NLT Life Application Study Bible, Third Edition - Flipbook - Page 71
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20:3
Luke 24:12
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John 19:40
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John 2:22
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Jesus Rises from the Dead (239/Matthew 28:1-7; Mark 16:1-8; Luke 24:1-12)
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 J esus 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 J esus’ 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.
20
20:2
John 13:23
20:7
John 11:44
•
20:1 Greek On the first day of the week.
THE ABSENCE OF WOMEN among the 12 disciples has
bothered a few people. But Jesus’ close followers clearly
included many women. Also clear is the fact that Jesus
did not treat women as others in his culture did; he treated
them with dignity, as people with worth.
Mary of Magdala was an early follower of Jesus who certainly deserves to be called a disciple. An
energetic, impulsive, and caring woman, she not only traveled with Jesus but also contributed to
meeting the needs of his group. She was present at the Crucifixion and was on her way to anoint
Jesus’ body on Sunday morning when she discovered the empty tomb. Mary was the first to see
Jesus after his resurrection.
Mary Magdalene is a heartwarming example of thankful living. She was miraculously freed by
Jesus when he drove seven demons out of her. In every glimpse we have of Mary, she was acting
out her appreciation for the freedom Jesus had given her. That freedom allowed her to stand
under Jesus’ cross when all the disciples except John were hiding in fear. After Jesus’ death, she
intended to show his body every respect. Like the rest of Jesus’ followers, she never expected his
bodily resurrection—but she was overjoyed to discover it.
Mary’s faith was not complicated; it was direct and genuine. She was more eager to believe and
obey than to understand everything. Jesus honored her childlike faith by appearing to her first and
by entrusting her as the first messenger of the Good News of his resurrection.
Mary Magdalene
Strengths and
accomplishments:
• Contributed to the needs of Jesus and his disciples
• One of the few faithful followers present at Jesus’ death on the cross
Notable facts:
• Had to have seven demons driven out of her by Jesus
• First to see Jesus after his resurrection
Lessons from
her life:
• Those who are obedient grow in understanding.
• Women are vital to Jesus’ ministry.
• Jesus relates to women as he created them—as equal to men and as bearers of God’s
image.
Vital statistics:
• Where: Magdala, Jerusalem
• Occupation: We are not told, but she seems to have been wealthy
• Contemporaries: Jesus, Jesus’ disciples, Mary, Martha, Lazarus, Mary (Jesus’ mother)
Key verse:
“After Jesus rose from the dead early on Sunday morning, the first person who saw him
was Mary Magdalene, the woman from whom he had cast out seven demons.” (Mark 16:9)
Mary Magdalene’s story is told in Matthew 27–28; Mark 15–16; Luke 23–24; John 19–20. She is also mentioned in Luke 8:2.
20:1-29 People who hear about the Resurrection for the first time may
20:1 Mary Magdalene had taken Jesus’ call to follow him very seri-
need time before they can comprehend this amazing story. Like Mary
and the disciples, they may pass through four stages of belief: (1) At first,
they may think the story is a fabrication, impossible to believe (20:2).
(2) Like Peter, they may check out the facts and still be puzzled about
what happened (20:6). (3) Only when they encounter Jesus personally
will they be able to accept the fact of the Resurrection (20:16). (4) Then,
as they commit themselves to the risen Lord and devote their lives to
serving him, they will begin to understand fully the reality of his presence with them (20:28).
ously. Her name indicates that she was likely from Magdala, a town near
Capernaum in Galilee. She had followed Jesus all the way to Jerusalem,
and other women from Galilee had come with her (Luke 23:55). In Jerusalem, these women followed him to the foot of the cross and to the
empty tomb. (Read the other Gospel accounts for more information on
these women, and see Mary’s profile above.)
20:1 The stone was not rolled away from the entrance to the tomb so
Jesus could get out. He could have left easily without moving the stone.
It was rolled away so others could get in and see that Jesus was gone.
