Resurrection Remembered - Luke 23:50–56; 24:1–12
Notes
Transcript
Who here this morning has forgotten something that they already knew?
I am sure most of us have.
You walk into a room… and forget why you went in there
You open the fridge… and just stand there, trying to remember
You forget an appointment you knew was coming
You forget someone’s name right after they tell you
You leave the house and wonder, “Did I lock the door?”
If we go a little deeper maybe
You know someone loves you… but in a hard moment, it does not feel like it
You know God has been faithful… but when something goes wrong, you start to doubt
You know you are forgiven… but you keep carrying guilt
You know what is right… but in the moment, you choose something else
If we make a specific spiritual turn perhaps
You know God is in control… but when life gets hard, you panic
You know Jesus said “Do not worry”… but worry takes over anyway
You know what Scripture says… but it does not shape your decisions that week
You know the resurrection is true… but it does not change how you live on Monday
Sometimes we live as if we have forgotten.
Most of us are here this morning because we believe what Jesus said is actually true.
We believe He really is who He claimed to be, that what He accomplished on the cross really counts for us.
We believe that the tomb really is empty.
When that is true, this is not just a story we come back to once a year.
It changes everything about how we live, how we think, and where we stand with God.
But as we will see today, even the people closest to Jesus…
The ones who had walked with Him, heard Him teach, listened to Him explain exactly what would happen.
When they arrive at the tomb…
They were not expecting resurrection.
They were coming with spices…
To finish preparing a dead body.
They forgot what they knew, what they had been taught by Jesus.
The issue was not that they had never heard the truth.
The issue was that they had not yet remembered it in a way that shaped what they believed.
And that is where this passage meets us this morning.
Because many people—even in a room like this—
Know the story of Jesus
Have heard about the resurrection
Believe it is important
And yet it has not fully shaped how they think, how they live, or what they truly trust.
The question this morning is just, Do you know the story of the resurrection?
Rather it must be, Do you believe what Jesus has said—and are you living like it is true?
Because what see in our passage this morning is not something new…
It is remembering what Jesus has already said and when that happens…
Everything changes.
50 Now there was a man named Joseph, from the Jewish town of Arimathea. He was a member of the council, a good and righteous man, 51 who had not consented to their decision and action; and he was looking for the kingdom of God. 52 This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 53 Then he took it down and wrapped it in a linen shroud and laid him in a tomb cut in stone, where no one had ever yet been laid. 54 It was the day of Preparation, and the Sabbath was beginning. 55 The women who had come with him from Galilee followed and saw the tomb and how his body was laid. 56 Then they returned and prepared spices and ointments. On the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment.
1 But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. 2 And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. 5 And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? 6 He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, 7 that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.” 8 And they remembered his words, 9 and returning from the tomb they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. 10 Now it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles, 11 but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. 12 But Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home marveling at what had happened.
I. The Plan Confirmed in His Death (Luke 23:50–56)
I. The Plan Confirmed in His Death (Luke 23:50–56)
Let us step into the scene together.
Jesus has just died.
The crowds have dispersed.
The noise of mockery has gone quiet.
Luke moves on to show us a man stepping forward to deal with Jesus body.
His name is Joseph and he is form the town of Arimathea.
He was a member of the council and Luke describes Joseph specifically as a good and righteous man.
He was against the actions that the council had taken.
Luke is not just saying that Joseph was a good guy but someone who appears to have had faith in who Jesus said He was.
He had not consented to their decision.
That word means more than just disagreement.
It carries the idea of refusing to go along with something over time.
Joseph did not just have a quiet moment of hesitation.
He had a settled conviction.
While the council rushed to condemn Jesus,
Joseph stood apart.
When we look at the other gospel accounts, we get an even fuller picture.
In Matthew Gospel, we are told Joseph is rich (Matt. 27:57)
57 When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who also was a disciple of Jesus.
In Mark Gospel, he is described as one who was “looking for the kingdom of God” and who took courage to go to Pilate (Mark 15:43)
43 Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the council, who was also himself looking for the kingdom of God, took courage and went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.
