Ressurection Rememberd

Introduction

Context: As we jump into the end of the Gospel of Luke to read of the Resurrection Story

This text Luke 24:1-12 is just after Jesus had been crucified, died on the cross and was buried (dead) in the grave.

In Luke 23:55 (just before Ch 24) we see the women went to the tomb to see Jesus Body Luke 23:55 “The women who had come with him, him being (Joseph, from Arimathea) from Galilee followed and saw the tomb and how his body was laid.”

Then they returned as it says in verse 56 to “prepare spices and ointments- Luke 23:56 “Then they returned and prepared spices and ointments. On the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment.”

Meaning they “the women” could of went on the sabbath, but chose to rest, “according to the commandment.”

Sabbath being - the seventh day of the week that was set apart by God for rest; or a day of complete rest from secular work following six days of labor, established and modeled by God.

So no mixing spices, and no carrying spices on the sabbath, they rested.

And now this is where we pick up in Luke 24:1-12

The women who had prepared the spices, are headed on the first day of the week at early dawn to the tomb to anoint Jesus body.

Read the text - Luke 24:1-12 “But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. 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? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.” And they remembered his words, and returning from the tomb they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. 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, but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. 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

Luke 24:1 “But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared.”

“But on the first day of the week...at early dawn....”

Meaning it was no longer the sabbath

Early...” in the greek meaning - deep

“dawn...” - the period preceding daybreak while it is still dark;

"They”

“they” being Mary and Mary Magdalene, we learn from not speculation but from the Gospel of Matthew.

Matthew 28:1 (ESV)

Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb.

“and they went to the tomb taking the spices they had prepared.”

So it’s early; (so early that the rooster hasn’t crowed yet) but there is no time to waste, the spices they had been prepared and needed to be applied to Jesus body or else it would begin to fester and stink

But we already know that they can put those spices up since they will not be needing them. AMEN?

The spices, that which they prepared after going with Joseph Of Arimithia to see the body of Jesus and “how he was laid.”

2 days prior and a day after the sabbath, so the spices are ready and they were headed in the direction of the what?

“the tomb” - Mind you, where they saw Jesus body laying, wrapped in linen a few days ago.

So they arrive at the tomb

The tomb which Joesph carved out of a rock himself

The tomb that which was sealed with a gigantic and heavy stone which Jospeh had cut himself

Matt 27:59-60 “And Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen shroud and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had cut in the rock. And he rolled a great stone to the entrance of the tomb and went away.”

So while Mary and Mary are heading to the tomb, mind you they know their is a stone rolled in front of it, and they know Jesus is in it because they were there with Joseph of Arimithia

So while they are headed to the tomb, they have a concern

as R.C. Sproul says in his commentary on Luke “A gigantic stone had been placed over the entrance of the tomb, and so their biggest concern is this “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb, so we can anoint Jesus body?“

Mark 16:3 “And they were saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?””

So they obviously had no idea how the stone was going to be removed, but they still arose early, (in deep darkness) they still prepared spices; and ultimately at this point were walking in faith that God would make a way for them

So basically walking without knowing how the stone was to be rolled away!

See sometimes in life we walk hoping God will open up a door of opportunity, well this was no door opening up but...

Luke 24:2 “And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb,”

“They found” - in greek they attained or began to experience that what?

The stone had been rolled away, from the tomb.

So this worry had been taken care of.

And this stone was not a stone; for one to think “oh I will move this because it looks tiny and easy to move.” No!

Mark 16:4 it says “it was very large”

Very - Very much, exceedingly

large - above average size, important

You on your own in no way shape or from could even budge this stone. It was massive and strong.

So the stone had been rolled away, and what happened next?

Luke 24:3 “but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.”

So as they are walking up they see the stone rolled away; (which in itself was miracle)

And as they proceed to enter in; (the tomb)

Ao looking on the outside seeing the stone had been rolled away

So looking on the inside Jesus was gone. “they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.”

