John 20:1 Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came early to the tomb, while it was still dark, and saw the stone already taken away from the tomb.

John 20:1    Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came early to the tomb, while it was still dark, and saw the stone already taken away from the tomb.

What day does Mary Magdalene come to the tomb?

“Now on the first day of the week…” (John 20:1).

•       What day is the first day of the week?

Sunday, the day after the Jewish Sabbath.

•       On what day does God raise Jesus up?

“God raised Him up on the third day and granted that He become visible” (Acts 10:40).

o     Day 1: Friday – Jesus is crucified and buried.

Day 2: Saturday – Jesus lay in the tomb.

Day 3: Sunday – Jesus is raised the third day after His crucifixion on Sunday, the first day of the week.

•       On what day had Jesus foretold His disciples that He would be raised from the dead?

“Now He said to them, ‘These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.’ Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and He said to them, ‘Thus it is written, that the Christ would suffer and rise again from the dead the third day” (Luke 24:44-46).

What time of day does Mary Magdalene come to the tomb?

“...came early to the tomb, while it was still dark…” (John 20:1).

What does Mary Magdalene see?

“…the stone already taken away from the tomb” (John 20:1).

·      What additional information does Matthew provide to explain who rolled away the stone from the tomb?

“And behold, a severe earthquake had occurred, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled away the stone and sat upon it” (Matt 28:2).

Father,

Glory to You, God Most High, Who raised Jesus from the dead. Jesus was declared Your Son with power by the resurrection from the dead. You did not abandon Jesus to Hades, nor did His flesh suffer decay, just as had been written in the Scriptures.  You granted that Jesus become visible, and Jesus was the first to proclaim light both to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles.

Jesus is the resurrection and the life. We who believe in Him will live even if we die. Glory to You for the resurrection from the dead and for rebirth into the glorious life in Jesus Christ. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.