Dec 25
7
Old Testament Reading: Jonah 1 & 2
“Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, ‘Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it, for their evil has come up before me.’ But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD. He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish. So he paid the fare and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish, away from the presence of the LORD. But the LORD hurled a great wind upon the sea, and there was a mighty tempest on the sea, so that the ship threatened to break up. Then the mariners were afraid, and each cried out to his god. And they hurled the cargo that was in the ship into the sea to lighten it for them. But Jonah had gone down into the inner part of the ship and had lain down and was fast asleep. So the captain came and said to him, ‘What do you mean, you sleeper? Arise, call out to your god! Perhaps the god will give a thought to us, that we may not perish’ And they said to one another, ‘Come, let us cast lots, that we may know on whose account this evil has come upon us.’ So they cast lots, and the lot fell on Jonah. Then they said to him, ‘Tell us on whose account this evil has come upon us. What is your occupation? And where do you come from? What is your country? And of what people are you?’ And he said to them, ‘I am a Hebrew, and I fear the LORD, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land.’ Then the men were exceedingly afraid and said to him, ‘What is this that you have done!’ For the men knew that he was fleeing from the presence of the LORD, because he had told them. Then they said to him, ‘What shall we do to you, that the sea may quiet down for us?’ For the sea grew more and more tempestuous. He said to them, ‘Pick me up and hurl me into the sea; then the sea will quiet down for you, for I know it is because of me that this great tempest has come upon you.’ Nevertheless, the men rowed hard to get back to dry land, but they could not, for the sea grew more and more tempestuous against them. Therefore they called out to the LORD, ‘O LORD, let us not perish for this man’s life, and lay not on us innocent blood, for you, O LORD, have done as it pleased you.’ So they picked up Jonah and hurled him into the sea, and the sea ceased from its raging. Then the men feared the LORD exceedingly, and they offered a sacrifice to the LORD and made vows. And the LORD appointed a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights. [Chapter 2] Then Jonah prayed to the LORD his God from the belly of the fish, saying, ‘I called out to the LORD, out of my distress, and he answered me; out of the belly of Sheol I cried, and you heard my voice. For you cast me into the deep, into the heart of the seas, and the flood surrounded me; all your waves and your billows passed over me. Then I said, ‘I am driven away from your sight; yet I shall again look upon your holy temple.’ The waters closed in over me to take my life; the deep surrounded me; weeds were wrapped about my head at the roots of the mountains. I went down to the land whose bars closed upon me forever; yet you brought up my life from the pit, O LORD my God. When my life was fainting away, I remembered the LORD, and my prayer came to you, into your holy temple. Those who pay regard to vain idols forsake their hope of steadfast love. But I with the voice of thanksgiving will sacrifice to you; what I have vowed I will pay. Salvation belongs to the LORD!’ And the LORD spoke to the fish, and it vomited Jonah out upon the dry land.” (Jonah 1-2, ESV)
New Testament Reading: Luke 24:1-12
“But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, ‘Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.’ And they remembered his words, and returning from the tomb they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. Now it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles, but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. But Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home marveling at what had happened.” (Luke 24:1–12, ESV)
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Please excuse any typos and misspellings within this manuscript. It has been published online for the benefit of the saints of Emmaus Reformed Baptist Church, but without the benefit of proofreading.
Introduction
I’ll begin with a question. What event was more important? The death of Jesus Christ on the cross, or his resurrection from the dead? Very soon, I’ll admit that we do not really need to choose between the two, for the two events go together. Without one, the other loses all its power to save. But it is an interesting question to consider. By distinguishing between the death of Christ and his resurrection, we can consider what was accomplished through each.
As we think about the death of Christ on the cross, we confess that it was there on the cross that the work required for our redemption was completed (see John 17:4; John 19:30). There on the cross, our salvation was earned and secured (see Ephesians 1:11; Hebrews 9:15). Jesus atoned for our sins when he bled and died on the cross (see Matthew 26:27-28; Romans 3:25; Hebrews 2:17; 1 John 2:2; 1 John 4:10). There he bore the wrath of God in our place (Matthew 27:46) and paid the full ransom price for our freedom (Matthew 20:28; 1 Timothy 2:6). It should be clear to all, that without the cross of Christ, there is no salvation, for there on the cross our salvation was earned.
