By Ken R. Speakman
Member, Tulip Grove Baptist Church, Old Hickory
Focal Passage: Luke 24:1-12
The importance of Jesus’ death is surpassed only by the wonderful news of His resurrection. Without the resurrection we would have no forgiveness of sin, and all preaching and faith would be in vain (I Corinthians 15:14). Since the Jewish leaders had heard Jesus would be raised from the dead, they called a meeting and bribed the solders to say the disciples came and stole His body (Matthew 28; 12-13). This could not happen. The tomb was carefully guarded (Matthew 27:62-66), and it would have been impossible for the frightened apostles to overpower the guards, move the stone, and steal the body. Even though Jesus, on several occasions, told His followers He would suffer and die and be raised from the dead (Matthew 17:23; Luke 9:22), they did not believe Him. So, why would they perpetrate such a hoax? The message of the gospel rests on the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ (I Corinthians 15:3-4).
The events recorded by the gospel writers are nothing short of marvelous. They not only confirm Jesus’ credibility, but provide for believers the assurance of life after death. The appearance of Jesus after His death unfolds with fear, amazement, and outright disbelief on the part of the disciples, but thereafter, it turns to both belief and joyous celebration.
On the first day of the week, several women come to the tomb to finish the burial process (v. 1). They find the stone sealing the tomb rolled away and the body of Jesus missing. Two angels appear and remind them Jesus would be raised from the grave. They remembered and returned to tell the 11 disciples. The words of the women seemed like nonsense to the disciples and they did not believe. Peter and John ran to the tomb, found the grave clothes, and departed.
Later the same day, two discouraged followers were walking from Jerusalem to Emmaus having a vigorous discussion about the recent events (v. 13). Their hopes were shattered. They had hoped He was the Messiah who was going to redeem Israel (v. 21). Unrecognized, Jesus joins them and asks what they are discussing. They marvel that He is unaware of the crucifixion in Jerusalem and wonder if He is a visitor to the area. Cleopas tells Jesus about the prophet who was powerful in word and deed, and how the chief priest handed Him over to be sentenced to death.
Cleopas told Jesus of the early morning events, that some women reported seeing a vision of angels who reported He was alive. Jesus said to them,”Oh how unwise and slow you are to believe in your hearts what the prophets have spoken”
(v. 25). He began to explain the Scriptures to them about Himself. Jesus stays with them to eat and when He breaks the bread they recognize Him and He disappears from their midst. They immediately leave for Jerusalem to tell the others Jesus is alive (vv. 30-33).
On this day of resurrection, Jesus will appear to all the other apostles except Thomas, who was not present at the time. Thomas’ subsequent disbelief is dispelled a week later, when Jesus again appears to the apostles and Thomas sees Jesus and exclaims, “my Lord and my God.”
