Tomb Texts – What Happened around the Resurrection?

 

Preface

Events at Yeshua’s tomb are described in Matthew’s, Mark’s, Luke’s and John’s prophetic texts. Several seemed to conflict. I had found other such sets of texts (for example, the three sets of texts describing Saul’s meeting with Yeshua when Saul was blinded) that seemed to conflict, and I had found that reconciling them not only solved the mystery, but gave information that one cannot find in the separate texts. I determined to do the same thing with these ‘Tomb’ texts. I used all the texts. When I even cut a single word, it was like a conjunction (and, therefore, then, etc.); I didn’t desire to exclude any information. You certainly can be the judge.

Making such a combination requires thought, and I could not infallibly do it. Your responsibility is to be skeptical. I had to sew pieces of texts into other texts, since some texts jumped over so many details. This will at least give you an idea and format for your own construction of the texts to discern what happened according to all the testimony of the Bible. I do modernize some of the grammar, and I change the order of sentences to correspond to the way we presently word sentences. I also employ the more Hebrew names. I remove many commas and add a few.

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The Great Earthquake

And, behold, there was a great earthquake. For the angel of Yehovah descended from the heavens, and came and rolled the stone from the door. And he sat upon it. His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow. And the keepers did shake for fear of him. And they became as dead.

Now when the centurion and they who were watching Yeshua with him saw the earthquake and those things that were done, they greatly feared, saying, “Truly this was the Son of God!”

 

Women at a Distance at the Cross

And many women who followed Yeshua from Galilee ministering unto Him were there beholding these things afar off, among whom was Miriam of the Tower and Miriam the mother of Jacob the less and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee’s children, and Salome (who also followed Him and ministered unto him when He was in Galilee), and many other women who came up with Him unto Jerusalem, and all his acquaintance.

 

Joseph of Arimathaea to Pilate

When the evening was come, because it was the preparation—that is, the day before the Sabbath, there came a rich man of Arimathaea—a city of the Jews—an honourable counselor named Joseph. He was a good and a righteous man who also waited for the kingdom of God, who also himself was Yeshua’s disciple,but secretly for fear of the Yehudeem. The same had not consented to their counsel and deed. He came and went in boldly unto Pilate, and begged to take away the body of Yeshua. And Pilate marveled if He were already dead. And calling the centurion, he asked him whether He had been any while dead. And when he knew by the centurion, Pilate then commanded the body to be delivered; he gave the body to Joseph.

And he bought fine linen. And he took Him down. And Nicodemus who came to Yeshua by night at the first also came there, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes—about a hundred pounds. And when they had taken the body, Joseph wrapped it in a clean linen cloth with the spices as the manner of the Jews is to bury.

Now there was a garden in the place where He was crucified, and a new sepulchre in the garden in which never man was yet laid. And he laid Him in his own new tomb that he had hewn out in the rock. They therefore laid Yeshua there because of the Jews’ Preparation, for the sepulchre was nigh at hand. And that day was the Preparation. And the Sabbath drew on.

And the women also who came with him from Galilee followed after and beheld the sepulchre. And he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed. And there was Miriam of the Tower and the other Miriam sitting over against the sepulchre. And Miriam of the Tower and Miriam of Joses beheld where He was laid and how His body was laid. And they returned and prepared spices and ointments. And they rested the Sabbath day according to the commandment.

 

Chief Priests and Pharisees Sealing the Tomb

Now the next day that followed the day of the Preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate saying, “Sir, we remember that that deceiver while he was yet alive said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’ 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.” Pilate said unto them, “Ye have a watch. Go your way. Make as sure as ye can.” So they went and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone and setting a watch.

 

Rolling Away the Stone

In the end of the Sabbath very early in the morning as it began to dawn toward the first of the week, Miriam of the Tower and the other Miriam of Jacob and Salome came to see the sepulchre. They had bought sweet spices so that they might come and anoint Him. They came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices that they and certain [others] with them had prepared.

