S1: Hello friends. It's time for the second hour of Open
S1: Line with Doctor Michael Redlich. I'm Michael Redlich, professor of
S1: Jewish studies and Bible at Moody Bible Institute, and I'm
S1: coming to you from the Moody Radio Studios at Moody
S1: Bible Institute in downtown Chicago. Although normally you call with
S1: your questions about the Bible, God, and the spiritual life,
S1: that's not what we're going to do today. Instead, there
S1: will be a conversation, a little Bible study, if you will,
S1: between me and my good friend, Doctor Michael Van Laningham,
S1: the smartest guy about the New Testament that I know.
S1: He always waves his hand off when I say that. Specifically,
S1: we are going to talk about the New Testament records
S1: about the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. Obviously, tomorrow is
S1: Resurrection Sunday, and people are always talking about the resurrection
S1: appearances as they are recorded in the Gospels and even
S1: as they're mentioned in the epistles. And so we're going
S1: to talk about those. And not only will we talk
S1: about how to work them all together, but we are
S1: going to talk about how important and significant they are.
S1: You can still keep in touch with online via our
S1: website openline. Radio.com. That's Openline radio.org. You can go there.
S1: There's links there for anything you might need. If you
S1: want to send an email, if you want to send
S1: a message on Facebook, you can do that, but no
S1: calls today. Just write to us if you like. I
S1: hope you have your Bibles open. I hope you have
S1: a second cup of coffee because we're ready to talk
S1: about the scriptures. Okay, Michael, thank you for coming in
S1: to talk about this.
S2: My pleasure. Michael. It's always good to see you and
S2: to be able to do this and to talk about
S2: the resurrection Easter. That's pretty cool.
S1: Yeah, I think that that's, uh, the most important issue
S1: that we have. You know, I've often said this, that
S1: there are about 20,000 Jewish men who were crucified by
S1: the Romans. If Jesus were not raised from the dead,
S1: he'd be just one of them, right? But the resurrection
S1: is what makes it all different. And one of my
S1: key frustrations here is I often hear people share the gospel,
S1: and I'm grateful, by the way, that people share the gospel.
S1: And I hear advertisements on various Christian radio networks, you know,
S1: promoting proclaiming the gospel. And sometimes, sadly, they will talk
S1: all about how Jesus died for us and never mentioned
S1: the resurrection.
S2: And and it's interesting in the book of acts, there are,
S2: I think, five different occasions where Christian evangelists or apostles
S2: are witnessing to unbelievers. And if my memory serves me correctly,
S2: on every single occasion, those evangelists refer to the resurrection.
S2: We don't normally do that, but they did. And I
S2: think that's instructive for us.
S1: Yeah, I've noticed, uh, back in the day when I
S1: was doing my doctoral dissertation Anyway, I did some research
S1: on how the book of acts proclaimed the gospel, and
S1: there were two essential methods that they used in the
S1: book of acts. One was through using messianic prophecy. That
S1: was one evidence that they used the evidence of messianic prophecy.
S1: And the second evidence was the fact of the resurrection
S1: that Jesus has raised from the dead was most crucial.
S1: So anyway, we're going to look at some of the
S1: resurrection appearances. And the reason why I think this is
S1: so important is one of the main questions I get
S1: throughout the year is people trying to harmonize the Gospels
S1: and harmonize how everything fit together. Bible chronology. It's really
S1: not my strong suit, but people say, well, you know,
S1: you have this gospel and it contradicts that gospel, and
S1: I don't think they contradict, I think they complement. And
S1: so often we've got these resurrection appearances and frequently people
S1: will call with questions about that. So what I want
S1: to do, if we can is kind of work our
S1: way through what the gospels say and harmonize them. Show
S1: how they fit together in terms of how the resurrection happened. Now,
S1: here's what's really important is I think each writer wrote
S1: from their own perspective. They didn't necessarily feel like they
S1: had to put all the facts in. They were just
S1: putting the facts in that fit with their message. On
S1: the other hand, they didn't contradict each other. What they
S1: do is they actually complement each other. So okay, so
S1: let's begin. What's the first step in the whole story
S1: about the resurrection?
S2: Well, it's, um, the the tomb being opened and the
S2: body being apparent that it's gone. Mhm.
S1: Yeah. That's I guess you could look at that in
S1: a variety of places in Mark 16, Luke 24, I
S1: want to look at Matthew 28. And the reason why
S1: I think that's interesting in Matthew is he doesn't really
S1: put it in chronological order.
S2: Right.
S1: He starts with, uh, verse One, he says, after the Sabbath,
S1: on the first day of the week was dawning, Mary
S1: Magdalene and the other Mary went to view the tomb.
S1: And then it says, suddenly there was a violent earthquake. Now,
S1: I think the earthquake happened just before they got to
S1: the tomb, right? But but nevertheless, uh, and the other
S1: gospels all show it that way. So that's one of
S1: the first contradictions that people often point out, that if
S1: you look at the other gospels. Is that right? Is
S1: that how they do it?
S2: That is exactly how they do it, right?
S1: So how do we justify that verse one and verse
S1: two being sort of out of order?
S2: I you know, I'm not quite sure actually, Michael, it
S2: is interesting. I think there's some other things as well, um,
S2: where you've got people being referred to as being resurrected,
S2: brought out of the tombs, um, earthquakes taking place. But
S2: that's actually after the resurrection. But it's included in Matthew
S2: 27 before, before narrative account. And I think that's being done.
