Resurrection Promises: The Word That Does Not Fail

Luke 24 Verses 1 to 8 He Is Back April 5, 2026 Lesson 12 Standing by His Word Class Presentation Notes AAAA

Background Scriptures:

· Matthew 16:21 (NASB95)

          21From that time Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised up on the third day.

· Luke 24:1-53

Main Idea:

· Jesus said he would be tortured, killed, and rise again from the dead, and all of this occurred just as He said.

Study Aim:

· To understand Jesus always keeps His Word.

Create Interest:

· This passage reminds Christians that God's promises are always fulfilled, even when circumstances seem dire. It offers hope in times of uncertainty and affirms faith in the resurrection promise, motivating believers to share this hope with others.

· The lesson will teach the importance of trusting in God's Word and His promises. It emphasizes that Jesus' resurrection is a foretaste of our own resurrection and a demonstration of His power over death and despair.

Lesson in Historical Context:

· In Luke 24:1–8, the women visited the tomb to anoint Jesus' body, only to find it empty and encountered angels who proclaimed His resurrection. This moment served as a pivotal point in the Christian faith, affirming that Jesus indeed kept His promise to rise from the dead.

· The resurrection of Christ is the culmination of the narrative of redemption throughout Scripture. It points to the ultimate victory over sin and death, unifying the message of hope and restoration found in the entire biblical text.

Bible Study:

Luke 24:1–3 (NASB95) Faithful Despite Surprise

1 But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared.

2 And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb,

3 but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.

Who went to Jesus’ tomb in Luke 24?

· The women who visited Jesus’ tomb were Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, along with other unnamed women (Luke 24:1–10). They arrived at early dawn on the first day of the week, bringing spices they had prepared—a customary practice for honoring the deceased.

· Upon entering the tomb, they discovered the stone had been rolled away and found no body but instead encountered two men in dazzling clothing. After the angels reminded them of Jesus’ teachings about his resurrection, the women returned and reported everything to the eleven apostles and others.

· The apostles’ response proved skeptical. The women’s words seemed like nonsense, and the disciples refused to believe them. However, Peter took action by running to the tomb himself, where he observed only the linen wrappings and departed in amazement.

· Luke’s account emphasizes a striking contrast: the women who encountered the angels received clarity about the resurrection, while the male disciples—despite the women’s testimony and even Peter’s investigation—remained unconvinced. The women’s movement from confusion to understanding was enabled by the angels’ call to remember Jesus’ words, a heavenly communication that Peter did not receive[1]. The empty tomb alone proved insufficient to generate faith; only through the angelic interpretation of events could their significance become apparent.

[1] Joel B. Green, The Gospel of Luke, The New International Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1997), 836.

What did the women find at the tomb?

· The women discovered the stone had been rolled away from the tomb, and upon entering, they found the body of Jesus absent. Beyond the empty sepulcher itself, they encountered two messengers who announced Jesus’ resurrection[1], though the Gospel accounts vary in details.

· In Matthew’s version, an angel descended from heaven with an appearance like lightning and clothing as white as snow. (Matt 28:1–7) Mark described a young man in a white robe sitting inside the tomb (Mark 16:1–7), while Luke mentioned two men in dazzling clothing who suddenly appeared near the women. John’s account is distinctive: Mary encountered two angels in white sitting where Jesus’ body had been—one at the head and one at the feet. (John 20:1–13)

· The messengers’ declarations were consistent across accounts. The angel told them Jesus the Nazarene had been crucified but had risen and was no longer in the tomb. (Mark 16:1–7) When disciples later examined the tomb, they saw the linen wrappings lying undisturbed, with the face-cloth neatly set aside[2]—evidence that Jesus’ glorified body had no need to be unwrapped from the burial cloths.[2]

· The women’s discovery prompted a commission: they were instructed to tell the disciples that Jesus had risen and would meet them in Galilee. (Matt 28:1–7) Notably, the empty tomb itself did not generate faith in the resurrection[3]; rather, the disciples initially dismissed the women’s testimony as nonsense and refused to believe them. (Luke 24:1–12)

[1] Douglas Mangum, ed., Lexham Context Commentary: New Testament, Lexham Context Commentary (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2020). [See here.] [2] John MacArthur, Mark 9–16, MacArthur New Testament Commentary (Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers, 2015), 401–402. [3] George Eldon Ladd, I Believe in the Resurrection of Jesus (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1975), 89.

· Consider the bewilderment and sorrow of the women as they approached the tomb, expecting Jesus’ body only to find it empty. This unexpected discovery set the stage for a profound revelation and underscores the theme that God's ways are often surprising but always faithful. The empty tomb is the genesis of hope, illustrating that God's promises transcend human expectation.

