The Resurrection: The Empty Tomb

Context & Setting

• Main Biblical Reference: Matthew 28:1–10; Mark 16:1–8; Luke 24:1–12; John 20:1–18
• Historical Period: Roman rule in Judea (1st century AD)
• Geographic Location: Jerusalem, at a rock-cut tomb near the place of crucifixion
• Key Characters: Mary Magdalene; other women followers (including Mary the mother of James, Salome, Joanna); angels/messengers; Peter and the beloved disciple (John); Jesus

The Narrative

The Beginning:
After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, women who had followed Jesus go to his tomb with spices to honor his burial. They expect to find the tomb sealed and guarded, and they wonder how the stone will be moved. Arriving, they discover the stone has been rolled away and the tomb is open.

The Middle:
Inside, they do not find Jesus’ body, and angelic messengers announce that he has been raised from the dead. The women are told to remember Jesus’ words and to inform his disciples that he is going ahead of them. In John’s account, Mary Magdalene runs to tell Peter and another disciple, who come and see the linen cloths lying in the tomb. Confusion, fear, and amazement spread as the empty tomb confronts their expectations.

The End:
The women leave the tomb trembling yet obedient, carrying the message to the disciples, though the news is initially difficult for some to accept. In Matthew, Jesus meets the women and confirms the message, directing that his followers be gathered. In John, Jesus appears to Mary Magdalene, calls her by name, and commissions her to announce his resurrection. The empty tomb becomes the first public sign that Jesus’ death has been overcome.

Theological Meaning

The empty tomb proclaims God’s vindication of Jesus and the decisive victory over sin and death. It confirms that Jesus’ crucifixion was not the end but the fulfillment of God’s saving purpose, as foretold in Scripture and in Jesus’ own teaching. The resurrection grounds Christian hope: God acts in history to restore life, inaugurate new creation, and commission witnesses to proclaim the risen Christ.

Historical & Cultural Insight

First-century Jewish burials around Jerusalem commonly used rock-cut tombs sealed with a stone, and bodies were wrapped with linen cloths and spices. The Gospel emphasis on the tomb’s emptiness and the presence of burial linens reflects recognizable burial practice in the region, helping situate the accounts in a credible local setting.

Key Memory Verse

"He is not here, for he has risen, as he said." — Matthew 28:6