Mind you they went with Joseph two days before the sabbath to “see how he was laid.”

So they would know how many spices; and wouldn’t be searching for where He lay, when they arrived, they could get in anoint him and head out

They (with their own eyes) saw his dead body there not two days ago, but this time He was gone, there was no body.

Lets continue on...

Luke 24:4 “While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel.”

The Mary’s are perplexed

perplexed “to be at a lost of words”

We not two days ago just came with Joseph to see where his body lay

and now it’s gone?

Maybe they were thinking:

Who would do such a thing?

But more so maybe who in the world would of rolled that stone away?

Two questions in this case might of been dancing around in their minds, as it says they were perplexed.

So while they were perplexed about this…behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel.”

So here is something to know in the other Gospels. We know who was sent to roll the stone away: The Gospel of Matt in...

Matthew 28:2 “And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it.”

We can assume from our text as well, that these two men were not of earth as they were glistening or in dazzling clothing

So as these two men ”come into a state of being” - behold…two men stood by them in dazzling apparel”

What was the reaction of the women?

Well what would our reaction be if this happened to us?

Luke 24:5 “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?”

As we have looked in Luke 1 so far we know this reaction of fright, or trouble or fear comes when we see an angel is present.

Zechariah - Luke 1:11-12 “And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him.”

Mary - Luke 1 And the virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be.”

And now we have the women at the tomb “frightened and bowed their faces to the ground…”

This is a holy moment, no doubt! (angels, earthquake, and Jesus body gone. So what is going on? Not to mention…

The guards, guarding the tomb they even... “became like dead men.” Matthew 28:4

So what did these “dazzling men”or angles say?

Verse 5 …the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead?”

Obviously these men who were dazzling were not human men, but heavenly beings (for when has a human man just all of sudden shown up in intensely bright gleam?)

And we know they are from heaven because they know something the women do not know, and to this point no human knows.

So through their words they begin to hint at, that Jesus Christ is not dead!

The angles asking a common sense question to the women - Why do you seek the living among the dead?

Are they saying that Jesus our Lord is alive?

Because a few days ago he was wrapped in linen lying in the tomb, we saw His body and their was no life.

And the angels continue to share their message of the living Jesus.

Luke 24:6-7 “He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.””

“he is not here but He has risen...”

Death that which seems forever victorious has met it’s maker.

Oh Mary’s and fellow Christians let this truth begin to give you encouragement and hope “he is not here but He has Risen”

The angles go on to say “remember...”

Don’t you remember this Mary and Mary? (Obviously it’s clear they have heard Jesus teaching before in Galilee (on his resurrection) as the angels say to them “remember’

“remember” To call from memory, or have recollection. Meaning in past tense they had been through, or experienced something so they should know it is true what the messenger is saying

The women in their heart might be asking and wondering

How did the stone get moved away?

who are these men?

What is going on?

And where is our Lord?

But then it clicked in their hearts and minds after being perplexed it says...

Luke 24:8 “And they remembered his words,”

Notice Mary and Mary Magdalene don’t say “and they remembered their words.”

No, they say “his words...”

What Jesus said in Galilee on that day and what He had been saying all along in his time here on earth that He must die for the sins of man, only to rise again.

“and they remembered his words”

The account the angles could of been referring too:

Luke 9:22 “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.””

Or from John Jesus foretelling of His resurrection.

John 2:19 “Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.””

He was talking about His physical body being raised from the grave.

But first He must suffer; be crucified, die, be buried and then be RAISED!

And Mary and Mary remembered this Truth that Jesus once spoke; as they heard the “words of Jesus” from the angels message.

Luke 24:9 “and returning from the tomb (or in Matt 28:8 with great fear and joy) they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest.”

So praise God they remembered the Words of Jesus, the Words of life.

BUT:

Before we move into them telling the others we have to see from the Gospel of Matthew what happened to both the Mary‘s on the way to tell the 11 and Peter?

