It would appear that Mary Magdalene remained behind, and also doubted what the angels had said. So Christ appeared to her outside the tomb, and spoke with her directly. Then she too went to inform the disciples.

6. After hearing the news, Peter had to see things for himself. So he ran to the tomb, accompanied by John. They both entered and found the linen clothes lying by themselves. But they still would not believe that Christ was alive. Even though the Scriptures had foretold the resurrection of Christ, and even though Christ Himself had said it many times, the disciples could not bring themselves to believe that Jesus was actually alive.

7. Later that day two of Christ's disciples were walking to Emmaus from Jerusalem. Christ met them incognito and accompanied them. They imagined Jesus was a stranger who had no idea about the crucifixion. But the Lord had to rebuke them for their unbelief. Then they asked Him to stay for supper, and He revealed Himself to them at that time. So those two returned to Jerusalem, and confirmed to the other disciples that they had met Jesus.

8. While they were talking Jesus suddenly appeared and said "Peace be unto you". But they were all terrified and thought they were seeing a spirit (a ghost). Then He showed them His hands, His feet, and His side, and asked for some food. They gave him a piece of broiled fish and a honeycomb, which Jesus ate in their presence. Then He explained to them many things, and how He had fulfilled the numerous prophecies in the Old Testament concerning Himself. Then the disciples were glad. At that time Jesus breathed on them and said "Receive ye the Holy Ghost" which they did.

9. The apostle Thomas was not with the others at that time, so when they informed him about the appearance of Christ, he too would not believe. So Jesus appeared to them after eight days, and then showed Thomas His hands and His side. That was enough for Thomas to say "My Lord, and my God".

 

[Carry_Your_Name]

Yes He did. The Gospel record says exactly that. So from where did you get this false notion? The angel rolled away the stone in order for the disciples to enter the tomb, not for Jesus to exit it. He had already risen sometime between midnight and 4:00 a.m.

There was no evidence of that. He appeared FIRST to Mary Magdalene in Mark 16:9 and nobody else. Unless you believe in the lie that the guards were sleeping on the job, Jesus didn't penetrate through the stone, or the guards would have seen him first. He might be reconfigurated somehow or teleported out of the tomb, only God knews, as God did what only He could do. That must be the case, otherwise it wouldn't be a new, glorified body if it was just life breathed into a beaten and distorted corpse.

 

[FredVB]

For learning more from the revelations from God, we should learn truth that is distinct from what some have thought to be contradictory statements. I found this material about Christ's appearances after his resurrection from Answers In Genesis. I have seen other material on them before as well.

Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted. (Matthew 28:16–17)

Did Jesus appear first to the eleven on a mountain in Galilee or in Jerusalem behind closed doors? Would this account in Matthew contradict those in Mark, Luke, and John?

Later He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen. (Mark 16:14)

So they rose up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, saying, "The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!" And they told about the things that had happened on the road, and how He was known to them in the breaking of bread. Now as they said these things, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them, and said to them, "Peace to you." But they were terrified and frightened, and supposed they had seen a spirit. (Luke 24:33–37)

Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, "Peace be with you." When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. (John 20:19–20)

Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24, and John 20 each open with the arrival of the women (including Mary Magdalene) at the tomb. They find it empty with the stone rolled away.

I think that Mary Magdalene separated from the other women after the initial visit to the tomb. It seems that she hastened off to find Peter and the "other disciple" (John). The other nine disciples were apparently not with Peter and John that morning and were informed of the empty tomb by the other women. John 20:1–2 tells us that Mary Magdalene told them the Lord's body was missing. After Peter and John viewed the empty tomb and departed, Mary Magdalene remained behind weeping, saw the angels in the tomb, asked about the missing body, and then had her own conversation with Jesus Himself. In John 20:17 Jesus sent her off to tell His brethren that He is alive, and verse 18 states that she obeyed. Mark 16:9–11 adds that Mary Magdalene was the first to whom the Lord appeared and that the disciples did not believe her story.

Meanwhile, the other women, finding the stone rolled away, entered the tomb and saw an angel sitting on the right. Suddenly they realized there were two angels, as Luke recorded. Matthew and Mark just mention one of them, perhaps focusing on the one who was speaking (Matthew 28:5–7; Mark 16:5–7; Luke 24:4–8). The angel tells the women to go tell the disciples and Peter—alluding to the estrangement of Peter after his denial and suggesting he wasn't with the larger group—that Jesus was risen and would see them in Galilee.

Matthew 28:8–10 states that the women took off running to find the disciples. They may have just missed Peter and John, who were on their way to the tomb. Evidently while these women were en route to find the disciples in the city, Peter and John viewed the empty tomb, and Mary Magdalene had her encounter with Jesus. After appearing to Mary Magdalene, Jesus visited the women who were running to the city, and He reinforced the message that they should go tell His brethren that they would see Him in Galilee. Perhaps Jesus made this personal appearance because they were so terribly afraid and too fearful to speak to anyone (Mark 16:8). After He met them, they joyfully delivered the message. Luke 24:9–11 summarizes the fact that "the eleven and all the rest" ultimately heard about Christ's Resurrection from all the women, including Mary Magdalene. Yet no one believed them.

