Read: Luke 24:1-12 Romans 4:25
It was scandalous! Unheard of. An outrage that women were the firsts individuals to report that the body of Jesus was missing. Originally, it was a surprise that Jesus even had women in His circle of followers. Women served as mothers and as domestic servants in Jesus’ day; little else. Craig Keener says in “The IVP Bible Background Commentary”: “Adult coeducation was unheard of and that these women are learning Jesus’ teachings as closely as his male disciples, would surely have bothered some outsiders.” Jesus was certainly unique.
WOMEN, THE FIRST WITNESSES OF THE RISEN LORD
In Luke 8:1-3 Jesus invites women to accompany Him and His disciples on His journeys. Jesus is more concerned about what the individual has in his or her heart than any of the cultural norms of His day. And so, the women come to the tomb with a great deal of concerns regarding what they would see. They remember about the stone and the posting of the guard, as well as their own spices needed for preparation of Jesus’s body. What they didn’t expect was to find was “two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning standing beside them” (v. 4). Encountering gleaming men is only the beginning of a very surprising and wonderful day!
CHRIST’S WORDS FULFILLED
So, the two men asked a very important question: “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, He has risen! (v.5) In other words, they say, “Move along, nothing to see here!” The heavenly messengers remind them of what Jesus stated while still in Galilee. He would (a) Be delivered into the hands of sinful man (b) be crucified and (c) on the third day rise again. (Matthew 16:21; 17:22-23; 20:17-19).
THEY WERE FOCUSED ON HIS DEATH, NOT ON HIS LIVING
Verse 8 tells us “Then they (the women) remembered His words”. Isn’t it nice to have a memory. We all forget. I know I do. William Hendriksen says in his commentary there are two possibilities for their memory loss. First, the fact they were emotionally involved in the happenings of the last several days and they were affected when their Master was handed over to sinful men. Second, Jesus told His disciples many times on His own accord, He would lay down His life for His sheep. The women are focused on Jesus’ death, not on His living.
THE SKEPTICS
This is a wonderful day, despite the disciple’s skepticism. When the ladies came back to the disciples to tell them what happened, they thought it sounded like nonsense. Fortunately, Peter thinks it is worth checking out. Peter runs to the tomb and discovers the most beautiful sight in all the world. Christ is risen! The tomb is empty.
NO RESURRECTION? THEN ALL IS WORTHLESS
Romans 4:24 tells us it isn’t nonsense at all, but rather if we believe that Jesus died for our sins, was buried and rose again (was resurrected) we too can have eternal life. If there was no resurrection then our faith is dead, nothing to it, it is worthless. Everything we know about the Bible, about our Savior, about what the future holds, can be discarded in the trash heap of history. The Bible says, “If Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins” (I Corinthians 15:17).
LIVE THE CELEBRATION
So, go out and celebrate. Christ is vindicated because of the resurrection, and the truth of the gospel is our hope for all eternity. Remember, your day may begin as the women’s did, with despair. However, as you see the empty tomb, Jesus invites you to accompany Him and all His disciples on His journeys. Your Tour Guide is the Risen Creator of the Universe.