Lagniappe
(Sermon Notes) By Warren Zehrung 5/23/2020
We are instructed to “count Pentecost.” In our count to Pentecost, we have come to the sixth Sabbath, and the forty-second day. The Hebrew shows that we have completed six weeks. Pentecost will be next weekend.
Leviticus 23:15 You shall count unto you from the morrow after the Sabbath, from the day that ye brought the wave sheaf offering; seven Sabbaths shall be complete:
Leviticus 23:16 Even unto the morrow after the seventh Sabbath shall ye number fifty days [Pentecost means count fifty]; and you shall offer a new grain offering unto the LORD.
The Bible contains a great many details about the things that transpired in the time period between the resurrection of Jesus Christ until Pentecost had fully come (Acts 2:1).
Jesus interacted with His disciples for forty of those days until He was taken up to sit on the right hand of God (Mark 16:19).
Just for perspective that would have occurred the day-before-yesterday – Thursday.
Acts 1:2 Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Spirit had given commandments unto the apostles whom He had chosen:
Acts 1:3 To whom also he shewed himself alive after His suffering and passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:
Infallible proofs of what? That Jesus was the living resurrected Messiah. Jesus who was dead was alive again!
It was an incredible thing to behold – and a hard thing to believe. The people of Jesus’ day were not used to thinking of a “resurrection.” They were looking forward to Jesus establishing the Kingdom of God – then and there!
Acts 1:4 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father [Pentecost and Holy Spirit], which, He said, you have heard of me.
Today’s sermon is about believing in the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Knowing how difficult it would be for His followers to believe, because they had not yet received the Holy Spirit, Jesus enlisted many infallible proofs to help them.
I will refer to these many infallible proofs as lagniappe. What is lagniappe, you may ask? Lagniappe is an old Louisiana tradition, meaning “a little something extra.”
Let me introduce you to another Louisiana French word, beignet. [Pronounced “Ben-YAY,”] What is a beignet, you may ask? A beignet is a Cajun French delicacy that is indescribably delicious. Beignets are going to be a mainstay of our diet in the Millennium 😊.
A beignet is a small square of deep-fried sweetened dough, eaten hot, after being dusted with fine confectioners’ sugar. With a hot cup of café au lait, beignets are fit for a king. Café au lait – milk coffee – but that is enough French for one day! If you were to go to the Café Du Monde coffee stand in the New Orleans French Quarter and order a dozen beignets – you would receive thirteen beignets.
The extra beignet is your lagniappe – something given as a bonus or extra gift. Lagniappe is a gesture of generosity.
In the same way, that is what Jesus did in giving many infallible proofs of His resurrection to those who would soon comprise the ekklesia – the Church of God. They were an extra gift – they are not necessary for our salvation.
Jesus acted in amazing ways to freely help the fledgling church through that difficult transition.
For the most part, what we will be looking at in today’s sermon – are one-time miracles. And they all took place in a seven-week framework—from Jesus Christ’s resurrection to Pentecost, and the coming of God’s Holy Spirit.
All of these unique events were meant to punctuate and highlight and draw attention to the fact that something new, fantastic and out of the ordinary was taking place. It is a story of a remarkable chain of events leading up to and including the Feast of Pentecost.
We are freely given so many details – especially by the apostle John – just so that we can appreciate the nuances and fine distinctions of the miracles surrounding the resurrection to Pentecost series of incidents.
Jesus worked these fantastic and extraordinary miracles to draw vivid attention to the fact that there was an astonishing and pivotal changeover step taking place in God’s Plan.
We will be transitioning from the Old Testament to the New Testament. We do not find these miracles in the Old Testament – nor later on – once the Church has been established. Pentecost is the pivotal Feast in the Plan of God.
Today we will be looking at some of the many miracles – the extra and unique gifts – that God gave to the Church brethren to help them believe. We will begin with Christ’s Resurrection after three nights and days in the tomb:
The weekly Sabbath was drawing to a close – as the sun dipped below the horizon – when, God the Father in exceeding great power wrought in Christ as He raised Him from the dead.
Ephesians 1:19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,
Ephesians 1:20 Which he worked in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and set Him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
As a review, let’s look at one of the Synoptic Gospel writers to get a gist of the story line. The Synoptic writers wrote first – and early compared to the writings of the apostle John. The Synoptic Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, describe these events from very early on, as contrasted with that of John, who wrote much later.
