The Resurrection

The event

Very early on the first day of the week, women who had followed Jesus — including Mary Magdalene — come to the tomb with spices to complete the burial rites, only to find the massive stone already rolled away and the tomb empty. An angel announces, "He is not here, for he has risen, as he said," and the women run to tell the disciples, though the news at first strikes the apostles as "an idle tale."

Peter and John race to the tomb and find the linen wrappings lying in place, undisturbed, exactly as a body might leave grave clothes if it simply passed through them rather than being unwrapped by human hands. Over the following weeks Jesus appears bodily and repeatedly — to Mary Magdalene, to the Emmaus travelers, to the gathered disciples (including doubting Thomas, who touches his wounded hands and side), and, Paul later writes, to more than five hundred believers at once, most of whom were still alive to be asked about it.

The resurrection is not a footnote to the Gospel story but its climax and proof: Paul insists that if Christ has not been raised, Christian faith is futile and believers are still in their sins — and just as firmly declares that Christ has indeed been raised, the "firstfruits" guaranteeing the future resurrection of everyone united to him.

Dating

Falls on the Sunday following the crucifixion, traditionally AD 30 (see the Crucifixion entry for the AD 30/33 discussion, which applies equally here since the two dates move together).

Scripture references

• Matthew 28:1-10
• Mark 16:1-8
• Luke 24:1-12
• John 20:1-18
• 1 Corinthians 15:3-8