In John Gospel, we learn he had been a disciple of Jesus, but secretly (John 19:38)
38 After these things Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took away his body.
Put that together:
Joseph is:
A respected leader
A wealthy man
A quiet follower of Jesus
And now… no longer quiet.
What Changed?
At the moment when:
The disciples have fled
The crowds have turned
Everything looks lost
Joseph now steps forward publicly.
He goes to Pilate and asks for the body of Jesus.
That is not a small move.
It will likely cost him -
Socially
Religiously
Politically
Joseph is identifying himself with a crucified man.
If we pause here for a moment.
Some of us can relate to Joseph.
We believe, we care about Jesus, but we tend to keep it quiet.
Joseph shows us something:
There comes a moment when quiet faith must become visible faith.
Not because it is easy…but because Jesus is worth it.
“This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then he took it down and wrapped it in a linen shroud and laid him in a tomb cut in stone…”
Matthew tells us that this was his own new tomb.
Jesus is:
Taken down
Wrapped
Placed in a specific tomb
“…where no one had ever yet been laid.”
Luke is removing all confusion.
This is a real body
In a real place
Observed by real witnesses
And again, the other Gospels help us:
John Gospel tells us Nicodemus helped prepare the body with spices (John 19:39–40)
The women who were with Jesus followed and saw (Greek -carefully obsereved) the tomb in which Jesus body was laid.
All of this fulfills:
Isaiah 53:9 —
9 And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth.
Nothing about this moment looks victorious.
Jesus is dead.
His followers are scattered.
The mission seems incomplete.
But God is not absent.
He is:
Fulfilling prophecy
Preserving the body
Preparing for resurrection
Even in silence… God is working.
The women, knowing where Jesus laid, and with the Sabbath in front of them, return to prepare spices and ointments for Jesus body.
They love Jesus.
But do not understand what has just taken place.
Why did this man, who had done so many amazing things, have to die?
For us, there are moments in life where:
God’s plan is not clear
Things feel unresolved
It feels like we are waiting in the dark
That is where these women are.
Jesus is dead.
They do not yet understand what is coming.
Yet they remain faithful.
This section about Jesus burial is doing something very important.
It is showing us, beyond any doubt: Jesus is truly dead.
Not mostly dead.
Not apparently dead.
Not symbolically dead.
Dead and buried.
And that matters because tou cannot have a real resurrection without a real death.
Everything here feels final.
The tomb is sealed.
The Sabbath begins.
The story seems over.
But what looks like the end…
Is actually God preparing to confirm everything He has said.
II. The Plan Revealed in the Empty Tomb (Luke 24:1–3)
II. The Plan Revealed in the Empty Tomb (Luke 24:1–3)
Chapter 24 picks up after the Sabbath,
1 But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared.
These women were not heading to the tomb with hope in their hearts, they were heading to finish the work of burial.
No one in this passage is expecting Jesus to rise.
There is:
No anticipation
No gathering of disciples waiting outside the tomb
No one saying, “This is the day”
They are coming in grief.
When we look at the other accounts, we see even more detail:
In Mark Gospel, the women are asking,
“Who will roll away the stone for us?” (Mark 16:3)
The women did not expect what they were about to find.
2 And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb,
In English it comes across rather plainly, the stone was rolled away.
In the Greek, this is written in a way that emphasizes:
It was already done.
By the time they arrive:
The work is finished
The stone is not in place,
The stone was not rolled away so Jesus could get out.
He is already gone.
The stone is rolled away so that the women can see in.
3 but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.
The tomb is empty, but this does not produce faith in the women.
The women see:
The stone moved
The tomb empty
And they do not say, “He is risen!”
They are trying to figure out what happened.
Verse 4 says they were perplexed.
The empty tomb raises the question…
But it does not give the answer.
The women are standing there:
looking
wondering
trying to make sense of it
And what they need next is not more evidence…
They need God to speak.