· This moment challenges us to bring our doubts and despair before God trusting, even when reality seems grim, that His Word holds true.

· Reflect on areas in your life where you need to remember Christ's words when circumstances appear uncertain.

Luke 24:4–5 (NASB95)Hope Amidst Mystery

   4     While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men suddenly stood near them in dazzling clothing;

   5     and as the women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, the mensaid to them, “Why do you seek the living One among the dead?

Why were the women afraid at the tomb?

· The women’s fear at the tomb stemmed from multiple converging factors. As they approached the tomb in the predawn darkness, they were preoccupied with a practical problem:

o Who would move the massive stone sealing the entrance?

o Beyond the physical difficulty, they faced the reality of a Roman guard—breaking an imperial seal was a capital offense,

o The guards would never assist them. Without male companions, the women were putting themselves at personal risk simply by approaching the armed sentries.[1]

· Yet their fear intensified dramatically upon arrival. When they entered the tomb, they encountered a young man in a white robe, which amazed them. (Mark 16:5–8) Two men in dazzling clothing suddenly appeared near them, causing the women to become terrified. (Luke 24:4–5) The women realized they were witnessing a spectacular work of God—something entirely unprecedented in their experience—and this realization frightened them.[2]

· The fear itself carried theological significance. Fear and trembling constitute appropriate and normal human responses in the Bible to God’s appearance, to divine messengers, and to events displaying God’s power.[3] Angels apparently recognize their startling effect on humans, which is why they frequently begin by saying “fear not” or “do not be afraid.”[2] Rather than mere panic, the women’s reaction reflected their confrontation with divine reality—fear emphasizes the reality of divine power and glory.[3]

· Despite their fear and astonishment, the women left the tomb quickly and ran to report the resurrection to Jesus’ disciples, experiencing both fear and great joy simultaneously. (Matt 28:5–8) Their emotional response—terror mingled with joy—captured the overwhelming nature of encountering the risen Christ and God’s redemptive power breaking into history.

[1] Lawrence R. Farley, The Gospel of Mark: The Suffering Servant, The Orthodox Bible Study Companion (Chesterton, IN: Ancient Faith Publishing, 2004), 269. [2] Ronald K. Brown, Bible Studies for Life, Spring 2015, Herschel Hobbs Commentary (LifeWay Christian Resources, 2015), 61. [3] David E. Garland, Mark, The NIV Application Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1996), 619.

· Focus on the angelic appearance and their message to the women. Their question, "Why do you seek living among the dead?", redirects expectations and hearts from despair to hope. This encounter is a profound reminder that God’s actions defy human understanding, beckoning us to trust in the supernatural assurance offered through Christ's words and resurrection.

Luke 24:6–8 (NASB95) Promise Remembered and Renewed

   6     “He is not here, but He has risen. Remember how He spoke to you while He was still in Galilee,

   7     saying that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.”

   8     And they remembered His words,

What did the angels tell the women?

· The angel told the women not to be afraid, explaining that Jesus, whom they sought, had risen from the dead (Matt 28:5–7). The angel invited them to see the empty tomb and commanded them to inform the disciples that Jesus had been raised and would meet them in Galilee.

· The accounts across the gospels share this core announcement while emphasizing different elements. In Luke’s version, the angel asks why they search for the living among the dead, then reminds them that Jesus had predicted his crucifixion and resurrection on the third day. Mark similarly records the angel identifying Jesus and announcing his resurrection, then directing the women to tell the disciples and Peter that Jesus precedes them to Galilee (Mark 16:6–7).

· The angel’s role involved announcing the meaning of events and providing instructions on how to respond[1]. The angel’s declaration that Jesus had been raised “just as he said” directly refuted accusations that Jesus was an impostor who falsely claimed he would be raised[2]. The women received a divine commission to go and tell the disciples that Jesus had been raised and would meet them in Galilee, fulfilling his earlier promise[2].

· In John’s account, when Mary encountered two angels at the tomb, they asked her why she is weeping (John 20:12–13)—a slightly different interaction that emphasizes her emotional response to the missing body rather than the full resurrection proclamation found in the other gospels.

[1] Kristian A. Bendoraitis, “Behold, the Angels Came and Served Him”: A Compositional Analysis of Angels in Matthew, ed. Chris Keith, Library of New Testament Studies (London; New York; Oxford; New Delhi; Sydney: Bloomsbury T&T Clark; Bloomsbury, 2015), 523:195. [2] John Paul Heil, “The Narrative Structure of Matthew 27:55–28:20,” Journal of Biblical Literature (1991), 110:431–432.

What did the women remember in Luke 24?

