Observations on the Resurrection of Jesus
By Jonathan Mitchell
This study will follow the Gospel of Mark, with insertions from the Gospels of Luke, John, and Peter. We begin in Mk. 15:47.
47. Now Mary the Magdalene and Mary the [mother] of Yosi (Joses) continued watching and were noting where He had been put.
This chapter and this episode end with two women, functioning as two witnesses, marking the location of the tomb.
For your consideration, we are inserting, here, an episode from the Gospel of Peter which describes what happened on the night of Jesus' third day in the tomb, and the visionary/apocalyptic experience of those who watched the tomb and observed a vision of Jesus' resurrection. The Greek text has been divided into chapters, but the verses are numbered in continuous ascending order, from the beginning of the fragment, until the end. If Crossan is correct concerning the dating of this MS, this may come from a first century tradition. The last verse of the fragment ends with Peter speaking in the first person (14:60, "But I, Simon Peter, and Andres my brother..."), and this is the reason for the assigned title.
The Gospel of Peter
Chapter 9
34. Now early, as the sabbath was dawning, a crowd came from Jerusalem and the adjoining region in order to see that the memorial tomb had been, and was remaining, sealed.
35. But during the night in which that pertaining to the Lord dawned, while the soldiers were guarding two by two every watch, there came to be (was birthed) a great Voice (or: a loud noise) in the midst of the atmosphere (or: centered in the heaven),
36. and they saw the atmospheres (heavens; skies) open back up, and then two adult males (grown, human men) coming down from there - having much splendor and light of the day - and drawing near to the sepulcher.
37. Now that stone which had been put against (upon) the doorway (entrance; opening), having been rolled away on its own, allowed adequate space alongside a part [of the opening] and so the sepulcher was opened up, and both the young men entered (went into the midst).
Chapter 10
39. and, while they continued reporting and describing what they had seen, they again proceed seeing three adult males (grown, human men) coming out, away from the sepulcher, and the two propping and supporting the One upright, and a pole (stake; cross) progressively following along behind them.
40. Now the head of the two, was progressively moving on and reaching as far as the atmosphere (or: up to the sky and heaven), but that of the One being led out by the hand by them was surpassing the atmospheres (or: reaching beyond the skies and heavens).
41. Then they heard a Voice from the atmospheres (out of the skies; forth from the heavens) repeatedly saying: "Have you proclaimed the message (publicly announced the proclamation) to, for and among those presently (or: habitually) sleeping?"
42. And compliance was heard from the pole (stake; cross), "Yes!"
Chapter 11
44. And during their still reasoning, there appeared - again the atmospheres (skies; heavens) having opened back up again, also - a certain human who, after descending (coming down), then was entering into the midst of the memorial tomb.
45. Having seen these things, those around the centurion by night hastened to Pilate, having left the sepulcher which they were guarding, and reported all the things which indeed they had seen, being greatly distressed, and repeatedly (or: one-after-another) saying, "Truly, he was a son of God!"
46. Giving a decided reply, Pilate said (or: kept on saying), "I am clean of (or: from; with regard to) the blood of the Son of God, but it was to (or: for; with; by) you that this appeared (or: seemed to be).
47. Then all, coming forward, expressed necessity and encouraged him to command the centurion and the soldiers to say nothing of the things that they had seen.
48. For you see, it is preferable (or: it bears together), they affirmed, for (or: to; with) us to be the losing party of the lawsuit, which owes for the greatest sin (deviation; mistake; error) before (in the presence of) God, and yet not to fall into the hands of the people of the Judeans and be stoned.
49. Pilate, therefore, commanded (ordered) the centurion and the soldiers to say nothing.
Chapter 12
50. Now early in the morning, from that which pertained to the Lord, Mary the Magdalene, a female disciple (apprentice) of the Lord, while continuing in fear on account of the Judeans, since they were inflamed by anger and wrath....
51. having taken the female friends with her, she came upon (or: went to) the memorial tomb where He had been placed....
Here, in Peter's Gospel, what the men saw (vss. 38-44) calls to mind John's vision of the risen Lord in Rev. 1, and in all the other visions in that apocalyptic book. This vision can be seen as echoing Moses' "burning bush" experience. It also reminds us of Paul's apocalyptic language in 1 Cor. 10:4,
"They all drank the same spiritual drink, for they kept on drinking from out of a spiritual bedrock (or: cliff rock; rock mass) - one continually following along behind (or: progressively accompanying [them]). Now the bedrock (or: cliff rock) was the Christ (or: the rock mass was existing being the Anointing)."
