TWO OR THREE WITNESSES?

MYSTERIES OF THE CROSS ~ PART THREE

WHO WHERE THE WITNESSES?

Pastor Dave and the College group are outside the Church of the Holy sepulchre in the old city of Jerusalem.

Pastor Dave says, "The church was built over the place where Jesus was crucified.  Inside is a small chapel over the garden tomb."

My questions today, 'How important is it to have two or three witnesses?  Did Christ have witnesses for his death, burial and resurrection?"

James says, "A single witness does not have legal standing to convict a person of any guilt or sin in connection with any wrongful action he may have committed. A case is to have standing only on the testimony of two or three witnesses."  (Deuteronomy 19:15  EHV ~ Evangelical Heritage Version)

Pastor Dave asks, "Who were the four witnesses that remained by the cross until Jesus died?"

John reads: "Standing close to Jesus' cross were his mother, his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.  Jesus saw his mother and the disciple he loved standing there; so he said to his mother, “He is your son.”  (John 19:25-27  GNT ~ Good News Translation)

Dan said, "After Jesus died there was a big earthquake.  The women moved, watching  further away from the cross."

Mary reads: "There were several women there, watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee, helping to look after his needs.  They included Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons."  (Matthew 27:55-56  NTFE ~ New Testament For Everyone)

Pastor Dave says, "There were witnesses watching Nicodemus and Joseph place the body of Jesus in the new tomb."

Cindy reads: "So Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth  and laid it in his new tomb, which he had hewn in the rock. He then rolled a great stone to the door of the tomb and went away.  Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were there, sitting opposite the tomb."  (Matthew 27:59-61  NRSVUE ~ New Revised Standard Version Updated)

Pastor Dave adds, "There were witnesses Sunday at the tomb."

Sally reads: "...but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.  While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men suddenly stood near them in gleaming clothing; and as the women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why are you seeking the living One among the dead?  He is not here, but He has risen. Remember how He spoke to you while He was still in Galilee,  saying that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinful men, and be crucified, and on the third day rise from the dead.”  And they remembered His words,  and returned from the tomb and reported all these things to the eleven, and to all the rest.  Now these women were Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Mary the mother of James; also the other women with them were telling these things to the apostles."  (Luke 24:3-10  NASB ~ New American Standard Version)

Pastor Dave says, "I don't know how anyone can believe in a Saturday resurrection, because it was the sabbath.  The women are not going to carry bags of spices to the tomb before sundown.  And certainly they are not come at night after the sabbath with all the Roman guards protecting the tomb.  If Jesus resurrected on Saturday and the Roman guards were the only witnesses, would they have told the truth?"

"Tomorrow we will look at Dan's view of a Thursday Passover."