An Easter Evening, Long Ago

An Easter Evening, Long Ago

Luke 24:33–43 NKJV

So they rose up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, saying, “The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” And they told about the things that had happened on the road, and how He was known to them in the breaking of bread.

Now as they said these things, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them, and said to them, “Peace to you.” But they were terrified and frightened, and supposed they had seen a spirit. And He said to them, “Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts? Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have.”

When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet. But while they still did not believe for joy, and marveled, He said to them, “Have you any food here?” So they gave Him a piece of a broiled fish and some honeycomb. And He took it and ate in their presence.

To the world, this Sunday was probably like all the other Sundays. They were blissfully unaware of what had happened in Jerusalem. After all, Jerusalem was at the eastern extreme of the Roman Empire. Many of those who knew of the city saw it as being the realm of religious zealots. Those of the unbelieving Jews were glad to be rid of that trouble making Galilean Rabbi named Jesus. They breathed a sigh of relief. Now Jerusalem could get back to “normal,” Then there were the disciples. They were hid behind locked doors for fear of being arrested by the Jewish or Roman authorities. This Sunday morning was especially troubling and gloomy. They were unwitting of what had just happened at garden tomb where they had laid the body of Jesus. Nicodemus had prepared the body for burial including a king’s ransom of myrrh and aloes and carefully wrapping the body with strips of cloth to create a sticky cocoon. Perhaps there were other spices necessary to be applied to the body, Or perhaps, the disciples who were nowhere to be seen and were hiding did not know what had been done to properly prepare the body. The women and John saw afar off. They saw him placed in the tomb, so they knew where the body of Jesus was laid.

The disciples could not do anything more for the body of Jesus as the Sabbath had come. Things would have to wait until the morning after the Sabbath. But the disciples were also afraid. But the women took courage. A group of several women, many of whom were named “Mary” decided to go and finish the job. It is said that they started on the journey to the tomb while it was still dark. This serves as a kind of metaphor. They came in the dark, and their minds were darkened to what Jesus had taught all of them on many occasions that not only would He suffer and die, but also that He would arise on the third day. It must have been a gloomy journey. The gates of the city would open at the coming of the dawn at 6 AM in the morning. Whether they already had spices with them or had to purchase them is unknown. As the Sabbath ended at sunset, they could have purchased them the night before.

They made their way to the tomb which was just outside the city. Although they had brought with them the necessary spices, they had overlooked one major thing in their eyes. A great stone had been rolled over the grave. they were not strong enough to have moved it. The soldiers who had guarded the tomb could have moved the stone, but they had fled in terror when the stone was miraculously moved and Jesus came forth alive. These soldiers were properly the first witnesses to the resurrection. Matthew includes the fact that they fell asleep. This may well mean more than one thinks here. Roman soldiers who fell asleep on watch could be punished by death. They would have had every incentive to keep each other awake. But, perhaps we should see things this way. When we read in the Bible of those who had encountered God in a physical way felt like Isaiah a profound undoing. Sleep is an euphemism for death. When we see the disciples fall asleep at the Mount of Transfiguration, was it because they had seen Jesus in His full divinity? What about their falling asleep in the Garden of Gethsemane? Later, the Apostle John would have a vision of the Lord Jesus while on Patmos and would fall down as dead. So did the soldiers see Jesus in His risen Divine glory?