The Intersection of Death Burial and Resurection is the Grave

Luke 24:1–9 (KJV 1900)

Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them. And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre. And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.

And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments: And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead?

He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, Saying, 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 sepulchre, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest.

Our preparation, hard work, and plans will bring us to a state of frustration but should bring us to the tomb; the grave.

The women had faith that somehow their preparation to anoint the body would be carried out by the stone being rolled away by some means.

They acted in faith all night to prepare, not knowing if they would actually be able to honor the Lord’s dead body.

The women had a zeal and faith but not according to knowledge.

Salvation by grace through faith would have saved the women a whole night of hard work and grief.

They should have came to the sepulchre early in the morning in anticipation of the resurrected body. Instead they came to tend to the dead (vs 5) What are some dead works in our life that lead us to frustration?

The word of God tells us what we should look for. Our flesh dictates that we look for something that caters to the flesh and not the truth of the spirit. What they came looking for they did not find.

Either way they came to the grave. Our effort brings us to the grave; an end of ourselves

When God brings us to the Grave he gives us a message, purpose, hope, and new life.

Death will bring us to the attention of God’s word and away from our own conception and effort.

All of our plans and motivation that catered towards that which is dead will be transformed to the living as we experience in ourselves death, or and end of our own ways informed by our own desires, thoughts and assumptions.

The Culminating point of Jesus ministry was the grave: so is our Christian life

We are misinformed believers when we have not been confronted at the grave

The grave provides the moment of truth between that which is made reality in our lives.

Jesus death burial and resurrection intersected at the grave. The grave is where the dead body was brought to be buried and it is where the body was risen in glory.

Have your human effort brought you to the grave yet?

The women died to themselves because their whole purpose was changed by the confrontation at the grave

We need the realization that Jesus rose

The risen Jesus means we are risen with him

Leave the spices at the grave. It is not needed. Leave your works at the gravesite

Learn to appropriate the death of Christ to the death of our old man.

Galatians 2:20 (KJV 1900)

20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Romans 6:6 KJV 1900

Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

Romans 6:11 KJV 1900

Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 7:1 KJV 1900

Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth?

Romans 6:3–4 KJV 1900

Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

Romans 6:7 KJV 1900

For he that is dead is freed from sin.

The confrontation at the grave makes us free from sin, the flesh, and the world