Yes, I ran out of time before getting it all said! So next Lesson (John 20:19-23) will contain a bit of review, a recap of the omitted material. It’s extremely important doctrine, as well!

“11 But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre, 12 And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. 13 And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him. 14 And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away. 16 Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master. 17 Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God. 18 Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her.

Mary mistook Jesus for the gardener, verse 15! When in reality our Lord certainly is the “tender plant” of Isaiah 53:2! As far as I am concerned, He is the “Rose of Sharon” as well, Song of Solomon 2:1! And the “Root and Offspring” of David, Revelation 22:16! All botanical terms!

Jesus, like His Father, is interested in horticulture. In vines and branches! John 15:1 … “I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.” The Greek noun for “husbandman” means “earth worker!” Sounds like gardening to me!

In this Lesson (verse 18) we see Mary Magdalene (an unlikely candidate) as a missionary! Telling the good news of Jesus’ Resurrection! Every Christian should be telling the Story, propagating the Gospel!

In the early Church, I am told, every Sunday the Services began with the Preacher calling this Truth to the congregation … “CHRIST IS RISEN!” To which the people responded, “CHRIST IS RISEN INDEED!”

Hallelujah!

Watch the next lesson (posted every other evening) to get the rest of the Story!

This too …

Did you know we have Classes on every verse in Colossians? A great Christ-centered Epistle of Paul! Watch one and see …

Our Bible Text …

1 The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre. 2 Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him.

3 Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre. 4 So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre. 5 And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in. 6 Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie, 7 And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself.

8 Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed. 9 For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead. 10 Then the disciples went away again unto their own home.

Someone noticed this parallel …

“Let there be Light!” (First day of creation week!)

“Let there be more Light” (First Day of Resurrection Week, truly a SUNday!)

(Remember, Jesus is the Light of the world, John 8:12.)

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Jesus did not sneak out of the tomb, as if an escaping criminal! God sent an angel who rolled back the stone, and Jesus (if He so chose) walked out, openly and unashamedly!

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Oh, the lovely “differences” among God’s children!

John, having been fleet of foot, arrived at the gravesite first in chapter 20.
(Just see the Text above.) The younger disciple outran the older one! But then Peter got to the shore of the Sea Galilee first in chapter 21!

John 21:7 … Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher’s coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea.

John 21:11 … Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken.

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I still might make a chart and share this data in class. Prior to our completing John chapter 20, of course. Five “Meetings” …

The “Empty-Tomb” Meeting (verses 1-10)!

The Mary Magdalene Meeting (verses 11-18)!

The Great Commission Meeting (verses 19-23)!

The Doubting Thomas Meeting (verses 24-29)!

The “You the Readers” Meeting (verses 30-31)!

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I alluded to these three prophecies of Jesus in the Lesson. Now, here are the exact references …

Mark 8:27-32 … “And Jesus went out, and his disciples, into the towns of Caesarea Philippi: and by the way he asked his disciples, saying unto them, Whom do men say that I am? 28 And they answered, John the Baptist: but some say, Elias; and others, One of the prophets. 29 And he saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Peter answereth and saith unto him, Thou art the Christ. 30 And he charged them that they should tell no man of him. 31 And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. 32 And he spake that saying openly. And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him.”

Mark 9:31-32 … “For he taught his disciples, and said unto them, The Son of man is delivered into the hands of men, and they shall kill him; and after that he is killed, he shall rise the third day. But they understood not that saying, and were afraid to ask him.”

Mark 10:32-34 … “And they were in the way going up to Jerusalem; and Jesus went before them: and they were amazed; and as they followed, they were afraid. And he took again the twelve, and began to tell them what things should happen unto him, 33 Saying, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be delivered unto the chief priests, and unto the scribes; and they shall condemn him to death, and shall deliver him to the Gentiles: 34 And they shall mock him, and shall scourge him, and shall spit upon him, and shall kill him: and the third day he shall rise again.”

