Introduction: Grace be to you and peace, from God our Father, and from our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. Our text is the Gospel Lesson just read, from Luke 24. We begin with prayer.
Dear fellow disciples of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ:
- Usually when you set out to find somebody, to visit with someone, and you arrive only to have someone tell you “He isn’t here,” this is bad news. In the case of the women who went to the tomb, just this news was probably also received initially as bad news! However, the angels quickly added “He is risen.”
- Still, all of this was likely difficult to receive – except that “they remembered His Words!” The mood must have changed quickly, to hopefulness. Could it be true, that Jesus had fulfilled His Word, a very difficult Word, and was alive once again?
- I suppose it still might have been a bit disappointing, for:
I. Easter Sunday Finally Arrived, The Sabbath Was Past, So The Women In Jesus’ Life Could Anoint His Body And Give Him A Proper Burial
Matthew 27:59-61 “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. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were there, sitting opposite the tomb.
John 19:38-40 “After these things Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took away his body. Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds in weight. So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews.”
Luke 23:53-56 “Then Joseph took the body of Jesus down and wrapped it in a linen shroud and laid him in a tomb cut in stone, where no one had ever yet been laid. It was the day of Preparation, and the Sabbath was beginning. The women who had come with him from Galilee followed and saw the tomb and how his body was laid. Then they returned and prepared spices and ointments. On the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment.”
Text: “On the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared.”
Statement: It is rather amusing that these women saw the 75 pounds of myrrh and aloes that Nicodemus and Joseph used to give Jesus a proper burial, yet they considered this insufficient. Or perhaps, they couldn’t stand the thought that they were not allowed to participate in the burial of Jesus on Good Friday! At any rate, bright and early, they showed up to do what they believed love and respect for Jesus mandated them to do. Mark reports that the women were concerned about getting the stone moved, and likely they were overjoyed when they saw that it had been rolled away!
Application: These women likely knew what Jesus’ mission was – to take away the sin of the world. They were likely deeply appreciative of what Jesus had done for them. This is the most important thing for us as well – to rejoice in the forgiveness and salvation Jesus has earned for us as the Lamb of God. Hopefully, this is what also moves us to be here this morning, to listen, to contemplate, and to learn. Hopefully, this also moves us to willing service to Jesus, as we serve those around us! But in spite of their devotion:
II. These Women Were In For A Big Surprise
A. They Didn’t Find Jesus Or His Body In The Tomb
Text: “They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.”
B. Instead, They Were Greeted By Angels Who Announced Christ’s Resurrection – And They Told The Women To Remember Jesus’ Word
Text: “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.”
Statement: Does it make a difference that it was angels who delivered the message? It shouldn’t have – the women had the Words of Jesus about all of this already. They should have simply held tight to those Words! When they did remember Jesus’ Word they immediately believed with great joy.
Application: We too have the Word of Jesus, and the Words of Holy Scripture, inspired and inscribed by the Holy Spirit of God! We too simply hold tight to God’s Word, and so we also believe and rejoice! And so:
III. These Women Became The First Believers In The Resurrection Of Jesus, And The First to Bear Witness To Others About It
Text: “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.”
A. However, The Very Disciples Of Jesus Were At First Cynical And Unbelieving
Text: “But these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them.”
B. Even Peter Could Only “Marvel”
Text: “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.”
Statement: We marvel also, and I suppose most of us have entertained at least some doubts and questions about the resurrection of Jesus. After all, it is contrary to nature, a miracle, and we are steeped in empiricism. The disciples were also. You remember Thomas declared he would not believe unless he could place his fingers in the wounds on Jesus’ hands, and place his hand in the wounded side of Jesus.
Application: We too will one day have an empirical experience of Jesus – either on the day we die, or on the day of His glorious return! In the meantime, let us remember His Words and abide by them, for He is the Son of God! He does not lie or deceive; He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life!
Conclusion: Thankfully, we do not have to process this as the first witnesses had to. Rather, there were hundreds of people who witnessed Jesus alive and well after His crucifixion and death. Further, we know God, His almighty power, His perfect love, His truthfulness to His every Word and promise!
So we rejoice with the early Christians that “HE IS NOT IN THE TOMB, HE IS RISEN!” We rejoice with Christians of all times and places who know that “HE HAS RISEN.” And we also rejoice to know where Jesus is, that He is with us always, even to the end of the age. Amen.
Votum: And the peace of God, which surpasses all human understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds in the true faith, which is in Christ Jesus, even unto life everlasting, Amen.