Why - Three Questions Asked

Luke 24:1–12 NRSV

1 But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb, taking the spices that they had prepared. 2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they went in, they did not find the body. 4 While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men in dazzling clothes stood beside them. 5 The women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. 6 Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, 7 that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinners, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again.” 8 Then they remembered his words, 9 and returning from the tomb, they told all this to the eleven and to all the rest. 10 Now it was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them who told this to the apostles. 11 But these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. 12 But Peter got up and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; then he went home, amazed at what had happened.

Introduction

We often ask questions and wonder why things turned out the way they did. Today as we celebrate Easter I want to focus on some of those early Easter morning questions that I am sure were in the back of the minds of the women who were trying to finish burying Jesus properly. This morning I want to go back to that early morning and focus on three questions that were likely swirling around in their minds that morning.

Why did Jesus die?

I can imagine perhaps the first question that was on their minds as they walked to the tomb early that day was why did Jesus die? I can imagine this question was heavy on everyone’s heart. In truth, perhaps we even ask that question still today. Jesus had been teaching, preaching, performing miracles and healings and was going to usher in the new kingdom of Israel after all. This was no longer possible and hope was lost.

Yet, nobody really understood why Jesus had to die. It was part of God’s plan to redeem humanity. No other way was possible to restore our broken relationship. Jesus came down to the earth to die. It is so strange to say yet this act of love is what has paid our sin debt, broken sin and death’s grasp on us.

Then angels remind the women of Jesus’ words that he must be die and rise on the third day again. When the angels spoke they remembered Jesus speaking these words to them. I often forget things I am told but in some strange way, things that I have forgotten will come to be in the appropriate time when I need to remember. Jesus had spoken much to them and his death likely was overwhelming, yet these angels remind them, they now can remember Jesus told them this would happen. This was planned and death was not the end.

Jesus had to die but that was not the end. For these women, they wondered as they walked to the tomb this question likely in despair of the whole situation. They likely had lost hope because Jesus had died on the cross. While they had seen so many miracles and healings, why did Jesus die? Because Jesus chose to die on the cross for all of humanity’s sin.

Why was the tomb empty?

If their sadness was not great enough at this point on the way to the tomb, when they arrive, they discover the tomb is empty. Not only has Jesus died but now his body is missing. Why was the tomb empty? I can imagine this question was on their minds as they looked inside after seeing the stone was rolled away. Jesus who they had laid in this tomb was not here anymore. Had someone stolen his body? Had they moved Jesus to where nobody could visit his grave? Most important though, why was the tomb empty?

While wondering about this question of why is the tomb empty, two angels appeared to them. This terrified them not knowing what is happening. However, their question is being answered. Why was the tomb empty? Because Jesus was not here because he had risen. Verse 5 “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen.” In the same way that the angels’ words stirred up memories of what Jesus had spoken about his death, they also remember the words that he would rise on the third day. While it might have made no sense when Jesus spoke, here in this moment it suddenly became more clear why that tomb was empty. Just as Jesus must die so too much Jesus rise from the grave. The tomb was empty because Jesus must rise on the third day.

Jesus resurrection means just as much as his death. Jesus rose to give new life. Jesus rose to give hope that we too will rise from our graves. Death is not the end but only a transition to new life and a new hope. The tomb must be empty because Jesus must rise to give hope and fulfill the promise of new life.

They returned from the tomb to spread the good news that Jesus had risen yet another question arose.

Why did nobody believe them?

The disciples reaction to them telling the story of what happened at the tomb that morning was met with skepticism. The disciples thought they were making the story up because it seemed unbelievable. Remember how the women did not remember Jesus’ words until the angels spoke them? I often wonder the same thing here that until something touches our hearts and minds, we struggle to believe in the resurrection.

In Luke’s account here, Peter runs to the tomb to see for himself. I can imagine though, in some ways maybe he wanted to believe their story but just like many others including ourselves at times, it is too good to be true. Perhaps in some ways the disciples doubted their story because indeed it is too good to be true that Jesus has indeed risen from the dead.

In the same way Jesus had to die to take away the sin and guilt of humanity, this too sounds too good to be true. We struggle to find out what we must do to earn salvation because Jesus dying on the cross to redeem us sounds too good to be true. Jesus rising from the dead to give us proof and hope of our own resurrection sounds too good to be true because we didn’t earn it.

Yet in the end these two statements are facts regardless of whether we believe them or not. Jesus did in fact die for our sins. Jesus really did choose to redeem humanity by his death on the cross. Jesus really did rise from the tomb that day as he said he would. Jesus really does provide this hope of resurrection and new life.

Easter is about these profound acts of grace that God performed for u s and all of humanity. While our doubts may nag and try to convince us otherwise, it is what God has done for us. We cannot earn our salvation or earn God’s favor by anything we can accomplish. Jesus completed the work. We must believe in this work as true. We must place our faith in Jesus Christ that we have been redeemed and restored because of the works of Christ. Today is a day where we embrace this new hope Christ brings to all.