Furthermore, we must confess that when Jesus’ body was laid in the grave and his soul descended to Sheol, there was no more work for Jesus to do. His body rested in the tomb on the Sabbath day. His soul rested in Paradise. There, Jesus proclaimed that the victory had been won. And it was because the victory had been won that Jesus was raised in glory on the third day.
In fact, given Jesus’ person and work, it was inevitable that Jesus was raised from the dead. Given the work he had completed—given his active and passive obedience— he could not remain dead but had to be raised. This is what Peter said when he preached to the Jews on the day of Pentecost:
“Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it. For David says concerning him [in Psalm 16:8-11], ‘I saw the Lord always before me, for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken; therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; my flesh also will dwell in hope. For you will not abandon my soul to Hades, or let your Holy One see corruption. You have made known to me the paths of life; you will make me full of gladness with your presence.’ Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne, he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses.” (Acts 2:22–32, ESV)
As I have said, Jesus couldn’t be held by death, given who he is and what he had done.
The crucifixion of Christ was vital to the accomplishment of our redemption, but so too was Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. If Jesus died and remained dead, we would be without hope. It is only because Jesus Christ was raised from the dead that we have the forgiveness of our sins and new life in him. It is only because Christ was raised from the dead bodily that we will be raised bodily too. It is only because he was raised to life in glory that we have the sure hope of life in glory with him. You see, Christ did not only come to live for sinners (so that we might be given his righteousness), and to die for sinners (so that our sins would be atoned for and washed away. No, Jesus also came to be raised for sinners, so that we might be raised to life in him. It is only because Jesus was raised from the dead that we have new life (regeneration) in him, are cleansed by him, and have the sure hope of life in glory in him. If Jesus were not raised, then he would have no power to save.
And so the Apostle says,
“if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain… And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied. But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:14–23, ESV).
It should be clear to all that the death of Christ was of paramount importance. But equally important is his resurrection. In fact, these two events are inseparable. They are not really two events, but two vitally important parts of God’s plan of redemption. I suppose the same can be said of all that was done by Jesus Christ for the accomplishment of our redemption. How are we saved? How has Christ redeemed us from our sin and misery? How are we rescued from death (in Adam) and brought to life in glory? Through the birth, life, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ, the eternally begotten Son of God incarnate. It is only through union with Christ that we are made alive! In him we have life because he lives. In him, we will enter into glory, because he has entered into glory.
All who are born into this world physically are born “in Adam”. Adam is the head of the human race, and so we have Adam as our covenant head by natural birth. How then do we come to be “in Christ”? We are united to Christ by faith, and this faith is the gift of God. Our ability to truly see and believe in Jesus is brought about by the new birth (see John 1:12-14; 3:1-15; 6:44, 56). All of this is a gift from the Father, who is love. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16, ESV). What does it mean that God the Father “gave his only Son”? This single act of giving involved many things, including the birth, life, death, burial, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus. In this way—through his humiliation and exultation—through his descent and ascent—he has accomplished our salvation. And this salvation is received by all who believe and trust in him truly.
The Apostle Paul is right. The death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus are all of first importance. This is what he says in 1 Corinthians 15:3-4: “For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures…” (1 Corinthians 15:3–4, ESV).
The point of the passage open before us today in Luke is this: Jesus is risen; he is risen indeed! In fact, this is the main point of the entire 24th chapter of Luke’s gospel, for here Luke piles up witness to Jesus’ resurrection. Here we find three witnesses to the empty tomb: a group of women, two angels, and Peter.
The Women
First, let us consider the testimony of the women.
In verse 1, we read, “But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared” (Luke 24:1, ESV). “They” refers back to the women who were mentioned in 23:55-56. There we read, “The women who had come with [Jesus] from Galilee followed [Joseph of Arimethea] and saw the tomb and how [Jesus’] body was laid. Then they returned and prepared spices and ointments. On the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment” (Luke 23:55–56, ESV). It was these women who then returned at early dawn to show honor to Jesus’ body by adding the spices they had prepared on the Day of Preparation to the 75 pounds of myrrh and aloes that Nicoduemous had applied. In Luke 24:10, we learn who these women were: “Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and… other women with them” (Luke 24:10, ESV) (see Matthew 27:56; Mark 15:40, 41; John 19:25; John 20:1, 18).