Chapter 16
1. So with the elapsing (or: coming to be fully through) of that sabbath, Mary the Magdalene, Mary the [mother] of Jacob (James) and Salome acquired spices, and oils which come from spices, at the market-place to the end that, when going (or: coming), they could anoint (or: besmear) Him.
Again, three women are center stage. They prepare to perform the normal, cultural honoring of the body of one who had died, but first they must buy what is needed. Taking into consideration the early sabbath-morning walk to the tomb, mentioned in the next verse, we conclude that going to the market, in this verse, was done on a day between Passover sabbath and the weekly sabbath (notice that they waited for the elapsing of the sabbath). The market would not have been open for business on a sabbath.
Observe that the verb that Mark uses, for "acquiring" the spices, is based upon the word "market," and thus means that they bought these things at the local market-place.
2. And very early, on one of the sabbaths (or: in one of the sacred days of rest), they continued approaching the memorial tomb with the rising of the sun.
Observe the literal rendering, "one of the sabbaths." There were two sabbaths that week. This would have been the weekly sabbath, our Saturday. The other sabbath was the Passover sabbath, which they had celebrated three days prior to this. We suggest that the common rendering for this phrase, as, "on the first day of the week," is a yielding of translators to the tradition of Christian institutions. The Concordant Literal New Testament also correctly renders this phrase,
"on one of the sabbaths."
Jn. 19:31 informs us:
"Then the Judeans (= Judean leaders) - since it was [the] Preparation - made petition of Pilate to the end that their [i.e., of those crucified] legs could at once be broken and they could soon be lifted off and carried away, so that the bodies would not remain upon the cross (torture stake; upright suspension pole) on (or: within) the sabbath, for the day of THAT sabbath was a great one."
In saying that the sabbath that was about to begin was "a great one," it means that this was a special sabbath, and that would have been the Passover Feast sabbath, not the normal weekly sabbath. As we will see, below, by the time of "the rising of the sun," Jesus has already "aroused and raised up" (vs. 6, below).
Our conclusion from all of this is that Jesus was resurrected on the sabbath. The significance of this is that it correlates with Jesus so often doing His works of healing, etc., on a sabbath (and the Judean leadership always complained about that). His resurrection began the Day of Rest into which we have been called to enter, as we read in Heb. 4:
9. Consequently, a keeping of a sabbath (a state of rest) is being left remaining for (or: to; in; with) God's people,
10. for the person entering into His rest also caused himself to rest from his own works (actions; deeds), just as God [did] from His own.
11. We should at once with diligence hasten, then, to enter into this rest (or: that ceasing down [from work]; completely stopping)...
Jesus arose, and entered into His Rest; His work was finished.
3. And they began saying to each other, "Who will roll the stone away from out of the entrance of the memorial tomb for us?"
4. Then, upon looking up they continue gazing, noticing that the stone has been rolled back - for in fact it was tremendously large.
We observe, here, that God's program and plans often create provision for us. Probably more often than we realize. Another point to draw from this is that He used the plans of the women to bring them to a divine appointment...
5. Next, upon entering into the memorial tomb, they saw a young man (or: a fresh, new one [or: person?]) continuing sitting down on [the places, or, furnishings] at the right, being a person having clothed himself with a bright, white, long flowing robe - and they were stunned from amazement.
By entering into the tomb, these women acted-out a parable for "entering into His death" and being "buried with Him" (Rom. 6:3b-4). It's all about true solidarity, and joined union! As Luke relates this incident, there were two adult human males that greeted them, in chapter 24:
2. and they found the stone having been rolled away from the tomb,
3. yet, upon entering, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.
4. And then - it happened in the midst of a perplexity for them to be without a way [to explain or understand] about this - look! two adult men (human males), in clothing that was constantly flashing and radiating beams of light, stepped up suddenly and stood by them.
John's Gospel has Mary seeing,
"two agents (or: messengers) in brilliant, shining white (as being in a bright light), remaining sitting down - one toward the head, and one toward the feet - where the body of Jesus had been lying" (Jn. 20:12)
And then she is greeted by Jesus (vss. 15-17).