S2: So it's a not interrupt the actual, uh, reference to
S2: the resurrection of Jesus. They don't. Matthew doesn't want to
S2: interject that with other things. And so it seems to
S2: me that, um, it's very it's quite possible, I think,
S2: in verse one that Mary is coming to look at
S2: the tomb. Mary. Um, both Mary Magdalene and Mary, the
S2: mother of James, and, um, and Salome, actually, from another
S2: passage come. And perhaps it's while they're coming that this
S2: earthquake happens. But I don't think we have a contradiction.
S1: I don't think it's a contradiction. I think that's exactly it,
S1: the way Matthew's telling it is. This is why they're
S1: on their way. They're going to do this. And then
S1: the resurrection happens and they get there. Right. And and
S1: what do they see there? I think that's so cool.
S1: They see, uh, it says there was an angel of
S1: the Lord descended from heaven and approached the tomb. He
S1: rolled back the stone and was sitting on it. I
S1: just can't fathom what that would have been We'd like
S1: to see him kind of nonchalantly sitting on the Rollaway stone,
S1: don't you think? What a great image.
S2: Yeah, it's it's something to think about. I've heard all
S2: the also, by the way, that there are scholars who
S2: maintain that the verb rolled away doesn't really mean rolled away.
S2: It means moved away, and that the stone may have
S2: actually been a fairly large square stone with perhaps a
S2: couple of those stuck into the opening. And so rather
S2: than have the angels sit on a stone laying almost
S2: flat on the ground, which would be sort of awkward,
S2: he's actually sitting on the stone as if it's more
S2: of a cube bench like thing. It doesn't. It doesn't
S2: really matter. It doesn't really matter at all. But he's there.
S2: And can you imagine the reaction of the women?
S1: Yeah. And his appearance was like lightning and his robe
S1: was white as snow. And the guards, these tough Roman guards,
S1: they're so frightened that they. They became like dead men. Right? Yeah.
S1: So it is. But that's not an appearance of the Messiah.
S1: That's just an appearance of an angel. Right. And an
S1: empty tomb. And so they visit the tomb and they
S1: discover that he is missing. And where do we go
S1: from there? What's the next step?
S2: Well, I find it interesting that, um. What what the
S2: angel tells them. It's really interesting in in Matthew 28.
S2: You've got people being told to tell others about this. Yeah.
S2: In verse seven, the angel says, go quickly. Tell his
S2: disciples he's risen from the dead. Then look at verse ten.
S2: He says, Then Jesus appears. Right. Yeah. Uh, then Jesus
S2: said to them, do not be afraid. Go and take
S2: a word to my brethren to leave for Galilee. And
S2: there they will see me. And uh, in verse 15,
S2: even the soldiers tell people of something that gives a
S2: sort of a backward, a back door argument supporting the
S2: resurrection that the body's been stolen. And so they're going
S2: to tell people that. And then in verse 19, of course,
S2: in the, in the um, in the Great Commission, you know, go, uh,
S2: tell them. Yeah, teach them everything. So.
S1: Well, anyway. Right, right from the beginning, even before the
S1: resurrection appearance. Right there from the angel. Right. There's the
S1: the announcement or the the command to go tell. Right.
S1: Go tell the disciples.
S2: That's I think this is one of the emphases in
S2: Matthew is that they need to go. They need to tell.
S2: And I think the implication for us is we ought
S2: to be doing the same.
S1: Yeah, yeah. That's the I think that that's one of
S1: the more interesting things that we are really compelled to
S1: proclaim this. Uh, it's my wife's favorite verse. Just so
S1: you know, yours is Romans 828. I've heard you say
S1: that so many times. Uh, but my wife's favorite verse, interestingly,
S1: is second Timothy two eight. And, uh, it's because, uh,
S1: she loves that Jesus is the king. Yeah. That he's
S1: fully human. And the king. And the resurrection. She loves
S1: that because it proves he's God. And, uh. And so
S1: she's she loves second Timothy two eight. Uh, keep your
S1: attention on Jesus, the Messiah, risen from the dead, descended
S1: from David. And, uh, and that's what that ought to be.
S1: Our message. Yeah. Uh, then, because Paul goes on to say,
S1: according to my gospel. Right. Uh, this is the good news.
S1: Jesus is not just someone who died for us. He's
S1: raised from the dead, proves he's God. So anyway, we're
S1: going to talk about harmonizing some of the other appearances
S1: in just a moment. And we're going to work our
S1: way through all these resurrection appearances. Really appreciate those comments
S1: on Matthew 28. You're listening to a special resurrection focused
S1: open line on Moody Radio's Bible Study Across America. When
S1: I come back, Mike V and I will be back
S1: talking about the resurrection of the Messiah. So stay right there.
S1: This is Michael Redlich and Michael van Laningham on Open Line.
S1: We'll be right back. Have you ever wondered how we
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S1: online radio.org or call (886) 447-1222. Welcome back to Open Line
S1: with Doctor Michael Redlick. If you want to know a
S1: little bit more about me, you can head over to
S1: my own personal web page. You can go to openlibrary.org.
S1: That's the open line web page. Scroll down and you'll
S1: see a link with my smiling face, and you can
S1: click on that and it will take you to my
S1: personal homepage. And there's that page has links to books
S1: I've written, DVDs, I've done, speaking engagements, my blog, even
S1: a link to trips to Israel. If you're interested, you
S1: can go over there. Uh, this morning I am talking
S1: with my guest, uh, Doctor Michael Van Laningham, the other Michael,
S1: as some people call him. Uh, my colleague here at
S1: Moody Bible Institute and also the co-editor of the Moody
S1: Bible Commentary. And we are talking about the resurrection appearances
S1: because people think you can't make heads or tails out
S1: of all the New Testament comments about it. And I
S1: think we can. We've already talked about the the stone
S1: being moved away and an angel telling the women to
S1: go tell, uh, what next happens really is that one
S1: of the women goes to tell.