And that is exactly what happens next.
III. The Plan Explained Through His Word (Luke 24:4–7)
III. The Plan Explained Through His Word (Luke 24:4–7)
That word “perplexed” means:
At a loss
Unsure what to think
No clear explanation
They are not doubting on purpose.
They are simply confused.
This is an important moment.
Because it shows us something very honest:
Even sincere followers of Jesus can be confused.
These are women who:
Followed Jesus
Stayed near the cross
And still… they do not understand.
In their confusion Luke tells us that
“…behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel.”
The other accounts help fill out for us this picture.
Matthew’s Gospel speaks of an angel whose appearance was like lightning (Matt. 28:3)
Mark Gospel describes a young man in a white robe (Mark 16:5)
John Gospel mentions two angels in white inside the tomb (John 20:12)
Not contradiction—just different vantage points.
But Luke clearly emphasizes that they appeared as men, but clearly from heaven
These are angels, and what is the normal response we see to angels throughout scripture - fear and reverence!
Verse 5 - “And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground…”
This is the right response.
These angels ask a very pertinent question -
“Why do you seek the living among the dead?”
It is more than a question though, it is a correction in these women’s thinking.
“Why are you looking for someone who is alive… in a place for the dead?”
They are corrected for misunderstanding.
They are treating Jesus as:
Still dead
Still in the grave
But heaven declares:
That category no longer applies
This Is the First Interpretation of the Empty Tomb
Before anyone else speaks…
Heaven speaks.
And the message is clear:
You are looking in the wrong place because you are thinking the wrong way.
“He is not here, but has risen.”
Clear and simple.
Luke uses a form of the verb that means:
He has been raised
Not in self-resurrection or human action
This is God’s action.
The Father has raised the Son.
This is God saying:
Everything Jesus claimed is true
The sacrifice has been accepted
The work is complete
The resurrection is not just a miracle.
It is God’s confirmation
The angels direct the women to remember Jesus teaching.
6 He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, 7 that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.”
Throughout Luke’s Gospel, Jesus has been clear:
He will suffer
He will be rejected
He will be killed
He will rise
Think back:
Luke 9:22 — “The Son of Man must suffer… be killed… and be raised.”
22 saying, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.”
Luke 18:31–33 — Jesus lays it out in detail
31 And taking the twelve, he said to them, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written about the Son of Man by the prophets will be accomplished. 32 For he will be delivered over to the Gentiles and will be mocked and shamefully treated and spit upon. 33 And after flogging him, they will kill him, and on the third day he will rise.”
The resurrection was foretold
The Son of Man had to be delivered.
This was God’s plan
The empty tomb is explained by the Word of Jesus.
Not the other way around.
The resurrection is not something we interpret on our own.
It is something God has already interpreted through Christ.
When life does not make sense…
When things do not line up the way we expected…
What do we need most?
Not:
more speculation
more opinions
more emotional reassurance
We need to remember what Jesus has said
Some of us are:
Trying to make sense of life
Trying to understand what God is doing
Standing in our own version of an “empty tomb moment”
And the answer is not found by:
looking harder at circumstances
It is found by returning to:
the words of Christ
The resurrection is not:
random
unexpected
unexplained
It is fulfilled, spoken, and remembered truth
These women have seen and heard, the question becomes:
What will they do with it?
Because the difference between:
confusion
and faith
…comes down to whether His words are remembered and believed.
IV. The Plan Received—or Rejected—Based on Remembering (Luke 24:8–12)
IV. The Plan Received—or Rejected—Based on Remembering (Luke 24:8–12)
And Luke tells us
8 And they remembered his words,
Do Not Miss the Simplicity
Nothing new is added.
No new evidence.
No new miracle.
They are pulled out from the fog that all that has happened has brought upon them and they recall what Jesus had already said.
This Is How Faith Forms
Faith is not inventing something new or creating your own meaning
Faith isn’t found in working more for it.
When Paul talks about the armor of God, the instruction is to take up the shield of faith.
