1 Timothy 1:1 - Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus according to the commandment of God our Savior, and of Christ Jesus, who is our hope…
4 types of responses to the resurrection illustrated on Easter morning
1. The women, stage one – Luke 24:1-4 (before interacting with the angels)
2. The women, stage two – Luke 24:5-10 (after interacting with the angels)
3. The men – Luke 24:11
4. Peter – Luke 24:12
I. Rejection – The Resurrection Is Non-Sense (v. 11)
Matthew 27:55-56 - Many women were there looking on from a distance, who had followed Jesus from Galilee while ministering to Him. Among them was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.
Matthew 26:56 - But all this has taken place to fulfill the Scriptures of the prophets. Then all the disciples left Him and fled.
John 19:26-27 - When Jesus then saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” Then He said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” From that hour the disciple took her into his own household.
John 19:40-42 - So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen wrappings with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. Now in the place where He was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. Therefore because of the Jewish day of preparation, since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.
Matthew 27:62-66 - Now on the next day, the day after the preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered together with Pilate, and said, “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 28:2 - And 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.
Matthew 28:11-15 - …some of the guard 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.
Luke 24:2-3 - And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.
Luke 24:10 - Now they were Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James; also the other women with them were telling these things to the apostles.
Luke 24:11 - But these words appeared to them as nonsense, and they would not believe them.
Matthew 16:21 - From that time Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised up on the third day.
Matthew 17:22-23 - And while they were gathering together in Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men; and they will kill Him, and He will be raised on the third day.” And they were deeply grieved.
Matthew 20:17-19 - As Jesus was about to go up to Jerusalem, He took the twelve disciples aside by themselves, and on the way He said to them, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem; and the Son of Man will be delivered to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn Him to death, and will hand Him over to the Gentiles to mock and scourge and crucify Him, and on the third day He will be raised up.”
Laros – totally devoid of anything worthwhile, idle talk
Plummer – a word used to describe the delirious talk of the very sick
Acts 4:2 - …being greatly disturbed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead.
Acts 4:10 - …let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead – by this name this man stands here before you in good health.
Acts 4:11-12 - “He is the stone which was rejected by you, the builders, but which became the chief corner stone. And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.”
II. Disregard – The Resurrection Is Impossible (vv. 23:55-24:7)
Luke 23:56 - Then they returned and prepared spices and perfumes. And on the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment.
Luke 24:5-7 - Why do you seek the living One among the dead? He is not here, but He has risen. 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.
III. Intrigue – The Resurrection Is Interesting (v. 12)
Luke 24:12 - But Peter got up and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen wrappings only; and he went away to his home, marveling at what had happened.
“The term for ‘wonder’ here is not one that indicates full faith or understanding, but it does suggest, given that Peter went to investigate, that he was open to the women’s declaration (cf. Luke 1:21, 63; 2:18, 33; 4:22; 8:35; 9:43; 11:14).” (Darrell L. Bock Jesus According to the Scriptures: Restoring the Portrait from the Gospels, 396)
Acts 17:31 - …because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead.
John 3:16 - For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
John 3:17-18 - For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
IV. Acceptance – The Resurrection Is My Hope (vv. 8-9)
Luke 24:8-10 - And they remembered His words, and returned from the tomb and reported all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. Now they were Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James; also the other women with them were telling these things to the apostles.
- How do you respond to news that is difficult to believe…especially because you don’t have any category in your mind for such a report to be true…because an event like that has never happened before?
- most of us can remember exactly where we were and exactly what we were doing when we first heard about 911…
[PICTURE of the first tower being struck]…
- I think it would be interesting to go around the room and listen to the way different people here responded to that news…
- I know for me, since I was living on the West Coast it was really early morning and I turned on the TV before school and every channel was showing this grey skinny building.
- I had no category in my mind to insert this new piece of information into…and why this was so significant to get so much attention.
- the thought of a group of individuals purposing hijacking an airplane and then crashing it into a major building seemed like non-sense…that couldn’t have possibly happened therefore it must not be happening now…
- and I don’t know if this was your experience…but that same dynamic occurred in my mind several more times that day…
- what do you mean that there are multiple planes that have been hijacked?...
