Luke 24: Jesus' Resurrection

Introduction

I like to climb mountains. I have hiked a couple of 14ers, I have hiked in the snow, and I have rock climbed rocks hundreds of feet tall. Growing up I would read about other climbers like Alex Honnold, Jimmy Chin, and Tommy Caldwell scaling these massive and very technical mountains.

One question that people ask those who climb mountains, especially really scary and difficult ones, is why they do it? The answer is almost always the same: the view at the top. All their struggle and pain is replaced by victory and joy once they get to the top.

In a way, all history has been like a mountain. And God has moved through history, climbing upwards, with one central goal and to reach one destination: the peak of the mountain in this case is Jesus’ resurrection.

The resurrection is THE most significant event in all human history so far and it is the heartbeat of Christianity.

1 Corinthians 15:12–22 NIV

But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied. But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.

Paul is emphasizing that the resurrection the the central event of Christianity. Without it there is no Christianity.

Today, being Easter, when the church acknowledges the importance of the resurrection, we will discuss three main points in Luke 24:

How the resurrection is central to the Gospel

How Jesus’ death and resurrection was always God’s plan

How the resurrection gives us our greatest hope, we need this hope.

The Empty Tomb: How Jesus’ Resurrection is central to the Gospel!

Luke 24:1–12 CSB

1 On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came to the tomb, bringing the spices they had prepared. 2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb. 3 They went in but did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men stood by them in dazzling clothes. 5 So the women were terrified and bowed down to the ground. “Why are you looking for the living among the dead?” asked the men. 6 “He is not here, but he has risen! Remember how he spoke to you when he was still in Galilee, 7 saying, ‘It is necessary that the Son of Man be betrayed into the hands of sinful men, be crucified, and rise on the third day’8 And they remembered his words. 9 Returning from the tomb, they reported all these things to the Eleven and to all the rest. 10 Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them were telling the apostles these things. 11 But these words seemed like nonsense to them, and they did not believe the women. 12 Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. When he stooped to look in, he saw only the linen cloths. So he went away, amazed at what had happened.

A group of women who were very close to Jesus (provided out of their means to support Him) went to the tomb to customarily tend to Jesus’ dead body, which would eliminate the stench and aid in decomposition.

They did not know how they were going to roll away the stone covering the tomb (Mark 16:3)

The Pharisees had asked Pilate to place guards in front because they remembered that Jesus said He would rise after three days. They did not want the disciples stealing the body. A large stone was rolled in place, it was sealed (any any who broke it would be put to death, and guards were posted in front.

The women find the tomb empty and encounter two angels (v. 3-4).

The angels inform the women that Jesus is alive

They also remind the women of Jesus’ teaching that He would die and rise again (9:22, 33; 17:25; 18:31-33; 22:37)

The women tell the disciples (v. 8-9)

Imagine what the disciples are feeling. Have you ever had a time in your life where you went through something hard or even had a harsh conversation and that night your mind is racing. You replay what happened. You imagine different scenarios of what you could have done.

This is probably how the disciples felt but in this case their best friend, their master, the one who they believed was the promised one sent by God had died.

They did not believe right away. The disciples were not some superstitious unintelligent folk who over spiritualized everything. Some may think that. Instead they were skeptical.

The ESV said they thought the women were telling “idle tales”

Peter, however, went to investigate. This striking because the last time we saw Peter he denied Jesus three times. The women not only said the tomb was empty, but they reminded Peter of Jesus’ words. This gave hope. At this sign of hope, he responded.

Before we move on from this text I want to draw your attention to a key phrase the angels say: “it is necessary...”

It was not just necessary for Jesus to die, it was also necessary for Jesus to rise.

We talked about the necessity of Jesus dying, now we ask why it was necessary that He rise?

It authenticates Jesus’ identity as God.

No one has ever come back to life like this. Only God has power over life and death.

Jesus claimed divinity in His teachings

John 11:25 NIV

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life.”

John 10:30 ESV

“I and the Father are one.”

Mark 14:61–62 ESV

But he remained silent and made no answer. Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?” And Jesus said, “I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.”

Paul recognizes that the resurrection affirms Jesus’ identity as well....

Romans 1:4 ESV

and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord,

c. So the resurrection affirms Jesus’ identity, that He really is God.

It validates His sacrifice and secures our salvation

Since Jesus was raised from the dead as God it also shows that His sacrifice was perfect.

Like the passage in 1 Corinthians 15 we read earlier, if Christ did not rise then we would still be dead in our sins.

Secures our salvation:

Romans 4:25 ESV

who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.

It demonstrates His victory over sin and death and anticipates the day He will fully deal with evil.

