Thematic Bible




Thematic Bible



And many women, who had followed Jesus from Galilee and had ministered to His needs, were watching [all this] from a distance. Among them were Mary from Magdala; Mary, the mother of James and Joseph [i.e., probably the wife of Clopas. See John 19:25]; and the mother of James and John, the sons of Zebedee [i.e., Salome. Mark 15:40]. And when evening had come, a rich man from Arimathea named Joseph, who was also one of Jesus' disciples, read more.
went to [governor] Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. So, Pilate ordered that it be given to him. Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth and placed it in his own newly prepared grave, which he had cut out of [a ledge of] rock. Then he [had] a huge stone rolled across the entrance of the grave and went away. Mary from Magdala and the other Mary [i.e., probably Jesus' mother. See verse 56], stood near the grave site.

Now as the Sabbath day ended and the first day of the week [i.e., Sunday] approached [Note: See Mark 16:1-2 for the exact timing], Mary from Magdala and the other Mary [i.e., Jesus' mother. See Matt. 27:56] went to look at the grave site. Now there had been a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord had descended from heaven and, [having] come to roll away the stone, was [now] sitting on it. He appeared as [brilliant] lightning and his clothing was white as snow. read more.
And the guards shook with fear at seeing him, and became as dead men. The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know you are looking for Jesus, who has been crucified. He is not here, for He has risen just as He said [He would]. Come and see the place where the Lord had been lying, then go quickly and tell His disciples, 'He has risen from the dead and is [now] going on ahead of you into Galilee. You will see Him there.' Now [that is all] I have to tell you." So, they left the grave site quickly, with fear and great joy, and ran to give the message to His disciples.

Now the women who told these things to the apostles were Mary from Magdala; Joanna [Note: This was the wife of Chuzas, Herod's property manager. See Luke 8:3], and other women who were with them.

but Mary [from Magdala] was standing outside of the cave-like tomb crying. While she was [still] crying she stooped down to look in the tomb, and there she saw two angels [dressed] in white [clothing] sitting where Jesus' body had lain, one at His head and one at His feet. They said to Mary, "[My dear] woman, why are you crying?" She answered, "They have taken my Lord away, and I do not know where they have put Him." read more.
After she said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but did not know it was Him. [Then] Jesus said to her, "[My dear] woman, why are you crying? Who are you looking for?" Assuming He was the grounds keeper, she said to Him, "Sir, if you have carried Him away from here, tell me where you laid Him, and I will go and get Him." [Then] Jesus said to her, "Mary!" She turned toward Him and replied in the Hebrew language, "Rabboni," which means "Teacher." Jesus said to her, "Do not hold on to me, for I have not ascended to the Father yet [Note: Apparently Jesus was discouraging Mary from embracing Him in worship as was done in Matt. 28:9, and thereby causing a delay of when the rest of the disciples would learn of His resurrection], but go to my brothers and tell them [I said] 'I am [about] to ascend to my Father and to your Father, and to my God and your God.'" So, Mary from Magdala went and told the disciples, "I have seen the Lord," and that He had said these things to her. [See Matt. 28:7-10].


And when evening had come, a rich man from Arimathea named Joseph, who was also one of Jesus' disciples, went to [governor] Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. So, Pilate ordered that it be given to him. Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth read more.
and placed it in his own newly prepared grave, which he had cut out of [a ledge of] rock. Then he [had] a huge stone rolled across the entrance of the grave and went away. Mary from Magdala and the other Mary [i.e., probably Jesus' mother. See verse 56], stood near the grave site. Now on the following day, which was the day after the Preparation [for the Passover Festival], the leading priests and Pharisees assembled in front of Pilate and said, "Sir, we remember what that deceiver said while he was still alive: 'I will rise [from the dead] after three days.' Therefore, give the order to secure the grave site until the third day, so his disciples will not steal his body and then tell the people 'He has risen from the dead.' This last deception would be worse than the first one [i.e., the claim that Jesus rose from the dead would be worse than the claim that he was the Messiah]." Pilate said to them, "Take [a group of] guards [with you]; go and make the grave site as secure as you can." So, they went and secured the grave site, placing a [wax] seal on the stone, while the guards watched.

