What is Resurrection Sunday about - Eggs or Jesus?

By Cripplegate

Christ’s resurrection is the most important and joyous event in history. While millions of people celebrate this event around the world each year, there is also a recognition that a problem exists within humanity—though most individuals may struggle to identify the underlying issue affecting their eternal futures.

 

In a word, our problem is sin, which ultimately leads to death. John, in his Gospel account of the resurrection, emphasizes that the solution to this problem can only be found in Jesus Christ (John 20:31). John's purpose, much like that of Jesus in His mission, is not to exacerbate our condition of sin and death or to condemn us in God's sight. Instead, he brings the message of salvation so that we might experience eternal life. The message conveyed through John's account of Christ’s resurrection is one of salvation and life; however, we must each believe in Jesus and His resurrection to attain this life.

 

There are four pieces of evidence in John 20:1-23 that support the truth of Christ’s resurrection.

 

The first piece of evidence is the empty tomb (verses 1-8). 

 

Mary Magdalene, Peter, and John arrived at the tomb and found the stone rolled away and the body of their Lord missing. When we say the tomb was empty, we do not mean it was entirely devoid of evidence; there were significant items left behind. The neatly arranged wrappings and face cloth indicate that Jesus’ body was not stolen. A thief would have likely taken the linen wrappings and cloth for profit. Additionally, no one would have moved the body to bury it elsewhere without taking the grave clothes. This rules out the possibilities of theft or a misguided friend attempting to bury Jesus in a different tomb.

 

The fact that the body was missing while the grave clothes remained provides irrefutable evidence of resurrection. Every theory that attempts to deny the resurrection fails to explain both the missing body and the presence of the grave clothes. To disprove the resurrection, one would only need to produce a corpse. The Jewish authorities recognized this, which led them to fabricate a story claiming that the disciples had stolen the body (Matthew 28:11-15). This explanation, however, defies all likelihood. The condition of Christ’s tomb proves that He was raised.

 

Although John did not fully understand what he was witnessing, he realized that the only plausible explanation for the empty tomb was resurrection. No human explanation could suffice.

 

The second proof of the resurrection is the Scriptures (verse 9).

 

Verse 9 states, “For as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead.” John notes that he saw and believed, yet he follows this with the acknowledgment that he did not fully understand the Scripture. This qualification suggests that he based his belief on the evidence of the tomb rather than the even more reliable evidence of God’s Word. For the apostles, the Old Testament prophecies regarding the Messiah's resurrection served as the most solid basis for believing that Jesus had risen from the dead.

 

John doesn’t specify which Scripture he had in mind. Several possibilities have been proposed, such as Psalm 16:10, Hosea 6:2, or the book of Jonah. It is also possible that John viewed the entire Old Testament as a narrative pointing to the Messiah's sufferings, resurrection, and glory.

 

Regardless of the specific Scripture, what is crucial is that Scripture testifies to Jesus’ resurrection, making it the most compelling evidence. God had repeatedly promised that His Messiah would suffer and rise again. Jesus, who executed the works of the Messiah and was born of a virgin and from the line of David, must have risen from the dead because Scripture proclaimed that He would—and it is impossible for God to lie.

 

The third piece of evidence for the resurrection is Jesus’ appearance to Mary (verses 10-18).

 

After Peter and John left, Mary stayed behind to look into the tomb again. This time, she saw two angels. Mary was distraught and confused, wondering if those who buried Jesus had taken Him elsewhere.

 

Her confusion continued when she did not initially recognize Jesus outside the tomb. This interaction highlights that the resurrection body is different from the mortal one. Jesus resembled Himself enough that people recognized Him once they knew who He was, but His resurrected body was distinct enough from His earthly body that He was not immediately identifiable (1 Corinthians 15).

 

Mary was looking right at Jesus, but she did not recognize Him until she heard Him call her name. Jesus said, “My sheep hear My voice” (John 10:3). When the true shepherd called her name, Mary followed—even though she did not immediately recognize His physical appearance.

 

The fourth proof of Jesus’ resurrection comes from His scars (verses 19-23).

 

It is significant to note that Christ’s resurrected body bears the eternal marks of the scars He received. One critical reason this detail matters is that it confirms that the one the disciples encountered was indeed the crucified Messiah, not an imposter. It would be impossible for anyone to fake the scars of crucifixion, particularly the wound in His side from the spear that pierced His heart. This aspect of the resurrection is irrefutable evidence of His identity and sacrifice.