Mary found the tomb empty...where did Jesus body go?

[Cassandra]

Unless Jesus was privy to Mary's personal life, He wouldn't know if she were, or not.

He didn't appear to the disciples at that time because they weren't there until He returned. It would be likely that had it been a man at the tomb instead of Mary, He would have said the very same thing. Men have occasion to be in exactly the same state for different reasons.

The High Priest would have been in seclusion for the purpose of mitigating the possibility of being rendered unclean by ANY other person, man OR woman.

Jesus reached out and touched lepers, but He didn't do it on the day He would be entering the heavenly Temple.

Your accusations are baseless and immature.

Jesus plainly told Mary that not to touch him, because He had not yet ascended to his Father.
First you bring up that He said that because Mary was unclean and cite a verse about women menstruating, and then in this one, you say that a man would been told the same thing. Not according to what you said before. You had to backpedal.

I don't consider that which I wrote immature in the least.

 

[The Disciple John]

@Heart2Soul, I don't know if this will interest you, but hopefully it will help with the OP.
At Genesis 2:7, you would notice, it reads...
And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life and man became a living soul

Notice that spirit and soul are not the same (two different Hebrew and Greek words are used).
The man became a living soul, with the spirit (breath of life) in him.
So we can see that the soul dies (Ezekiel 18:4), whereas, it s the spirit that returns to God (as discussed in my previous post).
I hope you find that useful.

 

[The Disciple John]

By the time Mary came to the tomb Christ had already risen from the dead. He may have already gone to the Heavenly Sanctuary between His resurrection and His appearance to Mary. But He would be going back to Heaven a second time before He visited the other disciples (therefore He told Mary not to touch Him). He had already appeared to the other women before He appeared to Mary, and Mary lingered at the tomb (in unbelief) instead of believing the angels the first time they spoke to the women.

I like the fact you said, "He may have...".
I appreciate when persons state their speculations by using probabilities.
We know from the scriptures that after his resurrection, he spent some 40 days actively declaring God's message, but is there any scriptural reason for your thinking that Jesus went to heaven before actually ascending to heaven? Acts 1:9

 

[Heart2Soul]

I think the answer to your question lies in 1 Corinthians 15:35-54. Those that are His at His coming will receive a new, incorruptible body. Jesus is the first person to whom this happened. That is what makes Him "firstborn from the dead." Just like the heavenly bodies, some of these resurrected bodies will shine brighter in the world to come. We all received a natural body. We will all receive a spiritual body. This is the body that will receive the judgment for what was done in the first body. (2 Corinthians 5:10, Revelation 20:12-13)

Notice that we are not judged regarding what we thought about the resurrected body, or if we thought Jesus is Michael, whether Judas was saved, or any other mental exercise. We are judged according to our WORKS. Dead works are those that honor dead gods. Living works are those that honor the Living God.

As it turns out, your post actually cites the verses exposing what has been taught incorrectly for 1,700 years.

Jesus was to be resurrected "on the third day." He was not to be raised at night. When Mary arrived it was still dark, but Jesus was already gone. That means He rose on the Sabbath.

Wednesday night, Thursday.
Thursday night, Friday.
Friday night, Saturday.

Rising at the end of the day on Saturday (Sabbath) would be "three days and three nights, rising on the third day." He is, after all, Lord of the Sabbath.
The "Good Friday" myth comes from the hijacking of the faith by people who did not know the Law. The Bible says His followers wanted to remove His body before the Sabbath, so those who are unlearned in the Law assumed that meant the crucifixion was on Friday. They did not know that the day after Passover was always an added Sabbath.

It is the only way the women could have bought spices before returning to the tomb. Thursday AND Saturday were both Sabbath days that week. Friday was the only day they could have legally bought anything. We are told they rested on the Sabbath.

On the day after the Sabbath of the Passover week is when the High Priest would wave the first fruits offering. (Leviticus 23:10-12)
The first fruits: Matthew 27:52

That is why Jesus said, "don't touch me." As High Priest He could not risk being touched by a woman for reasons you can read for yourself in Leviticus 15:19-30.

