#1450 Luke 24 Part 1 The Receipt

 

Now 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 And it happened that while they were perplexed about this, behold, two men suddenly stood near them in dazzling clothing, 5 and when the women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek 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 delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.” 8 And they remembered His words, 9 and when they returned from the tomb, they reported all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. 10 Now Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the rest of the women with them were there; they were telling these things to the apostles. 11 But these words appeared to them as nonsense, and they were not believing them. 12 But Peter stood up and ran to the tomb; and stooping to look in, he *saw the linen wrappings only. And he went away by himself, marveling at what had happened. Luke 24: 1-12 LSB

Luke 24: 1-12 Empty

Now on the first day of the week - So Jesus was crucified and buried Friday, then came the Sabbath (Saturday), now it is Sunday. 

MacArthur - The Jews marked their days at sundown rather than midnight, so the Sabbath ended on Saturday evening around 6:00 P.M....At least two of (the women - see Mt. 27:61; Mk 15:47) observed Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus wrapping Jesus’ body with spices for His burial on Friday (John 19:39; cf. Mark 15:46). Yet they wished to prepare their own spices to anoint their Lord. Understandably, they desired one last opportunity to demonstrate their love. Because the Jewish people did not embalm the bodies of their dead, anointing was an act borne of necessity, to mitigate the powerful odors of a decomposing body. - Precept Austin

At early dawn - When light is first starting to appear. In John 20:1 we see that Mary Magdalene arrived while it was still dark, and she went immediately from there to find the disciples, assuming not the resurrection but that His body had been stolen. Initially the women wondered who would role the stone away for them so that they could anoint his body with the spices and perfumes. It helps, as noted above, with the smell of decay, but probably also as a deterrent for animals that may dig their way into the tomb thinking of it as carrion. The resurrection is an interesting account, each gospel writer providing different details and looks at different points, not all chronologically the same with the other. It becomes obvious that this is not planned out between them in the writing, not a conspiracy. It is also one of the most scrutinized accounts in all of history, men like my younger self looking into it hoping to find it not true. I did not want to be saved from sin, I rather enjoyed it, but like the Pharisees I only wanted a champion, a super hero, someone to make my enemies go away, a Genie in a lamp to grant my wishes. 

ILLUSTRATION- There is a story relating that years ago in England, two men set out to disprove Christianity. One was a well-known English jurist and literary scholar named Lord Lyttleton. The other was Gilbert West. They agreed that if Christianity was to be discredited, two things were necessary: to disprove the Resurrection and to explain the conversion of Saul of Tarsus in a way that satisfied the skeptics. The two men divided these tasks between themselves, Lyttleton taking the problem of Saul and West agreeing to research the Resurrection. They invested over a year for their studies, then met together to compare notes. Each one was astonished to discover that the other had become a Christian. The evidence was too strong, the truth too undeniable. It still is. So whether the details of this illustration are exactly as stated, the principle is clear that an honest approach to examination of the evidence for and against the resurrection will leave one with little doubt that the Resurrection of Jesus Christ is a true, historical event. But such a glorious truth that Jesus has conquered death for all who believe in Him demands a response, the nature of which will determine a soul's eternal destiny! As Paul declared "Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved." (Acts 16:31)

ANOTHER VERSION OF STORY -

All of us are familiar with the most exhaustive study of the epochal event of Paul's conversion by the parliamentarian, Lord Lyttleton, and his lawyer friend Gilbert West, both of whom were infidels persuaded that the Bible was an imposture. Lyttleton concentrated on Paul's Damascus experience, and West on the resurrection and as the result of their separate studies, they were both converted. In his published treatise Lyttleton wrote that, "The conversion and apostleship of Paul alone, duly considered, was of itself a demonstration sufficient to prove Christianity as a Divine Revelation." Countless thousands since Paul's remarkable conversion have experienced the same power to transform their lives instantaneously—this writer is one of them (Herbert Lockyer)! It needed a great, sudden crisis to affect a man like Saul of Tarsus who had "so clear a mind, so firm a will, so definite a purpose, so successful a part; a conscience which did not bear the burden of great sin upon it, but rather the satisfaction of duty done, and duty lived, and duty as before. Two things were needed in Saul. A total change of opinion as to Jesus of Nazareth was one; the other was a new revelation to God, not as an obedient servant, but as a forgiven sinner. The two things were to go together, the hated Nazarene was to be the way of approach to the Holy God."