We will be looking into the apostle John’s account also. John had all three Synoptic Gospel writers documents, plus Paul’s writings in front of him when He wrote his Gospel account in about 98 AD. Keep in mind that John understood so much more when he wrote than Matthew, Mark, and Luke did, because John gained in spiritual maturity in those many years that had ensued.
Luke 23:52 This man, Joseph of Arimathaea, went unto Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus.
Luke 23:53 And he took it down, and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a sepulcher that was hewn in stone, wherein never man before was laid before.
Luke 23:54 And that day was the preparation [of Unleavened Bread], and the [High] Sabbath drew on.
Luke 23:55 And the women also, which came with [Jesus] from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulcher, and how [Jesus] body was laid.
Luke 23:56 And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the Sabbath day according to the commandment.
Luke has a hidden reference to the counting of weeks to Pentecost – starting on the morrow after the Sabbath – the Wave Sheaf Day – shall ye number fifty days to Pentecost. [so does Mark]
Mark 16:2 And very early in the morning the first day of the weeks, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun. weeks of counting
The Greek reads Te mia ton Sabbaton
“Weeks” is an incorrect translation and should be “Sabbaths.”
Specifically, it was the first Day of Unleavened Bread, the Sunday High Day Sabbath that should be counted from to arrive at Pentecost (John 19:31, Leviticus 23:15-16).
Luke 24:1 Now upon the first day of the [seven] weeks, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulcher, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them.
Luke 24:2 And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulcher.
Luke 24:3 And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.
Luke 24:4 And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men [angels] stood by them in shining garments:
Luke 24:5 And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, [the angles] said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead?
Luke 24:6 He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spoke unto you when he was yet in Galilee,
Luke 24:7 Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.
Luke 24:8 And they remembered his words,
Luke 24:9 And returned from the sepulcher, and told all these things unto the eleven [disciples], and to all the rest.
Luke 24:10 It was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles.
The apostles did not believe!
Luke 24:11 And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not.
Luke 24:12 Then arose Peter, and ran unto the sepulcher; and stooping down, he beheld the linen clothes laid by themselves, and departed, wondering in himself at that which was come to pass.
Notice that Peter did not yet believe that Jesus was resurrected and alive.
Jesus had spiritually passed through the burial linen cloths and the solid rock of the burial chamber in which he was buried.
1Corinthians 15:44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.
1Corinthians 15:45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam [Jesus Christ] was made a quickening spirit. [able to give life.]
Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea are instrumental in Jesus’ burial:
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.
John 19:40 Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it [entwined, bound] in [strips of] linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury.
Mark 15:46 And [Joseph of Arimathea] bought fine linen, and took [Jesus] down, and wrapped Him in the linen, and laid him in a sepulcher which was hewn out of a rock, and rolled a stone unto the door of the sepulcher.
Let’s look at John’s narrative – where he fills in a lot of blanks and tweaks the timing of those events: John provides the very important details that are missing in the synoptic accounts.
It is very early – let’s say 5:30 am – before sunrise – but the waning Gibbous Moon is still providing a little light to see the road.
Mary Magdalene is first on the scene.
It is only John – writing later – who recalls that Mary Magdalene was first on the scene before anyone else.
She did not see any angels or guards – she only found an empty tomb!
John 20:1 The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulcher, and sees the stone [had been] taken away from the sepulcher.
John 20:2 Then she [alone] ran, and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple [John], whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulcher, and I do not know where they have laid Him.
That “we” in the KJV is not in the Greek. It was provided by the KJ translators who thought they were interpolating the other writers.
There is no “I” or “we” in the Greek there – “Who knows where they have laid Him,” is a good translation as well.
{Aramaic Bible in Plain English
{And she ran and came to [Simon Peter] and to that other disciple whom [Jesus] had loved, and she said to them, “They have taken away our Lord from the tomb, and I don’t know where they have laid him.”
John 20:3 Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple [John], and came to the sepulcher.
John 20:4 So they ran both together: and the other disciple [John] did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulcher.
For a long time I thought that John was inserting a pun here – “I’m faster than Peter,” but there is something of much more importance being said:
John 20:5 And he [John] stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in.
John 20:6 Then came Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulcher, and saw [beheld] the linen clothes lying there, [But, Peter did not put everything together – yet]
John 20:7 And the napkin [head cloth], that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped [“rolled up,” “coiled” Greek word entulisso, meaning “entwined”] together in a place by itself separated from the linen.