- what do you mean that a second tower has been hit?...[Picture of the second tower being struck]…
- what do you mean that the entire buildings could collapse?...[Picture of the collapsed towers]
- what do you mean that the Pentagon has been hit?...[Picture of the Pentagon attack]
- what do you mean that all airline traffic around the country has been grounded?
- what do you mean that the President is flying around in Air Force One [Picture of C. Rice consoling Bush while he is in Air Force One]…
Which each piece of data and reality…I wasn’t sure what to believe about anything…it seemed like nonsense
- but that’s actually the point -- How do you respond to news that is difficult to believe…especially because you don’t have any category in your mind for such a report to be true because an event like that has never happened before?
- This morning, we’re going to study a passage of Scripture that announces news of an event that is even more consequential for all than 911 or the recent pandemic…
- and part of what’s fascinating is that there are four very distinct kinds of responses to what had occurred…
- but this isn’t simply a history lesson…the key question for us is – how are you responding to the news that Jesus is alive, and that there is new life available in His name?
Please open your Bible to Luke 24…that’s on page 69 of the back section of the Bible under the chair in front of you…
- our theme this year is Hope for Everyday Life…we’ve been having a wonderful time studying verse by verse through the book of 1 Peter…Lord willing, we’ll return to that next Sunday…
- and what we’re learning is that we certainly can’t place our hope in our circumstances, or own abilities or performance, living a happy or easy life, or even earthly authorities and governments.
- ultimately our hope is grounded in a Person – our risen and living Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ…
- that’s why Paul said to Timothy - 1 Timothy 1:1 - Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus according to the commandment of God our Savior, and of Christ Jesus, who is our hope,
- Jesus if our Hope – (because) Jesus is Our Life
- let’s read this passage which gives us 4 types of responses to the resurrection illustrated on Easter morning.
- and I should probably give you a word of warning – instead of looking at the examples in the order in which they appear in the passage…we’re going to arrange them from the worst to the best…
- and as we do, please ask the Holy Spirit to help you identify which response best captures where your heart is at this morning regarding the resurrection of Jesus Christ?
READ LUKE 24:1–12
1 But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared.
2 And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.
4 While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men suddenly stood near them in dazzling clothing; 5 and as the women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living One among the dead?
6 He is not here, but He has risen. Remember how He spoke to you while He was still in Galilee, 7 saying that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.”
8 And they remembered His words, 9 and returned from the tomb and reported all these things to the eleven and to all the rest.
10 Now they were Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James; also the other women with them were telling these things to the apostles. 11 But these words appeared to them as nonsense, and they would not believe them.
12 But Peter got up and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen wrappings only; and he went away to his home, marveling at what had happened.
- so we’re talking about How Jesus is our Life…and looking for 4 types of responses to the resurrection.
- and as we said before we read the verses – let’s think about them from the worst to the best…
- so if you’re looking at it like that…which person or groups of persons comes in last place?...
- perhaps to make that question a bit easier to process…let’s at least list the four persons/groups – and let’s do that chronologically, the way we would typically think about a passage:
1. The women, stage one – Luke 24:1-4 (before interacting with the angels)
2. The women, stage two – Luke 24:5-10 (after interacting with the angels)
3. The men – Luke 24:11
4. Peter – Luke 24:12
- I don’t think there’s any question, do you?...it’s the men in verse 11..who concluded…it was non-sense! And showed initial rejection.
I. Rejection – The resurrection is non-sense.
Here is a very strong reason to believe in the authority of the Bible…
because of how honest it is about the failures of those who became leaders in the early church either before or when these gospels were being written
…It’s not merely a fabrication of humans to make man look good.
-There’s no doubt that the eyewitness testimony of the women in this passage, and on Easter morning in general, evidence far stronger faith than the men initially…
God’s words records the facts, not because the facts would be more easily accepted by the people or culture. As the historian Josephus writes that women were disqualified as witnesses on account of their giddiness and impetuosity (Ant. 4.8.15 219). So, the reality of the resurrection and the testimonies about him are not the natural product of a patriarchal culture.
Now let’s remind ourselves of a few details leading up to our passage today to help have context for these responses.
