NLT Life Application Study Bible, Third Edition - Flipbook - Page 72
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Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene (240/Mark 16:9-11)
11Mary was standing outside the tomb crying, and as she wept, she stooped and looked
in. 12She saw two white-robed angels, one sitting at the head and the other at the foot of
the place where the body of Jesus had been lying. 13“Dear woman, why are you crying?”
the angels asked her.
“Because they have taken away my Lord,” she replied, “and I don’t know where they
have put him.”
14She turned to leave and saw someone standing there. It was J
esus, but she didn’t
recognize him. 15“Dear woman, why are you crying?” Jesus asked her. “Who are you
looking for?”
She thought he was the gardener. “Sir,” she said, “if you have taken him away, tell me
where you have put him, and I will go and get him.”
16“Mary!” Jesus said.
She turned to him and cried out, “Rabboni!” (which is Hebrew for “Teacher”).
17“Don’t cling to me,” Jesus said, “for I haven’t yet ascended to the Father. But go find
my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God
and your God.’”
18Mary Magdalene found the disciples and told them, “I have seen the Lord!” Then
she gave them his message.
JESUS’
APPEARANCES
AFTER HIS
RESURRECTION
20:11-18
Mark 16:9-11
20:12
Mark 16:5
Luke 24:4
20:14
Mark 16:9
Luke 24:16
John 21:4
20:17
Matt 28:10
John 16:28
Rom 8:29
Col 1:18
Heb 2:11
The truth of Christianity rests heavily on the Resurrection. If Jesus rose from the grave, who
saw him? How trustworthy were the witnesses? Those who claimed to have seen the risen
Jesus went on to turn the world upside down. Most of them also died for being followers of
Christ. People rarely die for halfhearted belief. These are the people who saw Jesus risen from
the grave.
Mary Magdalene. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mark 16:9-11; John 20:11-18
The other women at the tomb. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Matthew 28:8-10
Peter in Jerusalem. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Luke 24:34; 1 Corinthians 15:5
The two travelers on the road. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mark 16:12-13; Luke 24:13-35
Ten disciples behind closed doors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Luke 24:36-43; John 20:19-25
All the disciples, including Thomas. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mark 16:14; John 20:26-31;
(excluding Judas Iscariot)
1 Corinthians 15:5
Seven disciples while fishing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . John 21:1-14
Eleven disciples on the mountain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Matthew 28:16-20
A crowd of 500. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Corinthians 15:6
Jesus’ brother James . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Corinthians 15:7
Those who watched Jesus ascend into heaven. . . . . . Luke 24:44-49; Acts 1:3-8
20:6-7 The linen wrappings were left as if Jesus’ body had simply vacated them. The cloth that covered Jesus’ head was still folded up in the
shape of a head, and it was at about the right distance from the wrappings
that had enveloped Jesus’ body. A grave robber wouldn’t have left the
expensive linens behind, and certainly not so neatly.
20:9 As further proof that the disciples did not fabricate this story, we
find that Peter and John were surprised that Jesus was not in the tomb.
When John saw the linen wrappings looking like an empty cocoon from
which Jesus had emerged, he believed that Jesus had risen. It wasn’t until
after they had seen the empty tomb that they remembered what the
Scriptures and Jesus had said—he would die, but he would also rise again!
20:9 Jesus’ resurrection is the key to the Christian faith. Why? (1) Just as
he said, Jesus rose from the dead. We can be confident, therefore, that he
will accomplish all he has promised. (2) Jesus’ bodily resurrection shows
us that the living Christ, not a false prophet or imposter, is ruler of God’s
eternal Kingdom. (3) We can be certain of our own future resurrection
because Jesus was resurrected. Death is not the e nd—a future life awaits.
(4) The divine power that brought Jesus back to life is now available to
us to bring our spiritually dead selves back to life. (5) The Resurrection is
the basis for the church’s witness to the world.
20:17 Mary did not want to lose Jesus again. She had not yet understood
the Resurrection. Perhaps she thought this was his promised second
coming (14:3). But Jesus did not want to be detained at the tomb. If he
did not ascend into heaven, the Holy Spirit would not come. Both he and
Mary had important work to do.
20:18 Mary didn’t recognize Jesus at first. Her grief had blinded her; she
couldn’t see him because she didn’t expect to see him. Then he spoke her
name, and immediately she recognized him. Imagine the love that flooded
her heart when she heard her Savior saying her name. Jesus is near you,
and he is calling your name. Can you, like Mary, regard him as your Lord?
20:18 Mary did not meet the risen Jesus until she had discovered the
empty tomb. She responded with joy and obedience by going to tell the
disciples. We cannot meet Jesus until we discover that he is indeed alive,
that his tomb is empty. Are you filled with joy by this Good News, and do
you share it with others?
20:21 Jesus again identified himself with his Father. He told the disciples by whose authority he did his work. Then he passed the job to
his disciples of spreading the Good News of salvation around the world.
Whatever God has asked you to do, remember that (1) your authority
comes from God and (2) Jesus has demonstrated by words and actions
how to accomplish the job he has given you. As the Father sent Jesus,
Jesus sends his followers—including you.
20:22 Jesus gave his disciples a special filling of the Holy Spirit, a foretaste of what all who believe would experience at the time of Pentecost
(Acts 2) and forever after. To do God’s work, we need the intimacy, love,
direction, and enabling power of the Holy Spirit. Avoid trying to do his
work in your own strength.