S2: Yeah in in John 20 and verse two it says, uh,
S2: she and that's uh, Mary Magdalene Eggeling ran and came
S2: to Simon Peter and to the other disciple I'm reading now.
S2: She ran and came to Simon Peter, and to the
S2: other disciple whom Jesus loved, and said to them, they've
S2: taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we
S2: do not know where they have laid him. That follows
S2: from verse one, where she comes to the tomb early,
S2: when it was dark and found the stone had already
S2: been taken away from the tomb. So she goes and tells.
S1: She didn't wait for the angel to say what he
S1: said to Salome and to the other Mary. She just
S1: turns around and heads out, I don't know where the
S1: body is. I don't know where it is exactly. And but,
S1: you know, I think it's interesting that she goes to
S1: the one that she thought could help her. So she
S1: tells Peter and John. Right. And of course, what do
S1: Peter and John do?
S2: Well, um, they run to the tomb. Yeah. Yeah. Um,
S2: you know, before that, though, in, in, uh, Matthew 28,
S2: 5 to 7, Mary, the mother of James and Salome
S2: saw an angel. Yeah.
S1: Inside the tube. Yeah.
S2: Who announced the resurrection? Directed the women to tell the
S2: disciples that Jesus would meet them in Galilee. Um, again,
S2: Matthew 28 5 to 7, where the angel says, let
S2: him go to Galilee. They'll see Jesus there.
S1: Now, here's an interesting question someone asked me last week,
S1: they said was the first appearance of the Lord Jesus,
S1: because he says he'll meet them in Galilee was the
S1: first appearance to the apostles in Galilee. It wasn't. Uh,
S1: I think they should have gone right away, but apparently
S1: they delayed.
S2: Right.
S1: And so twice he tells them to to meet them.
S1: The angel tells them, and the Lord Jesus, uh, announces
S1: that he'll meet them in Galilee. But they don't go.
S1: They stay in Jerusalem for a few days, and apparently
S1: they were planning on going. Uh, what do you. Is
S1: that how you resolve that?
S2: Um, it. Yeah, I would say that that's probably the
S2: best explanation as to as to why that is the case. Um, because.
S1: He appears to them in Jerusalem before he appears.
S2: To them. He does. And so, um, I don't know
S2: that they're being disobedient. There may have been confusion, understandable confusion,
S2: but for whatever reason they delay. And he appears to
S2: them before Galilee.
S1: Yeah. He does. Uh, so they they make their way, uh, to, uh,
S1: to the disciples. They talk about this, uh, and what
S1: does it say? Uh, that they left the tomb quickly
S1: with fear and great joy. This is Matthew 28 A
S1: and ran to report to his disciples what the angel
S1: had told them that he was risen. Um. And now
S1: other women appear. Is that what happens next?
S2: Right? Um. Joanna, um, one of the women from Galilee
S2: arrives at the tomb carrying oil, perfumed oil, to anoint
S2: the body of Jesus. And, um, a they the other
S2: women from Galilee and Joanna meet two men. Apparently they're angels,
S2: according to Luke 24, verse four and 23. And then
S2: they returned to report the angel's message of the resurrection
S2: to the 11 and to all the rest. And we
S2: find that in Luke chapter 24, verses one through nine. Um,
S2: in Luke 24 2223, the disciples recap that episode, they say,
S2: but also some women among us amazed us when they
S2: were at the tomb early in the morning and did
S2: not find his body. They came saying they had also
S2: seen a vision of angels who said that he was alive.
S1: Yeah. Okay, so here's the question that people ask why
S1: do they want to anoint Jesus with perfumed oil?
S2: Yeah, they that's that's not for embalming. The Egyptians did embalming.
S2: The Jewish people didn't actually embalm the tombs that that
S2: rich people were buried in, because not everybody was buried
S2: in a tomb. Tombs were enormously expensive. Most people, when
S2: they died, were buried in the ground after being placed
S2: inside a shroud. But when the people were buried in
S2: a tomb, the tombs were not typically airtight. And so
S2: they were oftentimes anointed with these spices and these perfumed
S2: oils to cut the odors of decomposition, which would have
S2: been tremendously offensive. And so that's what they are doing.
S2: They're trying to take a step to honor the the
S2: body of Jesus in preparation for him being buried in
S2: a tomb.
S1: Yeah. And I think that's so interesting to me is that, uh,
S1: Mary in John 12, she's mentioned as one who anoints
S1: Jesus before his death. And it's in Matthew, I think
S1: it's about chapter 26. It talks there about how she
S1: anointed him in preparation for his burial. Right. With, with.
S1: And so I think it's interesting she's not one of
S1: the ones that shows up here. She anticipated this, and
S1: she wants to honor him even before he dies in
S1: this way. It's really interesting. But they do come and
S1: that's why they're doing this. And the other question that
S1: I'll tell you how I answer it, because I don't
S1: know the answer to all these things, but I can
S1: guess people want to know, well, how did they expect
S1: to move that that stone? I think they must have
S1: thought they'd get those soldiers to help or something like that.
S2: Could be. Or that maybe they would find others who
S2: would gather at the tomb as well, and altogether they
S2: would move the stone and then anoint his body. And
S2: who knows?
S1: I don't know, I just I just don't know. Uh,
S1: but they certainly thought that they could they could get
S1: in there and do that. So. Um, okay. Uh, so
S1: then the very next event that happens is that, uh,
S1: Peter and John run to the tomb, right?
S2: Um, when Mary Magdalene heads back to the city and
S2: she finds some of the other disciples, Peter and John here,
S2: and maybe some others as well. Hear what she has
S2: to say. And they run to the tomb. On the
S2: way they do not meet Mary and Salome. They, when
S2: they get to the tomb, they see the Graveclothes, and
S2: then they head back to the city themselves. It says
S2: in in Luke 2424, some of those who were with
S2: us went to the tomb and found it exactly as
S2: the women also had said, but him they did not see.
