The Resurrection - The Devoted Women At The Tomb – Resurrection Message For Easter – Part 2 Series

THE RESURRECTION - THE DEVOTED WOMEN AT THE TOMB – RESURRECTION MESSAGE FOR EASTER – PART 2

We continue to examine this loyal group of women who went to the tomb early on Sunday morning carrying their prepared spices but when they arrived, the tomb was open and the body of Jesus was missing. In Part 2 we now take up the remainder of this story.

[F]. GOD ALWAYS HAS A SOLUTION FOR HIS SORROWFUL AND PERPLEXED SAINTS

{{Luke 24:4 “It happened that while they were perplexed about this, behold, two men suddenly stood near them in dazzling apparel.”}} But God was not going to allow this dear band of women to remain perplexed and full of doubts in that empty tomb, for that very tomb had spelt a powerful victory. Paul said in Romans 1 verse 4, speaking about the Lord, {{“Who was declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead, according to the spirit of holiness, Jesus Christ our Lord.”}}

Jesus gave a wonderful promise to His disciples on that Passover night which is this – {{John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you. My PEACE I give to you, not as the world gives, do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.”}} It is not God’s will ever to have His own children perplexed and with no peace, and that takes away their comfort and the Holy Spirit has been given as our Comforter. Uncertainty and problems destroy peace, but God does not want that for us, so what is the problem? I would suggest it is this, “O, you of little faith.” It is our faith that is not holding on properly. No matter what the problem is, we are secure in our Lord Jesus. Lift your eyes to the hills. From where comes our help? Our help comes from the Lord. These dear ladies at the tomb were perplexed even in their devotion.

The tomb marked the scene for one of the mightiest acts of the Holy Spirit, one of the most significant, and one of the most permanent. The power and authority of God overwhelmed that place. It was special. The women remained in the tomb. God’s power was manifested to them and His messengers suddenly appeared to them, standing close by. Luke says they were in dazzling apparel and we are reminded of the transfiguration of chapter 4 where the scene was of dazzling light. God is Light and all His hosts represent that brilliance, and that is what we will share in one day, but in what manner we can not yet tell. The Lord was not going to leave His dear women perplexed and sent His angelic messengers to them.

[G]. THE ANGELS’ QUESTION OF HOPE

{{Luke 24:5 and as 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?”}} This sudden, dramatic and powerful appearing literally terrified the women who prostrated themselves, faces to the ground. The angels spoke precisely, “Why do you seek the living One among the dead?” This was a question, not a statement. A statement would have inferred that the hearers would have had no knowledge of, or prior input into the matter. Here the question suggests that they should have known that He would not have been in the tomb. Perhaps it was a rebuke for their lack of discernment but ever so gentle a one.

[G]. REMEMBER WHAT WAS SAID - - - - HE IS RISEN!

{{Luke 24:6-7 He is not here, but HE HAS RISEN. Remember how He spoke to you while He was still in Galilee, saying that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified, and the third day rise again.”}} They hung on every word of the supernatural angels. The question is followed by the statement, “He is not here but He has risen.” What a rising joy for the women; what a changing of outlook; what a whole new perspective - their Lord is not dead but He is ALIVE. Their hopes are not dashed. Their memories are not just of past events, just a passing of experiences, though it was a pleasant phase of history, with no hope for any future relationship it had just seemed. All is changed! He is indeed alive, the Lord, the object of their affections. He has risen indeed!

The statement remains the pivotal aspect of our salvation. No resurrection - no forgiveness of sins; no resurrection - no redemption; no resurrection - no hope in death. What a mighty angelic declaration that was. It triumphed the victory over the whole earth that morning. There is one hymn by Robert Lowry that contains these words –