The Witnesses

The Witnesses

Mark 16:1, NLT

Saturday evening, when the Sabbath ended, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome went out and purchased burial spices so they could anoint Jesus’ body.

John 20:1-10, NLT

Early on Sunday morning, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. 2She ran and found Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved. She said, “They have taken the Lord’s body out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!” 3Peter and the other disciple started out for the tomb. 4They were both running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5He stooped and looked in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he didn’t go in. 6Then Simon Peter arrived and went inside. He also noticed the linen wrappings lying there, 7while the cloth that had covered Jesus’ head was folded up and lying apart from the other wrappings. 8Then the disciple who had reached the tomb first also went in, and he saw and believed— 9for until then they still hadn’t understood the Scriptures that said Jesus must rise from the dead. 10Then they went home.

Setting the Scene

Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Joseph (or Joses) had been at the Crucifixion and had followed Joseph of Arimathea, the man who had taken Jesus’ body to the tomb (Mark 15:47). So they knew where Jesus had been buried. Salome, probably the mother of the disciples James and John, had also been at the cross. Along with other women, Mary Magdalene had been a longtime follower of Jesus, traveling with the disciples and helping provide for the financial needs of the group (Luke 8:1-3).

At first, Mary was shocked and confused at the absence of Jesus’ body, so she ran to Peter and John, who then ran to see for themselves. John arrived first and saw the linen wrappings. Peter also saw the graveclothes and noted that the headpiece was folded up separately from the other wrappings. A grave robber couldn’t possibly have made off with the body and left the linens as if they were still shaped around it.

Peter and John did not fabricate this story about the Resurrection; in fact, they were surprised that the body was missing. The fact of the Resurrection opened the disciples’ minds to see that God had foretold his plan through the prophets. Although John and Peter “believed” something miraculous had occurred, they weren’t sure what they should do next. So they went home. Later, they joined the other disciples behind locked doors (John 20:19).

Getting Personal

When confronted with the evidence for the Resurrection, why do some people refuse to believe?

When have you seen evidence of God’s work in your life but didn’t recognize it until much later? What kept you from “seeing and believing”?

Evidence of God permeates our world and personal experience. We can see his fingerprints in creation, in relationships, and in our own thoughts and desires. We recognize him as he gives comfort and peace and guides us daily—through his Word, godly teachers, and circumstances. The evidence surrounds us. May we come close, see the empty clothes, and believe.

Talking to God

Ask God to open your eyes to evidence of his presence and activity today. As you think of him, praise him throughout the day for being a personal God, who reveals himself to those who seek him.