S2: And in Luke 2412, just before that it says, Peter
S2: got up and ran to the tomb. Stooping and looking in,
S2: he saw the linen wrappings only, and he went to
S2: his home, marveling at what had happened.
S1: Yeah, in the John passage that speaks about this, says
S1: they saw the linen linen wrappings lying there and there
S1: rolled up in a place by itself. And it's sort
S1: of tidy, folded, rolled up or folded up. And there's
S1: been a lot of speculation about this that I've been
S1: hearing on the internet about some a lot of people
S1: call with questions. What does the folded face cloth.
S2: The folded napkin.
S1: The folded napkin mean? And, uh, first of all, I
S1: think people make a mistake. They say this cultural background because,
S1: you know, with the internet, all sorts of wrong things
S1: can get out there.
S3: Oh, really?
S1: Oh, yeah. Ever heard of that? Oh, no. Yeah.
S2: I thought everything on the internet is true.
S1: Yeah. Well, no, this one isn't. At least know the
S1: cultural background that that people cite. As they say, when
S1: you go to a meal in a Jewish cultural home,
S1: first century, that if you still were coming back for more,
S1: that you folded your napkin. Otherwise you wrinkled it up
S1: and tossed it aside.
S3: Have you ever heard of that?
S1: No. It's nowhere in the. It's nowhere in Jewish culture.
S1: Nowhere in the Mishna.
S3: I mean, I don't.
S2: I don't know, a 10th of it as you do.
S2: But I've never heard anything even remotely like that.
S1: No. And I've read through the mission of trying to see.
S1: But the other thing is, even if it were true,
S1: this is not a meal that's not a napkin like
S1: a napkin that you have at a meal. It's a
S1: face cloth that was used for burial. And so it
S1: has nothing to do with that. We don't know. It
S1: doesn't say why everything is so laid out there orderly,
S1: because the Bible doesn't tell us. But I can speculate,
S1: since the first word for Mary Magdalene was they've taken
S1: his body grave robbers. And so they come there. Peter
S1: and John. And they see that it's all neatly folded.
S1: Grave robbers don't do that, right. Something other than a
S1: grave robbery has happened here.
S2: They would go in and just thrash everything around and
S2: grab the body and take off, or grab stuff and
S2: take off. But they would not be careful about folding
S2: things up.
S1: Yeah. So to me, this is that's, I think, crucial.
S1: But still. Do you know what I think is interesting
S1: at this point? The Lord Jesus has not yet appeared. Right.
S1: And it is right after this that there is that
S1: the disciples leave. They go back. And Mary Magdalene, who
S1: is so heartbroken, she is weeping at the grave. Right.
S1: And that's what's next, right?
S2: That's what's next. Uh, Mary Magdalene, um, follows Peter and
S2: John when they go back to the when they go
S2: to the tomb and they see the grave clothes all
S2: folded up. Mary follows them back there. They all see
S2: two angels inside. And then Mary meets Jesus. It says
S2: in verse 13 of John chapter 20. They said to her,
S2: the angels did, woman, why are you weeping? She said
S2: to them, because they have taken away, my lord. I
S2: do not know where they have laid him. When she
S2: had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there,
S2: and did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said
S2: to her, woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?
S2: Supposing him to be the gardener, she said, sir, if
S2: you have carried him away, tell me where you've laid him,
S2: and I will, uh. I will take him away. Jesus
S2: said to her. Mary. She turned and said to him
S2: in Hebrew, Rabboni, which means teacher. Jesus said to her,
S2: stop clinging to me, for I have not ascended to
S2: the to the father, but go to my brethren, and
S2: say to them, I ascend to my father, and to
S2: your father, and my God, and your God.
S1: Yeah, that's one of my favorite scenes. Uh, this woman
S1: is so heartbroken at the death of Jesus. And, uh,
S1: and now that pain of loss is made worse because
S1: she thinks someone has taken his body. And now some
S1: people say, why didn't she recognize him? Did did Jesus
S1: look different? I don't think that's the case. You know,
S1: she was in the garden. It was early morning. He
S1: may have been in the distance. He wasn't standing next
S1: to her. And what was she doing? She was weeping.
S1: She was crying hysterically. I mean, that's pretty clear from
S1: what it's saying, that that she was just heartbrokenly weeping.
S1: And so she thought, oh, there's someone else here early.
S1: Must be the gardener, right?
S2: It's funny too, if you don't expect to see somebody
S2: or you see somebody out of the normal context where
S2: you know them, that happens to me all the time.
S2: Where I'll know a student from a study abroad in
S2: Israel from two years ago. And we were close and
S2: we had a great time there. And then they show
S2: up later at here at Moody in your class, in
S2: my class and I go, do I know you? You know,
S2: I said, you look kind of familiar to me. And
S2: so it's embarrassing, but but I wonder if some of
S2: that isn't what's going on here. Mary would not have
S2: expected to have seen Jesus alive. She didn't. She hadn't
S2: read this story yet. Plus, the last time she saw him,
S2: he was beat up, crucified. He was in bad shape.
S1: Yeah. How could he look like this?
S2: And he wouldn't look like this now, in the resurrection.
S1: Yeah. And, uh, now, the other thing that people often
S1: ask me about this passage, and I think you and
S1: I are agreed on this. People say, well, if the
S1: Lord Jesus has not yet ascended to his father, right? Uh,
S1: that that he he has just been for three days,
S1: three nights in the tomb. But his spirit was in hell.
