The Wonder of the Resurrection
Notes
Transcript
Scripture Reading
Scripture Reading
1 On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. 2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. 5 In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? 6 He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: 7 ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ” 8 Then they remembered his words.
9 When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. 10 It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles. 11 But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense. 12 Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened.
Introduction
Introduction
What a beautiful day that we celebrate today! The resurrection of our Saviour!
It is a day that brings Christians hope and encouragement. It is because of the miraculous working of God on this very day about 2000 years ago that we as Christians continue to live, knowing that we have a living hope.
We recall Paul’s words to the Corinthians that without the resurrection there is no forgiveness of sins, and our faith is futile. But because Christ has risen, we have great hope. Because Christ has been raised, we also can be raised, both from spiritual death, and also one from our physical death into newness of life.
As we consider this wonderful day in the Christian calendar, I want to do so from the resurrection account in Luke’s Gospel. As Luke records for us what unfolds, he does so as an historian. Remember that Luke writes his Gospel account as one who himself carefully investigated all the claims concerning Jesus Christ, and based on his very careful examinations, wanted to convey and confirm what he had found to be true. And so he writes what he calls an orderly account of Christ.
As Luke writes this account of the resurrection of Jesus, there is a particular dimension that he brings across as he relays the events that unfolded. And the manner in which he does this really shows to us the truthfulness of his claims. He doesn’t paint a picture as if the disciples of Jesus had profound levels of faith in the fact that Christ would rise from the dead. Instead, he conveys the factual responses from the disciples of Jesus, and as we will see, they were, for the most part, unbelieving responses (at least initially). The disciples responded in unbelief.
As we go through, I’m going to point out these various responses from the different people involved. And then I’m going to try to bring some encouragement and hope to us as the people of God, that we as God’s people would be led to trust all the more fully, and to hope all the more fully in the promises of our gracious Saviour.
As we look to the text then, the first response that we see is this:
1. The Women Puzzled By the Empty Tomb (vv.1-4a)
1. The Women Puzzled By the Empty Tomb (vv.1-4a)
1.1. An Act of Love (v.1)
1.1. An Act of Love (v.1)
1.1. An Act of Love (v.1)
1.1. An Act of Love (v.1)
We read in verse 1...
1 On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb.
The ladies that Luke mentions are the same group of women (at least in part) as those that were looking on as Christ had died on the cross (we saw that in on Friday). They were eye-witnesses to all that had unfolded, including the signs that God had demonstrated that Luke (and the other Gospel-writers) records for us.
We know from that the women then witnessed Jesus being laid in the tomb, and then in verse 56 of we read...
56 Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment.
And so these women had witnessed Christ’s death, and they had seen his burial, and as a token of their continued love and care for Jesus, they prepared spices in order to care the decaying body of Jesus Christ.
22 And he said, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.”
33 On the third day he will rise again.”
It is evident from this passage in that the women were also made aware of Christ’s teaching in this regard. But they still had not believed, they had not processed this truth in the minds. They were spiritually blind at this stage.
But they still had not believed, they had not processed this truth in the minds. They were spiritually blind at this stage.
What must be noted from this on the part of the women, which I mentioned on Friday, is that they were convinced in their minds of the death of Jesus. They were doing all that they did because they believed that Jesus was dead.
And so their response is that they are puzzled. They are exceedingly perplexed this state of affairs, as they’re unable to find the body of Christ. We must recall that, based on the preparations that these women had made, they fully expected to find Christ’s body in the tomb. But they find it empty, and they’re puzzled. In disbelief.
Now friends, we must realise that if they truly understood the words of Jesus while he was with them, if they perceived and understood clearly what he was saying, they would not have been in shock at this point. They would have known, they would have expected Him to be alive. Indeed, they would not have prepared any spices and perfume, because they would have anticipated that they would not be needed.
On this particular morning, which was a Sunday morning, every early in the morning, the morning after the Sabbath - Saturday - at about 6:00 in the morning, these ladies are going to the tomb in order to embalm the body of Jesus. Verse 1 tells us that they had prepared the spices. This was a process. This took them some amount of time, along with financial contribution. I say this just to emphasize the fact that they really did not in least think that Christ would not be there. They were fully convinced that his body would be found.
And so their responses indeed demonstrate a lack of faith in the words of Christ.
And so, they move to the tomb, expecting to spend the next number of hours working with a corpse, covering it in the appropriate manner with these spices that they had so graciously prepared.
1.2. A Unexpected Sight (v.2-3)
1.2. A Unexpected Sight (v.2-3)
But as we go further, we find in verses 2 and 3 that there is an unexpected sight that awaits these women as they arrive at the tomb in the early hours of the morning.