These women had followed Jesus closely in the days of his earthly ministry. It was in Luke 8:1 that we read, “Soon afterward [Jesus] went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with him, and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, and Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s household manager, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their means” (Luke 8:1–3, ESV). Not only did these women follow Jesus closely in the days of his earthly ministry, but they also drew near to Jesus in his death. Consider their love for Jesus. Consider their bravery. Consider their devotion to Christ.
In verse 2, we read, “And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb…” (Luke 24:2, ESV). I should probably describe what the tomb that Jesus was laid in was like. It was not a grave as we know it. It was like a cave—either a natural one, or one that had been cut into the rock. After Jesus’ body was placed in the tomb, a round stone was rolled in front of it to block the entrance.
Matthew says that the stone was “a great stone” (Matthew 27:60). Mark says, “it was very large” (Mark 16:4). Customarily, these large round stones would be rolled into an indentation in the rock to lock them securely in place. So large were these stones that it would have been impossible for one man to move them. In fact, Mark tells us that the women who went to the tomb knew that they would not be able to move it as a group. As they went to the tomb, “they were saying to one another, ‘Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb? And looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled back—it was very large” (Mark 16:4, ESV).
Not only was the stone very large and impossible for one man, or even a group of women, to move. We must remember that the entrance to Jesus’ tomb had been sealed and a band of soldiers had been assigned to guard it (see Matthew 27:62 -66). What happened to these soldiers, and who, exactly, broke the seal and rolled this stone away? Luke does not tell us, but Matthew does. In Matthew 28:1 we read, “Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men” (Matthew 28:1–4, ESV).
The Angels
This brings us now to the witness of the angels.
Matthew mentions one angel sitting on top of the stone that he had rolled away. He tells us that the angel greeted the women when they arrived, saying, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay” (Matthew 28:5–6, ESV). Luke picks the story up after this. Verse 3: “but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, ‘Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen” (Luke 24:4–6, ESV).
Note two things about verses 3-6. First of all, this is the first time that Luke refers to Jesus as “the Lord Jesus”. If it were not for Mark 16:19, this would be the first occurrence of this title in the New Testament. But as I have said, here in Luke 24:3, Luke refers to Jesus as “the Lord Jesus” for the very first time. This is significant because Jesus is often referred to as “the Lord Jesus” in Luke’s second volume, the Book of Acts. In Acts, Jesus is called “the Lord Jesus” eighteen times. Secondly, this title for Jesus is used for the first time in connection with Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. Question: When did Jesus of Nazareth become the Lord Jesus? Answer: When he rose from the dead in victory. It was then that he, the God-man, began his ascent. It was then that he entered into the estate of glory. It was then, at the resurrection, that all things in heaven and earth were subjected to him. True, the Lord Jesus was enthroned as King when he ascended to the Father and sat down at his right hand, but all authority in heaven and earth was given to him when he was raised (see Matthew 28:18). It is for this reason that Luke refers to him, for the first time, the Lord Jesus Christ.
If we consider Jesus Christ from the vantage point of his divine nature, then we must confess that he is the eternal LORD, the creator and sustainer of all things. Considered from this vantage point, Jesus did not become LORD, but always has been and ever shall be. But when we consider the man Jesus, we must confess that all authority in heaven and earth was given to him after he won the victory over sin, Satan, and death and was raised from the dead.
This is what the Apostle has in mind when he says, “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:5–11, ESV).
When the women entered the tomb, they were greeted by angels. Angels greeted them because the heavenly hosts have an interest in God’s plan of redemption (see 1 Peter 1:12), and they are his messengers and servants (see Hebrews 1:14). These angels (we do not know their names) were blessed to deliver the greatest news of all for mankind: “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen” (Luke 24:5–6, ESV). After this, the angels served these women by reminding them of Jesus’ words. Verse 6: “He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise” (Luke 24:6–7, ESV).
Isn’t it incredible how slow and forgetful we can sometimes be? As disciples of Jesus, we hear the word of Christ read and preached, but we are often slow learners. We listen poorly. We quickly forget the precious words we have heard. May the Lord have mercy on us. This was even true of the original disciples of Jesus who walked with him in the days of his earthly ministry.
Luke records three instances wherein Jesus foretold, not only his death, but also his resurrection on the third day. In Luke 9:22, we read, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised” (Luke 9:22, ESV). In Luke 11:29, Jesus spoke to the crowds, saying, “This generation is an evil generation. It seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah. For as Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so will the Son of Man be to this generation” (Luke 11:29-30, ESV). And in Luke 18:31 we read, “And taking the twelve, he said to them, ‘See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written about the Son of Man by the prophets will be accomplished. For he will be delivered over to the Gentiles and will be mocked and shamefully treated and spit upon. And after flogging him, they will kill him, and on the third day he will rise.’ But they understood none of these things. This saying was hidden from them, and they did not grasp what was said” (Luke 18:31–34, ESV).