“Matthew 28:9-10 “And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.””

It’s so cool to point out here Mary and Mary touched the feet of the resurrected Jesus.

And so after their encounter with the risen Jesus so what do they do?

Well Church what do we do with this Good News of Jesus resurrection? (Whom they know is true because they have experienced the risen Christ, touched His feet, and heard his voice who met them on their journey to tell the others)

What did they do with this news? They were going to share it with others. (in their delivery it may of been jumbled with a hint of fear and awe, so we can see in John, but the point was Jesus was gone out of the tomb)

And who was all with the Mary’s?

Luke 24:10 “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,”

They went to tell the apostles this Good News that Christ is risen From he grave!

Now we read of the Apostles Reaction to this news:

And so we would think the apostles reactions, since they walked with Jesus, ate with Jesus, wept with Jesus, partook in the Lord’s Supper with Jesus; saw Him suffer like He said he would; that they would believe this news of his resurrection right?

This kind of news that not one of these women who loved Jesus deeply, would joke about. As this was still very fresh on everyones soul that Christ our Lord, the greatest man we have ever known is dead.

So what did the Apostles say to the women?

Luke 24:11 “but these words... seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them.”

These words that came from Jesus in Luke 9, and in John 2:19 - that which these words were foreshadowing what Jesus came to do.

These words spoken from Christ first in Galilee, then from the dazzling men; (angles) and now the women were going to tell the apostles about.

Luke 24:6 “He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee,”

“But these words(Jesus’s Words)...seemed to them an idle tale and they did not believe them.”

Church these are the ones who Christ called at the beginning for His ministry to follow Him.

As I often say when I am studying and preaching a text, we often are not the ones in the right but in the wrong. In this case we are Mary and the apostles.

And how often is this us as we can be so distracted, so tempted in many ways as to forget the simple promises of Christ’s Words to us?

Am I right? Or am I wrong? - Knowing where I would be daily IF I would only remember the Word’s of Christ daily if not hourly as I should. (and i’m not there, I want to be be but it’s a battle)

I know you understand.

And so to the apostles these words seemed to be an “idle tale”

“idle tale” meaning in the greek - Babbling, trash, trifle -

What is going on? These are Apostles, men who literally were with Jesus, and now they speak of this resurrection; that which Christ referred to often as an “idle tale” ?

How much more are we called today to search our hearts or dear ones and to never stop desiring for the Lord as John 17:17 says “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.”

Is Christ’s resurrection an idle tale in our hearts this morning?

Or do we remember?

Is Christ resurrection the loudest trumpet of grace playing Good new to our saved souls this morning?

Or are the chords of sin trying to drown out the Good News?

And not only did they call the women‘s message which was the Word’s of the Risen Lord.

An “idle tale” - so the apostles said.

And it gets worse...

”…and they did not believe them.”

The phrase “did not believe them” in the greek meaning - refuse to believe to be true. / This is not referring to faith but in this case an event.

Because here I’m not making the claim that they were not God’s chosen and elect;(the apostles that is)

I am saying that this news from the women; where the apostles hearts were currently, seemed like this news was an idel tale to them.

In this emotion so often when our hearts have been conflicted by such pain, and loss. So while we do not fully disbelieve what we had in front of us was untrue or an illusion or dream.

So the present thought of that treasure being restored to us seems quite and idle tale, and hard to believe as they are deep in grieving and in fear.

So their minds are not full of truth but of anything but truth.

So what happened next in our text?

Well for one of the 11 he had to see for himself! (Maybe He really is risen)

The one whom denied Jesus 3 times before His crucification is now...

Running to the tomb, with “another disciple”

Luke 24:12 “But Peter ROSE (Raise to life in greek) 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.”

Peter sees the linen cloths by themselves;” and in that moment Peter began to maybe believe this has happened. His Lord and Savior Jesus Christ has defeated death, hell and the grave.