The first thing that they find that is out of place is recorded in verse 2:
2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.
2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb,
1.3. A
Now, you will recall that the stone was no ordinary small stone, but rather it was a significantly large stone, one that would have been too heavy for this group of ladies themselves to move. According to , these women asked this precise question: “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?”
And so, they were aware that there was a large stone that had been placed in front of the tomb, and it was of concern to them now as to who would be able to help them roll that stone away, in order for them to perform this act of kindness towards Jesus, who they believed had died.
But as they arrive, they are shocked, perhaps exceedingly concerned that the stone is not there. This is not what they expect. They’ve already had an exceedingly testing and trying few days, as the buildup to Christ’s crucifixion has unfolded, and eventually he had been put to death and buried. But now they are even more perplexed.
The women arrive at the tomb, and they notice that this large stone is already rolled away. Verse 3 goes on,
And yet, here the women arrive at the tomb, and they notice that this large stone is already rolled away. We can just picture the sense of surprise and shock, as they arrive at the tomb to this sight.
Verse 3 goes on,
3 but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.
Not only has the stone been rolled away - the first element of shock and deep concern for them - but as they enter the tomb, Christ’s body is nowhere to be found. Again, this would only have added to their racing thoughts and emotions. They would have been in deep shock at this point. Distress perhaps - where is our Lord’s body?!
Again, this is something entirely unexpected in terms of the ladies and what they had anticipated.
Notice their response in verse 4a...
1.3. A Puzzled Response (v.4a)
1.3. A Puzzled Response (v.4a)
“While they were wondering about this...”
The ladies were puzzled, and were attempting to make sense of the happenings. They were attempting to understand how it was that this body, so heavily guarded by Roman soldiers, was suddenly missing.
Now, what is notable from this is that although these ladies had been faithful disciples of Jesus, they were nonetheless lacking in their understanding of what Jesus had come to do. They didn’t understand that Jesus would have to die, and then rise again.
Now we must recall that Jesus had told His disciples (and it is clear from verses 6 and 7 of this passage, these women were also told) that he would have to die, and that three days later he would rise again.
And so we note secondly from our passage, that the ladies are...
What is notable from this is that although these ladies had been faithful disciples of Jesus, they were nonetheless lacking in their understanding of what Jesus had come to do. They didn’t understand that Jesus would have to die, and then rise again. Now we must recall that Jesus had told them that he would have to die, and that three days later he would rise again.
22 And he said, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.”
22 When they came together in Galilee, he said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men. 23 They will kill him, and on the third day he will be raised to life.” And the disciples were filled with grief.
33 On the third day he will rise again.”
Matthew
Jesus spoke very plainly about this. But they still had not believed, they had not processed this truth in the minds. They were spiritually blind at this stage.
It is evident from this passage in that the women were also made aware of Christ’s teaching in this regard. But they still had not believed, they had not processed this truth in the minds. They were spiritually blind at this stage.
And so their response is that they are puzzled. They are exceedingly perplexed by this state of affairs, as they’re unable to find the body of Christ. They were clearly demonstrating in this moment an unbelief in what Christ had said to them. Or in a best-case scenario, they had completely forgotten his words.
But as we continue in this passage, notice a second response:
And so their responses indeed demonstrate a lack of faith in the words of Christ.
2. The Women Fearful at the Appearance of the Angels (vv4b-5a)
2. The Women Fearful at the Appearance of the Angels (vv4b-5a)
2. The Appearance of Angels (vv.4-
As the ladies are looking on in bewilderment, wondering about what it is that has happened to the body of Christ, we read in verse 4b-5 these words:
The New International Version (1984) The Resurrection
While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. 5 In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground
From this response of puzzlement and bewilderment, suddenly there is the added dimension of great fear in the women. It was says here that “two men” appeared beside them. These were no ordinary men, however, as their clothes gleamed like lightning. These were angels sent by God with a peculiar message. Luke himself records that they were angels in , where he records that the women had seen a vision of angels.
Furthermore, their clothes gleaming like lightning also indicates that these were no mere men, but rather were angels from God. The other Gospel accounts of the resurrection confirms this.
As is the case in so many of such encounters with angels, the ladies were filled with fear. Their natural response was to then prostrate themselves, bow their faces down to the ground.
We are reminded of
2 Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.
And so the ladies, while in the presence of men, were most certainly more importantly in the presence of angels sent to proclaim a peculiar but important message to these ladies.
And so the ladies, while in the presence of men, were most certainly more importantly in the presence of angels sent to proclaim a peculiar but important message to these ladies.
