Christ's Resurection

And having looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away--for it was exceedingly large. 

And entering into the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right clothed with a white robe, and they were alarmed. 

But he said to them, "Do not be alarmed. You are seeking Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has arisen! He is not here! See the place where they put Him. 

But go, say to His disciples, and Peter, that He is going before you into Galilee; there you shall see Him, just as He said to you." 

And going out, they fled from the tomb, but trembling and amazement held them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid. 

Now having arisen early on the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom He had cast out seven demons. 

She went and reported to those who had been with Him, as they were grieving and weeping. 

And those, when they heard that He was alive and had been seen by her, they disbelieved. Mark 16:4-11.

Christ in a Spiritual Body

The soldiers were afraid that the disciples of Christ would steal and hide the body of Jesus and then claim that Jesus had risen from the dead.  To make sure that that did not happen they placed a stone in front of the tomb.  the stone ... was exceedingly large.  Not only that but Pilate said to them (his soldiers), "You have a guard; go make it as secure as you know how." Mat. 27:65.

On Thursday, during the Crucifixion the centurion (a leader of 80 soldiers) and those with him guarding Jesus, when they saw the earthquake and the things that had happened, they were greatly afraid. Mat 27:54.  Later, on Sunday morning, behold, a great earthquake occurred. Mat 28:2.  It would seem that this was an aftershock of Thursday's earthquake.

He has arisen! He is not here! See the place where they put Him. It is worth noting that the stone was not removed so that Christ could leave the tomb but so the disciples and the ladies could go in and see that Christ was no longer there.  Christ was no longer bound by the restrictions that the human body had imposed on Him until His death.  

This fact is shown by the words of John.  Then ... 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 to you." John 20:19.

after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors having been closed, and stood in the midst, and said, "Peace to you!" John 20:26.

This is also verified when Christ, after having had supper with two of His followers, took bread, He blessed and broke it, and He gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him, and He vanished from their sight. Luke 24:31.

Throughout the years of following Christ, the disciples began to believe that Jesus was the Messiah, then, shortly before His crucifixion, He startled His disciples by saying that He must go to Jerusalem and be killed.  The disciple's hopes were dashed.  Now, after a weekend of agonizing confusion, this man was alive again but they had trouble believing what they saw.  Any of us would have.  So to verify His claim Jesus came and stood in the midst and showed them His hands and His side. John 20:20.

He was willing to bear the imprints of the nails through His hands and feet and the wound of the spear in His side, into eternity, because of the Father’s love for His Church.  Someday Everyone will see him, even the ones who stuck a sword through him. Rev. 1:7 Contemporary English Version.

Angels in Disguise

Luke tells us that there were two men standing in the tomb after Christ had left the tomb.  John says that there were two angels, Mark says that there was a young man and Matthew says that first, the angel sat on the stone outside the tomb and that later that same angel talked to the ladies in the tomb. Mat. 28:2-5.  This seeming contradiction need not cause any concern.  The picture of angels, that we have in our minds, tells us that they can transport themselves in the blink of an eye and be visible or invisible, as they please.

go, say to His disciples, and Peter.  Ironically, Peter was the first of Christ's twelve apostles and now, it seems, Christ is not even including him among the disciples.  Was Peter maybe feeling rather "uppity"?  Did he maybe have a false feeling of security because he was the one who held the keys to the kingdom? Mat. 16:19.  Christ once said, the last shall be first, and the first last. Mat 20:16.   

On the other hand, it has been suggested that after Peter denied knowing Christ, just before Christ's crucifixion, Peter felt so worthless, so not like a disciple, that Christ, in His concern for Peter, mentioned him specially to make him feel more included.

Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. 

When they saw Him, they worshipped Him; but some doubted. 

And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Mat 28:16-18.

After the angel had told the ladies that Christ had risen and that He is going before you into Galilee they were on their way to tell the disciples the good news.  

When the disciples heard the ladies' report they "took off" for Galilee and met Christ and worshipped.  It is important here not to think of the word "worship" as one worships Jehovah.  Rather the meaning is to kiss, like a dog licking his master's hand.  Strong G4352.

All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.  This is the authority that He earned by being faithful to His Father, in all respects, even to the point of an agonizing death.  His statement also says that this is an authority that He did not use to have and if He did not always have that authority He also is not a member of the "Godhead".