- At the Crucifixion, right after the Centurion exclaimed that Jesus truly was the Son of God…we read that…- Matthew 27:55–56 - Many women were there looking on from a distance, who had followed Jesus from Galilee while ministering to Him. Among them was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.
So, these are some of the women that are in view in our passage this morning.
Luke 24:10 - Now they were Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James; also the other women with them were telling these things to the apostles.
To which the disciples respond…
Luke 24:11 “But these words appeared to them as nonsense, and they would not believe them.”
They rejected the news of the resurrection of Jesus Christ…as nonsense. Men who would eventually come to be so convinced of this truth because they are eyewitnesses of Jesus when he is alive and be willing to die for this truth.
Jesus is so patient to his disciples and in case we are tempted to think…well they didn’t believe because they were not told in advance Jesus would do this. If they had clear warnings and preparation, they would respond better.
Jesus told his disciples multiple times predicting and preparing them for his death and resurrection. Three times on the way to Jerusalem. First…we see:
Matthew 16:21 - From that time Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised up on the third day.
You remember this passage – this is when Jesus had just told His disciples that He was going to build His church…and the only way that could be possible is if He first died for our sins, was raised from the dead…because otherwise sin-cursed people like you and me could not possibly be forgiven of our sins, could not possibly be reconciled to a Holy God, could not possibly have the kind of new life necessary to cooperate together in an organization called a church…
- and you remember Peter’s response?...Not so Lord…
- and you remember Jesus’ response – Get thee behind me Satan…
and there were many, many times when Jesus told His disciples in advance that this would happen…
The second time…
- Matthew 17:22–23 - And while they were gathering together in Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men; and they will kill Him, and He will be raised on the third day.” And they were deeply grieved.
Then a third time…
Matthew 20:17–19 - As Jesus was about to go up to Jerusalem, He took the twelve disciples aside by themselves, and on the way He said to them, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem; and the Son of Man will be delivered to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn Him to death, and will hand Him over to the Gentiles to mock and scourge and crucify Him, and on the third day He will be raised up.”
- Jesus told them in advance exactly what would happen…
- the women reported the message they had received directly from an angelic messenger from God…
- and when the men heard it – they concluded that it was non-sense…
- Laros – totally devoid of anything worthwhile, idle talk
- Plummer – a word used to describe the delirious talk of the very sick
- I wonder how many people will hear this message today and that’s your response to the Easter message…
- maybe there’s some of the Bible that you like…
- perhaps the moral teachings or non-miraculous ideas that are more palatable to the modern mind…
- but a Savior who died on the cross in my place for the evil things I do and then miraculously rose from the dead on the third day…
- maybe you wouldn’t say it out loud…but in your heart…that’s non-sense…
- friend, the good news is – you’re not the first person to think that…
- the bad news is – you’re dead wrong…and I believe this response is recorded in the Bible to jar men and women out of that unfortunate condition, give faith, and bring new spiritual life…
- And that takes us back to more good news – these men changed their mind…they repented…and this very doctrine became the focus of their lives and ministry…so much so that in the book of Acts, the religious leaders were… Acts 4:2 - being greatly disturbed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead.
- and after they healed a man in Jesus’ name – they explained -- Acts 4:10 - let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by this name this man stands here before you in good health.
- then they said - Acts 4:11–12 - “He is the stone which was rejected by you, the builders, but which became the chief corner stone. “And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.”
And some of the very religious leaders in Acts 4 persecuting Christians for believing in the “non-sense” of the resurrection would come to believe in the resurrection. The religious leader Paul who became an eyewitness to Jesus raised from the dead was once blind to the truth, eventually believes and stands before leaders of government being arrested for speaking about the resurrection.
Acts 26:24-26 – “While Paul was saying this in his defense, Festus said in a loud voice, “Paul, you are out of your mind! Your great learning is driving you mad.” But Paul *said, “I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but I utter words of sober truth. For the king knows about these matters, and I speak to him also with confidence, since I am persuaded that none of these things escape his notice; for this has not been done in a corner.”