As is the case in many of such encounters with angels, the ladies were filled with fear. Their natural response was to then prostrate themselves, bow their faces down to the ground.
Verse 37 of this chapter elaborates for us the kind of fear the struck them:
37 They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost.
But this leads us then to consider the third response (also by these women) and that is:
3. The Women Enlightened by the Message (vv.5b-8)
3. The Women Enlightened by the Message (vv.5b-8)
As the women lie down in fear of these angels, the angels speak to these women, and their words bring great encouragement and hope to them.
But the message that came from the angels was one that would bring much joy and hope for these ladies.
The New International Version (1984) The Resurrection
but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? 6 He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: 7 ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ” 8 Then they remembered his words.
The angels begin with a question, and then a clarifying statement: “Why do you look for the living among the dead?” is the question. And then the clarifying statement is, “He is not here, but has risen.”
In the context of what is happening here, this was at the very least a mild criticism by the angels. Christ was not dead, but was alive, and because of this it was inappropriate for them to be looking for Jesus among those who were dead. They had no business being at the tomb!!
But what an encouraging statement this was also. That the Saviour could not be held down by the cords of death, but instead had been raised to life, and had thus conquered death itself!
What joyous words to hear!
Certainly the women not quite have understood the words, and would have had to have some time to process all of this information. The angels go on to remind them of the words of Jesus:
The New International Version (1984) The Resurrection
Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: 7 ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ” 8 Then they remembered his words.
English Standard Version Chapter 24
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,
The concern with these women was not that they were not told the truth about what would take place, but that they failed to comprehend and to believe the truth that had been told them.
Well, things for these women began to change at this point, and suddenly they were given insight to recall what Jesus had said, and to actually start believing what had been told them.
They begin their words with the ladies with a pertinent question: “Why do you look for the living among the dead?”
They then proceed with the most encouraging words to these ladies: “He is not here; he has risen!”
In the midst of the turmoil of emotions from these ladies,
This leads them to run from the tomb (still with mixed emotions - great fear, but also great hope and encouragement) as they run to tell the disciples of their discover.
This leads us then to consider the fourth response in this passage:
4. The Disciples’ Disbelief at the Report (vv.9-11)
4. The Disciples’ Disbelief at the Report (vv.9-11)
9 When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. 10 It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles. 11 But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense.
9 When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. 10 It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles.
Now, let us just pause there for a moment. These ladies that had not believed the words of Jesus, certainly had completely forgotten the words of Jesus, now come to the Apostles, and the other disciples with them.
Let us remember that the apostles, the 12 (at this stage 11, because Judas was no longer with them) had lived under the shadow and teaching of Jesus for about 3 years. They had lived day in and day out with Jesus. They had left behind all that they were and owned, their work, their livelihoods, and they had followed Jesus in all his travels in that area, learning everything that he had taught them.
And let us be clear, the disciples were extensively taught by Jesus. He had fulfilled many prophecies in their presence. He had performed profound signs and miracles in their presence. He had raised Lazarus from the dead (); he had raised the widows son from the dead (). They knew of His power and strength. They had witnessed, in great fear, the calming of the storm.
And these very disciples were told directly by Jesus that he would be put to death, and he would rise again on the third day. If anyone should have believed the words of Jesus, it was this group to whom the women came in this moment. But what was their response?
11 But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense.
One commentator writes:
Luke: An Introduction and Commentary A. The Appearance to the Women (24:1–11)
The apostles were not men poised on the brink of belief and needing only the shadow of an excuse before launching forth into a proclamation of resurrection. They were utterly sceptical. Even when women they knew well told them of their experiences, they refused to believe. Clearly irrefutable evidence was needed to convince these sceptics.
I just want to pause here for a moment, and make the observation that this response is the response of those whose spiritual eyes have not been properly opened. They couldn’t understand or believe. They felt that this was a story that was being made up, even though there was a whole group of women conveying it to them. They were very skeptical indeed!
I emphasise this to remind us of the gracious work of God to open the spiritual eyes of people to believe the truths of the Gospel, and to really believe them.
And before we become too critical of these disciples and their lack of belief in the resurrected Christ, let us be reminded that we so often in our lives live as if we do not believe the very words of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Every time in our own lives we resort to fearful responses and ungodly responses to the situations and circumstances around us, we are acting out of unbelief in the promises of God for His people.
When Christ promises us
Finally, in terms of the responses, notice...
5. Peter’s Wonder at the Strange Account (v.12)
5. Peter’s Wonder at the Strange Account (v.12)
There is one particular disciple that Luke singles out in terms of his response to the report from the women, and that is Peter. In verse 12, Peter records...
