By Brent Moore
Pastor to Adults, First Baptist Church, Clarksville
Focal Passage: Luke 24:1-12
The resurrection of Jesus is essential to the Christian faith. The hope of all the followers of Christ hinges on this being true. Jesus spoke often about the events that must transpire in order for Him to complete His mission. The resurrection early that Sunday morning is Jesus coming through on His promise.
In the passage women are coming to the tomb with spices for the body. They are the first group introduced who did not realize Christ would really be raised from the dead. They are met by two beings who appear to be men, but the women quickly discern they are more than mere men and are terrified. The beings question their “looking for the living among the dead.” The reason is because it was certain Christ would rise. Jesus assured these events would unfold while He was on earth.
The death and resurrection referenced by the two “men” is the heart of the gospel. Jesus came to die so that we might live. The Scriptures present both a sovereign control of God over the events occurring in Passion Week and the outcome being because He was “betrayed into the hands of sinful men.” Either way it is clear Jesus is laying down His life. John 10:18 says, “No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down on My own. I have the right to lay it down, and I have the right to take it up again.” The women and soon the disciples are experiencing Jesus taking up His life again.
Resurrection is about new life and new beginnings. The events that occur after the resurrection turn the world upside down. Eventually many go out from Jerusalem telling of the works and wonders of God calling men and women everywhere to turn to the Lord. The effects of the resurrection are not only on a historical, global scale but also individual. Paul in Romans makes clear it is about people coming into a right relationship with God. It is about people having faith in Jesus and forgiveness for their sins. “It (righteousness) will be credited to us who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. He was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.”
Truth often comes from the strangest places. The ladies in these verses heard from angelic beings and the apostles heard from a group of women and it “seemed like nonsense.” There are spiritual forces still at work in the world today. God loves to take the needle of truth in a haystack of chaos and pierce hearts. During the Easter season there needs to be sensitivity to what God wants to do outside the norm. He may be calling many individuals to repentance, restoring fractured relationships years in the undoing, or granting an extended measure of faith to His children. The important thing is to be open to the Lord’s leading.
The passage ends with amazement “at what had happened.” We are to step back and be amazed at God’s work in our lives and in the lives of those around us. It is no small thing that the creator of the universe entered creation and died so that we might live. He is also continually in love bringing men and women over and over again to Himself.
The declaration at the empty tomb leads not only to salvation but an inheritance. It is a double blessing. Knowledge of who God is and what He has done is rewarding now and forevermore. So that, according to Ephesians “we who had already put our hope in the Messiah might bring praise to His glory.”
— Moore is pastor to adults at First Baptist Church, Clarksville.