This incident corresponds to the visionary experience of the soldiers of the Gospel of Peter, above: the resurrection party was composed of Jesus and two men/agents. There may have been a whole host of others attending the resurrection (Heb. 12:1) that simply did not reveal their presence. When Peter and the "other" disciple visited the tomb (Jn. 20:3-10), they saw no one, other than Mary who had brought word to them. When there are multiple witness to an incident (especially with some not seeing what happened, but only the results) the fact that there are differences in the details of their testimonies adds veracity to their reports. No two people see the same thing, even when they are both watching the same event.
We should not be surprised at their being stunned. No body! A young person in a "bright, white, long flowing robe." They were having an experience like John did, on the Isle of Patmos (Rev.).
6. Now he is then saying to them, "Stop being alarmed (or: Don't continue being utterly amazed). You are still looking for (trying to find) Jesus the Nazarene - the Man having been crucified (attached to an execution stake; suspended from a pole). He was aroused and raised up; He is not here. Look at (or: See and consider) the place where they put Him.
He simply gives the facts to them, and then points to the evidence that Jesus' body was no longer where He had been placed. No theological discourse is given to them, only instructions about what they need to do...
7. "But now, go and lead, under [this message and instruction]: say to the disciples - and (or: even) to Peter! - that He is progressively going ahead of you folks into the Galilee [area]. You will repeatedly see Him there, just as He told you people."
It is touching that the Lord was sending a message to the disciples, through these women, and He emphasizes Peter. Our own human emotions can "fill in the blanks" for why He specifically named Peter, the one who played the part of denying Him three times. Each character in this lived out play had a necessary part. Each of them represent each one of us, and all of humanity. And each one of us receives, and will continue receiving, grace and mercy as He causes our human failures to flow away from us.
But why was Jesus returning to Galilee? Was it to allow His twelve to return home and recover from all that they had been through? The Lord is so thoughtful of us. He had come to Jerusalem for The Event. But now He, Himself, would come full circle and visit His home country, now being in the new realm into which He had arisen. Furthermore, even though some of them might return to Jerusalem, as we notice in the book of Acts, this would give them time to visit their families and make plans.
But more than the human element to this story, this indicated that Jerusalem would not be the Messiah's "headquarters," even though, for the rest of that generation, the disciples would established a presence there. We suggest that, having fulfilled all that had been written in the Prophets (Lu. 21:22), the focus of the risen Christ was toward "Galilee of the Gentiles" (Mat. 4:15). He had come first to Israel, but He would proceed sending them into the ethnic multitudes (the nations - Mat. 28:19).
8. So coming out, they fled (= ran away) from the memorial tomb, for trembling and ecstasy (a being put out of place and normal standing; a displacement of the mind) continued holding them and [along the way] they said nothing to anyone, for they continued fearing (being affected by reverential fear and respect).
Mark highlights more human emotions and reactions. Running or walking very fast portrays the physical response to their
"trembling and ecstasy." Their minds and their emotions had been "put out of place and normal standing."
Their minds, and probably their whole worldviews, had been "displaced." No wonder they said nothing as they fled the scene, on their way to the disciples, to report the Good News. They were probably trying to wrap their minds around what they had discovered, and what was said to them.
Here, we offer more from the Gospel of Peter that presents another version of what happened when the women arrived at the tomb:
Chapter 13
56. "Why do you folks come? Who (or: What things) are you presently (or: do you continue) seeking or trying to find? Surely not that One having been crucified? He stood back up again (or: He rose; [comment: the active voice]) and then went away (or: off). But since (or: if) you folks are not proceeding in believing (or: continuing faithing-it and trusting), bend (or: stoop) down beside [here] and see (look at) the place, there, where He continued lying. You see, He stood back up again (or: He rose) and then went away (or: off), there from where He was sent off as a Representative!
57. At that point, being affected by reverential fear and respect (or: being caused to fear), they fled (= ran away).
[Codices Aleph, B and other witnesses end Mark here; Codices A, C, D, L and W, along with later MSS and witnesses contain the following:]
For those codices that end Mark here, it seems like an odd ending - not even speaking of the report that the women would have given. Keep in mind that our earliest surviving MSS are those of the 4th century. These were all copies (perhaps copies of copies) of the original MSS that are now lost to us. The last part of the copies that were the sources for what have now (being designated as Aleph, B, etc.) may have lost the original ending.
The codices that contain the following, although dated later than Aleph and B, may be copies of earlier MSS which contained part or all of what they present to us...
