The Empty Tomb (AQA GCSE Religious Studies A): Revision Note
Exam code: 8062
16 When the sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. 2 And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. 3 They had been saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?” 4 When they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled back. 5 As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man, dressed in a white robe, sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. 6 But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Look, there is the place they laid him. 7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him, just as he told you.” 8 So they went out and fled from the tomb, for terror and amazement had seized them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid. (Mark 16:1–8)
The women and the empty tomb
After the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene; Mary, the mother of James; and Salome went to the tomb to anoint Jesus’s body with oil
This completed the Jewish burial customs
The stone had been rolled back, and the tomb was empty
A young man was present, dressed in white
This is a sign that he was an angel, a messenger of God
The young man told them “Do not be alarmed” and said that Jesus had risen from the dead, just as he had said he would
The man told them to go and tell the disciples the news and that they would see Jesus again in Galilee
Modern beliefs about the resurrection
Differing interpretations of the resurrection
Some people do not accept the empty tomb as sufficient evidence of Jesus’s resurrection
They claim that it is scientifically impossible for Jesus to have risen from the dead and explain these events in different ways
Alternative explanations include:
The disciples got rid of the body
But they were unlikely to have done this, since what had happened to Jesus had scared them
The women went to the wrong tomb
But Mark records that they watched where Jesus was buried, so they knew exactly where to go
Jesus was not really dead; he had passed out because of the pain. He recovered in the tomb
But Jesus’s body was only released for burial once a Roman officer had checked that he was properly dead
The women were distressed and emotional and imagined they were seeing an angel
But there were three eyewitnesses, not just one. It seems unlikely that they all imagined the same thing
Although it is difficult to accept that someone can rise from the dead, Christians have faith that this event did really happen
It is regarded as a miracle and is an essential part of Christian faith
Importance of the resurrection for Christians
For Christians, the resurrection is a vital part of their faith because it:
Completes the story of the crucifixion and shows that Jesus’s death was not a tragedy but part of God’s plan
Shows God’s power at work
Shows that Jesus really was God’s son
Means that Jesus is really alive and present with them
Shows Christians that Jesus kept his word and that all of his teachings can be trusted
Shows Christians that love and goodness are more powerful than sin and evil and can overcome them
This gave the early Christians strength to withstand the suffering and persecution they had to face
Gives Christians hope of life after death with God — they do not need to fear death
Established a new relationship between people and God, where the barrier of human sins had been broken down
The Christian festival of Easter each year commemorates these events
It is seen as the most important Christian festival
Worked Example
What message did the young man in white give to the women at the empty tomb?
[1 mark]
A. “Do not be alarmed … Jesus has been raised; he is not here.”
B. “Take the spices and anoint his body quickly.”
C. “Tell the chief priests that Jesus has been taken.”
D. “Go back home, for the tomb has been sealed.”
Answer:
A. “Do not be alarmed … Jesus has been raised; he is not here.”
The young man, understood to be an angel, announced that Jesus had risen, fulfilling what he had foretold. B is wrong, as there was no body to anoint. C is wrong because the priests are not mentioned. D is wrong because the tomb was open, not sealed.
Examiner Tips and Tricks
As with the other events surrounding the last week of Jesus’s life, you must make sure that you learn Mark’s account of the empty tomb and resurrection in your revision for this exam. There are further accounts of resurrection sightings and visions in other gospels. Only write about what Mark records in his Gospel in your exam to ensure your answers are correct.
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