Day 2: The Victory of the Christ (Luke 24)

Intro: Please take your Bible (print or digital) and open to (Lk is the third book of the NT .... Matthew, Mark, Luke and John)

“Do I pin my faith to, and subject all my thinking to,  what I read in the BIBLE?  Or do I defer to modern knowledge, to modern learning, to what people think today, to what we know at this present time which was not known in the past?  It is inevitable that we occupy one or the other of those two positions." (D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)

In our society today … it is obvious that the vast majority of people have chosen to take the second position Lloyd-Jones mentions … people today have become their own authority. But here at Grace Church … we have chosen the first position he mentions and so we embrace this book as our authority for faith and practice. The Bible for us is our ultimate point of reference which helps us to navigate through the confusion of today’s world.

Last week, we began a two Sunday look at Two Days that changed the world forever.

Day One - the Passion (suffering) of the Christ ()

Today --- Day Two - the Victory (resurrection) of the Christ ()

Here at Grace Church … we embrace this book as our authority for faith and practice.

Read from and then pray …

Luke 24:1–8 CSB

On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came to the tomb, bringing the spices they had prepared. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb. They went in but did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men stood by them in dazzling clothes. So the women were terrified and bowed down to the ground. “Why are you looking for the living among the dead?” asked the men. “He is not here, but he has risen! Remember how he spoke to you when he was still in Galilee, 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’And they remembered his words.

Luke 24:

Now last week when we surveyed the final day of Jesus life … we did so by looking at a number of signinifcant events. This morning to help us understand what is happening on this day 2 of the 2 days that changed the world forever … we will look at four significant encounters ....

Encounter #1 - Between a Handful of Women and Two Mysterious Men (vv. 1-12)

So … as we just read … we see this group of women (perhaps a half a dozen or so)

Luke 24:1 CSB

On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came to the tomb, bringing the spices they had prepared.

Luke 24:1 CSB

On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came to the tomb, bringing the spices they had prepared.

These women are the same women we find mentioned at the close of ; women who had travelled with Jesus from Galiless the whole way to Jerusalem …Women who after they observed Jesus’ body being placed in the tomb and seeing that Joseph of Arimethea did not have the time to properly prepare Jesus’ body for burial … they ...

Luke 23:56 CSB

Then they returned and prepared spices and perfumes. And they rested on the Sabbath according to the commandment.

Luke 23:

So as opens and the sun as risen, these women have one purpose … to finish the task of preparing the body of Jesus for a proper burial … They are not going to the tomb with any thought whatsoever that he perhaps had risen from the dead! heir spices … they were going fully expecting to find the dead body of their Master … But what they found was something very unexpected!

Luke 24:2–4 CSB

They found the stone rolled away from the tomb. They went in but did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men stood by them in dazzling clothes.

Upon arrival at the tomb … the huge disc-like rock rolled in front of the tomb had been removed … and the body of Jesus gone! Of course they are perplexed by this .. but they did not have much time to think about it .. .for suddenly two mysterious men appeared before them. Who were they? Luke tells us later in the chapter that they were angels … and it certainly appears as if that is the case. They were dressed in dazzling clothes … and they note how the women respond:

Luke 24:5–7 CSB

So the women were terrified and bowed down to the ground. “Why are you looking for the living among the dead?” asked the men. “He is not here, but he has risen! Remember how he spoke to you when he was still in Galilee, 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’

Luke 24:2–3 CSB

They found the stone rolled away from the tomb. They went in but did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.

Luke 24:5–8 CSB

So the women were terrified and bowed down to the ground. “Why are you looking for the living among the dead?” asked the men. “He is not here, but he has risen! Remember how he spoke to you when he was still in Galilee, 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’And they remembered his words.

Luke 24:5–6 CSB

So the women were terrified and bowed down to the ground. “Why are you looking for the living among the dead?” asked the men. “He is not here, but he has risen! Remember how he spoke to you when he was still in Galilee,

Luke 24:5-

And as the women were trembling in the presence of these two angels … the angels delivered the first announcement of the resurrection of Jesus Christ .... HE IS NOT HERE, BUT HE HAS RISEN! And then they referenced Jesus’ prediction of his death and followed by his resurrection! (a prediction which Jesus made not once, not twice, but three times!)

Before we go on … just think for a moment. Who is it that receives the first announcement of the resurrection of Christ? And from angels non the less? It is this group of women!

Quote: RC Sproul .... “It is significant, I think, that the first witnesses of the resurrection were the women who had stood by him when the men fled out of fear. There is a sense in which their loyalty and devotion to Christ was uniquely honoured by their being the first to get the message of the resurrection.”

