SERMON OUTLINE:
• (1). The Women (chapter 23 verse 55 to chapter 24 verse 3)
• (2). The Angelic Beings (chapter 24 verses 4-8)
• (3). The Disciples (chapter 24 verses 9-12)
SERMON BODY:
Ill:
• Five-year-old Brian had to recite a Bible verse in the Easter Sunday service.
• He was meant to stand up and say, “He is not here, he is risen”
• (Luke chapter 24 verse 6).
• Unfortunately, when he saw all the people looking at him, he got stage-fright.
• His mind went blank and he could not remember what to say.
• His mum sat near the front of the Church went into a goldfish impression,
• She tried to mouth the words that he should be saying.
• The little land then looked up and triumphantly shouted,
• “He’s not here; He’s in prison!”
• TRANSITION: Today, all over the world, the correct cry of,
• “He’s not here; He has risen!”
• Will be declared in almost every country you can name!
Now one word you must associate with Jesus Christ is ‘miracle’.
• He entered our world in a miraculous way;
• Conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary.
• During his three years of ministry, the four gospels record 37 miracles of Jesus.
• Although John the apostle in his gospel tells us (John chapter 21 verse 25).
• Jesus performed many other miracles than these 37 that were not recorded.
• So Jesus entered our world in a miraculous way;
• He lived a miraculous life.
• And as we saw in our last study and will see again in this study,
• Even in his death,
• He will have that word ‘miracle’ attributed to him!
Quote: I like what Peter Larson writes:
"Despite our efforts to keep him out, God intrudes.
The life of Jesus is bracketed by two impossibilities: a virgin's womb and an empty tomb.
Jesus entered our world through a door marked 'No Entrance’.
And left through a door marked 'No Exit’”
Notice: the question asked in our Bible reading:
• “Why do you look for the living among the dead?” (vs 5)
• That is a great question!
• We do not normally look for the dead among the living.
• e.g. When did you last go outside looking for a dead person?
• “Why do you look for the living among the dead?” (vs 5)
• That is the question this angelic being posed to the women,
• Who came to the tomb of Jesus that first Easter morning?
• The message of Easter is simple, Jesus Christ rose from the dead!
• Jesus Christ is alive today!
And it is so important,
• When Jesus rose from the dead,
• He confirmed his identity as the Son of God (Romans chapter 1 verse 4)
• He confirmed that his death on the cross.
• Achieved reconciliation, and salvation to all who believe!
Ill:
• The resurrection is God’s receipt to the world,
• That a payment, a transaction, had been paid through the death of Jesus!
• Now, let’s look together at the narrative as recorded by Dr Luke.
• We will divide it into four sections,
• Starting at the end of chapter 23.
(1). The Women (chapter 23 verse 55 to chapter 24 verse 3)
“On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. 2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.”
• As was the custom of the day, the woman come to embalm the body of Jesus:
• For religious reasons, they must wait for the Sabbath to end before they can do this.
• But notice they do not waste any time, they come, “Very early in the morning”.
• John in his gospel (chapter 19 verses 38-42) tells us that:
• This anointing process had been started by Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimithea;
• On the day that Jesus had died,
• Nicodemus was a high-ranking Pharisee,
• And Joseph was a rich man.
• I would assume they were not very practical when it came to these things.
• These women came to do the job properly!
Now don’t miss that detail: “the women took the spices they had prepared”.
• The reason the women bought with them prepared spices,
• Because they went expecting to find a dead body buried in the tomb.
• They went to meet with a corpse!
• One of the great proofs for the resurrection is this,
• Not even one! Not one of the disciples of Jesus believed it would happen.
• The women went to embalm a corpse!
• The men did not go with them,
• For they were scared that they too would end up like their master,
• That is, dead & buried, so they all stayed hidden away in Jerusalem.
The Surprise (vs 2-3) - “They found the stone rolled away from the tomb”
• In the east tombs were often carved out of caves in the rock,
• Inside the tomb they carved a shelf, a ledge on which to lay the body,
• The body was wrapped in long linen strips like bandages
• And then laid on the ledge.
• The tomb was then closed by a great circular stone like a cartwheel,
• Which ran in a groove across the opening.
