Jesus Knew

The Third Day

Luke 24:1-12

Hopewell Baptist Church

Easter, April 17, 2022

Opening Illustration

Transition

Big Idea – It’s the Third Day and the Tomb is Empty!

· Every day is like The Third Day…

o Every day the Tomb is Empty!

o Every Day, Jesus is Risen!

Luke 24:1–12 (ESV)

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.

Pray

The Third Day

I. The Tomb is Empty – Luke 24:1-3

a. Many women (v.1) – v.10

b. Found the tomb (v.2) just as Jesus implied it would be – Empty!

i. Matthew 16:21, Matthew 17:22, Mark 8:21, Luke 13:33

ii. On the Third Day, He would rise from the Dead, and that the tomb would be, in fact, empty!

c. Jesus fulfilled what He said

d. The Tomb is every empty every day. Anyone can say on Easter that the Tomb is empty. Christians must live as the Tomb is Empty. Every. Single. Day.

II. Jesus is Risen! – Luke 24:4-8

a. The living are not to be found amongst the dead. – v.4-5, 8

i. The two men in dazzling apparel reminded them of this

b. Jesus is alive! – v.6

i. Just as Jesus said he would be – v.6-7

c. Jesus is alive in bodily resurrection at this very moment, at the right hand of God. Anyone can say Jesus is Risen on Easter. Christians must live as Jesus is Risen. Today. Tomorrow. Forever.

III. Not An Idle Tale – Luke 24:9-12

a. The Gospel is not just a “tale” of good news, but it is the Good News that brings life, and life abundantly (John 10:10).

b. The women returned to the disciples and told them of this “tale” of what they had seen.

i. Some will not believe the Gospel – v.11

ii. Some will believe in the Gospel – v.12

c. The Gospel, the Good News of Jesus Christ, must be shared, even if many will not believe. Everyone must hear the Gospel. This is not an option, but a command. (Matthew 28:18-20).

The Third Day

IV. Application

a. Christians who profess that the tomb is empty, and that Jesus is Risen must not live as if the tomb is occupied and the resurrection never happened.

i. We know the tomb is empty and Jesus is alive. This should excite us!

ii. To say you’re a Christian and live like the tomb isn’t empty and the resurrection never happened is an oxymoron!

b. We must find life – Joy, hope, peace, protection, etc. – in the Gospel.

i. It must be evident in our lives. Anyone can claim on Easter that the Tomb is Empty, and that Jesus is Risen. It’s living this truth out in our lives every single day in every single way that will make the world believe that it is true.

c. We must continue to tell people of the empty tomb, of the Risen Christ, of the Gospel.

i. We are commanded to – Matthew 28:18-20

ii. We are to love God – Deuteronomy 6:4, Matthew 22:37

iii. We are to love each other – John 13:35

iv. We are to love our neighbors – Matthew 22:39

v. We are to obey Jesus – John 14:15

vi. Telling people about Jesus is an act of pure love, even if they won’t believe it, because it’s not you who saves, it’s God, through His Word

1. Isaiah 55:11 “11 so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.”

V. Response

a. Belief

i. Repent

ii. Believe

b. Obedience

i. Baptism

ii. Membership

c. Surrender

i. Vocation

ii. Volunteer