Now as suddenly as the two messegers from God appeared, they vanished. Once no longer frozen in place, the women rush back to tell the Eleven apostles and the rest who were with them … but did not receive the response they were hoping for!

Luke 24:11–12 CSB

But these words seemed like nonsense to them, and they did not believe the women. 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.

So Peter … who had denied even knowing Jesus as Jesus was on trial … now is trying to make sense out of what the women had reported AND what he saw … an empty tomb with the linen cloths that had wrapped the body of Jesus being the only thing in the tomb.

SOOO … before we move on to the next encounter .... note in this first encounter several lines of evidence for the resurrection:

The empty tomb

The message from the angels

The reference to Jesus’ own prediction

The presence of the linen cloths used to wrap the body of Jesus (If someone is going to sneak in and steal the body, highly unlikely that they will take the time required to unwrap the body … especially given that a group of Roman soldiers were guarding the tomb!)

Encounter #2 - Between Two Disciples on the Road to Emmaus and Jesus (vv.13-35)

Encounter #2 - Two disciples on the Road to Emmaus and Jesus (vv. 13-35)

Later that day, two who were among those who heard the report from the women … left Jerusalem to travel to Emmaus (about 7 miles). On the way they were discussing all that had happened. As they were talking … Jesus began to walk with them … but they were kept from recognizing who he was. Jesus asked them what it was that they were discussing among themselves.

Luke 24:19–24 CSB

“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, and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him. 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. Moreover, some women from our group astounded us. They arrived early at the tomb, 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. 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.”

Now notice .. they viewed Jesus as a great prophet from Nazareth … but stopped short at recognizing him as the Son of God! They also had hopes he would redeem Israel … from Roman oppression (but Jesus came to redeem his people not from their bondage to Rome but their bondage to sin!) … but the hopes of these two and the others were dashed when Jesus was crucified. Adding to this despair was the confusion they were experiencing as a result of the wild reports of the women and the verivication that the tomb was indeed empty!

So it is very obvious these two were two very discouraged and very confused individuals!

So Jesus decides he needs to teach these two men …

Luke 24:

Luke 24:25–27 CSB

He said to them, “How foolish and slow you are to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Wasn’t it necessary for the Messiah to suffer these things and enter into his glory?” Then beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted for them the things concerning himself in all the Scriptures.

So he rebukes them for their slowness to believe NOT what the women reported … but what the prophets had spoken concerning him as Messiah … which Jesus went on to show them from the Bible of their day (our Old Testament). --- I would love to have the notes from that sermon!

As Jesus wrapped up his teaching … the hour was growing late, so the two invited Jesus to stay and overnight with them (as it was dangerous to be traveling at night). Jesus consented … and as they sat down to eat together, here is what happened:

Luke 24:30–31 CSB

It was as he reclined at the table with them that he took the bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him, but he disappeared from their sight.

Luke 24:

And once they knew their mysterious companion was none other than Jesus … how did they respond?

Luke 24:32–35 CSB

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?” That very hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem. They found the Eleven and those with them gathered together, who said, “The Lord has truly been raised and has appeared to Simon!” 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.

Luke 24:32-

SO in spite of the lateness of the hour … they hurry back to Jerusalem to report what had happened … and before they could offer up their good news about their encounter with Jesus … the group told them of Peter’s own encounter with Jesus!

think you can seek how Luke in is record of the resurrection … continues to add to his pile of evidence for the fact that Jesus did … without a doubt .... rise from the dead!

The empty tomb

The two angelic messengers with their announcement

The reminder of the prediction of Jesus

The encounter of the two with Jesus on the road to Emmaus

The appearance of Jesus to Simon (Peter)

Encounter #3 - Between the Eleven Apostles (and Company) with Jesus (vv. 36-49)

Luke 24:36–37 CSB

As they were saying these things, he himself stood in their midst. He said to them, “Peace to you!” But they were startled and terrified and thought they were seeing a ghost.

In spite of the evidence … when Jesus finally appears to the entire group of the eleven apostles ad those who were with them, they still do not believe! They were all shook up … and thought they were seeing a ghost!

So what does Jesus do? He takes steps to convince the of the reality that it was really him back from the dead and NOT as a ghost or spirit of some sort!

Luke 24:38–43 CSB

“Why are you troubled?” he asked them. “And why do doubts arise in your hearts? 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.” Having said this, he showed them his hands and feet. But while they still were amazed and in disbelief because of their joy, he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” So they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and he took it and ate in their presence.