S1: And that's why he says, don't touch me, for I
S1: have not yet ascended to the father. Uh, quick answer
S1: on that.
S2: Yeah, I would say that that's that's reading really an
S2: awful lot of theology in here that I don't think
S2: you can actually get from the text. It seems better
S2: to me that she's clinging to him and he's saying, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait.
S2: I haven't ascended yet. I'm going to be around here
S2: for a while and so we'll have a chance to interact.
S2: But right now, don't don't be. Don't be clinging.
S1: She's not just touching him.
S2: She's she's.
S1: Grabbing.
S2: Grabbing him. Don't, don't. This is not a time for clinging.
S2: Go and tell. Go tell the disciples I'm. I'm risen. Yeah,
S2: that's what's going on here.
S1: Yeah, yeah. When? When the Lord Jesus died, uh, his
S1: spirit ascended to the father. He said, father, into your
S1: hands I commend my spirit. He said to the the
S1: thief on the cross next to him, this day you'll
S1: be together with me in Paradise. Uh, his spirit, uh,
S1: at his physical body's death, went to the father.
S2: And this body stayed in the tomb.
S1: And then at the resurrection, he's telling her I'm. My
S1: ascension is yet 40 days away. Right. That's what.
S2: I'm going to be around for.
S1: A while. I'll be around. And I think that's that's
S1: important to understand. When we look at this, there's not
S1: something supernatural, mystical happening there, right? You know, which is
S1: how people want to do it well or see it well.
S1: I can't believe it. We're going to be back to
S1: talk more about the resurrection in just a moment. If
S1: you have a question, you can always write to us.
S1: Go to Open Line radio.org, and that will give you links.
S1: So you can send a question. This is Michael Riedel.
S1: More straight ahead with Michael van Laningham as we talk
S1: about the most important resurrection of Jesus. Each week on
S1: Open Line with me, Doctor Michael Riedel, we sit around
S1: our radio kitchen table and study the scriptures together. You
S1: can become a kitchen table partner by supporting Open Line
S1: each month. As a benefit to becoming a partner, you'll
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S1: Line radio.org. Welcome back to Open Line with doctor Michael
S1: Ray Melnick. That's me. But joining me is my co laborer,
S1: my co-editor in the Moody Bible Commentary, my colleague here
S1: at Moody Bible Institute, New Testament professor doctor Mike Van Laningham.
S1: And we are talking about the resurrection appearances and trying
S1: to harmonize what all the New Testament has to say
S1: about it. Uh, we last left. The last one we
S1: talked about was Mary Magdalene meeting her Lord, risen Lord,
S1: and being told to go back and tell the disciples,
S1: does she obey?
S2: Yes.
S1: Yeah. What does she do?
S2: Well, she goes and and and in Luke chapter 20,
S2: verse 18 says, Mary Magdalene came announcing to the disciples,
S2: I have seen the Lord now before she saw an
S2: empty grave. Yeah. Now she says I've seen him in
S2: the resurrection.
S1: Isn't that great? Yeah. What? And now this changed her.
S1: Remember what she was like at the start of that
S1: passage in John 20? She's weeping. She's hysterically crying, and
S1: she has been transformed.
S2: Not anymore.
S1: Yeah. Now she's declaring with joy. I think I've seen
S1: the Lord. He's alive.
S2: And if he hadn't actually been raised, she would not
S2: have had that kind of change.
S1: No, no. And that's one of the things that over
S1: and over we see the resurrection changes people. Right? And
S1: that's the transforming power of the resurrection. And right here,
S1: Mary Magdalene goes from sorrow to great joy, great sorrow
S1: to great joy. And I think that that principle of
S1: the resurrection, when we meet Jesus, you know, our life
S1: is not going to be all, you know, unicorn and bliss,
S1: you know. You know, it's just happiness and joy. But
S1: there will be an intrinsic joy. Whatever the difficulties that
S1: we have in life. And I've talked to people who
S1: have had tremendous sorrow just caused by their own sinful lives,
S1: and they talk about the great change of coming to
S1: know Jesus is being brought to joy. And I think
S1: that that's the great model here from Mary Magdalene.
S2: Right?
S1: Yeah. So okay, then Mary, the mother of James and
S1: Salome met Jesus, and they were directed to tell the
S1: brethren to go to Galilee. So again, once again, they're
S1: going to go tell them to go to Galilee.
S2: Right. And so and so now you know again Mary,
S2: the mother of James and Salome. Now they meet Jesus
S2: as well.
S1: Mhm. And that's in Matthew 28. They meet Jesus and
S1: he tells them, Go to Galilee, which they will do ultimately,
S1: but they will also, uh, for now they're going to
S1: stay in Jerusalem. Maybe they're delaying, maybe I don't think
S1: they're disobeying so much as delaying. But I actually think
S1: the Lord Jesus said, and he said, Go to Galilee.
S1: I think he wanted them to go to Galilee right then.
S2: And it could be because because of the next point. Yeah. Um,
S2: that they may not have believed the reports of these people,
S2: that they'd seen the Lord. And so why go to Galilee?
S2: Because Jesus tell them to go to Galilee when they
S2: still don't. Really.
S1: That's one of those things. You think I want to
S1: see that with my own eyes before I start believing that?
S2: It is interesting. The next thing in Luke 24 1011
S2: it says, um, and now they'd had reports from Mary Magdalene, Joanna,
S2: and the women from Galilee, Mary and Salome. But the
S2: disciples on the whole refused to believe. The report says.
S1: These words appeared to be nonsense.
S2: Yeah, that's exactly right. Luke 24, verse 11. Um, but
S2: these words appear to them as nonsense, and they would
S2: not believe them. Yeah. Understandable.