The fact that Jesus’ body was missing did not convict John of the Resurrection – Jesus’ body could have been stolen.
But, Jesus was clearly not stolen – because His tightly wound wrappings remained undisturbed – neatly in their place – still woven in the clear shape of His missing body with a hundred pounds of spices helping to retain the form and shape of Jesus’ body – now gone.
When Jesus was within the wrappings, His body held everything in place.
But when He physically dematerialized into a spiritual body, He passed through the linen and mixed spices without disturbing them. The head cloth too, fell to the stone slab.
Jesus resurrection was in fulfillment of the often repeated Messianic Prophecy that Christ’s body would not see corruption:
In other words, it would not rot and return to dust – as with men.
1Corinthians 15:42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:
Psalm 16:10 For thou wilt not leave my soul in the grave; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
Psalm 49:9 That he should still live forever, and not see corruption.
Acts 2:27 Because thou wilt not leave my soul in the grave, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
Acts 2:31 He seeing this before spoke of the resurrection of Christ, that His soul was not left in the grave, neither His flesh did see corruption.
Acts 13:35 Wherefore he said also in another psalm, Thou shalt not allow thine Holy One to see corruption.
Many people have questioned the significance of Jesus’ head cloth having been removed to another place. Note very carefully:
John 20:7 And the [head cloth], that was about His head, not lying with the linen clothes, but [“rolled up”] together in another place.
What had happened? Why did Jesus leave this evidence behind? What did it signify to John?
Jesus’ tightly wound wrappings remained neatly in their place – still woven in the clear shape of His body with a hundred pounds of spices helping to retain the form and shape of Jesus’ body – but the head piece was neatly set aside in another place.
Answer: Had Jesus simply vanished – evaporated – disappeared? -> that would have been sufficient – but Jesus left a significant message!
Jesus left John and us, the Church brethren, some Lagniappe!
It was immensely meaningful to John – he tells us that he saw and believed in the Resurrection. Here is what happened:
An instant after God the Father restored Jesus to eternal Spirit life – Jesus turned back to His burial linens and picked up the head piece only, and set it aside in a separate place.
John 20:7 And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself.
Why, what did it mean? There is only one first resurrection – and the saints are a part of that one resurrection with Jesus Christ. The saints are the firstfruits. There is one resurrection consisting of two parts – but clearly two pieces of evidence left behind. The head cloth, and the body linen.
The message and lesson is lost on the world – let’s not let it be lost on us.
Christ’s resurrection, and the coming Pentecost resurrection of the saints are considered by God to be one resurrection!
By the time John wrote these words – the synoptic Gospels and the epistles of Paul had become a part of the public domain. John had all the other inspired Scripture at his disposal. John needed to add his experiences to the Biblical record. Some 30 years earlier, Paul had expounded on the meaning:
Romans 6:3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
Romans 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
Romans 6:5 For if we have been planted/buried together in the likeness of His death [Christ’s death], we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection:
Over and over the distinction is made that Jesus is the Head – and the Church brethren, are His Body.
Colossians 1:18 [Jesus] is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
In the instant after God the Father restored Jesus to eternal Spirit life – Jesus turned back to His burial linens and picked up the head piece only, and set it aside in a separate place.
John 20:7 And the napkin [linen head wrapping], that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself.
There is one resurrection – with two parts. We, the saints, are a part of the first resurrection – but our resurrection takes place later.
Both the empty head cloth and the empty linen body wrappings are indicative of the resurrection – but the moved head cloth – in a separate place – gave evidence that Jesus was indeed alive!
By moving the head piece to another location, Jesus signified that He was alive and resurrected! That is why when John saw the evidence he believed!:
John 20:8 Then went in also that other disciple [John], which came first to the sepulcher, and he saw, [discerned the situation and drew a conclusion] and believed. [“saw” here is a different word from verse :6 where Peter noticed]
John 20:6 Then came Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulcher, and saw [beheld] the linen clothes lying there, [But, Peter did not put everything together – yet]
John saw, and believed. What did John believe?
A little Lagniappe for us here! John completes the Biblical record and reports here that He was the first to understand and believe in the Resurrection.
Peter was still under the assumption that Jesus’ body had been stolen because that is what Mary Magdalene had told them. Remember:
John 20:2 Then Mary Magdalene ran, and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and said unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulcher.
There was no reason for Peter and John to hang around the tomb any longer – Jesus body was gone – they never saw the angels at the tomb.
