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.    

Old Testament Reading: Psalm 16

“A MIKTAM OF DAVID. Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge. I say to the LORD, ‘You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you.’ As for the saints in the land, they are the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight. The sorrows of those who run after another god shall multiply; their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out or take their names on my lips. The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot. The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance. I bless the LORD who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me. I have set the LORD always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure. For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption. You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” (Psalm 16, ESV)

New Testament Reading: Luke 23:50-56

“Now there was a man named Joseph, from the Jewish town of Arimathea. He was a member of the council, a good and righteous man, who had not consented to their decision and action; and he was looking for the kingdom of God. This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then he took it down and wrapped it in a linen shroud and laid him in a tomb cut in stone, where no one had ever yet been laid. It was the day of Preparation, and the Sabbath was beginning. The women who had come with him from Galilee followed and saw the tomb and how his body was laid. Then they returned and prepared spices and ointments. On the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment.” (Luke 23:50–56, 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

It was in Luke 23:46 that we heard about the death of Jesus. There we read, “Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, ‘Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!’ And having said this he breathed his last” (Luke 23:46, ESV). 

Where did the spirit, or soul, of the man Jesus go when he died? His soul went to Paradise (see Luke 23:43), that is, into the place of comfort within Sheol or Hades, which is sometimes called Abraham’s bosom (see Luke 16:22). Immediately before Jesus breathed his last breath, he committed his human spirit, or soul, to God the Father. And we know that God the Father was faithful to keep Jesus’ soul, for on the third day, Jesus was raised from the dead. His human soul, which was separated from his human body at death, was reunited with his resurrected and glorified body. This was to fulfill the prophecy of Psalm 16:10, wherein King David says, “For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol…” (Psalm 16:10, ESV). 

But as you know, human beings are made up of two parts. We have souls, and we have bodies.  And so it is with the man Jesus. So where did the body of Jesus go after he died? Answer: His body went where all human bodies should go when they die, namely, into the grave. So then, the soul of Jesus went where all souls would go before the resurrection of Christ, namely, into Sheol. And his body went where all human bodies should go after death, namely, into the grave. 

You say, Why does it matter where the body and soul of Jesus went after death? It matters immensely! And the importance of this will become clear when we remember that Jesus was on a rescue mission. The eternal Son of God descended for us and for our salvation. He, being the eternal begotten Son from the Father, took to himself a true human nature, body and soul, so that he might redeem and rescue human beings, body and soul. 

It was as a human being that Jesus kept God’s law and suffered to pay the price of our redemption. It was as a human being that he shed his blood to make atonement for the sins of many. And it was as a human being that Jesus Christ tasted death for everyone. This is what Hebrews 2:9 says:“But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone” (Hebrews 2:9, ESV).

What does it mean that Jesus tasted death? It means that he truly experienced it. Jesus really died on that cross. He suffered all the way to the point of death, and having breathed his last, he entered into death. Once his work was finished, his human soul was separated from his human body. His soul went to Sheol. His body was placed in the grave. And on the third day, it was from the dead that he was raised. 

And why did Jesus have to taste death? Answer: So that he might defeat it for us.  This is what Hebrews 2:14 says: “Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery” (Hebrews 2:14–15, ESV). Friends, it was by tasting or experiencing death—it was by entering into it, body and soul—that Jesus Christ has defeated death for his people, and has thus freed us from the fear of death.   

As I have said, we must remeber that Jesus was on a rescue mission. If hostages are taken by an enemy force, what will be required to obtain their freedom if negotiations fail? Special forces will need to be sent in to set the captives free. And it will not do for them to fight from a distance. They will need to go in—all the way in—to confront the enemy face to face, to defeat them, and to lead the captives to freedom. This is what Jesus did when he died. He did merely come close to death. He did not experience it only for a moment. No, he entered all the way in. He tasted or experienced death for his people. His soul went to Sheol. Why? So that he, having defeated sin and Satan through his obedient life and sacrificial death, might defeat death too, and open the doors of Sheol. And his body was placed in the grave. Why? So that he might open the doors of the grave. And to be clear, Jesus has opened the doors of Sheol and the grave, not for himself only, but for all who are united to him by faith. This is why he spoke to the Apostle John, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades” (Revelation 1:17–18, ESV). What do keys do except lock and unlock doors? And Jesus Christ entered into Sheol and the grave so that he might unlock the doors for his people and set the captives free. 

