Gospels In Harmony – Part 134, Christ is Risen

Matthew 27:62-66, Matthew 28-1-8, Mark 16-1-8, Luke 24:1-8, and John 20:1b

[Study Aired March 21, 2023]

Matthew 27:62 Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate,
Matthew 27:63 Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again.
Matthew 27:64 Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first.
Matthew 27:65 Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can.
Matthew 27:66 So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.
Matthew 28:1 In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, 
Matthew 28:2 And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.
Matthew 28:3 His 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.
Mark 16:1 And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.
Mark 16:2 And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun.
John 20:1b when it was yet dark,
Mark 16:3 And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre?
Mark 16:4 And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great.
Mark 16:5a And entering into the sepulchre, 
Luke 24:3 they found not the body of the Lord Jesus.
Mark 16:5b they saw a young man sitting on the right side, 
Luke 24:4 And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments:
Mark 16:5c clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted.
Luke 24:5 And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead?
Mark 16:6 And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him.
Luke 24:6b remember how he spake 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,
Matthew 28:7 tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; 
Mark 16:7 go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you.
Matthew 28:8 And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word.
Mark 16:8 neither said they any thing to any man; for they were afraid.

In our last study the followers of Christ mourned his death. They thought it was the end of their hopes and dreams of the kingdom of heaven being established. In today’s study we will see that their hope has returned.

The pharisees and Sadducees plea to Pilate to seal the tomb of Christ believing they can prevent the removal of his body.

Matthew 27:62 Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate,
Matthew 27:63 Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again.
Matthew 27:64 Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first.
Matthew 27:65 Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can.
Matthew 27:66 So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.

The stone is sealed, and there is a watch set at the sepulcher. In their minds Christ was a deceiver. They are convinced His disciples would remove Christ’s body so Christ’s saying would come to pass. They did not believe He would rise from the dead, but they did believe His disciples would try to deceive everyone by stealing His body out of the tomb. Here are Christ’s words of prophecy about this day.

Matthew 26:59 Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death;
Matthew 26:60 But found none: yea, though many false witnesses came, yet found they none. At the last came two false witnesses,
Matthew 26:61 And said, This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.

John 2:18 Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things?
John 2:19 Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.
John 2:20 Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days?
John 2:21 But he spake of the temple of his body.

Luke 18:31 Then he took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished.
Luke 18:32 For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on:
Luke 18:33 And they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again.

They secured the sepluchre and set up keepers to watch for His disciples. The disciples did not attempt to steal Christ’s body. The Father has other plans and sends a great earthquake.

Matthew 28:1 In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, 
Matthew 28:2 And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.
Matthew 28:3 His 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.

The keepers became as dead men. They cannot believe their eyes. The raiment the angel is wearing represents the righteousness of the saints.

Revelation 19:7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.
Revelation 19:8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

There is a similar occurrence in Exodus.

Exodus 19:16 And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled.

The women come to the sepulchre to anoint Christ’s body.

Mark 16:1 And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.
Mark 16:2 And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun.
John 20:1b when it was yet dark,
Mark 16:3 And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre?
Mark 16:4 And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great.
Mark 16:5a And entering into the sepulchre, 
Luke 24:3 they found not the body of the Lord Jesus.
Mark 16:5b they saw a young man sitting on the right side, 
Luke 24:4 And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments:
Mark 16:5c clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted.
Luke 24:5 And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead?
Mark 16:6 And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him.
Luke 24:6b remember how he spake 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,

The angel announces that Christ is risen, fulfilling what He said would happen. There are three women, which represent the church and the process of spiritual completion through judgment the church will now go through.

There are two angels which represent the witness of Christ and His elect – the message of dying and being born again. Until now the followers of Christ only thought with their carnal minds. They all thought the kingdom was immediately going to happen. The process of dying and being born again is taking place by Christ in order to show us what we must endure in order to enter into the kingdom of God.

The angels send the women (the church of the living God) to tell the disciples Christ is risen from the dead.

Matthew 28:7 tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; 
Mark 16:7 go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you.
Matthew 28:8 And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word.
Mark 16:8 neither said they any thing to any man; for they were afraid.

This is a great transition. Christ being in the flesh is now being born again in the spirit, setting the example we all must follow.