Here are words from Lord Lyttleton taken from Lockyer's fascinating book "Last Words of Saints and Sinners" --

LORD GEORGE LYTTLETON, who died in 1773, was another British statesman who was not ashamed to own his Saviour's name and define His cause.....In his last testimony he affirmed that "The evidence of Christianity, studied with attention, made me a firm believer of the Christian religion. I have erred and sinned, but have repented." - Precept Austin

V.2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb - The women had wondered about moving this, seeing it sealed on Friday, but Matthew's account tells us who moved it. We know that there were also guards there to insure that no one moved the body. It is interesting that the women show up alone, the disciples seem disheartened, defeated, probably afraid to approach it, maybe depressed and fatalistic. Peter is probably still dealing with his betrayal of Jesus, that last look in the courtyard where the rooster crowed. The account seems void of any hope on the part of Jesus' followers. 

1After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. 2 Suddenly there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, rolled away the stone, and sat on it. 3His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow.… Matthew 28: 1-3

V.3 They did not find the body - Now reading the other texts it seems that this perplexed state carried on for a time. An empty tomb, and I don't think the women knew that it had been previously guarded. They don't seem to immediately recount their Lord's words either, that this is the sign of Jonah, three days in the belly of the fish. Jesus warned the disciples in His life about His death, that He must be tried and suffer, but their response to that got Peter called Satan, and when the time of Jesus' trial came the disciples would not even stay awake to pray. They scattered and Peter denied knowing Jesus. True to form, they still seem to be in disbelief, confused. This is a sure case where perception is not reality. The logical approach to this, even in shock, would be to look for a material answer, that is reasonable. There was a big stone, the women probably don't know about the guards, the stone has moved during the earthquake, revealing an empty tomb, so logically, naturally, someone has moved the stone and snatched the body. I mean if you saw it laid there and now it is not there, and the tomb was sealed, what other explanation is there?  The reality is that the explanation is of a super natural nature. What creates the natural? In John's gospel we see that when one disciple saw this he also believed. That is also super natural. That is a gift that comes from God. Many hear about the empty tomb, about Easter, yet not all are granted the faith to believe.

…22Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him. “Far be it from You, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to You!” 23But Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me. For you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.” 24Then Jesus told His disciples, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.… Matthew 16: 22-24

…7The cloth that had been around Jesus’ head was rolled up, lying separate from the linen cloths. 8Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in. And he saw and believed. 9For they still did not understand from the Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.… John 20: 7-9

V. 4 Two men suddenly stood near them in dazzling clothing - Angels, spiritual beings, taking on the familiar form of men. Luke mentions two, other accounts only mention the one that did the speaking. 

V. 5 The women were terrified - Rightly so, there is something about the unveiled Holiness of God, even reflected off of a being lesser than Him, those that shine from being in His presence, it is other worldly, terrifying. 

Why do you seek the living among the dead - Huh...wha? These ladies have had quite the weekend leading up to this, not every day you see your hope of a Messiah murdered. Even if you had come to realize that He must die, that He was the Passover sacrifice, you would probably still not understand that He is the eternal God, that He lays His life down that He may take it up again, that death only has a claim on sin, and He is without sin. Death can't gain a permanent hold on Him, as soon as the Father is satisfied with the offering, as soon as the sins of every believer were paid for, death lost it's grip. Jesus paid the wages of sin for me, and that was death, but He Himself had not sinned. 

…17The reason the Father loves Me is that I lay down My life in order to take it up again. 18No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of My own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from My Father.” 19Again there was division among the Jews because of Jesus’ message.… John 10: 17-19

…20Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ: Be reconciled to God. 21God made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5: 20-21

V. 8 And they remembered His words - The angels point them back to Jesus through His words, faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.

