SOME OF THE GUARDS REPORT TO THE JEWISH RULERS
MATT 28:11-15
Summary: Some of the guards who were at the tomb went into the city and reported the events to the chief priests. The priests and elders agreed to pay them off, so they would tell the story that Jesus left the tomb.
Esteeming it folly to guard an empty tomb, the soldiers went to their barracks, while their officers returned to those who had placed them on guard to report what had happened. They rightly judged that the plain truth was their best defense. They could not be expected to contend against earthquakes and angels. Their report implies that they saw Jesus leave the tomb, and after the angel opened it.* -fourfold
Section 137
THIRD AND FOURTH APPEARANCES OF JESUS
(Sunday afternoon.)
MARK 16:12, 13
LUKE 24:13-35
I. COR. 15:5
"After these things he appeared in another form to two of them, as they were walking into the country. And they went back and told the rest, but they did not believe them." Mark 16:12-13
appeared = was manifested. Greek. phaneroo. App-106. Not the same word as in Mar_16:9. -Bullinger
He appeared in another form - In a form unlike his ordinary appearance so much so that they did not at first know him. -Barnes
"This could mean that He took on a form different from that in which He appeared to Mary Magdalene or, more likely, that He appeared to them in a form different from that in which they had previously recognized Him as Jesus." -BKC
"Apparently, despite affirmative statements (cf. Luk_24:34), the disciples initially seemed to regard Jesus’ post-resurrection appearances as apparitions (cf. Luk_24:37)." -BKC
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Jesus and the two disciples On the Road to Emmaus, by Duccio, 1308–1311, Museo dell'Opera del Duomo, Siena |
"It is not my business here to discuss questions of harmonising or of criticism. I have only to deal with the narrative as it stands. Its peculiar character is very plain. The manner in which the first disciples learned the fact of the Resurrection, and the disbelief with which they received it, much rather than the Resurrection itself, come into view in this section. The disciples, and not the risen Lord, are shown us. There is nothing here of the earthquake, or of the descending angel, or of the terrified guard, or of our Lord’s appearance to the women. The two appearances to Mary Magdalene and to the travellers to Emmaus, which, in the hands of John and Luke, are so pathetic and rich, are here mentioned with the utmost brevity, for the sake chiefly of insisting on the disbelief of the disciples who heard of them. Mark’s theme is mainly what they thought of the testimony to the Resurrection."-MacLaren
"...and that he appeared to Cephas, [Peter] then to the twelve." 1 Corinthians 15:5
"But Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home marveling at what had happened." Luke 24:12
My summary of Luke: That day, Cleopas and another disciple were walking to Emmaus. They encountered Jesus on the road and began talking with him about recent events, though they did not recognize Jesus. Christ told them they were slow of heart, asked them if it wasn't necessary for the Messiah to suffer all of these things before entering glory. He explained all the the prophecies of the scriptures about him to them, and when they came close to their destination, they implored him to stay with them as it was the end of the day. They sat down to a meal together. Jesus broke the bread. Their eyes were opened. He vanished from their sight. The two reviewed the events of the day and talked about how their hearts "burned" within them when Jesus had earlier expounded the scriptures. They went to Jerusalem and found the eleven and reported all of these events to them.
"It is profoundly interesting and instructive to note the characteristics of the favored ones who first saw the risen Lord. They were Mary, whose heart was an altar of flaming and fragrant love; Peter, the penitent denier; and these two, absorbed in meditation on the facts of the death and burial. What attracts Jesus? Love, penitence, study of His truth. He comes to these with the appropriate gifts for them, as truly-yea, more closely-as of old. Perhaps the very doubting that troubled them brought Him to their help. He saw that they especially needed Him, for their faith was sorely wounded. Necessity is as potent a spell to bring Jesus as desert. He comes to reward fixed and fervent love, and He comes, too, to revive it when tremulous and cold." -Andrew MacLaren
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