S1: Yeah, it's understandable. But, you know, I often think about
S1: how in the Gospels, uh, it talks about how the
S1: Lord Jesus would say, I'm going to Jerusalem, and there
S1: the Son of Man will be crucified. And he'll be
S1: raised on the third day. And they're like, no, no, no.
S1: I remember in Matthew 16 Peter says, no, no, no, no,
S1: that's not how it's going to.
S2: That's not going to, that's not how it goes.
S1: Yeah, right. So they didn't even want to believe that
S1: he was going to be crucified, let alone raised. They
S1: were not. It's it's just so incomprehensible right now. One
S1: of my favorite appearances. And again, this is one of
S1: the ones where they don't recognize Jesus because probably because
S1: they were not expecting him. It's not. This is Cleopas
S1: and his friends. Uh, and friend, I should say. Uh,
S1: and they are, uh, they're part of the wider group
S1: of disciples. But they're not the 11 that remain. And
S1: they they meet the Lord Jesus in the it's described
S1: on a road to Emmaus, which is just outside of Jerusalem.
S2: And it is interesting, though, that there is some suggestion
S2: that it was actually hidden from them. They they were
S2: not allowed by the Lord to recognize Jesus. In verse
S2: 16 it says, but their eyes were prevented from recognizing him.
S2: And then in verse 30 and verse 31 it says,
S2: then their eyes were opened and they recognized him. And
S2: so I think there was something more going on here
S2: as to why they were prevented from recognizing him. I
S2: don't know, but.
S1: Maybe it was their lack of faith in the resurrection.
S2: Maybe, maybe there was more that he needed to interact
S2: with them about before they would really believe it. I don't,
S2: I don't know, hard to say.
S1: I do think it's interesting what they say to this
S1: stranger they don't recognize. They say to him, are you
S1: the only one in Jerusalem that doesn't know what happened?
S2: Right, right. And he goes and he says to them, um,
S2: what events are you talking about? You know, this is
S2: one of these these times where on occasion, God asks
S2: questions of people. Yeah. And and God knows what's going on.
S2: Jesus knows what's happening, but it's to draw them out.
S2: It's to include them in an opportunity to learn and
S2: grow and make progress and develop and. And I love
S2: the fact that he he sort of welcomes them to
S2: be able to do that by sharing with him.
S1: Yeah. And what I think is so interesting about it too,
S1: is they are asking, are you ignorant? Right. You know,
S1: but who is really ignorant?
S2: Yeah. Well they were, they were.
S1: Yeah. They're blinded to the whole thing. And then what
S1: does he do? He immediately begins to teach them the scriptures. Yep. Uh,
S1: and he says that beginning with, uh, he says to
S1: them how unwise and slow of heart you are to
S1: believe in your hearts. All the prophets have spoken. Didn't
S1: the Messiah have to suffer these things and enter into
S1: his glory? Then, beginning with Moses and all the prophets,
S1: he interpreted them, uh, for them the things concerning himself
S1: in all the scriptures. Now, I just think that is remarkable.
S2: I would love to have been a mouse in the
S2: corner on that talk. I mean, there is, Michael, you know,
S2: there's so much discussion in scholarly circles about how the
S2: New Testament writers use the Old Testament and and what
S2: they're doing with all of that. And and I it
S2: would have been so wonderful to have heard Jesus unpack
S2: the Hebrew Scriptures as a proof of pointing toward him
S2: in order to convince these two on the road to Emmaus.
S1: Yeah. And it says that they said, were not our
S1: hearts on fire as he explained the scriptures to us. Uh,
S1: so it must have been a really powerful, powerful, uh,
S1: Bible study. Uh, I think that's it's just remarkable that
S1: they did that. And so, anyway, they have this meeting
S1: with him on the road to Emmaus. I think that
S1: is great. And I agree with you, the Lord Jesus.
S1: This is something that A.T. Robertson once said. He said
S1: the Lord Jesus seemed to be able to find himself
S1: in the Hebrew Scriptures, something that contemporary scholars aren't able
S1: to do. That's crazy right? I care about that so much.
S1: I actually wrote a book about it.
S2: I know, I know, which is a great book, by
S2: the way. It's a great book.
S1: But I care about it that the messianic hope was
S1: really there in the Hebrew Bible. Right. Okay. So let's
S1: move on, because we're going to run out of time. Right. Uh.
S1: Next appearance.
S2: Well, apparently, somehow, somewhere in here. Jesus then appeared to Peter.
S2: First Corinthians 15 and verse five. Yeah. Talks about that.
S2: He appeared to Cephas and then to the 12. And
S2: then in Luke 2434 says, I think the same is
S2: referring to the same thing. The Lord has really risen
S2: and has appeared to Simon, that is, to Peter.
S1: So it's mentioned that it happened, but we don't have
S1: the narrative of it.
S2: We don't have a narrative of it. And I'm wondering
S2: if maybe this is where Jesus and Peter meet for
S2: the very first time. For there maybe to be some reproof,
S2: but restoration.
S1: Mhm.
S2: Hard to say.
S1: Yeah. Maybe this is the reproof because later on it's
S1: the restoration. Right.
S2: That's. That's right.
S1: Yeah. That's it. Uh, because Peter denied the Lord. Or
S1: maybe it was just to show him. We don't know that.
S1: That it was reproof. Uh, maybe it was just to
S1: show him that he was raised right. But they didn't
S1: interact long. But at least Peter now knows it's true.
S1: And now, in Luke 24, it's almost as if it's
S1: just going on right at the same level. Although there's
S1: these other things that happened in between. Luke, he's not
S1: caring about all that so much. And so we're going
S1: to talk about the next one in just a moment.
S1: We're going to talk about the Bible study in the
S1: upper room with the disciples. You're listening to Open Line
S1: with me, Michael Melnick, and my guest today, Michael Van Laningham.
