'He is Not Here, But is Risen!' Quiz

Answer: Pontius Pilate

John creates a memorable picture of Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor of Palestine, whose main aim is to avoid inflaming the Jewish population and to prevent an open rebellion. His first question is whether Jesus is claiming to be a king. If He had answered "yes", then Pilate could have condemned Him for treason to the Empire. Jesus cleverly deflects the question by claiming "My kingdom is not of this world" and that He has come into this world to witness to the truth. This last phrase is what prompts Pilate's question. In the next chapter Pilate tries his best to release Jesus, but an unruly mob threatens him with the anger of the Emperor.

-- Question submitted by Ampelos

Answer: The Bible does not specify an exact number

Although no exact number is given, according to Scripture found in the King James Version of Matthew 27:50-53 "many people" arose from their graves.

The account of many other people being raised from the dead after Christ's resurrection is found only in the Gospel of Matthew.

~ Question submitted by Logcrawler

Answer: Matthew

The description comes from Matthew 28:4 in the NKJV. The preceding verse says the angel's "countenance was as lightning, and his raiment as snow." The Gospel of Luke mentions the appearance of two angels, whereas Matthew and Mark only mention one. John's Gospel makes mention of two angels appearing after the resurrection.

-- Question submitted by Falseplayer

Answer: More than 500 people

According to Scripture, Jesus appeared to more than 500 people after His resurrection. Details can be found in 1 Corinthians 15:6. 1 and 2 Corinthians were written by Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles. In 1 Corinthians 15:8, Paul makes reference to the fact he too, saw Jesus after He rose from the dead. In Paul's case, he encountered Jesus while travelling on the road to Damascus.

-- Question submitted by Cowrofl

Answer: Mark

Details about the unnamed man fleeing naked are found in Mark 14:51-52. No one knows for certain, but some theologians believe the man who fled naked was actually Mark, also known as John Mark, the writer of the Gospel. With the details found in only Mark, the question arises how else would he have known about this incident? What's more, why would he have included it?

It is believed the Last Supper was held at the house of John Mark's mother and it would have made sense for Mark to go to the Garden of Gethsemane later that evening. According to Mark 14:51 the "young man" had a "linen cloth thrown around his naked body." When others laid hold of him at the scene of Christ's arrest, the young man fled naked, according to Verse 52.

The actions of the young man were typical of what happened on the night of Jesus' arrest. According to Verse 50, "they all forsook Him and fled."

-- Question submitted by Cowrofl

Answer: On the road to Emmaus

It was on the road to Emmaus that Jesus made one of a number of surprise appearances after His crucifixion. According to Luke 24:13-35, Jesus appeared to two people, one of whom is identified as Cleopas. This is the only time Cleopas' name appears in Scripture.

Cleopas and his friend didn't recognize it was Jesus they had met on the road until He had accepted their invitation to stay with them at their house, and they were breaking bread and giving thanks. Scripture says their eyes were opened and they recognized Christ and then He disappeared from their sight.

According to Luke 24:13, Emmaus was a village seven miles (about eleven kilometers) from Jerusalem.

-- Question submitted by Cowrofl

Answer: a gardener

According to the King James Version of John 20:11-18, (focus on Verse 15), Mary Magdalene thought she was speaking to the gardener.

In this passage, Jesus asked her, "Woman, why weepest thou? Whom seekest thou?" She, thinking that He might be the gardener, answered Him, "Sir, if thou have borne Him hence, tell me where thou hast laid Him, and I will take Him away."

~ Question submitted by Logcrawler

Answer: About 33 years

Jesus was thirty-three years old when He was crucified and arose from the dead, going by Scripture. According to Luke 3:23, Jesus was "about thirty years old" when He started His ministry. Theologians believe Christ's ministry lasted three years, meaning He was thirty-three years old when He was crucified. Three days after His crucifixion, however, Christ arose triumphantly from the dead, as documented in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

-- Question submitted by Cowrolf

Answer: James son of Zebedee

The narrative in John 20 reveals that Mary Magdalene was the first to arrive at the tomb, "while it was still dark". Finding the stone rolled away from the door, she went to Simon Peter and "the disciple whom Jesus loved", the latter usually identified as John, the son of Zebedee. They ran to the tomb and went inside, finding no body but only the burial clothes. John's brother James would have been among the apostles to whom Jesus appeared later that day, but he does not seem to have gone to the tomb.

-- Question submitted by Ampelos

Answer: Bethany

Jesus was at Bethany, a village just outside Jerusalem in Biblical times, when He ascended to heaven, as per Luke 24:49-53. According to Scripture, Bethany was the home of Lazarus and his sisters Mary and Martha. The eleventh chapter of John tells of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead at Bethany.

Previous to the ascension, Christ had been put on trial, humiliated, tortured and crucified only to rise from the dead, as reported extensively in Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

In addition to Luke 24:49-53, references to the ascension can be also found in Mark 16:19 and Acts 1:9-11.

-- Question submitted by Cowrofl