This victory is pictured in:

Revelation 1:17–18 CSB

When I saw him, I fell at his feet like a dead man. He laid his right hand on me and said, “Don’t be afraid. I am the First and the Last, and the Living One. I was dead, but look—I am alive forever and ever, and I hold the keys of death and Hades.

b. This hope is pictured in:

Romans 8:11 ESV

If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.

When we preach the Gospel, we don’t preach that Jesus just died for you. We preach that He died and rose again because He is God and by believing in Him as the risen Lord you can have the same eternal life with Him.

The Emmaus Talk: How Jesus’ Death and Resurrection Was Always God’s Plan!

We know the tomb is empty, that it matches Jesus’ prophetic teaching about Himself, and now we get further evidence by being introduced to Jesus’ risen body. The Church was not built on a tomb being empty or an angelic message but actual eyewitness testimony of the risen Jesus.

Luke 24:13–35 CSB

13 Now that same day two of them were on their way to a village called Emmaus, which was about seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 Together they were discussing everything that had taken place. 15 And while they were discussing and arguing, Jesus himself came near and began to walk along with them. 16 But they were prevented from recognizing him. 17 Then he asked them, “What is this dispute that you’re having with each other as you are walking?” And they stopped walking and looked discouraged. 18 The one named Cleopas answered him, “Are you the only visitor in Jerusalem who doesn’t know the things that happened there in these days?” 19 “What things?” he asked them. So they said to him, “The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet powerful in action and speech before God and all the people, 20 and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him. 21 But we were hoping that he was the one who was about to redeem Israel. Besides all this, it’s the third day since these things happened. 22 Moreover, some women from our group astounded us. They arrived early at the tomb, 23 and when they didn’t find his body, they came and reported that they had seen a vision of angels who said he was alive. 24 Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they didn’t see him.” 25 He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Wasn’t it necessary for the Messiah to suffer these things and enter into his glory?” 27 Then beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted for them the things concerning himself in all the Scriptures. 28 They came near the village where they were going, and he gave the impression that he was going farther. 29 But they urged him, “Stay with us, because it’s almost evening, and now the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them. 30 It was as he reclined at the table with them that he took the bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him, but he disappeared from their sight. 32 They said to each other, “Weren’t our hearts burning within us while he was talking with us on the road and explaining the Scriptures to us?” 33 That very hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem. They found the Eleven and those with them gathered together, 34 who said, “The Lord has truly been raised and has appeared to Simon!” 35 Then they began to describe what had happened on the road and how he was made known to them in the breaking of the bread.

Two disciples were walking 7 miles from Jerusalem to Emmaus

“Discussing and arguing” probably debating the meaning of the report of the empty tomb.

“prevented from recognizing Him” and then they describe to Jesus all that has taken place.

Their response shows that Jesus’ death was a big deal, in a sense it made national news since the majority of Israel journeyed to Jerusalem for the Passover.

(v. 21) The disciples probably hoped Jesus would be a political or military leader to deliver them from Rome.

“Redeem” just like God delivered them from Egypt they hoped for deliverance from Rome.

Instead of a conquering king, they God a carpenter rabbi.

(v. 25-27) Jesus calls out their unbelief and shows how everything that happened was written about in the Scriptures.

Finish summarizing the text. Jesus had appeared to over 500 people at one time (1 Cor 15:5-6)

The main thing we learn from this passage is that Jesus’ death and resurrection was always God’s plan, and this can be seen by studying the Old Testament.

Jesus had said something similar to this text in John 5:39–40 “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life.”

The main thing Jesus explained to them would no doubt be how He has fulfilled prophecy.

People can count about 330 prophecies that Jesus fulfilled.

Peter Stoner, an astronomer and mathematician calculated the odds of just eight of those prophecies being fulfilled (where Jesus was born, when, manner of death, etc). The calculation came out to be 1 in 10^17 power. He explained it like filling the state of Texas two feet deep with silver dollars and marking one with an X and telling you to pick the right one. THIS IS FOR 8 prophecies. Jesus fulfilled 330. No one else could have done it but Him.

2. This also makes sense given the overarching storyline of the Bible

a. We see How God made a promise to one day crush evil through a man (Gen 3), how He saved Noah and His family and thus proving His faithfulness to this promise (Gen 6), made a promise to Abraham that the whole world would be blessed through his family/offspring (Gen 22), that the savior would come from the line of David and would rule and reign (2 Samuel 7), that the savior would also suffer on our behalf (Isa 53), in the end God would dwell with His people (Ezek 37)

b. Since the fall in the Garden Jesus has always been God’s plan and God’s solution.

