Frankly, I do not remember where I obtained this picture, but I am glad that I found it, for it depicts several of Jesus’ disciples ( the two Mary’s and Salome… see Mark 16:1, below ) coming to the tomb where Jesus was laid after being executed by the Romans.
Can you imagine being there and seeing this event with your own eyes? What would you remember as important? In fact, would you believe what you had seen, or would you doubt what was right before you? The Bible says of this scene…
Mark 16 ( World English Bible )
1 When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, bought spices, that they might come and anoint him. Matt 28:1; Luke 24:1; John 20:1;
2 Very early on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen.
3 They were saying among themselves, “Who will roll away the stone from the door of the tomb for us?”
4 for it was very big. Looking up, they saw that the stone was rolled back.
5 Entering into the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe, and they were amazed. Matt 28:2; John 20:12;
6 He said to them, “Don’t be amazed. You seek Jesus, the Nazarene, who has been crucified. He has risen. He is not here. Behold, the place where they laid him! Matt 28:5; Luke 24:5;
7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He goes before you into Galilee. There you will see him, as he said to you.’” Matt 26:32; Matt 28:10; Mark 14:28; Acts 1:3; Acts 13:31; 1Cor 15:5;
8 They went out, and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had come on them. They said nothing to anyone; for they were afraid. Matt 28:8; Luke 24:9; John 20:18;
Today, I included the cross-references from my computer program ( theWord [ and yes, that is spelled correctly ] ), that you might study its references. Why? Well, since the resurrection of Jesus is the most important event in human history, its worth the time to study both this and all the other accounts of the resurrection as well.
I wonder, how many accounts of this event and how many witnesses would you have to hear ( or in our case, read in the Bible ) before you believed them to be true? In thinking about this, I remembered this passage from Paul’s letter to the Corinthians…
1 Corinthians 15 ( WEB )
1 Now I declare to you, brothers, the Good News which I preached to you, which also you received, in which you also stand, Gal 1:11;
2 by which also you are saved, if you hold firmly the word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. Rom 1:16; 1Cor 1:21;
3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, Isa 53:7; Dan 9:24; Dan 9:26; 1Cor 5:7; 1Pet 2:24;
4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, Ps 16:10; Isa 53:8; Isa 53:9; Jonah 1:17; Matt 12:40;
5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Luke 24:34; John 20:19; Acts 10:41;
6 Then he appeared to over five hundred brothers at once, most of whom remain until now, but some have also fallen asleep.
7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles,
8 and last of all, as to the child born at the wrong time, he appeared to me also. Acts 9:3; Acts 9:17; Acts 23:11; 1Cor 9:1; 2Cor 12:2;
Again, I have included cross-references for study. Why? Because all the events after Jesus’ resurrection are especially important. Today, give some thought to all this; study, learn and grow because of these things. And, just one more thing…
John 20 ( WEB )
24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, wasn’t with them when Jesus came.
25 The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”
26 After eight days again his disciples were inside, and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, the doors being locked, and stood in the midst, and said, “Peace be to you.”
27 Then he said to Thomas, “Reach here your finger, and see my hands. Reach here your hand, and put it into my side. Don’t be unbelieving, but believing.”
28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!”
29 Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen, and have believed.”
30 Therefore Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book;
31 but these are written, that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name.