If you came in this morning believing that the resurrection is non-sense – God commands you to change your mind…and choose to place your faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ as your hope for the forgiveness for your sins and eternal life with God.
The response of the disciples reminds us that God knows our spiritual condition even better than we do, he knows how blind we are to the most clear and obvious truth about him, and he is more patient than we can imagine to help our unbelief and help us grow in faith and the resurrection assures us he has the power to do so.
Believer in Jesus. You may agree with the facts about Jesus’s resurrection but are struggling to trust the implications and significance of the resurrection in your life. Your mind and heart are responding to the resurrection like its “non-sense.”
For example, the resurrection is evidence that God makes forgiveness available to sinners. But you are continuing to battle with sexual immorality, or bitterness, or sinful anger, or doubt…and your heart is saying… “nonsense!” God isn’t willing to forgive me. The resurrection reminds us…its nonsense to believe that.
You may tell yourself “It’s non-sense…I can’t know God and be with God…I am alone” The resurrection reminds us that’s nonsense. Jesus died and rose again to bring you to God (1 Peter 3:18).
You may tell yourself “Life seems pointless.” The resurrection reminds us that’s nonsense. Jesus died and rose again to give us the ultimate hope and assurance of life and purpose for the glory of God.
As you are experiencing physical suffering you may be thinking “my life is ruined…its only downhill from here…ill never be able to enjoy anything again” The resurrection reminds us that’s nonsense. Jesus’s resurrection gives us hope that our bodies will be raised imperishable (1 Corinthians 15)…
In your suffering you may be thinking “there’s no point to suffering this is all nonsense why God would allow this” The resurrection reminds us that’s nonsense. Jesus’s resurrection reminds us there was great purpose to Jesus suffering for the glory of God and the good of others…Since Jesus is alive he wants to use my suffering for the same purposes.
You may tell yourself Christian… “I can’t change…I don’t have the resources I need to be godly spouse, a parent, a faithful Christian.” The resurrection reminds us that’s nonsense. Because Christ is raised from the dead and the Holy Spirit indwells you…you have all the resources in the heavenly places by the Holy Spirit…the same power that raised Christ from the dead is at work in you.
My point is the response of “non-sense” is not something that these disciples are tempted to belief just at this moment in time, we all respond this way in our hearts at times toward the truths that God has revealed to us and praise God because our Savior lives and not even death could hold him down our perception, our unbelief, or our feelings do not change or undo the reality of what God has done! This is why Jesus is our hope and our Life!
Christian, what area in your life are you thinking and living like the truths of the resurrection are nonsense?
Growth Step: I want to encourage everyone in our church family to make a 1-sheet this week/bookmark. “The Significance of the Resurrection to My Personal Life.” [INSERT PICTURE OF HANDOUT]
List passages about the resurrection and match the significance to your personal doubts and struggles at times in life. I have provided you an example.
II. Disregard – The Resurrection is Impossible – vv. 23:55-24:7
- we could call this – the women stage 1…
- Each detail of the story reminds that they did not have the possibility of the resurrection in their mind.
In verse 55 God tells us that they were not only eyewitnesses to Jesus crucifixion and death as mentioned earlier but also to the specific tomb Jesus was buried. They saw where he was laid.
Luke 23:56 - Then they returned and prepared spices and perfumes. And on the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment.
- but then on the first day Sunday…they remembered the words of Jesus and ran expectantly with great joy knowing Jesus was raised from the dead to hold a massive worship gathering praising God that Jesus was alive…
…not so much… Luke 24:1–But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared.
Jesus being alive was an impossibility to them…they took the time to make, prepare, and wake up early to bring the spices for a dead man.
But they find the stone rolled away from the tomb they had seen last night the body of the Lord Jesus, but now when they entered they did not find the body.
And they were perplexed about this…it was distressing…They expected Jesus is dead and there would be a dead man to anoint.
All the evidence is pointing to only to one possibility…but they disregard it…it can’t be possible!
- Which is why they received a twofold mild rebuke…
- Luke 24:5–7 - … “Why do you seek the living One among the dead? “He is not here, but He has risen. 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.”
- I wonder how many would be living and believing in a way that this consistent with this particular category?