Matthew 28:11–15 tells us of another important event on that Sunday morning. The guards told the chief priests what had happened. With the help of bribes in the right places, the chief priests hatched and spread the tale that the disciples had stolen the body while the guards slept. In so doing they confirmed for all of history that the tomb was really empty.

The events described in the remaining verses in Matthew 28 did not occur on that Sunday. Matthew 28:16 reveals that the disciples went away into Galilee—over a day's journey at the time—prior to the appearance recorded in verse 17. So this event followed some of those described in the other Gospels.

 

[John146]

the guards would have seen him first.

You're assuming...not good. Scripture is not clear of the timing of the resurrection. The stone was rolled away to allow witnesses to see that Jesus had resurrected. Who are you claiming to have seen the resurrection?

 

[Carry_Your_Name]

You're assuming...not good. Scripture is not clear of the timing of the resurrection. The stone was rolled away to allow witnesses to see that Jesus had resurrected. Who are you claiming to have seen the resurrection?

Scripture was clear - Mark 16:9. "Rise again" is just a figure of speech, based on the description in John 20, the shroud used to wrap his body collapsed inward instead of being pushed outward, that means the body practically vaporized. It you believe that Turin Shroud is real, then Jesus left his image on it while vaporizing through it. When did that happen? Could've been the moment when the tomb was sealed with a stone, then he went off to Hades to set the captives free (Rev. 1:18, Acts 2:27). The scripture said the resurrection was the third day, then the timing is the beginning of the third day, which is about 6:00 am. What matters, though, is his first appearance to Mary Magdalene, which was still early in the morning.

 

[Magenta]

all the women first saw the angel rolling away the stone,

I doubt that... quite thoroughly

 

[Carry_Your_Name]

I doubt that... quite thoroughly

Yeah in other three gospels the stone was already rolled away when they got there, but it's only recorded in Matthew that an angel of the Lord rolled the stone away and scared off the guards. I don't think they were too far off at the moment, otherwise how did they know that? Who felt that earthquake and saw that angel, and eventually had this recorded in the gospel of Matthew?

 

[Magenta]

Yeah in other three gospels the stone was already rolled away when they
got there, but it's only recorded in Matthew that an angel of the Lord rolled
the stone away and scared off the guards. I don't think they were too far off
at the moment, otherwise how did they know that? Who felt that earthquake
and saw that angel, and eventually had this recorded in the gospel of Matthew?

The women did not write any of the gospel accounts.

How did the writer know? Same as anything else of this nature was known.

 

[Carry_Your_Name]

The women did not write any of the gospel accounts.

How did the writer know? Same as anything else of this nature was known.

All I’m saying is that there gotta be an eyewitness account of that, and I don’t think one of the guards told Matthew.

 

[Magenta]

All I’m saying is that there gotta be an eyewitness account of that, and I don’t think one of the guards told Matthew.

I do not believe there needed to be an eye witness to the rolling away of the stone.

 

[John146]

Scripture was clear - Mark 16:9. "Rise again" is just a figure of speech, based on the description in John 20, the shroud used to wrap his body collapsed inward instead of being pushed outward, that means the body practically vaporized. It you believe that Turin Shroud is real, then Jesus left his image on it while vaporizing through it. When did that happen? Could've been the moment when the tomb was sealed with a stone, then he went off to Hades to set the captives free (Rev. 1:18, Acts 2:27). The scripture said the resurrection was the third day, then the timing is the beginning of the third day, which is about 6:00 am. What matters, though, is his first appearance to Mary Magdalene, which was still early in the morning.

That day began at 6pm the previous evening. This nonsense of the linen cloths vaporizing and collapsing is not biblical. Verse please?

 

[Magenta]

That day began at 6pm the previous evening. This nonsense of the linen cloths vaporizing and collapsing is not biblical. Verse please?

C_Y_N said "the body practically vaporized" as an explanation for two things: the shroud of Turin's
image, and, the shroud collapsing inward, which I see no evidence for in the cited chapter of John 20.

 

[Carry_Your_Name]

That day began at 6pm the previous evening. This nonsense of the linen cloths vaporizing and collapsing is not biblical. Verse please?

No, that DAY began at 6am, what began at 6 pm is NIGHT. The linen clothes were still there and the headpiece was separated, that itself was proof. Jesus didn’t rise like Lazarus did, he was made new. His body didn’t rot for three days in the tomb as it said in Acts 2:27.

 

[Carry_Your_Name]

C_Y_N said "the body practically vaporized" as an explanation for two things: the shroud of Turin's
image, and, the shroud collapsing inward, which I see no evidence for in the cited chapter of John 20.

The evidence is in Acts 2:27 - “for you will not leave my soul in Hades, nor will you allow your holy one to see CORRUPTION.” A corpse naturally rots, including Lazarus and the little girl, but that can’t happen to Jesus.

 

[Carry_Your_Name]

I do not believe there needed to be an eye witness to the rolling away of the stone.

Neither do I, but there needed an eyewitness to record it. There was no surveillance cameras in those days.