· The women remembered Jesus’ teachings from his time in Galilee about the Son of Man being delivered into the hands of sinful men, being crucified, and rising on the third day.

· This recollection was prompted by two men in dazzling clothing who appeared at the empty tomb and instructed the women to “Remember how He spoke to you while He was still in Galilee,” reminding them of these specific predictions. Though Jesus had often spoken metaphorically, the women had likely interpreted his difficult sayings in symbolic terms rather than as literal prophecies.[1] The empty tomb and the angels’ reminder created the conditions for understanding to break through—what had seemed obscure or figurative now made sense in light of the Resurrection itself.

· The women “remembered his words” and became the first to connect Jesus’ death with his passion prediction, making them the first to proclaim the resurrection to the apostles.[2] This act of remembering was not merely intellectual recall; it involved recognizing how Jesus’ earlier words aligned with the present reality of his resurrection. While we are not explicitly told their immediate reaction, their actions suggest that remembering entailed some recognition of what had happened.[3] They returned from the tomb and reported all these things to the eleven and to all the rest, becoming witnesses to both what they had experienced and what they had now understood about Jesus’ words.

[1] R. Kent Hughes, Luke: That You May Know the Truth, Preaching the Word (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 1998), 400–401. [2] Michael F. Bird, A Bird’s-Eye View of Luke and Acts: Context, Story, and Themes (Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic: An Imprint of InterVarsity Press, 2023), 178–179. [3] Ralph W. Harris, ed., Luke, The Complete Biblical Library: Study Bible (World Library Press, 1991), 699.

· Note the angels' reminder that Jesus had already foretold these events. This reinforces that God’s Word is steadfast and trustworthy. By recalling Jesus' predictions of His resurrection, the passage encourages believers to remember and rely on God's promises in their lives, keeping faith that His truth prevails even beyond the shadow of the cross.

Luke 24:9–12 (NASB95) Rushed Reactions Reflect Faith

   9     and returned from the tomb and reported all these things to the eleven and to all the rest.

10     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.

11     But these words appeared to them as nonsense, and they would not believe them.

12     But Peter got up and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he *saw the linen wrappings only; and he went away to his home, marveling at what had happened.

What Happened When the Women Reported to the Eleven Apostles?

· The apostles dismissed the women’s account as nonsense and refused to believe them. This rejection reflected the cultural context of first-century Judaism. In the ancient world, women’s testimony was considered weak and unreliable, and in legal proceedings they were not regarded as credible witnesses.[1] Yet the disciples’ skepticism went deeper than mere prejudice against female witnesses. No first-century Jew associated the resurrection with the messiah, since they expected it to be a future event affecting all God’s people at the end of time, not an individual rising “in the middle of history.”[1]

· Peter’s response differed from the other disciples—while not yet believing, he demonstrated openness to the evidence by running to the tomb himself. (John also records Peter’s dash to the tomb and adds that he is accompanied by the beloved disciple; John 20:3–8)[1][2] When he arrived, he saw only the linen wrappings and departed in amazement at what had occurred. The women, by contrast, placed their faith in the resurrection even before Jesus’ disciples did.[2]

· The disciples’ initial disbelief underscores a crucial tension: they had heard Jesus’ own predictions about his death and resurrection, yet when confronted with testimony of the empty tomb, they could not reconcile this with their theological expectations. While most Jews believed in a general resurrection before God’s final judgment, the notion of the Messiah rising from the dead simply did not fit their understanding, so the disciples still didn’t comprehend why the tomb was empty.[3] The resurrection would gradually become comprehensible only as Jesus himself appeared to his followers and opened their minds to the Scriptures.

[1] Jason Porterfield and Scot McKnight, Fight Like Jesus: How Jesus Waged Peace Throughout Holy Week (Harrisonburg, VA: Herald Press, 2022). [See here, here, here.] [2] Douglas Mangum, ed., Lexham Context Commentary: New Testament, Lexham Context Commentary (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2020). [See here, here, here.] [3] Brian Simmons, TPT The Book of Luke: 12-Lesson Study Guide (BroadStreet Publishing Group, LLC, 2024), 225.

· Consider the varied reactions of the disciples when the women conveyed their angelic encounter and Jesus' resurrection. Peter’s rush to the tomb exemplifies a heart eager to see if the unbelievable could indeed be true.

· Believers should act on hope, even when it seems foolish.

o Jesus’ resurrection transforms doubt into belief, urging us to trust in His Word more fully and deeply.

o This conveys the transformative power of the resurrection and how it assures us that Jesus’ promises are dependable.

[1]Douglas Mangum, ed., Lexham Context Commentary: New Testament, Lexham Context Commentary (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2020), Lk 24:8–12.