• The women were expecting that stone, that barrier to be their biggest problem,
• But when they arrived the stone was already moved!
They were looking for Jesus but all they found was a stone rolled away,
• Because they were looking for the wrong person in the wrong place!
• They were seeking a dead Jesus among the tombs of the dead!
Quote; Ray Steadman:
“We live in a world where so many people are still looking for Jesus among the dead.
I think of scholars who study the words of Jesus and the gospel manuscripts but do not believe in Christ’s resurrection.
I think of the archaeologists who two thousand years later are still trying to find Jesus’ body and bones in the tomb but keep coming up empty. I think of people who finger the body of Christ on their crucifixes but do not know the reality of the living Christ. These people all have one thing in common. They are all looking for Jesus among the dead. And if you are looking for Jesus among the dead, you will not find him. He is not there.”
• TRANSITION: If you want to find Jesus,
• You must look among the living and not the dead!
(2). The Angelic Beings (chapter 24 verses 4-8)
“While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. 5 In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, ‘Why do you look for the living among the dead? 6 He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: 7 “The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.”’ 8 Then they remembered his words.”
• The word “angel” in both the Old and New Testaments means “messenger”;
• (Hebrew word “mal'ak” Greek word “aggelos”,)
• Angels are mentioned at least 108 times in the Old Testament.
• And 165 times in the New Testament
• (Chafer, Systematic Theology, II, 3)
Now, if you don’t believe in angelic beings:
• You are going to have problems with the Bible, because it is full of them!
• From start to finish!
• Angels are created spiritual beings.
• They are an entirely separate type of creature from human beings.
• Therefore, people do not become angels after death,
• And angels do not become human, although they can take on human form.
• They are as different from us as we are from the animals
Note: These women at the tomb of Jesus encounter two men:
• These two men are clearly not ordinary men.
• Because they appeared out of nowhere.
• And their clothes were shining like lightning.
• The other gospel accounts confirm that these were angelic beings,
• Heavenly couriers sent from God with a message to deliver.
Now I have never seen an angel, at least not knowingly:
• The New Testament tells us that at times they travel in disguise.
• You might encounter one without realising (Hebrews chapter 13 verse 2).
• If you do encounter one undisguised, then you will certainly know it,
• I can probably tell you what its first words will be!
• They nearly always talk to people with the words, “Do not fear/be afraid”
• These women at the tomb were frightened,
• They bow down with their faces to the ground.
Note: this incident once again gives credibility to the resurrection story.
• The idea of women as primary witnesses to the resurrection;
• Does not seem unusual to people living in a western culture in the year 2020.
• But in New Testament times this was a revolutionary concept!
• In New Testament times,
• The testimony of women was not given the same weight as men's,
• Either personally or in a court of law.
So, the fact God chose women as the first witnesses:
• Reverses this idea that men are more important than women,
• And that women are second class believers.
• Jesus and the New Testament elevated the importance and the role of women!
• Gave them a standing and a value that their culture did not.
• Many a Christian denomination throughout history has tried to reverse that,
• But they are always on dodgy ground,
• Because Jesus and the New Testament always esteems women.
Notice: These angelic beings then instruct the women:
• Not to look for the living among the dead!
• Because they ‘aint gonna’ find him there, because “he has risen!”
• The angelic beings remind these women (vs 6);
• That Jesus had told them on numerous occasions;
• About his death but also about his resurrection (vs 7-8)
““The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.”’ 8 Then they remembered his words.”
• The arrest of Jesus should not have been a surprise to his followers.
• The crucifixion and death of Jesus should not have been a surprise to his followers.
• And even Jesus’ resurrection should not have been a surprise to his followers.
• Jesus told them all these things in advance.
• And yet somehow the meaning of these things escaped them.
• It was only after these things had happened,
• That the ‘penny dropped’ and they remembered his words and put it all together.
When the Holy Spirit comes on the day of Pentecost:
• These followers of Jesus would have a veil lifted,
• Their understanding would be enriched and illuminated.
• They would at last understand and discover that the death of Jesus,
• Was vicarious, substitutional.
Ill:
• Many great men and women have been assassinated and martyred for their beliefs.
