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SUNDAY

 

Jesus is raised from the dead Luke 24:1-9

 

Early in the morning on the first day of the week, the day after the Sabbath, what we know is Sunday, “Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, bought spices, so that they might come and anoint Him”(Mark 16:1).  They were making their way to the tomb of a dead Jesus.  The conversation must have been filled with mourning or even practical problems such as “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?” (Mark 16:3).  These women were not part of some plot to hide the body of Jesus; they were not even expecting a resurrection of Christ.  They were making their way as early as they could to anoint His body.  In love, Mary Magdalene made it to the tomb first, before the others, “while it was still dark, and saw the stone already taken away from the tomb” (John 20:1).  “So she ran and came to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved (John), and said to them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.  So Peter and the other disciple went forth, and they were going to the tomb” (John 20:2-3).  

The women nor the apostles knew anything about the events the day before.  How the Jewish leaders met with Pilate, asking for help to guard the grave, saying, “Sir, we remember that when He was still alive, that deceiver said, ‘After three days I am to rise again.’ Therefore, give orders for the grave to be made secure until the third day; otherwise, His disciples may come and steal Him away and say to the people, ‘He has risen from the dead,’ and the last deception will be worse than the first.” Pilate said to them, “You have a guard; go, make it as secure as you know how.” And they went and made the grave secure, and along with the guard, they set a seal on the stone” (Matthew 27:62-66).  This seal was to make the tomb protected, punishable by those who would break it, and the guards secured the tomb so as no one could approach it, much less bust the seal.  

The guards were there all day and night securing the tomb when “behold, a severe earthquake had occurred, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled away the stone and sat upon it. And his appearance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. The guards shook for fear of him and became like dead men” (Matthew 28:2-4).  A supernatural paralyzing effect had the guards stiff and astonished, and before Mary or the other woman arrived, “some of the guards came into the city and reported to the chief priests all that had happened. And when they had assembled with the elders and consulted together, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, and said, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came by night and stole Him away while we were asleep.’ And if this should come to the governor’s ears, we will win him over and keep you out of trouble.” And they took the money and did as they had been instructed; and this story was widely spread among the Jews, and is to this day” (Matthew 28:11-15).  The soldiers failed at their job and would have been considered for death for letting this happen.  The body was not there, so no reason to stay there to guard anymore.

As Mary is speaking with Peter and John, the other women, Mary, mother of James, and Salome, “they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men suddenly stood near them in dazzling clothing” (Luke 24:2-4).  “Entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting at the right, wearing a white robe; and they were amazed” (Mark 16:5).  “The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified. He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying” (Matthew 28:5-6).  “Remember how He spoke to you while He was still in Galilee, saying that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.” And they remembered His words” (Luke 24:6-8).  The angel tells them “Go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead; and behold, He is going ahead of you into Galilee, there you will see Him; behold, I have told you.”  And they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy and ran to report it to His disciples” (Matthew 28:7-8).

As the other women are headed back to tell the disciples, Mary says to Peter and John, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.” So Peter and the other disciple went forth, and they were going to the tomb. The two were running together; and the other disciple (John) ran ahead faster than Peter and came to the tomb first; and stooping and looking in, he saw the linen wrappings lying there; but he did not go in. And so Simon Peter also came, following him, and entered the tomb; and he saw the linen wrappings lying there, and the face-cloth which had been on His head, not lying with the linen wrappings, but rolled up in a place by itself. So the other disciple who had first come to the tomb then also entered, and he saw and believed. For as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead.” (John 20:2-10).

 

While Mary, Peter, and John were inspecting the tomb and the claims Mary was making, the other women were running back to tell the disciples.  Excited, confused, and even terrified with great joy, “And behold, Jesus met them and greeted them. And they came up and took hold of His feet and worshiped Him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and take word to My brethren to leave for Galilee, and there they will see Me.”  

Mary Magdalene missed the angels at the tomb with the other women, and so did Peter and John.  We have to know this was in God’s timing and providence; these events unfolded the way they did.  We also must realize this was not some elaborate plot to hide Jesus’ body to fake a resurrection.  The empty tomb and reaction from the ones who found it were not expecting a risen savior.  Even though Jesus had eluded it to them time and time again, they didn't apply that to His Resurrection.  So you can see as the women were “telling these things to the apostles, the words appeared to them as nonsense” (Luke 24:10-11).  A resurrection made no sense to them.

Peter and John had seen the empty tomb, they went away marveling at what had happened.  “But Mary was standing outside the tomb weeping; and so, as she wept, she stooped and looked into the tomb; and she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had been lying. And they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.” When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing Him to be the gardener, she said to Him, “Sir, if you have carried Him away, tell me where you have laid Him, and I will take Him away.” Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to Him in Hebrew, “Rabboni!” (which means, Teacher). Jesus said to her, “Stop clinging to Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I ascend to My Father and your Father, and My God and your God.’” Mary Magdalene came, announcing to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord,” and that He had said these things to her.”

Jesus would make additional appearances that day, to Peter later, to the disciples on the Emmaus road, and to the apostles minus Thomas.  The proof of Jesus’ resurrection is first the empty tomb.  The stone was not rolled away to let Him out but to let the world in.  The linen wrappings were there to show He just traveled through them in His glorified body, leaving them behind miraculous clues to His resurrection.  The Resurrection of Jesus secures our salvation in heaven.  Resurrection morning is the cornerstone of our faith.  

Paul said, “Moreover, we are even found to be false witnesses of God because we testified against God that He raised Christ, whom He did not raise, if in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins” (1 Corinthians 15:15-17).  Christ was raised as proof that He has authority to forgive our sins and He is worthy to be praised and glorified by His creation.  Jesus has proven Himself to be King.  Resurrection morning has drawn many people speechless and in complete awe that a loving God would do this much to save those who believe.  I must stand in agreement with Paul, quoting His words, “For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2).

Jesus overcoming death to give us life, forgiveness of our sin, and the showing of power as the Son of God, the only God.  Giving approval and attesting to His righteousness, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased” (Matthew 3:17).  

HE IS RISEN NOT ONLY TODAY BUT FOREVER!