Ladies Day Series

Luke 24: 1-12

Ladies Day

1 Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they, and certain other women with them, came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared. 2 But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb. 3 Then they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 And it happened, as they were greatly perplexed about this, that behold, two men stood by them in shining garments. 5 Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? 6 He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, 7 saying, ‘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 Then they returned from the tomb and told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. 10 It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them, who told these things to the apostles. 11 And their words seemed to them like idle tales, and they did not believe them. 12 But Peter arose and ran to the tomb; and stooping down, he saw the linen cloths lying by themselves; and he departed, marveling to himself at what had happened.

In our last study in which we discussed the crucifixion of our God and King, Lord Jesus, remember that His faithful followers stood afar off. They were afraid that they would be rounded up and arrested. So it took great courage that now the Lamb of God was slain for them to desire to go to our Lord’s body to anoint it for burial. Please notice that they came at ‘At early dawn’ or literally ‘at deep dawn’. Mark indicates that this is just after the sun has come up. It is indeed unlikely that at such a perilous time for the followers of our Lord Jesus, when danger would be seen as lurking everywhere, the women would venture abroad in the dark.

1 Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they, and certain other women with them, came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared.

When at last the time came for them to be able to go to the tomb, the women carried out the final preparations on the spices and ointments ,and as Mark suggests, having found that they had insufficient for the purpose among them, had to hurry out to buy more. Both activities were likely in the circumstances, for they would carry some with them, but as they were only in Jerusalem as visitors and would be unlikely to have with them all that was necessary for a burial, once they had pooled their resources it was always likely that they would not have enough. These differing descriptions of their activities in fact bear the stamp of genuineness, for no one was particular about the detail, which would hardly be seen as important, but the various statements all fit in place and depict a situation that with a little thought we will see was most probable.

Now, before we move on let us take a look at something that I consider of great importance. There is a saying that Muslims worship on Friday; Jews on Saturday; and Christians on Sunday. What reason is used to support this idea of Sunday worship for Christians? How about what we read in verse 1, “Now on the first day of the week.” What day is the 1st day of the week? If you say Monday, then you are wrong. Remember, who we are dealing with – Jews. What is their 1st day of the week – Sunday.

The phrase ‘the first day of the week.’ This is literally ‘on the first of the Sabbaths’. It is a phrase that regularly indicates what we see as the first day of the week. But the word ‘Sabbaths’ was used to indicate the seven days in a seven day period ending on a Sabbath. Thus the ‘first of the Sabbaths’ was Sunday (commencing at sunset on Saturday).

2 But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb. 3 Then they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.

Having finalized their preparations they then went to the tomb and found it open, with the stone rolled away. Baffled by this unexpected event they entered it, only to discover to their dismay that the body was not there.

4 And it happened, as they were greatly perplexed about this, that behold, two men stood by them in shining garments.