3. This teaches us that when we read our Bible, Jesus is always the center. Also, one of the best ways to know God and know Jesus is by reading the Bible.

Jesus’ death and resurrection was always in God’s plan! It was how God in His wisdom and love decided to bring the redemption of all things!

The Easter Truth: How the Resurrection Gives Us Our Greatest Hope!

As we conclude the chapter, and the book of Luke, we end on an application relevant to each one of us. This application is central to the Gospel and if you believe in Christ it is the promise you can look forward to.

Luke 24:36–53 CSB

36 As they were saying these things, he himself stood in their midst. He said to them, “Peace to you!” 37 But they were startled and terrified and thought they were seeing a ghost. 38 “Why are you troubled?” he asked them. “And why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39 Look at my hands and my feet, that it is I myself! Touch me and see, because a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you can see I have.” 40 Having said this, he showed them his hands and feet. 41 But while they still were amazed and in disbelief because of their joy, he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” 42 So they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, 43 and he took it and ate in their presence. 44 He told them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. 46 He also said to them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead the third day, 47 and repentance for forgiveness of sins will be proclaimed in his name to all the nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 And look, I am sending you what my Father promised. As for you, stay in the city until you are empowered from on high.” 50 Then he led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them. 51 And while he was blessing them, he left them and was carried up into heaven. 52 After worshiping him, they returned to Jerusalem with great joy. 53 And they were continually in the temple praising God.

That same Sunday evening Jesus appears bodily to His disciples.

He knew they had doubts and so He appeared in order to give them confidence. He shows them His scars, they can see, hear, and touch Him (Thomas later puts his finger in Jesus’ side), and Jesus eats. These are all very physical things

We also see that as well as being a physical body it has also transformed and allowed Jesus to do unique things like appear and disappear. More on this in a second.

Now the third time this chapter we see that the disciples are reminded of Jesus’ teachings and the Scriptures.

Then Jesus gives the next steps to the disciples which are detailed in the book of Acts: to wait and receive the Holy Spirit AND with His empowerment to bare witness to what they have seen in all the world.

Finally there is a brief note about Jesus’ ascension which is furthered detailed by Luke in Acts 1

What I want to focus on in this text, and Jesus’ resurrection, teaches us about our hope as believers.

When we say you can be saved we mean BOTH that your sins can be forgiven AND that you can live eternally with God in heaven.

The thing is we all still will die. This is a physical consequence of sin and decay in the world.

Our future hope of life is that Jesus will one day raise us to life just like He has been raised to life.

John 11:25–26 “ Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die.”

Romans 8:11 “If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.”

Jesus was not raised as solely a spirit, He was raised in a physical body (although a transformed one).

Likewise we too will have physical (transformed) bodies in heaven. These bodies will not know sickness, decay, pain, or sin. They will be fully honoring to God and glorifying to Him.

Jesus has completed our spiritual restoration. But, on this day, which will occur in the very end when He judges all, God will complete His physical restoration

But know this about the resurrection: ALL people will be resurrected. both the just and unjust.

Daniel 12:2 “And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.”

The unjust will face eternal separation from God and therefore separation from the source of goodness, love, etc. We do not know much about Hell, but that alone makes it a scary place.

The hope and the good news of the Gospel is that those who believe in Jesus’ death and resurrection, that He is God and Lord over all, will live eternally in joy and peace.

And Jesus mentions this peace in V. 36.

The word for peace is shalom, meaning wholeness physical and spiritual—restored to relationship with our God and creator.

There is an emptiness that each one of us faces. We can try and fill it with all sorts of things. Some people with money and therefore possessions, some with success (pride, respect, power), others with people (marriage, girlfriend, boyfriend) to feel valued and loved, or maybe something else. The truth is we all have a God shaped hole in our heart. ‘

Our heart is like a puzzle and only one piece will complete it, and that is God. Only He can offer true satisfaction, true joy, true love, true peace because that’s how He created you. He created you to know Him.

This text says more about the disciple’s mission and the coming of the Holy Spirit, we will talk about that next time, but I want to end it with the disciple’s response in (v. 52):

They worshipped Jesus with great joy. We can worship Jesus because:

Jesus’ resurrection proved His identity as God, His power over death, and validated His sacrifice. therefore ensuring our forgiveness for sin.

Jesus’ resurrection was always God’s plan and it is has been gloriously fulfilled. We can also know Jesus deeper by studying His word.

Jesus’ resurrection gives us our greatest hope by anticipating our own resurrection and promise of eternal life in wholeness and joy and love with God.

Worship is not just singing songs and offering praise. It can also include a renewed openness toward God, a desire to obey Him and honor Him with your life, and to seek Him in prayer and His word.