It was in Luke 23:46 that Christ committed his soul into the hands of God the Father. Here in the text that is open before us today, we consider the body of Jesus. Just as Jesus knew that God the Father would not abandon his soul to Sheol, so too, he knew that God would not allow his body to see corruption or decay, but that his body would be raised on the third day (see Luke 18:33). This was to fulfill to the second half of Psalm 16:10, wherein King David, who trusted in Christ and was a type of the Christ to come, said, “For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption” (see also Acts 2:27-31, 13:34-39).

Dear friends, Jesus died to save his people from the fear of death by defeating death for us, In the text that is open before us, Luke presents two sets of witnesses concerning Jesus’ death.  The first is Joseph of Aramethia and his companions. The second group is the women who followed close behind to see where his body was placed. We will briefly consider these two sets of witnesses, and we will learn some things along the way.  

 Joseph Of Arimathea

The man named Joseph is introduced in verses 50-51. Luke tells us a few things about him: One, Joseph was a Jew from the town of Arimathea. Two, he was a member of the council, that is to say, the Sanhedrin, who had unjustly condemned Jesus and pressured Pilate to put Jesus to death. Three, he was a good and righteous man. This does not mean he was sinless or righteous before God in and of himself, but that he was good and righteous, relatively speaking. He was not a wicked hypocrite like most of the other members of the council. His faith was sincere, and his heart was relatively pure. His goodness and his righteousness were shown in that he, fourthly, “had not consented to [the council’s] decision and action…” (Luke 23:51, ESV). I think you will agree that this was a bold and courageous act. When the majority is moving decisively in one direction, it takes courage to stand against them and to withhold consent, and this is what Joseph of Arimathia did. He did not believe that Jesus was guilty or worthy of death, and so he opposed the majority. Fifthly, Luke tells us that this Joseph “was looking for the kingdom of God” (Luke 23:51, ESV). This means he was looking for the arrival of the Messiah, the son promised to King David, whose kingdom would never come to an end (2 Samuel 7:12-13), and for the New Covenant (Jeremiah 31:31-34)—all of which were promised in the Old Testament Scriptures. When Luke tells us that Joseph of Aramathia was looking for the kingdom of God, it not only tells us something about him (that his faith was sincere), but it also implies that most of the others serving on the council were not really looking for it. Their eyes were fixed on this earth and the kingdoms of this earth. Their treasure and their hope were here on earth, and so they put Jesus to death, because he was a threat to them. But Joseph of Arimathea was a spiritually minded man. He was looking for the kingdom of God (see Matthew 6:25-34).

We learn a little more about this man from the other Gospels. Mark tells us that he was a “respected member of the council” (Mark 15:43). This indicates that he was well respected by the others on the council. His decision to withhold his consent was significant, therefore, but it did not stop the bloodthirsty majority from committing this heinous act. Matthew tells us that he was a rich man (see Matthew 27:57). Matthew also says that Joseph was “a disciple of Jesus” (Matthew 27:57). And John says the same thing in his Gospel, but he adds this remark: “but secretly for fear of the Jews” (John 19:38). 

[This is fascinating to me. We know that twelve followed Jesus closely in the days of his earthly ministry.  We know that there were seventy other disciples besides the twelve. We also know that hundreds, and at times, perhaps thousands, followed Jesus at a distance. But here we discover that some were disciples of Jesus secretly. These heard the teachings of Jesus and considered his works from afar. At some point, they came to believe in the mind and heart, but kept it private. This was the case with this wealthy and highly respected member of the Jewish Sanhedrin. For some time—we do not know how long; was it days or months? The Scriptures do not say—Joseph “was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews…” (John 19:38, ESV). Dear friends, though it is possible to be a disciple of Jesus privately for a short time, it is impossible to remain private about it (see Matthew 10:32-33). At some point, a true disciple of Jesus will openly identify with their Lord and Savior. At some point, the faith that is hidden in their heart will need to be professed (see 1 Timothy 6:12). At some point, the one who believes in the heart must confess that Jesus is their Lord. As the Scriptures say, “if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved” (Romans 10:10, ESV). Under the New Covenant, this public profession or confession is made, not only with the lips, but once through water Baptism, and again and again at the Lord’s Table. It may be that some listening to this sermon are, up to this point, secret disciples of Jesus. Friend, if this describes you—if you are a disciple of Jesus secretly in the heart—the time has come for you to profess your faith and to openly confess that Jesus is your Lord. A true disciple of Jesus may keep their faith hidden and private for a time, but no true disciple of Jesus will keep it hidden for long. Those who trust in Jesus truly and love him sincerely will not remain silent about their devotion to him.] 