When evening had come, and since it was the day of Preparation [for the Passover Festival], being the day before the [special] Sabbath Day, Joseph, from Arimathea, a highly respected member of the [Jewish] Council, who was expecting the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate [i.e., the Roman appointed governor] and asked [him] for the body of Jesus. Pilate was amazed that Jesus had already died, and calling the military officer to him, asked how long He had been dead. read more.
And when he found out from the military officer, he granted the body to Joseph. [Joseph then] brought a linen cloth, and after taking Jesus down from the cross, wrapped the linen cloth around His body and placed it in a grave site that had been cut out of [a ledge of] rock. Then he rolled a huge stone across the entrance to the cave. [Now] Mary from Magdala and Mary the mother of Joseph [See verse 40] saw where the body was laid.

And just then [there appeared] a member of the [Jewish] Council named Joseph from the city of Arimathea. He was a good man who tried to do what was right, (and who had not agreed with the decision and action of the [Jewish] Council). He was expecting the kingdom of God [to appear soon]. [So], Joseph went to [governor] Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. read more.
[Upon receiving permission] he took it down [from the cross] and wrapped it in a linen cloth, and placed it in a grave site, cut out of [a ledge of] rock, where no one had ever been buried. This happened on the Day of Preparation [for the Passover Festival], as the Sabbath day was about to begin [i.e., shortly before The women who had accompanied Jesus from Galilee followed behind [those carrying the body] and saw where the grave site was and how His body was placed in it. So, they returned [home] and prepared spices and [aromatic] oils [i.e., for embalming Jesus' body]. Then they rested on the Sabbath day according to the [fourth] commandment. [See Ex. 20:10].

Now it was the Day of Preparation [Note: This was the day before the Passover Festival began, and fell on a Friday that year], and the Jews did not permit bodies to remain on a cross over the Sabbath day. (Besides, that Sabbath day was a special day [i.e., since it was both the Passover and the regular weekly Sabbath, as well]). So, they asked Pilate to have Jesus' and the criminals' legs broken [i.e., to speed up their deaths] and then have their bodies taken away. So, the soldiers went and broke the legs of the first [criminal] and then of the other man crucified with Jesus. But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. read more.
However, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus' side with a spear, and immediately blood and water flowed out. And the person who saw this happen is giving a true testimony about it. He knows it is true [and is giving it] so that you will believe [it, also]. For these things happened so that the Scripture would be fulfilled [Ex. 12:46], "Not a [single] bone of his will be broken." And another Scripture says [Zech. 12:10], "People will look at him whom they [had] pierced." After this happened, one of Jesus' disciples (but secretly, for fear of the Jews), named Joseph from Arimathaea, asked Pilate if he could remove Jesus' body [from the cross]. Pilate granted him permission, so he went and removed the body from the cross. Nicodemus, the man who first came to Jesus one night, also went with him [i.e., to claim Jesus' body]. He brought about a seventy-five pound mixture of myrrh and aloes [i.e., aromatic spices used for embalming]. So, they took Jesus' body and wrapped it in linen cloths, with spices, according to customary Jewish burial practices. Now there was an [olive] orchard at the place where Jesus was crucified. And in the orchard there was a new grave site [i.e., a cave-like tomb] where no one had ever been buried. So, they placed Jesus' body there, for it was the Day of Preparation and that was the closest grave site. [Note: Since this was the day before the Passover Festival, and the next day was also the regular weekly Sabbath, they had to bury the body before sundown to comply with Jewish restrictions against working on a Sabbath day].


And many women, who had followed Jesus from Galilee and had ministered to His needs, were watching [all this] from a distance. Among them were Mary from Magdala; Mary, the mother of James and Joseph [i.e., probably the wife of Clopas. See John 19:25]; and the mother of James and John, the sons of Zebedee [i.e., Salome. Mark 15:40].

and certain women who had been healed from [domination by] evil spirits and diseases. [These women were] Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven evil spirits had been driven out, and Joanna, the wife of Chuzas, Herod's property manager, and Susanna and many others. These [all] had provided the material support for the group from their own means.