And they said among themselves, “Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre?” And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away from the sepulchre! For it was very great.

 

Running to Peter (and John)

But Miriam stood outside, weeping at the sepulchre. Then she runs and comes to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Yeshua loved. And she says unto them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we don’t know where they laid Him.”

 

Miriam and the Angels in the Sepulchre

(Now when He was risen early the first of the week, He appeared first to Miriam of the Tower out of whom He had cast seven devils.) And as she wept, she stooped down into the sepulchre. And she sees two angels in white sitting, the one at the head and the other at the feet where the body of Yeshua had lain. And they say unto her, “Woman, why weepest thou?” She says unto them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I don’t know where they laid Him.” And when she had thus said, she turned herself back and saw Yeshua standing. And she didn’t know that he was Yeshua. Yeshua says unto her, “Woman, why weepest thou? Whom seekest thou?” Supposing Him to be the gardener, she says unto Him, “Sir, if thou have borne Him hence, tell me where thou hast laid Him, and I will take Him away.” Yeshua says unto her, “Miriam!” She turned herself and says unto Him, “Rabboni!”—which is to say, “My Multiplied-[one]!”

Yeshua says unto her, “Don’t grasp me. 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 my God and your God!”

 

Yeshua is Risen

And entering into the sepulchre, they didn’t find the body of the Lord Yeshua. And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments. And they saw a young man sitting on the right side clothed in a long white garment. And they were affrighted. And as they were afraid and bowed down faces to the earth, they said unto them, “Why seek ye the living among the dead?”  And the angel answered and said unto the women, “Fear ye not. For I know that ye seek Yeshua of Nazareth Who was crucified. He is not here, for He is risen as He said. Remember how He spoke unto you when He was yet in Galilee, saying, ‘The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again’?” And they remembered His words. “Come! See the place where the Lord lay, where they laid Him! And go quickly your way! And tell His disciples and Peter that He is risen from the dead! And behold, He goes before you into Galilee! Ye shall see Him there as He said unto you! Behold, I have told you!” And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy, for they trembled and were amazed. Neither did they say anything to anyone, for they were afraid. And they ran to bring His disciples word.

And as they went to tell His disciples, behold, Yeshua met them saying, “Shalom!” And they came and held Him by the feet and worshipped Him. Then Yeshua said unto them, “Be not afraid. Go tell my brethren so that they go into Galilee. And they shall see me there.”

 

Telling the Eleven

And they returned from the sepulchre and told all these things unto the eleven and to all the rest. It was Miriam of the Tower and Joanna and Miriam of Jacob and others with them who told these things unto the apostles. Miriam of the Tower told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and He had spoken these things unto her. She went and told them that had been with Him as they mourned and wept. And they didn’t believe when they heard that He was alive and had been seen by her. And their words seemed to them as idle tales. And they didn’t believe them.

 

Peter’s Sepulchre Run with John

Then Peter arose (and that other disciple), went forth, and ran unto the sepulchre. So they ran both together. And the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre. And stooping down, he saw the linen clothes lying; yet he didn’t go in. Then Simon Peter comes following him. And stooping down, he went into the sepulchre and sees the linen clothes lie, laid by themselves, and the bandana that was about His head not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself. Then that other disciple who came first to the sepulchre also went in. And he saw and believed. For they didn’t as yet know the Scripture that He must rise again from the dead. And he departed, wondering in himself what was come to pass. Then the disciples went away again unto their own home.

 

Emmaus Appearance

He appeared after that in another form unto two of them as they walked and went into the country. And they went and told unto the residue. Neither did they believe them.

 

Emmaus Walk with Yeshua

And behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus that is sixty furlongs from Jerusalem. And they talked together of all these things that had happened. And it came to pass that Yeshua Himself drew near and went with them while they communed and reasoned. But their eyes were held so that they would not know Him.