Joseph of Aramathia knew that the time had come for him to cease being a secret disciple of Jesus and to be open about it. And consider the bold and courageous way in which he emerged from the shadows. In verse 52, Luke tells us that “This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.” This proves that Joseph was a powerful and well-respected man—he had access to Pilate. Mark tells us in his Gospel that “Pilate was surprised to hear that [Jesus] should have already died. And summoning the centurion, he asked him whether he was already dead” (Mark 15:44, ESV). This was likely the same centurion who oversaw the crucifixions that day, and when he saw Jesus breathe his last breath, he gave glory to God and said, “Certainly this man was innocent!” (Luke 23:47, ESV), and “Truly this was the Son of God!” (Matthew 27:54, ESV). Notice this, brothers and sisters: It was not the close, intimate disciples of Jesus who testified to Jesus’ death, but those on the outside—a Roman Centurion and a respected member of the Sanhedrin. Jesus really died. The Gospel writers want us to be sure of that, and so they present credible witnesses—the Roman centurion and Joseph of Aramathia, a respected member of the council who had much to lose by identifying with Jesus by showing him honor in his death.   

It was Joseph of Arimathea who went to Pilate to ask for the body of Jesus. And after Pilate had investigated to be sure that Jesus was really dead, he permitted Joseph to have Jesus’ body so that it might be properly buried. Verse 53: “Then he took it down and wrapped it in a linen shroud and laid him in a tomb cut in stone, where no one had ever yet been laid” (Luke 23:53, ESV). It should be clear to all that it would have been impossible for Joseph to take the body of Jesus down from the cross of his own. Others (perhaps Roman soldiers) must have helped him. If Jesus was not dead, these others who handled his body would have known. And John tells us in his Gospel that Nicodemus, who was also a ruler of the Jews, “who earlier had come to Jesus by night [see John 3:1-15], came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds in weight” (John 19:39, ESV), and they they, together, “took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews” (John 19:40, ESV). When Jesus was placed in this grave, which was likely owned by Joseph of Arimathea, it fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah 53:9, which says, “And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth” (Isaiah 53:9, ESV).

The Women

There was another group of people who could see that Jesus was truly dead and witnessed his burial in that tomb, namely, the female disciples of Jesus who had followed him from Galilee. In verse 54 we read, “It was the day of Preparation, and the Sabbath was beginning. The women who had come with him from Galilee followed and saw the tomb and how his body was laid. Then they returned and prepared spices and ointments. On the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment” (Luke 23:54–56, ESV).

In addition to the Roman centurion and Joseph of Aramathian and his companions, these women were witnesses to Jesus’ death and burial. They followed Joseph and Nicodemus to the tomb. They saw the tomb and how Jesus’ body was laid. They were witnesses. And because it was the day of Preparation—that is to say, Friday, the day before the original, seventh-day Sabbath—and because the Sabbath was about to begin with the setting of the sun, they returned to where they were staying, and prepared spices and ointments, with which they intended to further honor the body of Jesus. But notice, they would not violate the commandment of God; rather, “On the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment” (Luke 23:56, ESV). 

Luke’s emphasis on the timing of Jesus’ death and burial in relation to the Sabbath is interesting to consider. Luke stresses that, “It was the day of Preparation, and the Sabbath was beginning” (Luke 23:54, ESV). He informs us that Jesus was buried at the very end of the day of Preparation and just before the Sabbath began. These women did not have enough time to prepare spices and ointments and to return to the tomb before the sun set. They had to wait. And Luke informs us that the women allowed the body of Jesus to lie undisturbed in the tomb on the Sabbath day as they observed the Sabbath according to the commandment. Why all of this detail regarding the burial of Jesus in relation to the Sabbath?