Very good knowledge supplied here....thank you so much...I never put much thought about His body until recently when I was participating in a thread discussing whether our spirit leaves the body at the time of death or sleeps until the resurrection....
And that is when that "aha" moment came while I was debating....I always try to find a scripture that tells what Jesus did...(remember the WWJD movement?)....so this is when I became convinced that our spirit leaves the body....it is the "breath" of life....there is no breath in a corpse...
So as Jesus spoke His last words His spirit left His body....but rejoined it on the day of His resurrection....where was His spirit hanging around for 3 days? Well we know scripture says He was busy setting captives free and taking authority over Satan....but He wasn't doing this in His fleshly body...it was His spiritual body...which makes sense because He was operating in the spirit realm.

Loving this discussion and all the input...thank you!

 

[michaelvpardo]

So what happened to His body?
When He was on the cross His last words were "It is finished"...bowed His head and gave up the ghost..
“When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.”
— John 19:30 (KJV)
(This tells us that when we die our spirit/ghost leaves the body)

So now the third day has come and Mary and the disciples discover Jesus body is gone....
John 20 (KJV)
¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯
¹ The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.
² Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him.
³ Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre.
⁴ So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre.
⁵ And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in.
⁶ Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie,
⁷ And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself.
⁸ Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed.
⁹ For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead.
¹⁰ Then the disciples went away again unto their own home.
¹¹ But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre,
¹² And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.
¹³ And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him.
¹⁴ And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.

Now we have a dilemma....
If Jesus ghost left his body when He was on the Cross then He must have re-entered His body...(His spirit) in order for Mary to see Him in the flesh....

When Mary and the disciples saw the risen Christ, He could spontaneously appear and disappear at will, and these aren't generally the qualities of "flesh". Thomas was told to put his finger in the wounds, but there is no mention of blood.
Peter tells us something of where Jesus went before He ascended:
18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, 19 by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison, 20 who formerly were disobedient, when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water. 1 Peter 3:18-20
People might debate who "the spirits in prison" refers to, but the passage clearly refers to the risen christ preaching to them by "the Spirit." The Holy Spirit is God and can do whatever He wills, having the power to do so.
In the book of Acts, the disciple Philip was directed by the Holy Spirit to speak to the Ethiopian eunuch to share the gospel. After the Ethiopian understood, believed, and was baptized, Philip was literally transported from the spot by the Spirit:
Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, so that the eunuch saw him no more; and he went on his way rejoicing. 40 But Philip was found at Azotus. And passing through, he preached in all the cities till he came to Caesarea. Acts 8:39-40
The scriptures are not very specific in describing the travels of our Lord immediately after His resurrection, but only give contiguous scriptural references like Peter's from 1 Peter 3:18-20 and:
Therefore He says:
“When He ascended on high,
He led captivity captive,
And gave gifts to men.” Ephesians 4:8
Which is a direct quote from Psalms 16:18.

If the scripture isn't more specific, then the Holy Spirit has a reason for limiting such revelation. The word tests our hearts, not just in convicting us of sin, but in how our minds interpret its content. It's a two edged sword in that it reveals our nature in leaning toward judgment (as in the thinking of the Pharisees that tested the Lord) or in leaning toward mercy as in the grace revealed by Christ.

We can only speculate about what isn't written and in discussion over what is written with two possible interpretations or understandings, we are committing ourselves to being judged according to our standard of judgment. In this, I don't mean that anyone is condemned for an unjust interpretation, but will suffer loss at the Bema seat. Christ will judge hypocrisy.
48 But if that evil servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying his coming,’ 49 and begins to beat his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunkards, 50 the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an hour that he is not aware of, 51 and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Matthew 24:48-51

All things considered, it's best not to speculate on matters that will provoke controversy and give cause for explanation at the bema seat of Christ. But, I've proposed controversial topics myself, though intentionally as there remains a division to be resolved in the heavenly places.