And is Risen!

And we see Peter went home marveling, in the greek marveling to be amazed; but it does not say believing. “He went home marveling at what had happened.”

The other disciple who was at the tomb with Peter believed as John 20:8 “Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed;” (it says)

But in the greek “rose” - means (raised to life)

So from the greek text both John believed, and Peter (rose) went away marveling - to be amazed!

For the other disciples:

John 20:9 “for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead.”

We know eventually all the 11 apostles would come to believe in Christ’s resurrection from the grave because he would appear to them again.

But what do many of us say “If only I could of been there; then I could believe.”

If only I could of saw His body laying there then I could believe.?

John 20:29 “Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.””

Points:

A call to “remember” this morning

Our hope this morning Church, all comes down to this moment in history past; that still has perfect affect in history present and forever more.

This moment where Jesus fulfilled His Words of rising from the dead, as He said He would

He establishing, proving powerfully that He has defeated, sin, death, hell and the grave once and for all.

Why do we rejoice everyday, and specifically today on resurrection Sunday?

1 Cor 15:55 ““O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?””

But to purchase us from deaths sting. Christ was crucified, died and was buried and then He Rose!

He did not stay in the tomb, the spices were not needed and neither will we stay in the tomb because of what Christ has done for us and in us.

So this morning Christian; remember and rise for we have new life in Christ! #RessurectionPower

We have hope in the risen Christ, and we need to remember daily this hope that Jesus ROSE FROM THE GRAVE & trust His Word’s are LIFE!

Because reality is if you haven’t trusted in Jesus and embraced Him by grace through Fatih as Savior and LORD, you will never exepiernce the resurrection power in your life.

You will experience Hell and pain and death though for Good.

And for our story; we notice the disciples who did not believe right away of the resurrection, even though they walked with him.

They needed the power of God that came through Christ death, burial and resurrection from the grave, the gift of the Holy Spirit to save them from their sins and seal them for Him for all eternity.

Which was soon to come, but is now currently this Sunday available for those who believe in Jesus.

As Jesus said - John 16:7 “Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.”

So what did the women remember?

“And they remembered his words,”

HIs Word is life. Phil 2:16 “holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.”

And what did Christ say He would do?

He would RISE on the third day, believe TODAY in the finihsed and complete work of Christ so one day you will rise to meet the saints in the air with Him.

See why is resurrection Sunday the pinnacle of Sunday gatherings?

It centers us directly on these words that Jesus said’ “in three days I will raise it up” - He wasn’t talking about a building but HIs body!

We have hope today in Christ why?

Because Jesus defeated sin, death, hell and the grave.

No one else could of done what He did for us and we TRUST AND BELIVE IN \THE RISEN CHRIST AND IN HIS INFALLIBLE & INHERINT, HOLY WORD THAT LEADS US TO RESURECTION LIFE & POWER NOW AND INTO ETERNITY.

And now when we die our fleshy death, we will live with Him forever “to live is Christ and to die is gain.”

When we “remember” as Christinas what Christ has done for us these are the Word’s of life, the Word’s of resurrection to our souls and renewal to our minds.

And we can see from the forgetfulness of Jesus closest followers, so how should this more so make us aware to cling to the remembrance of Christ’s Word that which leads us to eternal life?

“He has the Words of life. And these Word’s of Life, have quickened the rising of the dawn upon and in our souls to meet our Risen Lord and Savior.

Christ has risen from the dead, trampling over death by death; come awake this morning through the hearing of His resurrection in His Word and receive eternal life in Him!

Acts 2:24 “God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it.”

In the remembrance through Christ’s Word. So we find our strength, to walk daily in resurrection power by the Holy Spirit and remember grace, He has applied and thus He lived only to die and RISE!

Your words are wonderful, unfolding like the dawn A wellspring and the rock we rest upon We trust Your promises that keep our hope alive They steady us throughout life’s weary climb