And He said unto them, “What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another as ye walk, and are sad?” And one of them whose name was Cleopas said unto Him answering, “Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem? And thou hast not known the things that are come to pass there in these days?” And He said unto them, “What things?” And they said unto Him, “Concerning Yeshua of Nazareth Who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death. And they have crucified Him. But we trusted that it had been He Who should have redeemed Israel! And besides all this, today is the third day since these things were done. Indeed, and also certain women of our company who were early at the sepulchre made us astonished! And when they didn’t find His body, they came, saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said that He was alive! And certain of them who were with us went to the sepulchre. And they found even so as the women had said. But they didn’t see Him.”

Then He said unto them, “Fools and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Ought not the Messiah to have suffered these things, and to enter into His glory?”

And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, He expounded unto them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself. And they drew nigh unto the village to where they went. And He made as though He would have gone further. But they constrained Him saying, “Abide with us. For it is toward evening, and the day is far spent.” And He went in to tarry with them. And they rose up the same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven gathered together, and them who were with them, saying, “The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” And they told what things in the way, and how He was known by them in breaking of bread. And it came to pass as He sat at food with them, He took bread. And He blessed.  And He broke and gave to them. And their eyes were opened. And they knew Him. And He vanished out of their sight. And they said one to another, “Didn’t our heart burn within us while He talked with us by the way and while He opened the Scriptures to us?”

 

Money Paid for Lying about Stealing Yeshua’s Body

Now when they were going, behold, some of the watch came into the city and showed unto the chief priests all the things that were done. And when they were assembled with the elders and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers saying, “Say ye, ‘His disciples came by night and stole him while we slept.’ And if this comes to the governor’s ears, we will persuade him and secure you.” So they took the money and did as they were taught. And this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.

 

Eleven Disciples See Yeshua

Then the same day at evening, being the first of the week when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Yehudeem, and as they thus spoke, Yeshua Himself appeared unto the eleven as they sat at food. And He stood in the midst of them.

And He says unto them, “Shalom to you!” But they were terrified and affrighted. And they supposed that they had seen a ghost. And He said unto them, “Why are ye troubled? And why do thoughts arise in your hearts? Behold my hands and my feet—that it is I myself! Handle me and see! For a ghost doesn’t have flesh and bones as ye see me have.” And when He had thus spoken, He showed them His side, hands and feet. And while they yet didn’t believe for joy, and wondered, He said unto them, “Have ye any food here?” And they gave Him a piece of a broiled fish and of a honeycomb. And He took and ate before them. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.

Then Yeshua said again to them, “Shalom to you!” And He said unto them, “These are the words that I spoke unto you while I was yet with you—that all things that were written in the Torah of Moshe and the prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled concerning me!”

And He upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart because they didn’t believe them who had seen Him after He was risen.

 

Thomas

But Thomas called Didymus, one of the twelve, was not with them when Yeshua came. The other disciples therefore said unto him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said unto them, “Except I shall see the print of the nails in His hands and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into His side, I will not believe!”

And after eight days His disciples were again within, and Thomas is with them. Yeshua came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst. And He said, “Shalom to you!” Then He says to Thomas, “Reach thy finger hither and behold my hands! And reach thy hand hither and thrust into my side. And don’t be faithless, but believing.” And Thomas answered and said unto Him, “My Lord and my God!” Yeshua says unto him, “Thomas, thou hast believed because thou hast seen me. Blessed are they that have not seen and have believed.”

 

Going into Galilee

Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee into a mountain where Yeshua had appointed them. And when they saw Him, they worshipped Him.

But some doubted.

 

Many Appearances

Yeshua showed Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias after these things. And He showed on this wise.

 

Yeshua’s Third Visit

Simon Peter and Thomas called Didymus and Nathanael of Cana and them of Zebedee and two other disciples of His were there together in Galilee.

Simon Peter says unto them, “I am going fishing.” They say unto him, “We are also going with thee.” They went forth and immediately entered into a ship. And that night they caught nothing.

