Welcome and thank you for taking a bible break to test your knowledge of God's word.
This week's question:

There are many prophesies concerning the crucifixion of our Lord, "My God, my God why hast Thou forsaken me? Far from my deliverance are the words of my groaning." "I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint; my heart is like wax; it is melted within me. My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue cleaves to my jaws; and Thou dost lay me in the dust of death. For dogs have surrounded me; a band of evildoers has encompassed me; they pierced my hands and my feet. I can count all my bones. They look, they stare at me; they divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots." (Psalms 22:1 & 14-18), and although David may be speaking of a difficult time for himself, there is no doubt that it also speaks of the coming Messiah, and then again, "He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth; like a lamb that is lead to slaughter, and like a sheep that is silent before its Shearer's, so He did not open His mouth. By oppression and judgment He was taken away; and as for His generation, who considered that He was cut off out of the land of the living, for the transgression of my people for whom the stroke was due? His grave was assigned with wicked men, yet He was with a rich man in His death, because He had done no violence, nor was there any deceit in His mouth." (Isaiah 53:7-9). Jesus' life upon this earth was to end in a sinless sacrifice, like the sacrificial lamb without blemish and not a bone to be broken (Exodus 12:5 & 46), coupled with wicked men on either side in His crucifixion, and then being buried in a tomb which was made by a rich man for himself and then His resurrection and overcoming of death as He enters as a forerunner for us (Hebrews 6:19-20). Those who love His appearing, "Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered. And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation," (Hebrews 5:8-9).

That brings us to our question, "Who is first to see Jesus' empty tomb?". Jesus taught, "You search the scriptures, because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is these that bear witness of Me; and you are unwilling to come to Me, that you may have life. I do not receive glory from men; but I do know you, that you do not have the love of God in yourselves." (John 5:39-42) He then continued concerning the prophecies of the Messiah, "Do not think that I will accuse you before the Father; the one who accuses you is Moses, in whom you have set your hope. For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me, for He wrote of Me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?" (John 5:45-47) Concerning His coming glory on the cross, He says, "For I have come down from heaven, not to do My will, but the will of Him who sent Me. And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him, may have eternal life; and I Myself will raise him up on the last day." (John 6:38-40)

When Jesus was nailed to the cross between two criminals (Luke 23:33) they cast lots for His garment (Luke 23:34) while some who gathered to behold the spectacle were wagging their heads while saying, "And those passing by were hurling abuse at Him, wagging their heads, and saying, 'Ha! You who were going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself, and come down from the cross!'" (Mark 15:29-30) In the same way the chief priests also, along with the scribes, were mocking Him among themselves and saying, 'He saved others; He cannot save Himself. Let this Christ, the King of Israel, now come down from the cross, so that we may see and believe!' And those who were crucified with Him were casting the same insult at Him." (Mark 15:31-32). Since Jesus had already died upon the cross, they pierced Him, but did not break His legs as they did the other two next to Him as He represented that sacrificial lamb whom had no bones broken (Exodus 12:46). He was a rich Man in death as a rich man named Joseph of Arimathea laid Jesus in his own prepared tomb where no one else had laid (Matthew 27:59-60; Luke 23:50-53; John 19:30-41).

So then, for the answer to our question we turn and read, "But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb, bringing spices which they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. And it happened that while they were perplexed about this, behold, two men suddenly stood near them in dazzling apparel; and as the women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, 'Why do you seek 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 delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.' And they remembered His words, and returned from the tomb and reported all these things to the eleven and the rest. Now they were Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James; also the other women with them were telling these things to the apostles. And these words appeared to them as nonsense, and they would not believe them. But Peter arose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen wrappings only; and he went away to his home, marveling at that which had happened." (Luke 24:1-12)

So there we have the answer to our question as the ones to see His empty tomb were none other than the women who were going to anoint the body of Jesus and wondering how they would roll the stone away, (Mark 16:3) only to find the tomb empty Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James and some other women also! By the way, John did run faster to see the empty tomb before Peter, but Peter entered first (John 20:3-10)!

Remember, these marvelous things are written that we too may believe in our Lord as the Christ (John 20:30-31)!