• e.g. Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King Benazir Bhutto, JFK,
• TRANSITION: Jesus would not be a martyr.
• He was not assassinated.
• He was never backed into a corner where circumstances just got out of control.
• For Jesus death was not a surprise.
• He had predicted the where and the how and the why on at least three occasions.
• (e.g. Luke 9:21-22, Luke 9:43-45, Luke 18:31-34)
• Even before Jesus came into the world,
• The Old Testament scriptures predicted his coming and his dying.
• (e.g. Isaiah chapter 53)
Note: Both Jesus and the Old Testament:
• Make it very clear that he would die on behalf of someone else – human race.
• e.g. Jesus said in Matthew chapter 20 verse 28,
• “the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, & to give his life as a ransom for many."
• Make it very clear that he would die on behalf of someone else – human race.
• e.g. Isiah the prophet said 700 years before Jesus was born, in Isaiah chapter 53 verse 5.
“But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
and by his wounds we are healed.”
Ill:
• Think of the human-race aboard a hijacked jetliner flying through time.
• God himself directed its take-off from the divine control-tower.
• The initiator of all evil, whom we call the Devil,
• Managed to get a boarding pass.
• When the plane reached its cruising altitude,
• The Devil produced his weapons, threatened the pilot,
• And took control of the aircraft and all its passengers.
• Thus, the plane hopped on fearfully through history.
• From airport to airport.
• Until it was caught on the tarmac at Jerusalem,
• An outpost of the Roman empire, in the reign of Tiberius Caesar,
• Where the Son of God offered himself as sole hostage.
• In exchange for the passengers and crew.
Quote: The hymn writer put it this way:
“And when I think that God his son not sparing,
sent him to die, I scarce can take it in,
that on the cross, my burden gladly bearing,
he bled and died to take away my sin”.
And so, the angelic beings must jog and unlock their memories by saying:
• “Why are you looking for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen!”
• That verse (#6) is the good news of Easter condensed into one verse.
• The Message translation of the Bible paraphrases verse 6 this way:
• “Why are you looking for the Living One in a cemetery? He is not here, but raised up.”
Quote:
“Never has the world heard a message like that one! It still reverberates through the halls of time and will throughout eternity - He is Alive!”
• Practically it is declaring: Jesus rose from the dead;
• He has conquered death.
• Theologically it is declaring:
• Jesus Christ has conquered not just death but also sin and the devil.
• The very things that caused death (both physical & spiritual) in the first place!
(3). The Disciples (vs 9-12).
• We have in these three verses, three different responses;
• These response can only take place because the resurrection took place!
FIRST: THE RESPONSE OF THE WOMEN.
Look at verses 9-10:
“When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. 10 It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles”.
They came back from the tomb and told all these things to the apostles and all the others.
• They must have been frightened.
• They must have been confused.
• And they certainly did not understand all that had happened.
• But there was one thing they could do.
• They had to share what they now knew.
• Jesus’ body was no longer in the grave.
I love the fact that they are not impressed by the angels,
• For a Jew or Jewess, the highlight of your spiritual life was to encounter an angel.
• These women encountered two of these supernatural beings.
• But it is not them they are talking about,
• Instead, they are fully focussed on Jesus!
• The angels said he had risen from the dead.
• The women believed their message,
• And they shared that belief with others, because this is what Easter is all about!
• Application:
• Like these women all of us are called to share our faith with others;
• The fact that Jesus died and rose again is good news!
• And good news is always for sharing.
• That was the response of the women, may it be the response of us all!
SECOND: THE RESPONSE OF THE MALE DISCIPLES.
• Look at verse 11:
• “But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense”
Ill:
• Your ears are a marvellous creation.
• A piano has 88 keys, but each of your ears has a range of 1500 keys.
• They are so finely tuned that you can hear the blood running through your vessels.
• The outside of your ear can catch up to 73,700 vibrations per second.
• TRANSITON: none of these disciples needed hearing aids,
• There was nothing wrong with their hearing.
• The problem is they are just not listening!
While these women were heading to the tomb:
• The male disciples were locked up inside the Upper Room,
• John in his gospel (chapter 20 verse 19) tells us why.