For three consecutive chapters … the Cross is looming!

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John, but not by name …

John 13:23 … “Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved.”

John 19:26 … “When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!”

John 20:2 … “Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him.”

John 21:7 … “Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher’s coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea.”

John 21:20 … “Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee?”

(Note … 4 of these 5 times, in association with Peter!)

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Calvary does not exhaust the Gospel!

The Resurrection is essential, too!

Romans 10:9-10 … “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”

Romans 4:25 … “Jesus, Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.”

Romans 5:10 … “For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.” (He is alive!)

And let’s add Hebrews 7:25 … “Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.”

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Looks like Jesus, as it were, “changed His clothes,” prior to leaving the Tomb that glorious morning! (His linen garments were still wrapped, undisturbed!)

So did (Old Testament) Joseph prior to leaving his “prison!”

Genesis 41:14 … “Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him hastily out of the dungeon: and he shaved himself, and changed his raiment, and came in unto Pharaoh.”

(Another of the nearly 100 ways Joseph is a “type” of Jesus!)

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I found this information in an on-line commentary I bought …

“The whole chapter (John 20) unites various responses to Jesus, illustrating the diverse ways people can become believers in the resurrection: the beloved disciple believes when he sees Jesus’ grave clothes (John 20:1–10); Mary believes when Jesus calls her name (John 20:11–18); the disciples believe when they actually see him (John 20:19–23); Thomas, more skeptical, believes when called to probe Jesus’ Hands and Side (John 20:24–29); and finally, the Gospel praises most highly those who believe without seeing (John 20:29).”

(I thought this was powerful! The quoted author is Craig Keener, I believe his name is spelled correctly. And, by the way, this does not mean I agree or endorse everything Dr. Keener wrote!)

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Best yet, though I seem to have not had time to include all I studied … watch the video, the whole class …

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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What an immensely interesting Passage of Scripture, our current Paragraph, John 19:38-42 …

“38 And after this Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus. 39 And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight. 40 Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury. 41 Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid. 42 There laid they Jesus therefore because of the Jews’ preparation day; for the sepulchre was nigh at hand.”

Jesus, speaking of His Cross, once said: “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.” (John 12:32) And soon as He died … two notable men were “drawn” unto Him! Among the first … Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea!

Matthew 27:57 tells us that Joseph (who buried Jesus) was “rich!” Thus fulfilling Isaiah 53:9 … “And he (Jesus) made his grave with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.” Amazing!

Nicodemus, such a colorful Bible character, is only mentioned (just 3 times) by John, in his written Gospel! (You can see his faith blossom and grow in each successive incident!)

John 3:1-2 … “There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: the same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest …”

John 7:50-52 … “Nicodemus saith unto them, (he that came to Jesus by night, being one of them,) Doth our law judge any man, before it hear him, and know what he doeth? They answered and said unto him, Art thou also of Galilee? Search, and look: for out of Galilee ariseth no prophet.”

John 19:39 … “And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight.”

One writer said this of the Resurrection of Jesus …

The Resurrection … “the biggest surprise in history!”

I wonder. Did Nicodemus, as he helped bury Jesus … recall the Lord using these words?   “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up.” John 3:14

Jesus, buried like a King? Here’s one example, King Asa of Judah …

2 Chronicles 16:14 … “And they buried him in his own sepulchre, which he had made for himself in the city of David, and laid him in the bed which was filled with sweet odours and divers kinds of spices prepared by the apothecaries’ art: and they made a very great burning for him.”

Nicodemus and Jospeh … both members of the Sanhedrin who disagreed with the High Priest’s decision to crucify Jesus, formed a bond that reminds me of Proverbs 27:17 … “Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.” They were good for each other!

I did not know this. “It was common for disciples to plan and arrange the burial of their revered teachers!”

Jesus was buried in a tomb never used by any human! And earlier that same week He rode into Jerusalem on a little donkey no man had ever ridden!

