Luke 24:1-8 | Part 2
Three kinds of mindset here today:
1.) Those of you who know Jesus, and have been changed forever by what He has done
2.) Those of you who are religious because you feel like you should attend church at Easter and it’s a part of your culture
3.) Those of you who are genuinely searching. Wondering. And hoping..that this could be true...
A three-year ministry of a 30-year-old man, now 33 years old..
33-year-old men stand up. Look at them church!
A man who had boldly and clearly called himself God. Who had healed many from horrible diseases and afflictions and had brought many back from death
This man was physically abused, tortured, and crucified. For one reason only. My sin, and your sin.
Sin kills. Sometimes quickly..sometimes over years. But make no mistake. It kills.
Jesus saves. He offers life to the desperate, and hope to those who have none left.
Here is the scene: Jesus has been dead since Friday. It’s Sunday morning after the Sabbath which is for the Jewish people on Saturday.
Luke 24:1 | On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came to the tomb, bringing the spices they had prepared.
Joanna, high society woman married to Herods house manager
Three Mary's: Jesus Mom, Mary Madeleine, and mother of James and John
It’s Sunday, the Jewish first day of the week
Just a week ago, they had all come into Jerusalem with Jesus and He had been treated like a King
He had cleared the temple, taught the people, rebuked the Pharisees, been betrayed by one of his own disciples, been arrested, beaten, and hung on a cross, the worst of punishments reserved only for criminals
They came to the tomb knowing that Jesus was dead.
This amazing time they had had with Jesus was done. Ministry, done. Relationship, done. No hope. No future.
Luke 24:2 | They found the stone rolled away from the tomb. 3 They went in but did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.
They had left saddened, defeated, and done
What they came upon was not even understandable
The grave was empty!
The tomb was a cave. You could walk in it.
If you had a loved one buried in a place like this and went to see them, and it was open, you would go in and investigate it as well
Luke 24:4-5 | While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men stood by them in dazzling clothes. 5 So the women were terrified and bowed down to the ground. “Why are you looking for the living among the dead?” asked the men.
They go in and behind them walk two men in dazzling clothes
They bow to the ground out of respect and fear, not worship. Angels don’t allow themselves to be worshipped.
Then they ask a question they didn’t expect:
Luke 24:6-7 | “He is not here, but He has been resurrected! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, 7 saying, ‘The Son of Man must be betrayed into the hands of sinful men, be crucified, and rise on the third day’ ?”
Jesus was gone
Jesus had been brought back from the dead
Jesus was fulfilling not only prophecy from the OT but His own
Matthew 20:18-19 | “See, we are going up to Jerusalem. And the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death and deliver him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified, and he will be raised on the third day.”
a personal prophecy that He would be raised from the dead
28 prophecies, at least, from the OT were fulfilled on the day Jesus was crucified
Yet, the disciples did not understand Him. Yet.
Luke 24:8 | And they remembered His words.
They believed.
John 2:22 | So when He was raised from the dead, His disciples remembered that He had said this. And they believed the Scripture and the statement Jesus had made.
Today, you can believe that Jesus died for your sin
That He lives today and prays for you to the Father
He desires to have a relationship with you.
He chooses to do this regardless of your sin state.
1.) God has chosen you
John 15:16 | You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.
2.) Jesus has paid for your sins on the cross
1st John 1:9 | If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
3.) Holy Spirit is giving you a new purpose
1st Peter 2:21 | For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.