 

[Heart2Soul]

great question. I’m still stuck on how God Himself buried Moses when God is Spirit. Did God go get a shovel?

if I speculate your question though I would consider: a body God prepared for Him. And the Spirit of God poured out on His body, that is His body the church which members are added unto His body until we come to the full measure of the body of Christ; that as He was in the world so are we. Where did the Spirit He gave up unto God go when the word says Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

do we not rejoice in being filled with His Spirit? So what body does His Spirit enter into where ‘he endured for the Joy set before him’

You bring up a very good point...pondering.

 

[michaelvpardo]

Aren't we dressed in robes?...this is a good question...I find it ironic that scripture tells us to "put on" the garment of praise, wear the robe of righteousness, put on the garment of salvation....etc.
Obviously these are spiritual garments...
But I believe we will wear white robes.

It's safe to trust what scripture says, but it should be understood that the white robes given the saints represent the righteousness of God in christ Jesus.

 

[Heart2Soul]

When Mary and the disciples saw the risen Christ, He could spontaneously appear and disappear at will, and these aren't generally the qualities of "flesh". Thomas was told to put his finger in the wounds, but there is no mention of blood.
Peter tells us something of where Jesus went before He ascended:
18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, 19 by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison, 20 who formerly were disobedient, when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water. 1 Peter 3:18-20
People might debate who "the spirits in prison" refers to, but the passage clearly refers to the risen christ preaching to them by "the Spirit." The Holy Spirit is God and can do whatever He wills, having the power to do so.
In the book of Acts, the disciple Philip was directed by the Holy Spirit to speak to the Ethiopian eunuch to share the gospel. After the Ethiopian understood, believed, and was baptized, Philip was literally transported from the spot by the Spirit:
Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, so that the eunuch saw him no more; and he went on his way rejoicing. 40 But Philip was found at Azotus. And passing through, he preached in all the cities till he came to Caesarea. Acts 8:39-40
The scriptures are not very specific in describing the travels of our Lord immediately after His resurrection, but only give contiguous scriptural references like Peter's from 1 Peter 3:18-20 and:
Therefore He says:
“When He ascended on high,
He led captivity captive,
And gave gifts to men.” Ephesians 4:8
Which is a direct quote from Psalms 16:18.

If the scripture isn't more specific, then the Holy Spirit has a reason for limiting such revelation. The word tests our hearts, not just in convicting us of sin, but in how our minds interpret its content. It's a two edged sword in that it reveals our nature in leaning toward judgment (as in the thinking of the Pharisees that tested the Lord) or in leaning toward mercy as in the grace revealed by Christ.

We can only speculate about what isn't written and in discussion over what is written with two possible interpretations or understandings, we are committing ourselves to being judged according to our standard of judgment. In this, I don't mean that anyone is condemned for an unjust interpretation, but will suffer loss at the Bema seat. Christ will judge hypocrisy.
48 But if that evil servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying his coming,’ 49 and begins to beat his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunkards, 50 the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an hour that he is not aware of, 51 and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Matthew 24:48-51

All things considered, it's best not to speculate on matters that will provoke controversy and give cause for explanation at the bema seat of Christ. But, I've proposed controversial topics myself, though intentionally as there remains a division to be resolved in the heavenly places.

Another good point...and Jesus even walked through walls....and yet He ate and drank with the disciples which is definitely a flesh thing....this just keeps getting deeper and deeper....I love it because it makes me study more thoroughly to find the answer.

 

[michaelvpardo]

You bring up a very good point...pondering.

Funny, but God who spoke all things into existence is capable of doing anything you can imagine (and doesn't need a shovel.) However, He normally doesn't violate His character or the order He created in His creation. (The miraculous is a rarity, not the norm.)

 

[Heart2Soul]

It's safe to trust what scripture says, but it should be understood that the white robes given the saints represent the righteousness of God in christ Jesus.

This is probably a good example of how scripture gets misinterpreted...I took it literally and you see it as a metaphor....Holy Spirit help us to find the revelation knowledge of scripture so that we can plainly see what is the intended meaning of it.