Mark 11:2 paralleled by Luke 19:30 … “And saith unto them, Go your way into the village over against you: and as soon as ye be entered into it, ye shall find a colt tied, whereon never man sat; loose him, and bring him.”

… then …

Luke 23:53 … And he took it down, and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a sepulchre that was hewn in stone, wherein never man before was laid.

Worthy is the Lamb!

One more thought … these two (brave) men were certainly serving the Lord (the Cause of Christ) by burying Jesus in such an honorable manner. Surely God blessed them for such gallant efforts!

John 12:26 … If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.

Watch the video class now, if at all possible …

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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There are occasionally Class Sessions when I do not even pick up the notes I have made! This was one of those times. The Holy Spirit just flooded my mind with thought after thought!

“31 The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. 32 Then came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with him. 33 But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs: 34 But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water. 35 And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe.      36 For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken. 37 And again another scripture saith, They shall look on him whom they pierced.”

I learned a new word this week … “crurifragium” … the shattering of the leg bones of victims of crucifixion … in order to hasten death.

But the soldiers did NOT attempt to break Jesus’ legs! One commentator called that fact a “Providential Passover!” (They passed over Jesus, passed Him by with their mallets!)

On Jesus’ unbroken bones …

Exodus 12:46 … Thou shalt not carry forth ought of the flesh abroad out of the house; neither shall ye break a bone thereof.

Numbers 9:12 … Leave none of it unto the morning, nor break any bone of it: according to all the ordinances of the Passover.

Psalm 34:20 … He keepeth all his bones (of the righteous): not one of them is broken.

Verse 37 … Jesus “pierced!”

Zechariah 12:10 … And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.

Revelation 1:7 … Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.

Verse 34 … is this “blood and water incident” a miracle, another of John’s “signs?”

Moses’ first Miracle … Water and Blood (Nile)

Jesus’ last Miracle … Blood and Water!

I did say this … The repentant thief, though he got saved, he still had a lot of suffering to endure!

Acts 14:22 … Paul agrees … Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

Pierced by a spear without hitting a bone, a single rib! God was certainly in control!

Watch the class with us now …

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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Our Bible Text, in three Paragraphs …

25 Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!

27 Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home. 28 After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.

29 Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth. 30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

In our last Lesson we last saw 4 soldiers throwing dice, gambling. We now see 4 women keeping faith! (Five Believers around the Cross counting “the Disciple Jesus loved,” John we believe.)

How much “detail” do we owe these women (and John) concerning the Cross?

Matthew 27:55-56 … And many women were there beholding afar off, which followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto him: among which was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee’s children.

Luke 8:1-3 … And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with him, and certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils, and Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto him of their substance.

It is almost like Jesus turned His Cross into a pulpit! In John’s Gospel He only speaks three times from Calvary, but a total of seven times when all the Gospels are combined. To be more specific …

In John Jesus only speaks three times from the Cross!

His First … Mother/Son, a new Family?

His Second … “I thirst!” (One Greek verb!)

His Last … “It is finished!” (One Greek verb!)

In Matthew and Mark, only once does He speak … Matthew 27:46 and Mark 15:34! (My God, my God, Why hast Thou forsaken Me?)

The other three Statements are from Luke’s Gospel …

Father, forgive them …

Today with Me in Paradise …

Father, into Thy Hands I commend (para + tithemi) My spirit …

The apparent sequence of these “Sayings” as well …

Before the Darkness … 3 sayings!

During the Darkness … 1 Saying!

After the Darkness … 3 Sayings!

One reverent writer called Jesus “the Central Sufferer” on the Hill of Golgotha tthat Day!

What Verse or Verses hinted that Jesus would be “thirsty” on the Cross?

Psalm 22:15 … My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death.

Psalm 69:21 … They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.

The best way to study this Text is to watch the whole Class if possible …

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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