While we always desire to know, believe and practice what the Scripture teaches, my hope is that the way we go about this short series of lessons will give additional emphasis to that, and also aid in understanding the simplicity of coming to a knowledge of the truth on virtually any subject matter.
With this first lesson we ask the question: “What does the New Testament teach about the first day of the week?” Of course, the only way to answer that question is to look and see! Here is what it says: (In order to be easily visible I have placed references to the first day of the week in bold print.)
Matthew 28:1 – “Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb.”
Mark 16:2 – “And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb.”
Mark 16:9 – “Now when he rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons.”
Luke 24:1 – “But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared.”
John 20:1 – “Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb.”
John 20:19 – “On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews.”
Acts 20:7 – “On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul talked with them, intending to depart on the next day, and he prolonged his speech until midnight.”
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Notice now these passages that would also fall upon the first day of the week:
John 20:26 – “Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.”
Luke 24:13 – “That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem”
STEP BY STEP OBSERVATIONS AND CONCLUSIONS
- All four Gospel accounts are careful to note that not only did the Lord arise from the grave, but He did so on the first day of the week. This should at least peak our curiosity since days of the week are seldom even mentioned in the NT. Obviously, the Lord wanted us to know when this great event occurred. In fact, never is the second through the sixth day of the week even mentioned specifically in the NT! Now if we stopped right here, we might come merely to the conclusion that the Lord wanted mankind to know that Jesus did rise three days later as He had predicted (see Mt. 12:39-40). While there is truth to this conclusion, we also will see that there is more to it than that.
- Secondly, we observe from John 20:19 and then verse 26, that the disciples were gathered together on the first day of the week for consecutive weeks. Again, it is significant that the particular day of the week is noted. These gatherings on the first day of the week stand in stark contrast to the Sabbath day (“after the Sabbath” – Mt. 28:1, which was the last day of the week, the day that Jesus was yet in the grave). At this point could one assume that Jesus had already given His disciples instructions concerning meeting together on the first day of the week? Why else would they be gathered together on that particular day? Why else would the Bible be careful to note what day of the week it was?
- Finally, we have two passages that refer to the partaking of the Lord’s Supper and the collection on the first day of the week (see Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 16:2). Surely these passages “clear the air” as far as the will of heaven is concerned for the gathering of God’s people together for worship. In fact, the passage from Acts 20:7 actually uses the passive tense. In other words, they were gathered together by an outside force. What brought the church together for worship? The Lord and His will!
What does the NT teach regarding the first day of the week? It teaches that this day is the day that Jesus arose triumphantly from the grave and Christians should be gathered together (by the call of God) to praise Him for His Son who died for them and rose that they might live!
Daren Schroeder