What is the strong part in that?
The shield.
Faith forms through seeing reality clearly through the words of Jesus
Now the women return and tell what they had heard and seen to the 11 disciples and the rest who were with them.
All four Gospels highlight something remarkable:
The first witnesses to the resurrection are women
In that culture, that would not have been the expected choice or the strategically strongest testimony.
And yet, that is exactly how God does it.
Why?
Because this is not a story shaped by human strategy.
This is truth.
But being so caught up in their grief, Luke tells us these words seemed like an idle tale and they did not believe them.
They interpreted what these women were saying to be foolish talk
Unbelief is not always a lack of information
Sometimes it is a refusal to accept what has already been said.
They had heard Jesus predict this.
But now that they are hearing that it has actually happened, they are refusing to believe.
Jesus had specifically taught about this exact moment 3 times.
The first prediction came when Jesus told his disciples he must go to Jerusalem, suffer at the hands of the elders, chief priests, and scribes, be killed, and be raised on the third day (Matt 16:21–23).
In the second prediction, while gathering in Galilee, Jesus announced that the Son of Man would be delivered into human hands, killed, and raised on the third day (Matt 17:22–23).
The third and most detailed prediction occurred as Jesus traveled to Jerusalem with the twelve disciples, specifying that he would be delivered to the chief priests and scribes, condemned to death, handed over to Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified, and raised on the third day (Matt 20:17–19).
Despite the clarity and repetition of these announcements, the disciples consistently failed to grasp their significance.
Familiarity Does Not Equal Faith
We can quickly find ourselves in the same boat.
We can sit in church, hear the Word, know the story, and still dismiss it.
By our speech, by our actions, in many different ways.
The issue is not exposure.
The issue is whether we receive and trust His Word.
And one of the disciples, the most forthright of the bunch takes a chance.
Luke says.
12 But Peter rose and ran to the tomb;
He goes to see for himself.
We know for the other gospel accounts that he was not alone in this, John went as well.
But while John stood at the doorway, Peter went in.
stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home marveling at what had happened.
The evidence is clear.
The body is gone.
The cloths remain.
Peter leaves while not fully understanding, but deeply affected.
He was amazed and began to process what he had seen.
When it comes to Jesus There Are Different Responses in the Room
Even right now, this is true.
Some respond like:
The women → remembering and believing
The apostles → dismissing
Peter → searching, processing
The dividing line is this:
What do you do with the words of Jesus?
This passage shows us clearly that God’s plan was confirmed in Jesus death
His plan was revealed in the empty tomb
And His plan was explained through His Word
The plan is either received or rejected
The difference is not a persons intelligence, background, or proximity to Jesus.
The difference is:
Do you remember and trust what He has said?
The turning point for all of them and for each of us is the same:
“They remembered His words.”
The resurrection is not just something to celebrate once a year.
It is not just a story to admire.
It is the confirmation that everything Jesus said is true.
When He said He would suffer — He did
When He said He would die — He did
When He said He would rise — He did
And that means this:
If He was right about that, He is right about everything.
Jesus is right about sin
He is right about salvation
He is right about judgment
He is right about eternal life
So the question is not:
Do you know the story of the resurrection?
The question is:
Do you believe what Jesus has said?
Because here is the truth this passage shows us so clearly:
Right understanding and true faith come as we remember and trust the words of Jesus.
Maybe today you find yourself:
Confused about life
Carrying burdens
Unsure where you stand with God
What you need most is not to figure everything out on your own.
You need to come to the words of Christ.
To know who He is, what He has done, and what He has promised
Because the same Jesus who walked out of that tomb…
Is the same Jesus who says:
“Come to me…”
“I will give you rest…”
“Whoever believes in me… has eternal life…”
Discover or remember His words.
Trust Him.
Believe.
And when you do…
You will see what this passage is showing us:
God has been good all along.
Good in His plan
Good in His promises
Good in sending His Son
Good in raising Him from the dead