9. Now arising early in the morning, in the first [part] of [the] sabbath, He [later] appeared first to Mary the Magdalene, beside whom (or: from the presence of whom) He had thrown out seven demons (Hellenistic concept and term: = animistic influences).
Notice that the literal rendering of this verse tells us that Jesus arose on the sabbath. Mary was the first person to whom He, Himself, appeared. This aligns with the account in the Gospel of John. This encounter would have happened after what is recorded above. Perhaps the women did not go immediately to the disciples. Remember, our MSS may be a conflation of different accounts of just how all these subsequent events took place.
The reference to "seven demons" is probably the use of the number seven in its symbolic sense: completeness. It most likely means that she had been completely healed, inwardly. She was now made whole.
10. That woman, upon going on her way, reported back to those being ones birthed to be (or: having come to be; happening to have been) with Him - folks continuously mourning (expressing grief) and repeatedly shedding tears.
Here, it is Mary that brings the report to the rest of His followers, as in Jn. 20:18.
11. At hearing that He continues living (or: lives) and was gazed upon (observed) by her, those folks were without faith (distrusted; disbelieved).
You see, Thomas was not the only one that doubted. Besides, in that culture and in that era of humanity, the testimony of a woman was not considered to be valid. So, we should not be too hard on these folks who were still mourning over what had happened to Him. This news was "just too good to be true."
We are inserting, here, the ending verses of the fragment of the Gospel of Peter:
Chapter 14
59. Yet we, ourselves, the twelve disciples (apprentices) of the Lord, kept on weeping and continued being pained and grieved, and so, each one went off unto his own house, still grieving because of what had happened (walked with [us]). [comment: notice "the 12 disciples"]
60. But I myself, Simon Peter, and Andrew, my brother, upon taking our fishing nets, went off (or: came away) unto the Sea - and there continued being with us Levi, [son] of Alphaeus, whom [the] Lord... [The text breaks off here; cf Jn. 21:3ff]
12. Yet after these things, He was displayed in clear light and manifested - in a different form - to two of their group, when they continued walking along, being on their way journeying into [the] country.
This incident most likely corresponds to the account given in Lu. 24:13-32, on the road to Emmaus. In that incident, the two did not recognize Jesus until the very end of the encounter - which happened as they were walking along, and they stopped to eat. Was this because He had appeared "in a different form" to them as they journeyed along? This phrase opens fascinating possibilities, of which we can make no certain conclusions, but we are reminded of Phil. 3:21-4:1,
"Who will continue transfiguring (progressively refashioning and remodeling; continuously changing the form of) our body from the low condition and status (or: the body of, and from, our humiliation; or: the body which is us, pertaining to this lowliness) [to be] joint-formed in, and conformed by, to and with, the body of His glory
(or: from, and which is, His assumed appearance; [other MSS: into the {situation} for it to be brought into existence conformed to, and having the same form together with, His body, from that which calls forth praise and imagination for His character and good repute]; cf 2 Cor. 3:18), down from (or: in accord with; in the sphere of; to the level of; following the pattern of; in stepping with; commensurate with; as directed by) the inwardly-centered operation (functioning energy; inner-working) of the [conditions, situation or sphere for] Him to be continuously able (or: to progress with power) also to humbly align The Whole to and in Himself
(or: to subject and subordinate all things for Himself; to arrange everything under so as to have full control and to support [it] by and with Himself). Consequently, my brothers (= fellow believers; Family) - loved ones and longed-for folks (people missed with a craving), my joy and winner's (or: festal) wreath - thus (in this way) you constantly stand within [the] Lord [= Christ or Yahweh]: [as or being] loved ones!"
13. So those men, upon coming away, reported back to the rest, yet they were not trusting (or: putting faith and belief) in those men.
That part of the same incident is recorded in Lu. 24:33-35, but then...
37. Yet as [some] were being startled, while [other] were being terrified - then [all] were becoming ones in the grips of fear - they kept on supposing (imagining; assuming) to be presently watching (being a spectator of) a spirit or life-force (a breath-effect). This was the situation that is referenced in our next verse...
14. Now later on (or: subsequently) He was suddenly manifested in clear light to them - to the eleven, as they were continuing in reclining [at a meal], and it (or: this; He) challenged their character in regard to their mistrust (or: reproached their reputation of lacking faith) and hardness (or: roughness and dry condition) of heart, because they did not put faith or trust in those attentively viewing Him as One having been aroused and now raised up from out of the midst of dead ones.
Jonathan
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