Easter Morning
From “Jesús’ Journey to the Cross” by Dr Greg Baxter
On April 4th, 33AD our Lord rose from the dead. He is risen! Listed below is the sequence of events: The Women at the Tomb are met by an angel Matt 28:1-8; Mark 16:1-8; Luke 24:1-12; John 20:1-13. Jesus Appears to the Women Matt 28:9-10; (Luke 24:10-11); John 20:14-18 and the guard report to the Sanhedrin what took place (Matt 28:11-15). Jesus appears to Simon Peter (1 Cor 15:5; Luke 24:34), the men on the Emmaus Road (Luke 24:13-35) and finally His Disciples less Thomas (Luke 24:36-43; John 20:19-23).
On the first Lord’s day there was an earthquake, followed by the appearing of an angel, the opening of the tomb, and the resurrection (Matt. 28:2-4). The group of women came together and started for the tomb just before dawn while it was still dark. Mary Magdalene being a young woman, ran ahead and arrived first at the tomb, finding it open. Immediately she ran back by the nearest way to inform Peter and John of this fact (Jn. 20:1).
The other women completed their two mile walk from Bethany to the grave site arriving just after sunrise (Mk. 16:2). An angel suddenly appeared to them and gave them an urgent message to the disciples (Matt. 28:5; Mk. 16:5f). Another party of women come a little later, and saw ‘two young men’ dressed in white at the tomb, and receive words of comfort and instruction (Lk. 24:4). About 0630 Peter and John arrive, John getting there first (Jn. 20:3-10). Mary Magdalene coming a little later saw two angels (Jn. 20:11-13). The other women had returned to bear the message to the other apostles (Lk. 24:10).
About 0700 Jesus first revealed Himself to Mary of Magdala (Jn. 20:14-18; Mk. 16:9). A little later, He appeared to the company of women returning to the sepulcher, and sent them with the charge to the brethren to go to Galilee (Matt. 9). About 1600 he appeared to Simon Peter (Lk. 24:34; 1 Cor. 15:5), and from 1600 to 1800 to Cleophas and his companion on the way to Emmaus. Finally, in the evening, probably around 2000, he appeared to the eleven, and others in the room with barred doors (Lk. 24:36f; Mk. 16:14; Jn. 29:19).
He is risen.
He has risen indeed! Halleluiah!