Most fundamentally, it provides us with a timeline. Jesus died on Friday. His body was placed in the tomb before sundown. It lay undisturbed from sundown on Friday evening, and when the women returned at early dawn on the first day of the week, that is to say, on Sunday, they found the stone had been rolled away, and they did not find the body of Jesus, for he had arisen (Luke 24:1-3).  

By the way, Matthew provides us with an interesting detail in his Gospel. In 27:62, he reports that “The next day, that is, after the day of Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate and said, ‘Sir, we remember how that impostor said, while he was still alive, ‘After three days I will rise.’ Therefore order the tomb to be made secure until the third day, lest his disciples go and steal him away and tell the people, ‘He has risen from the dead,’ and the last fraud will be worse than the first.’ Pilate said to them, ‘You have a guard of soldiers. Go, make it as secure as you can.” So they went and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone and setting a guard.’” (Matthew 27:62–66, ESV).

So, most fundamentally, Luke’s mention of the Sabbath provides us with a timeline. But I think there is also a theological and practical reason that Luke mentioned the Sabbath. Theologically, it is important to see that, even in his death, Jesus was faithful to keep the Sabbath. He finished the work that God gave him to do on the day of Preparation before the Sabbath began, and then he entered into rest. When Jesus’ soul descended to Sheol, it was not to work there, but to rest there, and to proclaim victory to those who were waiting for him. And his body was also laid to rest. When Jesus breathed his last, his work was finished, and he entered into rest, thus keeping and fulfilling the Sabbath command.  

Practically, when Luke mentions that the women rested according to the commandment, it shows that the disciples of Jesus are to be concerned with keeping the Sabbath even still. Now granted, the Sabbath these women kept was the original, seventh-day Sabbath—the one that was instituted by God at the time of creation and reiterated through Moses after the Exodus and engraved by the finger of God as the fourth of the Ten Commandments. Friends, we do not keep the seventh-day Sabbath anymore, for, as has just been said, Jesus kept it and fulfilled it by accomplishing his work and entering into his rest. But a Sabbath-keeping remains for the people of God (see Hebrews 4:9). According to the law of Christ, being moved by our gratitude for what Christ has accomplished, we rest and worship on the first day of the week, which is called the Lord’s Day (see Revelation 1:10), and then we work diligently for six days by the strength that Christ supplies. Notice how diligent these women were to keep the Sabbath day holy. Not even their desire to care for the body of Jesus would lead them to violate God’s moral law. No, they prepared all they could on the day of Preparation. “On the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment” (Luke 23:56, ESV). And only after the Sabbath had ended did they return to the tomb. Luke 24:1 says, “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” (Luke 24:1–3, ESV). And it is here at this moment that the Sabbath day shifts from the seventh day to the first. 

The seventh-day Sabbath commemorated the original creation and agreed with the terms of the Covenant of Works. Work to enter God’s rest, it said. Well, Jesus, the second and greater Adam has succeeded. He accomplished his work and has entered into rest. And when he accomplished his work of redemption, he ushered in a New Creation and New Covenant. The terms of this New Covenant could not be more different than the terms of the Covenant of Works. We do not work to enter God’s rest. No, we enter God’s rest by trusting in Jesus and the work he has done for us, and then we work (obey) out of gratitude for all he has done. The first day, Lord’s Day, New Covenant, Christian Sabbath, agrees with this arrangement. The work that Jesus has done brings us rest. First, we rest in him. After that, we strive to obey him out of the strength he supplies, because we are grateful. On the first day of every week, let us do what these disciples of Jesus did: “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” (Luke 24:1–3, ESV). In other words, with our hearts, minds, and bodies prepared for worship, let us assemble together, not on the seventh day, but on the first, to give Jesus, our crucified, dead, buried, risen, and ascended Messiah, the worship he commands and deserves. 

Conclusion

Dear friends, Jesus truly died for sinners. He tasted death and has won the victory over it, for God did not abandon his soul to Sheol, or let his holy one see corruption (see Psalm 16:10). And for this reason, those who trust in Jesus are no longer in bondage to the fear of death. If God did not abandon Jesus’ soul to Sheol, and his body to decay in the grave, then he will not abandon us either, provided we are united to Jesus by faith. For “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 15:20–23, ESV).