That little remark, “this saying was hidden from them”, is interesting. Why did God hide this saying from the disciples of Jesus? Why would he allow them to remain ignorant concerning the death and resurrection of Christ? This is a difficult question. Perhaps we will never know for sure, at least not in this life. But I would like to present you with one possible reason. Perhaps one of the greatest proofs for the truthfulness of the resurrection of Jesus is this: the disciples of Jesus did not expect it. They were shocked when he was arrested, unjustly condemned, and killed. They were given over to hopelessness and despair. The thought that Jesus would be raised from the dead wasn’t even on their minds. When the women went to the tomb, they brought the spices they had prepared. Why? Because they fully expected to find the body of Jesus there. And when they returned to share the news that he had risen with the other disciples, everyone doubted them. Jesus had to prove to his disciples that he had risen from the grave, and so he did, as we will see. Nothing less than undeniable proof that he is risen would move these men and women to sacrifice all for the sake of Christ in the future.
Why were these sayings of Jesus regarding his death and third-day resurrection hidden from his disciples so that they did not understand? Perhaps it was so that we might have this evidence for the truthfulness of the resurrection. The disciples were all filled with doubt and dismay, disbelief and despair, but Christ overcame all of that by proving that he was alive. Then why did Jesus bother to predict his death and third-day resurrection at all, if the disciples would not understand? It was so the angel could say, “He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise” (Luke 24:6–7, ESV). The disciples could not comprehend the saying when it was first delivered to them, but they could remember the saying once reminded about it, and this further strengthened their faith that these things were true. The death, burial, and resurrection of Christ were not accidents. No, they were planned. Jesus predicted these events. The Scriptures fortold them. And they were accomplished according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God from all eternity.
Peter
This brings us now to Peter.
Look at verse 8. “And [the women] remembered [Jesus’] words, and returning from the tomb they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. Now it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles, but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. But Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home marveling at what had happened.” (Luke 24:8–12, ESV)
Briefly, notice four things about this portion of our text.
One, though the disciples of Jesus were despondent and doubting, they were together. Dear brothers and sisters, do not neglect assembling with the saints during times of discouragement or doubt. It is often when we are assembled together that words of will come. It is when we are assembled that the risen Christ meets with his people to strengthen us with his word.
Two, notice that what I said just a moment ago about the disciples being filled with despair and doubt is true. They were not looking for the death and resurrection of Christ. No, they were distraught over his death and oblivious to his resurrection. When the women returned from the tomb to share the good news, “but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them” (Luke 24:11, ESV). Nothing less than proof of Christ’s resurrection would overcome the doubting minds of the apostles.
Three, notice that Peter, the one who denied Jesus three times, was there with the others. Peter’s fall was great, but he was repentant. He did not run away from the other apostles, and they did not shun him. Was he restored by Christ? Not yet. But there he remained with the others. And so it should be us. When we fall into sin, we must not absent ourselves from the fellowship, but turn from our sins, draw near to God through Christ, and remain with Christ’s people.
Four, Luke tells us that it was Peter who ran to the tomb to see if the story that the women told was true. John tells us in his Gospel that he also ran to the tomb. Peter ran first. John ran after him and was faster, so John came to the tomb first. But John waited at the door, and so Peter entered first (see John 20:3-9). Luke does not mention John. He focuses on Peter to show that Peter’s love for Jesus remained. Judas betrayed Jesus, and Peter denied Jesus. The sins of both these men were terrible. But Judas and Peter were very different. Judas was a wicked man whose faith was false. Peter was a weak man whose faith was true. His love for Jesus, though imperfect, was true (see John 21:15-23).
Conclusion
Friends, Christ is risen, he is risen indeed. And it is only because Christ is risen that we have the forgiveness of our sins and the hope of life everlasting. We have considered three witnesses to the resurrection of Christ today: the women who were the first to see the empty tomb, the angels, and Peter. We will encounter more witnesses as we work our way through this final chapter in Luke’s Gospel in the weeks to come. May the Lord bless us with strong faith in the Lord Jesus, our crucified and risen Savior.
