Jesus' Empty Tomb

May 15th, 2025
by Lance Waldie

John 20:1-2 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. 2 So she ran and came to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.”

All four Gospels refer to the day Christ rose from the dead as “the first day of the week” instead of saying “the third day after His death.” To be sure, Christ’s death is central to the Christian faith, but it is His resurrection on Sunday that sets Jesus above all other cult leaders. After all, they are all dead; Jesus is alive! Thus, there is a certain theology behind Christian worship on Sunday, “the first day of the week” (John 20:19, 26; cf. Rev. 1:10).

Since the Jews rested on the Sabbath, the women who came to anoint Jesus’ body waited till Sunday to do so when it was “early.” They had seen the place where Jesus was buried (cf. Matt. 27:61; Mark 15:47; Luke 23:55), so they knew where to go. The Jews believed, gullibly, that the spirit of a dead person remained in that person for four days after death, believing that their spirit eventually departed when it could no longer recognize its decomposing body (cf. John 11:39). Perhaps the women came to Jesus’ tomb to anoint His body for this reason, before Jesus’ spirit departed from Him. Though John’s Gospel mentions only Mary Magdalene as coming to the tomb early, the Synoptics include other women who were also present: the “other Mary” who was the mother of James and Joses (Matt. 28:1; cf. Mark 16:1); the wife of Clopas (Matt. 27:56; John 19:25); Salome, the mother of James and John, the wife of Zebedee (Mark 16:1; cf. Matt. 27:56); and Joanna (Luke 24:10)—at least five women, possibly more.

Though each Gospel says that these women arrived “early,” John says it was still dark while Mark says the sun had already risen (16:2). But since “dark” and “early” are relative terms, both could be correct depending on one’s viewpoint. It could also be that the women rose while it was still dark yet arrived at the tomb after the sun had risen. John’s account, written much later than the Synoptics, focuses on Mary Magdalene who, upon seeing the empty tomb, immediately ran to tell Peter and John while the other women peered into the tomb and saw two angels.

When Mary arrived at the place where Peter and “the other disciple whom Jesus loved” (i.e., John) were staying, she simply told them that Jesus was not in the tomb. This implies that she had no preconceived notion of Jesus being resurrected. She was frightened and confused about this violation of human dignity in stealing a human corpse, especially one she loved.

Food For Thought
The women who followed Jesus were incredibly faithful to Him. Because they were always near to Him, even at His death, they were able to witness and experience His power. Likewise, those who gather regularly, not simply on Sundays, for worship, Bible study, and for prayer—and those actively engaged in spreading His word to the lost, are the ones who are abundantly blessed by the Lord. People tend to notice these folks and wonder why they have such joy, and the reason is that they are present with the Lord at all times. Conversely, those who do not attend worship regularly, assembling with God’s people, tend to lack spiritual fervor and live with the most confusion and anxiety. We reap what we sow (Gal. 6:7-8). If you, for example, sow a steady diet of God’s word, pray as a lifestyle rather than as a chore, give financially to Christ’s Church, and live to please Christ, you will reap a good measure of God’s goodness. If you don’t, you won’t! But don’t sit back and wonder why your life continually fails to produce the fruit you wish it would. It produces what you make it produce. Remember that the next time you are tempted to substitute some worldly activity for worship or spend your money foolishly.