Luke 24:1-12 – Resurrection
In the same way that Jesus really dies, He really rises again. On Friday morning, His body is safe in the tomb. On Sunday morning His body is gone. Who takes it away? Not His enemies – they want to disprove the resurrection. Not the apostles and other disciples – they are paralysed by their fear and grief. Only one explanation can be given – that of the angels. Christ has risen again and will soon be seen alive and talking in the body by many witnesses. In the same way that Christ’s death is necessary for our salvation, His resurrection is also necessary. Christ comes forward triumphantly after atoning for our sins. His resurrection is proof that the payment He made for us has been accepted. The work of salvation has been perfectly accomplished.
The disciples find it all too easy to forget the words of Christ, especially about His resurrection. Now, after the angels remind them, they remember what Jesus has said. We are just as quick to forget the promises and commands of God. We hear a lot that we should hide in our hearts and remember, but we seem to forget as fast as we hear. Often it’s trouble in our own lives that helps us to remember what Christ has said in His Word. If we want to guard against this forgetfulness, we need to grow in our love for Christ and focus our minds more and more upon spiritual things. We don’t easily forget the things we love, and so the more we love Christ, the more we will remember His words.
God is able to bring good out of unbelief. The first preachers are men who are convinced of the resurrection in spite of themselves, and in spite of determined, obstinate unwillingness to believe. If the apostles at last believe, it is another evidence that the resurrection is true.
Questions
- Why does Jesus need to rise from the dead?
- How are the apostles a good argument for the truth of the resurrection?
Prayer Points
- Pray that we would hide God’s Word in our hearts.
- Use prayer points from your congregation.