...We are perplexed and confused by God and what Christ has done and so we then disregard the significance of what God has revealed to us through Jesus Christ.
- From our human perspective as creatures “its impossible that Jesus rose from the dead” because we experience and see everyone dies. Nothing seems stronger and more inevitable than death.
But God makes it clear “its not impossible for Jesus to rise.”
What is impossible is for God to be held by the power of death. The power of death is nothing to the Eternal God.
“But God raised Him up again, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power.” Acts 2:24
- if you asked the average person that you know if they believe they will go to heaven…the typical answer is – I hope you, or I think so…rarely would someone say no…They will instead just say heaven is an impossibility.
- but then if you ask them – on what are you basing that hope/belief?...or, what determines whether a person goes to heaven?...
- almost always, you will hear some version if you are a good enough person
- well, I’m a good person (do you ever meet anyone who’s says they are not, btw)
- So if I think I am better than many people I know…I will enter heaven on the basis of the good things I do.
- what’s convenient about this position is that you don’t have to believe many things the Bible says that are unpalatable to modern sensibilities…
- so you can disregard what God says about his character like his holiness…
- you can disregard man’s sinfulness…
- you can disregard the need for Jesus to die for you on the cross…
- you can disregard the reality of His bodily resurrection from the grave…
- you can disregard all sorts of things the Bible says that you find objectionable because you or the culture find impossible or improbable.
- and what do people who hold this position do with the message of Easter?...
- they don’t truly believe it, because let’s face it – a bodily resurrection is impossible…
- what do you think the angel would say to such a person?...and friend, if honestly that’s you today – what do you think the angel would say to you?...[re-read Luke 25:5-7]…
- why not admit your need and place your belief in what He spoke while you have the opportunity to do so?...
God makes it clear… just because something seems to you impossible, perplexing, confusing, it does necessarily follow then that you can deny and disregard it as not true.
Can you imagine using that logic at Purdue for all the students who find Calculus II or a Chemistry class a subject they are learning that confuses them and seems impossible at first for them to understand…?
Despite, the improper interpretation and expectations of the women, God sends two angels to announce the facts and truth even when everything was confusing.
He is not here, but He has risen.
This is where we find our confidence as Christians. We put our hope in the Creator God who knows all, understands all, sees all, including our unbelief, and still keeps his word and testimony to what is true about what he has done.
- a third response is what we see in Peter in verse 12…you could call it…
III. Intrigue – The Resurrection is Interesting – v. 12
- Luke 24:12 - But Peter got up and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen wrappings only; and he went away to his home, marveling at what had happened.
- There is still some confusion, but there is positive sense of wonder and hope.
- maybe it was just like my initial response to 911– I just don’t have a category in my mind for an event like this and I don’t know what to do with it?...
- commentator Darrell Bock notes – “The term for “wonder” here is not one that indicates full faith or understanding, but it does suggest, given that Peter went to investigate, that he was open to the women’s declaration (cf. Luke 1:21, 63; 2:18, 33; 4:22; 8:35; 9:43; 11:14).” Darrell L. Bock Jesus According to the Scriptures : Restoring the Portrait from the Gospels, 396.
- that may be where you find yourself today…you haven’t rejected the message of the resurrection…you haven’t disregarded it…you find it intriguing…you are wondering what it all means…you are curiosity
- what’s the good news and bad news there…
- I suppose it’s better than the first 2 categories…but what?...
- it still falls short of biblical faith…of saving faith…
- friend – intrigue or curiosity alone won’t reconcile you to God…that’s why Paul explained to the pagan philosophers on Mars Hill that God –
Acts 17:31 - because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead.”
- At some point your curiosity/intrigue/ wonder has to respond by returning to Jesus in faith.
- the resurrection is great news to those who have chosen to believe it, but terrifying news to those who haven’t…
- God says he has furnished enough proof by raising Jesus from the dead for you to belief is your Savior and Lord. Peter should see the wrappings left, no grave robber would leave the expensive linens behind or take the time to unwrap the body…Jesus resurrection is the proof just as he most certainly raised from the dead, he most certainly possess the power and authority to judge each of us.