S1: We're talking about the resurrection appearances. Can't beat that. It's
S1: most important thing in the Bible. We're going to be
S1: right back in just a moment, so stay with us.
S1: Jewish people will complete our annual Passover observance this weekend.
S1: This festival is such a meaningful celebration of redemption to
S1: help us learn the rich significance of this holiday. Chosen
S1: People Ministries, one of our partners is offering a free booklet,
S1: Passover A time for redemption. Chosen People Ministries is an
S1: organization that reaches Jewish people around the world with the
S1: Good News of Yeshua Jesus. Besides explaining the significance of
S1: the Exodus from Egypt, Passover a time for redemption will
S1: open our eyes to the way the Passover sacrifice foreshadows
S1: the death and resurrection of Yeshua, our Passover Lamb. Additionally,
S1: comprehending Passover will deepen our understanding of Yeshua, the Bread
S1: of Life. Celebrating the Lord's Supper will never be the
S1: same after grasping the significance of this festival. For a
S1: free copy of Passover A time for redemption, just go
S1: to the Open Line website that's openlibrary.org. Scroll down and
S1: you'll see the link that says A Free gift from
S1: Chosen People Ministries. Click on that and you'll be taken
S1: to a page where you can sign up for your
S1: very own copy of Passover A time for redemption. Welcome
S1: back to Open Line with me. Doctor Michael Ray Melnick.
S1: Joining me right now is my guest once again all our.
S1: The other Michael Michael Van Laningham. And we're talking about
S1: the resurrection. Let's talk more. What you have are a
S1: couple of other appearances that follow. Right after the teachings
S1: of the Cleopus and his friend on the road and
S1: and those kinds of things, what happened next.
S2: That that very night, Sunday night, Resurrection Sunday. Jesus appears
S2: to the 11, but Thomas is not there.
S1: So they're called the 11. But there's really only ten.
S2: That's that's true. Yeah. At that point, there's Thomas is
S2: not there. Um, but a one week later it says
S2: in John 20, starting at verse 26, after eight days,
S2: his disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Now
S2: Thomas is there. Jesus came and said, peace be with you, Thomas.
S2: You know, he says, Thomas, look, touch my hands. Put
S2: your hand in my side. It's me. Thomas says, my
S2: Lord and my God. Also in that in the in
S2: the week before that, when Jesus appears, he actually eats.
S2: He says, look, I'm not just like Casper the Friendly ghost,
S2: you know? He says, you got food, give me food.
S2: And he eats and you can't see the food going
S2: down his gullet or anything like that. Um, and so
S2: he really was raised. But so now Thomas season, he believes.
S1: That's a great transformation because people call him Doubting Thomas.
S1: But what does Thomas always say? Unless I see him,
S1: unless I touch those wounds, I will not believe. He's unbelieving. Thomas, right?
S1: And Thomas is transformed from unbelief to faith.
S2: It's amazing.
S1: Yeah. And, you know, once I had a there was
S1: a couple in my congregation many, many years ago, she
S1: came from a muslim background and her husband was a
S1: committed believer. And she would come to services from time
S1: to time and say, oh, I could never believe this,
S1: because you believe that Jesus is God. Scott, and one
S1: day she came with him. On a day when I
S1: was speaking about unbelieving, Thomas turned to believing Thomas, and
S1: at the end of it just she says, I know
S1: he's alive. I'm ready. I believe. And that's how she
S1: came to faith, not just as her Redeemer, but as
S1: her her God. That she believed Jesus was God. It
S1: was really cool. Uh, okay. The next encounter is at
S1: the Sea of Tiberius. Or the lake. Lake Kinneret, Sea
S1: of Galilee. And that's where he speaks with Peter.
S2: Right there. Peter's out fishing. In fact, Peter just says,
S2: I don't know if he's dejected or not, but he
S2: says in John 2121 three, I'm going fishing. Yeah. You know,
S2: who knows why he says that? And so they go.
S1: Don't you think he was saying, you know what, I'm
S1: not very good at being a disciple. I've denied the
S1: Lord three times. I think I'll go back to what
S1: I was also not good at, but maybe better at.
S2: Yeah, I probably won't be all that good at being
S2: a fisher of men. So I'm going to go fish
S2: for fish. Yeah, exactly.
S1: Yeah. And then so he meets Peter. And I think
S1: that this is a remarkable encounter. And you're the Greek scholar.
S1: And so three times the Lord Jesus asks Peter, do
S1: you love me? And he uses the verb from agapao.
S1: And three times Peter responds by saying with the word,
S1: I love you phileo. So what's up?
S2: Well, it's hard to say, actually. Michael. It could be
S2: just a stylistic change. It could be that that, um,
S2: that Peter is saying, you know, Lord, I don't have
S2: the sort of agape love, the sort of deeper kind
S2: of love that maybe I should have. But I do
S2: have tremendous affection for you. I have the fill for you.
S1: Don't you think by that time it was in the
S1: Koine Greek, it was pretty much they were synonymous.
S2: I think they were actually, I really do. So it's
S2: very hard to say. But at the very least, one
S2: thing that's interesting is that when Jesus comes and he
S2: appears to them in verse nine, it says, so when
S2: they got out on the land, they saw a charcoal
S2: fire already laid and fish placed on it, and bread.
S2: The only other place in any of the Gospels where
S2: it mentions a charcoal fire. Fire is in John chapter 18,
S2: where that happens in the courtyard of the high priest.
S2: And Peter is there, and on that occasion he denies
S2: Jesus three times. So now we have another charcoal fire.
S2: But Jesus, I think, emphasizes and reminds Peter. Peter does
S2: love Jesus. And Jesus's job for Peter in being restored
S2: is to take care of his lambs.