But when the morning was now come, Yeshua stood on the shore. But the disciples didn’t know that He was Yeshua. Then Yeshua says unto them, “Children, have ye any food?” They answered Him, “No.” And He said unto them, “Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find.” They therefore cast. And now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes! Therefore that disciple whom Yeshua loved says unto Peter, “It is the Lord!”

Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt a fisher’s coat, for he was naked, and cast himself into the sea. And the other disciples came in a little ship dragging the net with fishes. For they were not far from land, but as it were two hundred cubits.

As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread.

Yeshua says unto them, “Bring of the fish that ye have now caught.” Simon Peter went up and drew the net to land full of great fishes, a hundred and fifty and three. And there were so many for all, yet the net was not broken. Yeshua says unto them, “Come! Dine!” And none of the disciples dared ask Him, “Who art thou?” knowing that it was the Lord. Yeshua then comes and takes bread, and gives them, and fish likewise. This is now the third time that Yeshua showed Himself to His disciples after He was risen from the dead.

So when they had dined, Yeshua says to Simon Peter, “Simon of Jonah, lovest thou me more than these?” He says unto Him, “Indeed, sir. Thou knowest that I love thee.” He says unto him, “Feed my lambs.”

He says to him again the second time, “Simon of Jonah, lovest thou me?” He says unto him, “Indeed, sir, Thou knowest that I love thee.” He says unto him, “Feed my sheep.”

He says unto him the third time, “Simon of Jonah, lovest thou me?” Peter was grieved because He said unto him the third time, “Lovest thou me?” And he said unto Him, “Sir, Thou knowest all things! Thou knowest that I love thee!” Yeshua says unto him, “Feed my sheep! Faith! Faith! I say unto thee, when thou wast young, thou girded thyself and walked whither thou would. But when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee and carry whither thou wouldest not.” He spoke this, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He says unto him, “Follow me.”

Then Peter, turning around, sees the disciple whom Yeshua loved following, who also leaned on His breast at supper and said, “Sir, who is he that betrays Thee?” Peter seeing him says to Yeshua, “Sir, and what is this man?” Yeshua says unto him, “If I will that he tarry till I come, what is to thee? Follow thou me!” This saying then went abroad among the brethren—that that disciple should not die. Yet Yeshua didn’t say unto him, “He shall not die,” but, “If I will that he tarry till I come, what is to thee?” This is the disciple who testifies of these things and wrote these things. And we know that his testimony is true. And there are also many other things that Yeshua did that I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written if they, every one, should be written. Faith!

 

Yeshua Opens Their Understanding

And Yeshua came. Then He opened their understanding so that they would understand the Scriptures. And He said unto them saying, “Thus it is written and thus it behooved the Messiah to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His Name among all races beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things. All power is given unto me in the heavens and in earth. Go ye into all the world, therefore, and preach the gospel to every creature, teach all races, baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you. He who believes and is baptized shall be saved, but he who doesn’t believe shall be damned. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you.” And when He had said this, He breathed on and says unto them, “Receive ye the Holy Spirit. Whosesoever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them. Whosesoever ye retain, they are retained. And these signs shall follow them who believe: they shall cast out devils in my Name. They shall speak with new languages. They shall take up serpents. And if they drink anything deadly, it shall not hurt them. They shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. And behold, I am with you always unto the end of the age! Faith! And behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you. But tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem until ye be endued with power from on high.” And He led them out as far as to Bethany. And He lifted up His hands and blessed them.

 

Other Signs

And Yeshua truly did many other signs in the presence of His disciples that are not written in this book. But these are written so that ye might believe that Yeshua is the Messiah the Son of God, and that believing, ye might have life through His Name.

Ascension

And so then, it came to pass after the Lord had spoken unto them while He blessed them, He was parted from them and was carried up. And He was received up into the heavens. And they worshipped Him. And they returned to Jerusalem with great joy. And He sat on the right hand of God.

 

Aftermath

And they were continually in the Temple, praising and blessing God. And they went forth and preached everywhere, the Lord working with and confirming the Word with signs following. Faith!