John 20:9 For as yet they knew not the Scriptures, that He must rise again from the dead.
The disciples, Peter and John, went home (John 20:10)
Certainly the apostles knew of the prophecies Jesus had shown them about the miracle of Jonah’s three days, and Jesus saying, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up – but they had not yet put the pieces together to fully comprehend how Jesus’ Resurrection would take place.
Luke 9:43 And they were all amazed at the mighty power of God. But while they wondered everyone at all things which Jesus did, He said unto His disciples,
Luke 9:44 Let these sayings sink down into your ears: for the Son of man shall be delivered into the hands of men.
Luke 9:45 But they understood not this saying, and it was hidden from them, that they perceived it not: and they feared to ask him of that saying.
John 2:18 Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What miracle will you show us, seeing that you do these things?
John 2:19 Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple [the temple of His body], and in three days I will raise it up.
Later they understood:
John 2:22 When therefore He was risen from the dead, His disciples remembered that He had said this unto them; and [then] they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said.
Matthew 12:39 But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas:
Matthew 12:40 For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth..
Matthew 12:40 For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
The application of the spices – the mixture of myrrh and aloes was not complete – as the ladies were returning on Sunday morning to complete the burial anointing.
Mark 16:1 And the Sabbath being [now] past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had purchased sweet spices, that they might come and anoint Him.
That was the manner of burial as evidenced with Lazarus;
John 11:43 And when [Jesus] thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth.”
John 11:44 And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with grave clothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin [burial cloth]. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.
Jesus had been bound the same way Lazarus was.
Very early – Mary Magdalene alone – once again. Mary Magdalene was still of a mind that Jesus’ body had been stolen away.
John 20:10 Then the disciples went away again unto their own home.
John was a believer by this time.
Two angels arrive within the tomb
John 20:11 But Mary stood without at the sepulcher weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulcher,
John 20:12 And saw two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.
There was an obvious arrangement that indicated where Jesus Head had lain. Sometimes a casket will be broader at the shoulders and narrower at the feet. Perhaps there was a hollowed out indention of that sort in the stone floor. In any case, the inside of the tomb was large enough to also accompany the two angels as well.
Joh 20:13 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.
Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene!
Mark 16:9 Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.
Mary Magdalene was as ruined and wasted as any person could be in every aspect of her life: Physically, her health was broken, mentally a mess, she had addictions, psychological problems, emotionally unstable, spiritually void, – she was a complete wreck – and Jesus healed her completely.
Mark 16:10 And she went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept.
Mark 16:11 And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not.
Mary Magdalene is the First to see the risen Jesus
It is only after Mary Magdalene’s second return to the tomb with the two disciples that is she becomes the first to see the Resurrected Jesus.
John 20:14 And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.
John 20:15 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.
John 20:16 Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.
Jesus spoke of going to His Father in Heaven: But here is some of John’s Lagniappe Given to us so that we might understand the Wave Sheaf Offering.
John 20:17 Jesus said unto [Mary Magdalene], 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.
Why does Jesus say, “Touch me Not?”
Only those believers who understand about the Wave Sheaf are able to understand why Jesus would say such a thing. This verse containing the phrase, “Touch me not,” is essential to understanding the harmony of the Resurrection Scriptures. At His resurrection Jesus was ceremonially clean – having paid for the sins of the world by His death.
Jesus was put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit (1Peter 3:18) – a dead body raised to life – still with all the wounds and scars of His death (making Him unrecognizable), and yet He was a holy perfect presentation to His Father – but not yet fully glorified until He had been accepted by the Father (John 17:5).
The wave-sheaf was being offered at the temple that morning. The wave sheaf grain would have been gathered at the end of the Sabbath, the evening before – at the same time that Jesus was resurrected by His Father and restored to life – the perfect fulfillment of the Unleavened Bread of sincerity and truth (1 Corinthians 5:8).
And while the wave-sheaf was being offered in the Temple, at the same moment Jesus—in fulfillment—ascended to His Father in heaven.
It was an instantaneous spiritual trip as Jesus ascended to His Father in heaven – no man saw it. Jesus singled out Mary Magdalene to reveal these things to her – then He told her to go and tell the others – who would want to see for themselves:
John 20:17 Jesus said unto [Mary Magdalene], … but go to my brethren, and tell them.
John 20:18 Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that He had spoken these things unto her. [Wow!]
Other amazing miracles were taking place: Many came forth out of their graves – resurrected back to physical life. People said, “I thought you were dead.” “I was.”