 

[michaelvpardo]

This is probably a good example of how scripture gets misinterpreted...I took it literally and you see it as a metaphor....Holy Spirit help us to find the revelation knowledge of scripture so that we can plainly see what is the intended meaning of it.

Yes, and scripture isn't randomly interpreted but agrees with itself when understood as taught by God. If you do a word search for "white robe" in scripture or just "robe", you'll get passages that broaden your understanding on the significance of garments or coverings, keeping in mind that the atonement in the original Hebrew is itself a covering.

 

[Heart2Soul]

Peace to you Heart2Soul.
When I saw your title, the first thought that came to mind was Jude 9.
No doubt the Devil was clueless about where Jesus body went, or what happened to it, but just as we do not know where Moses body went, we do not know where Jesus body went.

You mentioned a dilemma.
You said "If Jesus ghost left his body"... I think you refer to Matthew 27:50 When Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, He yielded up His spirit.
Reading right to left... τὸ (Greek - pneuma - spirit) πνεῦμα Ὁ δὲ Ἰησοῦς πάλιν, κράξας φωνῇ μεγάλῃ, ἀφῆκεν
So, my using spirit instead of ghost won't confuse you... I hope.
I understand then that the spirit is not like a shadowy figure

as many people believe, but rather, as the Bible says, like breath pneuma: wind, spirit.
I'm reminded of Adam, when he was made alive. It was that same breath, or spirit, that made him alive.
Genesis 2:7
7 then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.

Once Adam died, he expired, and that spirit (breath of life) went out.
The Bible says, "the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it." Ecclesiastes 12:7

Jesus body did not return to the dust... come to think of it, the Bible does not say it was from the dust, but "a body have you prepared for me" (Hebrews 10:5).
Jesus' body didn't decay... not because it couldn't, since it was flesh, but God did not allow it to... fulfilling prophecy - Act 2:25-27

Did Jesus' spirit return to his body?
The answer we evidently get from the Bible is No.

Jesus got a new body - an incorruptable one, not made of flesh, but a heavenly spirit body, (1 Corinthians 15:42-56) and far greater than even those of his heavenly companions, or brothers. (Hebrews 1:9)
Based on the scriptures, when God sends forth the spirit, what is created has been made new. Psalms 104:30 - When you send forth your Spirit, they are created...
An old body does not work... but rather, God gives it a body.

It's as Jesus illustrated. "... no one puts new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the wine will burst the skins - and the wine is destroyed, and so are the skins. But new wine is for fresh wineskins." - Mark 2:22

This understanding removes any apparent dilemma.

I see your point...and definitely agree with most of it...but it raises the question why did Jesus prove who He was to Thomas by allowing him to put his finger in his wound?.
He still had the scars from His crucifixion visible....
This just keeps getting deeper...and I love it!

 

[The Disciple John]

Interesting question....I thought soul was the mind and spirit the life breath of God....now I need to do some searching.

I like your willingness to learn. Humility is a very good quality to have.
I am reminded of the Ethiopian Eunuch, who was taught by Phillip.

Can I help?
In scripture, mind and spirit can be used interchangeably, as well as heart.
For example Exodus 35:21; Deuteronomy 4:39; Ezekiel 21:7; Ephesians 4:23
There are more scriptures. I cam PM you with them, if you like.

Soul also refers to life - the life of the creature.
However, spirit - or breath of life is different to spirit person.
For example, God is spirit (John 4:24). The angels are spirit (Hebrews 1:7), but they are not breath of life. They are actual beings, unlike the spirit in man, which keeps him alive (James 2:26).

So the spirit in man is not something alive, with thinking ability, like God and the angels.
This topic is a great one, and requires actually studying quite a few verses.
I'd be happy to contribute to your research.

 

[farouk]

I see your point...and definitely agree with most of it...but it raises the question why did Jesus prove who He was to Thomas by allowing him to put his finger in his wound?.
He still had the scars from His crucifixion visible....
This just keeps getting deeper...and I love it!