12 Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened.
If you’re reading the English STandard Version, you’ll note that it says that Peter went home “marveling at what had happened.” This does not mean that he believed the resurrection, but rather that he believed that something strange had happened, and he believed the women that the body of Christ was no longer in the tomb. In , it says there, that following them arriving and seeing the tomb, and the body gone with the grave-clothes left there:
9 (They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.)
This is the Apostle Peter. It was Peter that had professed Jesus as “...the Christ, the Son of the living God” (). Just after making that great confession of who Jesus was, Jesus had told them of the sufferings, and the death and resurrection that he would face...
This is the Apostle Peter. It was Peter that had professed Jesus as “...the Christ, the Son of the living God” (). Just after making that great confession of who Jesus was, Jesus had told them of the sufferings, and the death and resurrection that he would face...
Mat 16:21-
21 From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.
22 Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!”
23 Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.”
If anyone should have remembered the words of Jesus, it must have been this man who had been so severely rebuked by Jesus for attempting to stand in the way of these very things unfolding in terms of this Christ.
Clearly, the message that Jesus had given to them was just too much for them to comprehend, and so here Peter himself responds in unbelief. He simply walks away, wondering to himself what had happened.
Application and Conclusion
Application and Conclusion
As we consider these events from Luke’s Gospel, I would to just draw some points of application for us from this passage.
1. Jesus has risen - believe it!!
1. Jesus has risen - believe it!!
As we’ve gone this record by Luke of the resurrection account of Luke, he has given much attention to the responses of the various people to the fact that Jesus was raised.
There were two responses from the women that were marked by unbelief. Then in the middle of this passage, we find that they suddenly begin to believe the account, or at least there is the beginnings of belief in their minds as they run away and tell the disciples.
Then we had another two responses of unbelief - one from the disciples as a whole, and another from Peter.
What we do know for a fact, is what began as unbelief by these belief, turned to deep belief and conviction in the coming days for them. They would be confronted and visited by the resurrected Christ, and their fear would turn to great conviction and passion in proclaiming that Jesus Christ has indeed risen from the dead. They would go out into the world and proclaim this glorious truth, and they would even be prepared to die for their convictions.
For us, dear friends, this is a truth that we must believe, and must do so with great joy and conviction ourselves. Paul writes to the Corinthian believers...
3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,
The Scriptures have clearly taught this truth, even in the Old Testament. Christ taught this truth during His years of ministering and teaching His disciples. This is a core doctrine of our faith, and we must believe it, with deep conviction.
Not only that, but we must recognize the great hope, the great encouragement and the great benefits to us as God’s children because of the resurrection.
14 By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also.
The death and resurrection of Jesus is the foundation of our salvation:
The death and resurrection of Jesus is the foundation of our salvation:
25 He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.
We can also have great
The resurrection of Christ from the dead provides the power for us to live for God...
4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.
It is because Christ was raised from the dead that we may know that He sits at the right hand of the Father interceding for us...
34 Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.
The resurrection of Christ brings us assurance of our resurrection to eternal life to come...
14 By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also.
I would ask, are all of these truths and benefits tangible to you? I mean, do you truly believe them, and do you live in such a manner that you are demonstrating your belief in them?
I think as we ponder these truths, God will truly encourage our hearts, and embolden us in our Christian lives, and give us great joy and peace in believing, because we are taking to heart not only the certain fact of the resurrection of our Lord Jesus, but also the great benefits that are ours because of that resurrection.
Secondly, and just briefly, I want to broaden the application of this just slightly...
2. Jesus has spoken - believe him!!
2. Jesus has spoken - believe him!!
The women who had followed Jesus through his ministry didn’t believe fully. The Apostles, who themselves had been given great power to work miracles and drive out demons (before Christ’s death) and had heard these truths from Jesus, failed to believe. And yet, God fulfilled every single word.
I am so glad that God’s working is not dependent on our faith!! God will work out his purposes, irrespective.
And yet, dear friends, let us be those with great faith in our God. God has spoken in His word. We have every reason to believe every single word of Scripture, that it is true, and that the promises given by God therein are faithful and true, and He will bring them to fulfillment.
And so I urge you, delve into the word of God and the promises of God to the church, and then live in great rejoicing and celebration at the goodness and kindness and grace of our God. Live your life believing that His promises are true, and that He is at work perfecting us and shaping our lives into the likeness of our Saviour, and one day we will be with Him rejoicing and singing His praises with great joy.
This is our hope. Let there be no doubt. May we live celebrating God’s grace and goodness to us!
Amen!
3.