The overflowing power of God’s Holy Spirit was at work.
Matthew 27:52 And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,
Matthew 27:53 And came out of the graves after His resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.
1Corinthians 15:6 After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.
Some would become converted at Pentecost. Like Jesus friend, Lazarus – they would be able to be in the first resurrection.
We see the overflowing power and influence of God’s Holy Spirit at work.
1Chronicles 13:14 And the ark of God remained with the family of Obed-Edom in his house three months. And the LORD blessed the house of Obed-Edom, and all that he had.
Doubting Thomas – Jesus returns just for him.
John 20:19 Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.
Jesus miraculously appeared among the disciples.
John 20:24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.
John 20:25 The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Unless I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.
John 20:26 And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.
John 20:30 And many other miracles truly did Jesus in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book:
John 20:31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have [eternal] life through His name.
The coming of the Holy spirit on Pentecost – wind – noise – fire – languages… All of these unique miraculous events were meant to punctuate and highlight and draw attention to the fact that something new, fantastic and out of the ordinary was taking place.
Mary Magdalen goes back and forth.
We come to Mary Magdalen’s third trip – First alone – secondly with Peter and John, when she saw and spoke with Jesus after Peter and John left – and now this third time with another lady named Mary and others.
Mark’s account adds Salome to the group. (Mark 16:1–2).
Mark 16:3 And they had been asking each other [prior to all of this], Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulcher?
{NET Bible – They had been asking each other, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?”
At least five women went to the tomb. There were unnamed “others.”
Luke’s account adds Joanna to the group of women who came back with Mary Magdalene.
Luke 24:10 It was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles.
The form of the angel is described in Mark 16:5 as that of a “young man” in white or bright (Luke 24:4) raiment. This was the answer to the question they had been asking as they came, “Who shall roll away the stone for us?” (Mark 16:3).
It is still early on the First Day of Unleavened Bread. Matthew is explaining in retrospect how the morning after the Resurrection had unfolded – having begun with an earth shaking event.
Matthew 28:1 In the end of the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulcher.
Matthew 28:2 And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord [had] descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.
It was empty – Jesus was not in the tomb.
Matthew 28:3 His [the angel’s] countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow:
Matthew 28:4 And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.
Matthew 28:5 And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.
The two women are told that Jesus had in fact been Resurrected – and not stolen away as assumed. The angel answered and said unto the women:
Matthew 28:6 He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.
The angel instructs the two women to spread the word of the Resurrection:
Matthew 28:7 And go quickly, and tell his disciples that He is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goes before you [way up north] into Galilee; there shall ye see Him: lo, I have told you.
Matthew 28:8 And they departed quickly from the sepulcher with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word.
Matthew 28:9 And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped Him.
Jesus allowed Himself to be touched because He had ascended to the Father – been accepted – and returned.
The two women we not about to let Jesus “get away” again, and held Him tightly and worshipped Him.
Matthew 28:10 Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me.
The Report of the Guards
Matthew 28:11 Now when they were going, behold, some of the watch came into the city, and shewed unto the chief priests all the things that were done.
Matthew 28:12 And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large [bribes of] money unto the soldiers,
Matthew 28:13 Saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole Him away while we slept.
Matthew 28:14 And if this come to the governor’s ears, we will persuade him, and secure you.
Matthew 28:15 So they took the money, and did as they were taught: and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.
Acts 1:4 “And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father.”
Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Spirit is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
Acts 1:9 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
Luke 24:50 And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them.
Luke 24:51 And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven.
Luke 24:52 And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy:
Luke 24:53 And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen.
Let’s jump ahead to Pentecost – which we will see more of next week: On that first New Testament Pentecost, the disciples were waiting for the Promise of the Father.
“And when the Day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.” (Acts 2:1)
This was the first fulfillment of the Feast of Pentecost! There will be a second fulfillment of the Feast of Pentecost when the saints are resurrected (1Thessalonians 4:14-17). Jesus, the linen head cloth or napkin has been resurrected. The body linen left in the tomb, woven and wound, representing the Church brethren—will be resurrected on a future Pentecost.
Acts 2:2-4 …Suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
Acts 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
All of these unique miraculous events were meant to punctuate and highlight and draw attention to the fact that something new, fantastic and out of the ordinary was taking place.
Acts 2:44 And all that believed were together;
Acts 4:4 Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand.
Acts 4:32 And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul:
End: Lagniappe