@Heart2Soul We know the crucified Saviour is now risen and exalted in heaven interceding for His people, as per Hebrews.

 

[Lambano]

Aren't we dressed in robes?...this is a good question...I find it ironic that scripture tells us to "put on" the garment of praise, wear the robe of righteousness, put on the garment of salvation....etc.
Obviously these are spiritual garments...
But I believe we will wear white robes.

When discussing it over dinner, I took the "white robe" position based on the Great Multitude in Revelation 7:9. My sister-in-law took the position that the World to Come will be like the Garden of Eden before the Fall and we would be naked and unashamed. The mental image of my elderly sister-in-law in the buff disconcerted me, but I understand her point. But I don't think the Hebrew people were nudists, since being naked is spoken of as something to avoid (Revelation 3:17), so I respectfully disagreed. It was an interesting table discussion.

 

[The Disciple John]

I see your point...and definitely agree with most of it...but it raises the question why did Jesus prove who He was to Thomas by allowing him to put his finger in his wound?.
He still had the scars from His crucifixion visible....
This just keeps getting deeper...and I love it!

Great question.
I'll ask you a question to answer your question.
Why did Thomas not recognize Jesus, so that he needed to see actual wounds? Surely Thomas knew what Jesus looked like, didn't he?

 

[Heart2Soul]

I like your willingness to learn. Humility is a very good quality to have.
I am reminded of the Ethiopian Eunuch, who was taught by Phillip.

Can I help?
In scripture, mind and spirit can be used interchangeably, as well as heart.
For example Exodus 35:21; Deuteronomy 4:39; Ezekiel 21:7; Ephesians 4:23
There are more scriptures. I cam PM you with them, if you like.

Soul also refers to life - the life of the creature.
However, spirit - or breath of life is different to spirit person.
For example, God is spirit (John 4:24). The angels are spirit (Hebrews 1:7), but they are not breath of life. They are actual beings, unlike the spirit in man, which keeps him alive (James 2:26).

So the spirit in man is not something alive, with thinking ability, like God and the angels.
This topic is a great one, and requires actually studying quite a few verses.
I'd be happy to contribute to your research.

I appreciate all the help I can get....and especially from those who can increase wisdom, knowledge and understanding to things I hadn’t quite fully grasped yet.
You are a blessing...thank you.

 

[farouk]

When discussing it over dinner, I took the "white robe" position based on the Great Multitude in Revelation 7:9. My sister-in-law took the position that the World to Come will be like the Garden of Eden before the Fall and we would be naked and unashamed. The mental image of my elderly sister-in-law in the buff disconcerted me, but I understand her point. But I don't think the Hebrew people were nudists, since being naked is spoken of as something to avoid (Revelation 3:17), so I respectfully disagreed. It was an interesting table discussion.

Milton wrote Paradise Lost, and then Paradise Restored...

 

[Happy Trails]

Jesus plainly told Mary that not to touch him, because He had not yet ascended to his Father.
First you bring up that He said that because Mary was unclean and cite a verse about women menstruating, and then in this one, you say that a man would been told the same thing. Not according to what you said before. You had to backpedal.

I don't consider that which I wrote immature in the least.

Let's start with this lie: "First you bring up that He said that because Mary was unclean..."

NO. I did not.

Jesus didn't know anything about her at that moment. Nor, would He have known anything about anyone else. ANY person who may have been unclean would have been told the same thing. If a person had been in the same room with a dead body, or touched a dead animal, or if a man had ejaculated they would ALL have been told not to touch Him. And, the issue you fail to grasp is that He did not know. I said He would not have wanted to risk it. His entire mission would have been in jeopardy.

Of course, you don't consider what you wrote immature. You wrote it.

 

[Heart2Soul]

Great question.
I'll ask you a question to answer your question.
Why did Thomas not recognize Jesus, so that he needed to see actual wounds? Surely Thomas knew what Jesus looked like, didn't he?

What a merry-go-round....Mary didn't recognize Him either....I have to think it's because He is in His glorified body which still looks like His old one...(the scars...which I heard that He has to bear them always...)