but Mary [from Magdala] was standing outside of the cave-like tomb crying. While she was [still] crying she stooped down to look in the tomb, and there she saw two angels [dressed] in white [clothing] sitting where Jesus' body had lain, one at His head and one at His feet. They said to Mary, "[My dear] woman, why are you crying?" She answered, "They have taken my Lord away, and I do not know where they have put Him." read more.
After she said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but did not know it was Him. [Then] Jesus said to her, "[My dear] woman, why are you crying? Who are you looking for?" Assuming He was the grounds keeper, she said to Him, "Sir, if you have carried Him away from here, tell me where you laid Him, and I will go and get Him." [Then] Jesus said to her, "Mary!" She turned toward Him and replied in the Hebrew language, "Rabboni," which means "Teacher." Jesus said to her, "Do not hold on to me, for I have not ascended to the Father yet [Note: Apparently Jesus was discouraging Mary from embracing Him in worship as was done in Matt. 28:9, and thereby causing a delay of when the rest of the disciples would learn of His resurrection], but go to my brothers and tell them [I said] 'I am [about] to ascend to my Father and to your Father, and to my God and your God.'" So, Mary from Magdala went and told the disciples, "I have seen the Lord," and that He had said these things to her. [See Matt. 28:7-10].

A large crowd of people followed Jesus, including some women who wailed [in grief] and mourned over His plight.

Mary from Magdala and the other Mary [i.e., probably Jesus' mother. See verse 56], stood near the grave site.

Now as the Sabbath day ended and the first day of the week [i.e., Sunday] approached [Note: See Mark 16:1-2 for the exact timing], Mary from Magdala and the other Mary [i.e., Jesus' mother. See Matt. 27:56] went to look at the grave site. Now there had been a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord had descended from heaven and, [having] come to roll away the stone, was [now] sitting on it. He appeared as [brilliant] lightning and his clothing was white as snow. read more.
And the guards shook with fear at seeing him, and became as dead men. The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know you are looking for Jesus, who has been crucified. He is not here, for He has risen just as He said [He would]. Come and see the place where the Lord had been lying, then go quickly and tell His disciples, 'He has risen from the dead and is [now] going on ahead of you into Galilee. You will see Him there.' Now [that is all] I have to tell you." So, they left the grave site quickly, with fear and great joy, and ran to give the message to His disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them and gave them greetings. They approached Him and took hold of His feet [and knelt] to worship Him.

The women who had accompanied Jesus from Galilee followed behind [those carrying the body] and saw where the grave site was and how His body was placed in it. So, they returned [home] and prepared spices and [aromatic] oils [i.e., for embalming Jesus' body]. Then they rested on the Sabbath day according to the [fourth] commandment. [See Ex. 20:10].

Now at early dawn on the first day of the week [i.e., early Sunday morning], the women [See Mark 16:1] went to Jesus' grave site, taking the spices which they had prepared [for His burial]. But they found the stone [had already been] rolled away from the [opening of the] grave site. So, they went in [i.e., into the cave-like tomb], but did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. read more.
And it happened, while they wondered about the situation, suddenly two men in brilliant clothing [were seen] standing beside them. As the women became terrified and bowed down with their faces toward the ground [i.e., in reverence and awe], the two men said to them, "Why are you looking for the living [One] where they bury dead people? He is not here; for He has risen [from the dead]. [Do you not] remember what He told you when He was still in Galilee, saying, The Son of man must be turned over into the hands of sinful men to be crucified, but the third day [He will] rise again [from the dead]?'" Then they remembered what He had said to them. When they returned from the grave site, they told all this to the eleven apostles and to all the rest [of the disciples]. Now the women who told these things to the apostles were Mary from Magdala; Joanna [Note: This was the wife of Chuzas, Herod's property manager. See Luke 8:3], and other women who were with them.

Now early [in the morning], while it was still dark on the first day of the week [i.e., Sunday], Mary from Magdala went to the [cave-like] tomb and saw the stone [had been] removed from [the entrance of] the tomb. So, she ran and came to Simon Peter and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved [i.e., probably the apostle John], and said to them, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb and we do not know where they have put Him."


Now as the Sabbath day ended and the first day of the week [i.e., Sunday] approached [Note: See Mark 16:1-2 for the exact timing], Mary from Magdala and the other Mary [i.e., Jesus' mother. See Matt. 27:56] went to look at the grave site.

Mary from Magdala and the other Mary [i.e., probably Jesus' mother. See verse 56], stood near the grave site.


[Now] Mary from Magdala and Mary the mother of Joseph [See verse 40] saw where the body was laid.

Mary from Magdala and the other Mary [i.e., probably Jesus' mother. See verse 56], stood near the grave site.