Luke 24:38-

So Jesus shows them his hands and feet … why hands and feet? Because as John notes in his record of Jesus’ post resurrection appearances, his hands and feet carried the scars of the iron spikes used by the Roman soldiers to nail him to the cross!

Well … at that point … Luke says that the disciples were “in disblief because of their joy” - which was his way of saying they were thinking “this is too good to be true!”

So Jesus gives further proof by eating a piece of fish in their presence. Then he does for them what he did for the two disciples on the road to Emmaus …

Luke 24:44–45 CSB

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.” Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.

Luke 24:

He then continued by giving to the eleven … a commission:

Luke 24:46–49 CSB

He also said to them, “This is what is written: The Messiah would suffer and rise from the dead the third day, and repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in his name to all the nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And look, I am sending you what my Father promised. As for you, stay in the city until you are empowered from on high.”

Luke 24:

This is the Great Commission to proclaim to the nations the gospel of Christ! And Luke … reminds them of the promised Holy Spirit who would come upon them to enable them to carry out their mission! And, of course, in the second book which Luke writes (the ACTS of the Apostles) .... in chapters one and two he goes into more detail on the fulfillment of this promise.

This leads us to the . .

Encounter #4 - Between Jesus and his Father (vv. 50-53)

Luke 24:50–53 CSB

Then he led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them. And while he was blessing them, he left them and was carried up into heaven. After worshiping him, they returned to Jerusalem with great joy. And they were continually in the temple praising God.

Quote (Leon Morris)

“The ascension differs radically from Jesus’ vanishing from the sight of the disciples at Emmaus and similar happenings. There is an air of finality about it. It is the decisive close of one chapter and the beginning of another. It is the consummation of Christ’s earthly work, the indication to his followers that his mission is accomplished, his work among them come to a decisive end. They can expect to see him in the old way no more.”

Isn’t it interesting that even though the disciples knew they would not see Jesus again on earth … they did not mourn nor grieve his departure. Rather they were filled with great joy! For they knew that all Jesus claimed to be … and all that he claimed he came to do … all of this was true! For God the Father had accepted him back home, to sit at his right hand to reign over all as Lord of lords and King of kings!

Today’s Takeaways

1. Luke does a masterful job of building the case for the historical reality of the resurrection of Christ.

Note again all the lines of evidence he reveals step by step through his narrative:

Note again all the lines of evidence he reveals step by step through his narrative:

Empty tomb

The empty tomb

The two angelic messengers with their announcement

The reminder of the prediction of Jesus

The grave cloths which remained in the empty tomb

The encounter of the two with Jesus on the road to Emmaus

The appearance of Jesus to Simon (Peter)

The appearance of Jesus to the Elven and company

The clear teaching of the OT which predicted Jesus’ death and resurrection

The ascencion of Jesus back to the Father

And keep in mind that the disciples were not easily convinced! They did not expect Jesus to rise from the dead. And when confronted with these lines of evidence they were slow to believe! So to think the resurrection was something they would have made up … is just not reasonable!

Now you add to this evidence the rest of the evidence from the NT … and the case is quite compelling!

Quote: “I claim to be an historian. My approach to Classics is historical. And I tell you that the evidence for the life, the death, and the resurrection of Christ is better authenticated than most of the facts of ancient history...” – E. M. Blaiklock, Professor of Classics at Auckland University

Now you add to this evidence the rest of the evidence from the NT … and the case is quite compelling!

2. The Easter message is simple: Because Jesus lives, we too will live --- if we “repent and believe the gospel!”

1 Corinthians 15:3–6 CSB

For I passed on to you as most important what I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the Twelve. Then he appeared to over five hundred brothers and sisters at one time; most of them are still alive, but some have fallen asleep.

1 Corinthians 15:3-6

So my question for all of you this morning … have you repented (turned from your sin and rebellion against the God who made you) and embraced the Gospel … this good news about Jesus?

John 3:16 CSB

For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

God loved us in such a way that he GAVE to us his one and only Son .... who died as our substituted … facing God’s wrath wo we would never have to! And the fact that Jesus arose from the dead and then ascended into heaven is PROOF positive that God the Father accepted his payment as payment in full!

So we get right with God .... by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone!

IN the words of the song we sing often here at Grace …

Upon a life I have not lived,

Upon a death I did not die,

Another’s life; another’s death,

I stake my whole eternity!

I hope you are doing the same! Any questions … please feel free to see me (or someone) afterwards or contact me …