S1: Yeah. Feed my sheep. So really, what he's doing is
S1: once again transforming Peter through the resurrection from a failure
S1: to a shepherd to a faithful servant. And I think
S1: that that's remarkable, because now he gives him three times
S1: to affirm his love for him after his three denials. Okay.
S1: Next very important appearance is on a mountaintop in Galilee.
S1: And what happens there? The great commission.
S2: Great commission. All authority has been given to me in
S2: heaven and on earth. Go therefore, and make disciples of
S2: all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the father, son,
S2: and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that
S2: I have commanded you. And lo, I am with you always,
S2: even to the end of the age. Very, very important text.
S2: Important episode here.
S1: So they were told right from the beginning. Go tell
S1: them the Lord is risen. Go tell. Now the disciples
S1: are told. Go tell the whole world about this. And
S1: you know, some people say, well, that doesn't really apply
S1: to us. That's to the 12. What I always look
S1: at is he says, I am with you even to
S1: the end of the age.
S2: Right?
S1: That means it's not just them.
S2: No it's not. It's. We're to be like them.
S1: Yeah. Uh, to the end of the age, we're supposed
S1: to be proclaiming that good news. Uh, of Jesus being
S1: dying for us and being raised again. And that's what's
S1: going to transform people. Uh, now Jesus appears to 500 brethren.
S1: Where does that happen?
S2: Well, best guess is that that happens also in Galilee.
S2: Hard to say for sure, but we get a hint
S2: of that in Luke 24, verses 44 to 49. He
S2: reminds them of the kinds of things that he has
S2: taught them. And then in first Corinthians 15 six it says,
S2: after that he appeared to more than 500 brethren at
S2: one time, most of whom remain until now, but some
S2: have fallen asleep. I think probably the best idea is
S2: that that's in Galilee.
S1: Yeah, and that's what sometime after that, he appears to James, right?
S1: That's his brother Jacob, actually. Don't you think? Yep. Uh,
S1: English says James. But yeah. Jacobus. In the Greek it is. Uh.
S1: And then to all the apostles. Do you think that is.
S1: I mean, they obviously have met as a group before,
S1: but maybe individually with the apostles. What do you think?
S2: Um, again, could be very hard to say. I think
S2: it I think it could be just another meeting with
S2: all the apostles to somewhere, probably in Galilee.
S1: And because it says in acts one that he was
S1: with them for 40 days teaching them all about the
S1: kingdom of God.
S2: He was with them all kinds of times.
S1: Yeah. So now the thing about the 500 brethren, some
S1: people have said this is just an hallucination. When people
S1: think they saw someone that they've feared dying. Is there
S1: such a thing as a 500 person hallucination?
S2: I think that's very unlikely. I you know, I think, um, um,
S2: not only is it unlikely, I don't impossible. It's impossible.
S2: I don't believe that that happened. The Bible doesn't say
S2: that it happened. They saw him.
S1: Yeah, but when you have 500 people to see something,
S1: it's amazing.
S2: You know, if somebody's super deep in grief, maybe they're
S2: going to be so emotionally distraught. They might see something
S2: and see their loved one or whatever. But that's not
S2: that's not going to happen with that many people who
S2: are level headed and who have been followers of Jesus,
S2: and they are probably not going to be prone to
S2: such sort of, um, difficulty mental, emotional.
S1: So we've got the 500. We've got James, and then
S1: we've got the last resurrection appearance recorded is really, uh,
S1: Before his ascension. Is that would you say. Aha.
S2: Yeah. And acts one six through 11 they say, Jesus,
S2: are you going to restore the kingdom now to Israel?
S2: And he says not. You don't need to know the timing,
S2: but which.
S1: By the way, means he will restore the kingdom.
S2: He will.
S1: Oh, yeah. Just not.
S2: Now. He's going to do that. Yeah. And then he says,
S2: you're going to be my witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, even
S2: to the remotest parts of the earth. And then he
S2: ascends from there into heaven, and they watch him go,
S2: and two angels show up and say the same way
S2: he left. He is coming back. It'll be physical. It'll
S2: be to this spot. There will be a literal, physical
S2: second coming, not just a spiritual second coming, like some
S2: people say.
S1: Just like first Corinthians. Uh, first Corinthians, Zechariah 14 says
S1: his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives. Olives, right? Yeah.
S1: It's going to be just exactly, literally.
S2: Literally.
S1: To.
S2: That.
S1: Spot. Yeah. So some people say, well, he comes to
S1: us sort of spiritually in our hearts.
S2: And he does.
S1: He does. But that's not enough.
S2: That's not.
S1: Enough. We have to be looking for his appearance more.
S1: That's the blessed hope. Thank you for joining me. This
S1: is a great quick Bible study. I appreciate it so much.
S1: Thank you, Mike Vanlandingham, for helping me do this. And
S1: thanks Ryan McConaughey for engineering this. Our thanks, Courtney, for
S1: making us sound good. And remember, you can keep in
S1: touch with Open Line during the week by going to
S1: Open Line radio.org. That page is everything you need past programs,
S1: email links, uh, links to Facebook, Twitter, whatever you want.
S1: There's also a link for the free monthly resource from
S1: Chosen People Ministries. Another link there that you'll find is
S1: a link to my personal web page. If you want
S1: to find out stuff I've done. What's still coming up,
S1: including a trip to Israel, if you're interested in that, uh,
S1: you know, just go over there, keep reading the Bible.
S1: We'll talk about it next week. Have a glorious resurrection
S1: Day tomorrow. Open line with Doctor Michael Ray Jelinek is
S1: a production of Moody Radio, the ministry of Moody Bible Institute.