Saying that the Son of Man must (dei) be delivered (paradidomi) into the hands of sinful (hamartolos) men, and be crucified (stauroo), and the third day rise again (anistemi) The angels continue to give their testimony to the women. Notice that they essence proclaim the Gospel of Jesus' death, burial (implied) and resurrection. These specific details are given by the angel only here in the Gospels. Must be delivered was not optional but absolutely necessary in order to fulfill the divine plan of redemption, the Redeemer being put to death by sinful men that He might save sinful men! Gilbrant adds "The trauma of the Passion was a necessity." Sinful men refers in context to the Jewish religious leaders - "The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed and be raised up on the third day.” (Lk 9:22) Gilbrant however adds that "The phrase "into the hands of sinful men" could mean Gentiles (crucifixion was a Roman form of execution) or it might mean the Jewish leaders (Lk 24:20). Perhaps both are meant." The third day is repeatedly mentioned in Scripture - Matt. 16:21; Matt. 17:23; Matt. 20:19; Matt. 27:64; Lk. 9:22; Lk. 13:32; Lk. 18:33; Lk. 24:7; Lk. 24:46; Acts 10:40; 1 Co. 15:4

NET Note on crucifixion - Crucifixion was the cruelest form of punishment practiced by the Romans. Roman citizens could not normally undergo it. It was reserved for the worst crimes, like treason and evasion of due process in a capital case. The Roman historian Cicero called it “a cruel and disgusting penalty” (Against Verres 2.5.63–66 §§163–70); Josephus (J. W. 7.6.4 [7.203]) called it the worst of deaths. - Precept Austin

V.9 Reported these things to the eleven - Judas was no longer with them to make the twelve.

V. 11 But these words appeared to them as nonsense - It's strange when you come to believe, when God quickens the spirit within you, brings you to life. You are overwhelmed with excitement and cannot understand how you once didn't believe, and you think you have some fresh take on it, and you are but a baby so you have this idea that you figured it out and can now explain it so very well to others that they will have to believe. Even the disciples who walked with Christ and heard His words are looking at these women, women they have known for some time, and thinking, your crazy. It is an unusual story, but they were 3 years with a very unusual Person. They had even seen Him raise others from the dead. It is also of great note here, that it is to the women that He first makes Himself known, that is the opposite of what one would do in this time to put forth a conspiracy. The testimony of these women wouldn't even be admissible.

NET Note - Mary Magdalene is always noted first in the appearance lists in the gospels. It is unusual that the first appearance would involve women as in this culture their role as witnesses would not be well accepted. It is a sign of the veracity of the account, because if an ancient were to create such a story he would never have it start with women.

MacArthur on Joanna - This woman is also mentioned in Lk 8:3 ("Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod’s [Herod Antipas son of Herod the Great. He ruled from 4 B.C.–A.D. 39, sharing the rule of his father’s realm with his two brothers] steward"), but nowhere else in Scripture. It is possible that she was a source for some of the details Luke recounts about Herod....Her husband was Herod’s steward. (cf. Lk 23:8, 12).

Gilbrant has an interesting comment - That women should be the first witnesses of the empty tomb is characteristic of the gospel which regularly overturns society's expectations and systems. Women were generally excluded from giving legal testimony (see Sanhedrin 3.9, cited by Hauptman, pp. 187-211). Would their testimony that the tomb was empty and that Jesus had been raised just as He himself had predicted be accepted? Or would the disciples reject the women's testimony as the product of emotionalism or some feminine hysteria? The character of at least some of the women heightens the suspense as Luke names them. Mary Magdalene was a woman who had seven demons cast out of her (Lk 8:2)—could she be trusted? Joanna was the wife of Chuza, Herod's steward—was she part of some devious plot to trap the rest of Jesus' followers (cf. Lk 8:3 and Lk 13:31)? (Complete Biblical Library)

MacArthur points out "That the resurrected Christ appeared first to women, elevated women, who held an inferior position in Jewish society (ED: THEY WERE NOT ALLOWED TO TESTIFY IN COURT). It was a testimony to their love, devotion, and courage. They had witnessed His death at Calvary and His burial, and had seen the empty tomb. John is the only disciple recorded to have been at the cross, but he did not witness the burial; Joseph and Nicodemus buried the Lord’s body, but they did not see the empty tomb. Now, with His appearance to the women, the evidence was complete, and only the women were eyewitnesses to the entire sequence of events. Luke may have specifically named three of them, Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James, again in light of the law’s requirement that “on the evidence of two or three witnesses a matter shall be confirmed” (Deut. 19:15). (See Luke Commentary) - Precept Austin

V. 12 But Peter stood up and ran to the tomb - Our man of action, tired of listening, he is going to go and see for himself. He verifies at least part of their story, the empty tomb, empty linen, and he marvels.