- most Americans, if they know any verse in the Bible, know John 3:16…
- John 3:16 - For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
- The significance of the love of God in this verse is only further shown in the context that we deserve judgment.
- John 3:17–18 - “For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. “He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
Friend, what do you believe?...
- perhaps you’ve heard of an acrobat named Charles Blondin…[Picture]
- Thankfully, there’s one more option…
IV. Acceptance – The Resurrection is My Hope – vv. 8-9
- we could call this – the women stage two…
- they were mildly rebuked by the angel – there’s no doubt about that…
- but wise is a person who takes God’s rebuke well…
- Luke 24:8–10 - And they remembered His words, and returned from the tomb and reported all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. Now they were Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James; also the other women with them were telling these things to the apostles.
"Remembering Jesus' words is vital both for faith (22:61; Acts 11:16; 20:35) and for understanding his death and resurrection." David E. Garland, Luke, ECNT, 942.
All the disciples continue to need the Holy Spirit to remind them of the words that Jesus spoke to them.
- Remembering words of Jesus like it is more blessed to give than receive.
- Remembering we don’t live on bread alone but every word that comes from the mouth of God.
- Remembering that he is preparing a place for us to take us to be with him.
If you are struggling to accept what God has done for you through Jesus Christ, I want to ask you:
How often are you focused on remembering the Words of Jesus?
- it’s amazing what happens in a person’s life when they truly believe the resurrection is their hope…
- just this past Sunday night at our CFN, we had a number of people…just like we do month after month after month…follow the Lord in believer’s baptism…and join our church…
- and they gave testimony to how….they remembered His words…
- they were living in sin…far away from the Lord…
- then they heard the gospel…and in some cases had heard it many, many times…
- but finally they believed it…they truly believed it…
- and because they died to sin and were united with Christ in His resurrection, their lives were dramatically changed…
- does that need to be you this am?...
- There is a powerful illustration of this in the tragic murder at a Christian School in Nashville the week before last…
- six persons were brutally murdered by someone who had rejected the gospel…[the six persons who died]…
- one person who died was the Head of School at Covenant, a 60 year old woman named Katherine Koonce [Please insert her pic]
- during COVID – Mrs. Koonce penned a blog post entitled “Whatever”….Here are a few lines from what she wrote…
This morning I spent some time talking to God about this past week, and a particular word came to mind…the word of the week is whatever. Hold on. Not so fast. This is not the whatever you may be thinking about. This is not the whatever that punctuates so many frustrating conversations. This is not the whatever of the middle-schooler not wanting to continue a conversation. We have come to expect this word to be a response to something we don’t like but can’t avoid. But what I heard is an entirely different case of whatever.
The word whatever occurs over 170 times in the Scriptures, usually indicating wholehearted commitment and obedience – to do whatever God asks of us…perhaps the clearest depiction of whatever is in the book of Philippians. Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – these are the things on which God wants us to dwell. Paul goes on to say that he has “learned to be content whatever the circumstances.”
Daily I need to open my heart to whatever. Whatever God has for our school, whatever the duration of our distance learning, whatever the trials we’re having to endure – we still believe, we are still faithful, we will still love Him wholeheartedly. Whatever difficulties or blessings are evident in our homes, we will seek to do the next right thing. With hands open to whatever, we will make good decisions, we will construct good plans, and we will seek to do whatever pleases God.
When will we open again for campus learning? What will our end-of-year celebrations look like? Will we get to experience our school traditions again together this year? There is no one who wants to return to school more than I do. Yet whatever the rest of our school year holds, we will work to meet each other’s needs, to love each other well, and to prepare our students faithfully. I invite you to join me in a whole-hearted and active pursuit of whatever.
- On the morning of March 27th, Mrs. Koonce was on a Zoom call…and when she realized what was occurring, it would appear that she ran toward the shooter…giving her life in defense of her students…
- that’s the kind of courage that can come from believing in the reality and power of the resurrection…
- friend, please don’t reject the message of the empty tomb…or disregard it, or find it intriguing…
- acknowledge your sin…and accept the message of Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection…- Nearly 2000 years ago, a group of women were used by God to be the very first in that line… those are wise footsteps to follow…
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