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 gleaming clothing;
5 and as the women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why are you seeking 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 handed over to sinful men, and be crucified, and on the third day rise from the dead.”
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 these women were Mary Magdalene, 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 the women.
12 Nevertheless, Peter got up and ran to the tomb; and when he stooped and looked in, he *saw the linen wrappings only; and he went away to his home, marveling at what had happened.
The Empty Tomb
The words of the angels
“The first day of the week” refers to Sunday. The women, unable to sit still, hurried to Jesus’ tomb at daybreak. Luke tells us that the women who went to the tomb were “Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and also the other women with them.” When they arrived, they found that the stone they were worried about had been rolled away, and the tomb was empty. Then two angels appeared and told them the news that Jesus had risen. Let us also receive comfort from the words of the angels. (1) The angels directed the women’s attention away from the empty tomb and toward the living Jesus. Are you pondering whether the resurrection is true? What is most important is to set your eyes on the Lord Jesus, who is alive even now. (2) The angels taught that Jesus’ resurrection was the fulfillment of prophecy. (3) The words of the angels produced faith within the women. From that moment, their way of life was changed. When we, too, look up to the risen Jesus, we are set free from a life of despair and are able to live with purpose.
The words of the women
The women, now confident in Jesus’ resurrection, began to speak words of faith. (1) As eyewitnesses of the empty tomb and messengers of the angels’ announcement, they reported everything that had happened to the eleven apostles. Their transformed lives had already made them begin their work as evangelists. (2) However, even the apostles found it hard to believe that Jesus had risen. It seems that only Peter ran to the tomb to see for himself (the Gospel of John records that John went with him). The testimony of the women seemed to the apostles to be “nonsense.” The word “nonsense” was a medical term used at that time to describe the rambling speech of someone who was mentally deranged. In Jewish society of that time, a woman’s testimony carried little importance. Yet God chose those very women, who were often looked down upon, to be the first witnesses of Jesus’ resurrection. Let us praise the Lord who uses the weak. The disciples needed further proof before they could believe. How about you? The women, and later the disciples, witnessed the resurrection of Jesus on our behalf. The reliability of God’s Word and the truthful testimony of the disciples – are these not enough? Our Lord Jesus is alive today and is able to save us.
Today's prayer
Father God of Jesus Christ, I believe that the Lord Jesus is alive today. The greatest enemy in life – death – no longer has power to torment me. Please transform me into one who boldly testifies to the resurrection of Jesus. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.