No — the disciples did not believe Jesus would rise from the dead before seeing the empty tomb and its evidence.
John 20 records that Peter and John entered the empty tomb, saw the linen clothes and the head cloth, and only then believed. The very next verse says they had not yet known the Scripture that He must rise again from the dead. Les Feldick repeatedly points to this as proof that, prior to that moment, the disciples had no expectation or belief in His resurrection.
John 20:8-9 — This is the pivotal resurrection-morning scene: Peter and John saw the empty tomb and believed, but verse 9 says they had not known the Scripture that Jesus must rise again.
Luke 18:33-34 — Jesus plainly predicted His death and third-day resurrection, yet Luke says the disciples understood none of it because the saying was hidden from them.
John 20 records the resurrection-morning scene. Mary Magdalene came to the sepulchre while it was still dark and found the stone rolled away. She ran to Peter and John, who then raced to the tomb. John looked in and saw the linen clothes lying, but did not go in. Peter entered and saw the linen clothes and the napkin that had been about Jesus' head, wrapped together in a place by itself. Then John went in, and the Scripture says, "Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed." Immediately following, verse 9 says, "For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead." Luke 18:33-34 also shows that Jesus had plainly told them He would be scourged, killed, and rise the third day, but "they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken." So the Bible itself makes clear that, until the empty tomb was seen, the disciples were not expecting the resurrection.
Les Feldick consistently teaches that the disciples had no idea Jesus was going to rise from the dead until they encountered the empty tomb. He points to John 20:8-9, emphasizing that Peter and John saw the evidence and believed, but the next verse says, "for as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead." He says it could not be plainer. Les also stresses that Jesus had told them plainly He would be killed and would rise the third day, but they comprehended none of it. He attributes this to God: the saying was "hid from them" by a sovereign God because it was not yet time for them to understand. He adds a practical proof: if they had known Jesus was going to rise, they would have camped at the tomb. Instead, they went home thinking it was all over, and Mary Magdalene returned to the tomb only to complete the burial customs, not to witness a resurrection.
Les points out that had the disciples known Jesus would rise from the dead, they would have camped at the tomb. Instead, they went home and thought it was all over. Even on resurrection morning, no one was waiting for Him; when they were told He was alive, they could not believe it. Peter and John had to run to the sepulchre to check the evidence before they believed.
Mary Magdalene told Peter and John the tomb was empty. They raced to the sepulcher; John arrived first and looked in, but hesitated. Peter went straight in and saw the linen clothes and the head cloth lying separately. When John entered and saw the evidence, he believed. Les emphasizes that they believed only because of what they saw, and John 20:9 still says they had not previously known the Scripture that He must rise again.
Les teaches that Jesus plainly told the Twelve He would be put to death and rise the third day, but they understood none of it. He points to Luke 18, where the saying was hid from them. According to Les, God sovereignly kept the meaning hidden because it was not yet the time for them to understand. Consequently, they had no idea He would die, and after He died they had no idea He would rise.
Why Jesus Forbade Mary to Touch Him: The High Priest & His Blood
Now we'll explain that word more in detail when we get to the tabernacle in the book of Exodus, because that's where the word propitiation comes into full bloom. So let's pass it for now. Through faith in His what? His blood. I wonder if now might be a good time.
Peter and John at the Empty Tomb
Les points out that Peter and John saw the evidence at the empty tomb and believed, but John 20:9 says they did not yet know the Scripture that He must rise from the dead — proving they had no idea He would rise.
John Believed Only After Seeing Evidence
Les stresses that even after Mary's report, the disciples had to run to check it out, and John believed only when he saw the burial evidence; before that he would not have believed.
Jesus' Prediction Comprehended None
Les explains that although Jesus told them plainly He would die and rise the third day, they comprehended none of it; after His death they had no idea He would rise, and Mary went to the tomb with spices, not to see a resurrection.
God Hid It From Them
Les teaches that the disciples' lack of understanding was because God hid it from them; even after the crucifixion they had no idea He would be raised, and they went back to Galilee thinking it was over.
They Didn't Preach What They Didn't Believe
Les uses John 20:9 to show that Jesus and the twelve never preached death, burial, and resurrection because they did not believe it themselves; had they known, they would have camped at the tomb.
Not Waiting at the Tomb
Les observes that the eleven were not waiting at the tomb for the resurrection; when told He was alive they could not believe it, and only after seeing proof did they believe.
The Saying Was Hid From Them
Les cites Luke 18, where the saying was hid from the disciples by a sovereign God, and then moves to John 20:9 to show that even on resurrection morning they still did not know.
John 20:8: Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed.
This verse marks the exact moment John entered the empty tomb, saw the evidence, and believed.
John 20:9: For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead.
This verse immediately explains that their belief came before they understood the Scripture that Jesus had to rise.
Luke 18:33-34: And they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again. And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken.
This records Jesus' own prediction of His death and resurrection, followed by the statement that the disciples did not understand it because it was hidden from them.
No. John 20:9 says, "For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead." According to Les, Peter and John first believed when they saw the empty tomb and the burial clothes.
Luke 18 records that the saying was hid from them. Les teaches that God sovereignly kept them from understanding because it wasn't time for them to know.
They believed after seeing the empty tomb and the linen clothes and head cloth lying in the sepulcher (John 20:8). Les says they had no expectation until they saw that evidence.
Watch the Teaching: Why Jesus Forbade Mary to Touch Him: The High Priest & His Blood