• They were trembling with fear;
• Fearing that the same kind of death that Jesus had met with;
• Awaited for them also because they were his disciples,
• In the Easter story, it is the women who are portrayed as the brave followers of Jesus.
• When the men fled at the cross the women stayed.
• While the men hide away, the women go looking for the body of Jesus!
Now I am happy to report that the men later changed their minds and their attitude:
• But the men’s initial response mirrors the response of so many people today.
• “When you are dead, you are dead!”
• It all seems like so much nonsense to them, and so they do nothing.
Ill:
• The word Luke uses for ‘nonsense’ is a medical term;
• It was used by doctors to describe the ‘babbling of the insane’.
• And these men certainly thought these women had ‘lost the plot’ - were crazy.
• These males disciples, like us,
• Knew that dead men don’t just come back to life again.
• Especially those executed by crucifixion!
• They had seen enough people put to death by a Roman execution squad;
• To know that they did not make mistakes;
• They did their job cruelly and effectively!
• And so they dismiss the story of the resurrection outright;
• And continue to live their lives as though nothing happened that first Easter morning.
• Application:
• When we fail to exercise faith;
• We will do NOTHING!
Quote: Hebrews chapter 11 verse 6:
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”
Ill:
• The African impala can jump to a height of over 10 feet,
• And it can cover greater than 30 feet.
• Yet these magnificent creatures can be kept in an enclosure in any zoo,
• With just a 3-foot wall.
• Because the animals will not jump if they cannot see where their feet will fall.
• TRANSITION: Faith is the ability to trust what we cannot see,
• Jesus on three occasions sat these men down & predicted the events and reason for his death
• (e.g. Luke 9:21-22, Luke 9:43-45, Luke 18:31-34).
• But instead of faith and trust and belief,
• They allow circumstances and fear to override the promises of Jesus!
• TRANSITION: Faith is believing not anything,
• But in the trustworthy promise of Jesus Christ and the Word of God.
THIRD: THE RESPONSE OF PETER (VS 12)
“Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened.”
• If you are not sure what to make of Jesus’ resurrection,
• There is a third option you can take rather than simply rejecting it as nonsense.
• You can do what Peter did.
• You can check it out for yourself.
• Peter need to check out, to examine the evidence for himself.
• So Peter ran to the tomb.
• He saw the stone that was rolled away.
• He entered the empty tomb and saw the strips of linen;
• That once contained the body of Jesus but were now lying there by themselves.
ill:
• There is an oriental custom regarding a napkin/serviette.
• When a man with servants was eating a meal,
• He would use his napkin to signal them during the course of the meal.
• If he left the table and wadded his napkin up,
• It meant that he was finished and would not be back.
• If, however, he neatly folded the napkin,
• It told his servants that he was stepping away for a moment,
• But he would be back!
• TRANSITION:
• Peter might not know that custom;
• But with Jesus leaving the folded grave-clothes behind he was leaving a clear message;
• He was telling His disciples,
• "I may be out of your sight right now, but I'll be right back!"
• TRANSITION: Peter went looking for Jesus, and you know what?
• He found him!
• Not lying dead in a tomb, but resurrected and alive.
• Scan down to verse 33:
“They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together 34 and saying, ‘It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.’”
Ill:
• 1 Corinthians chapter 15 verse 5 also testifies that:
• “Jesus appeared to Peter (Cephas), and then to the Twelve".
• This appearance must have taken place sometime after Peter left the tomb.
• He sought the Lord and the point is he found him!
• Application:
• When in doubt - Be like Peter, and check it out for yourself!
Ill:
• Many of us were encouraged as young Christians to be like the Bereans.
• We read of them in Acts chapter 17 verse 11.
“Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.”
• If we want to know the Lord at a deeper level;
• Then like the Berens, we must learn to seek him!
CONCLUSION:
• The angels asked the women that first Easter morning,
• “Why do you look for the living among the dead?”
• Let me say it again.
• If you are looking for Jesus among the dead, you will never find him,
• Because he is not there! He is risen!
SERMON AUDIO:
https://youtu.be/B3CCZvH0pyw
SERMON VIDEO:
https://youtu.be/B3CCZvH0pyw
