Luke 24:1-12
That first Easter Sunday, what were the disciples thinking? The Man who had entered their lives three years earlier had been crucified just a couple days earlier. Was He really the Messiah? Had they wasted the past three years? When the women who had gone to tend to the body came to the disciples and told them He was risen, the disciples mostly dismissed them, but Peter, even though he doubted, got up and ran to see the tomb. It was empty, indeed. The stone was rolled away and Peter could see inside. The cloth was there, but the body was gone.
There was no news station around to break this story, but let's look at what the headlines should have said:
- Vindicated! Jesus Is Who He Says He Is! … Jesus claimed to be many things. Greater than the temple, older than Abraham, judge of the world, the Son of Man, the Son of God, the King of Kings, the Messiah, the only way to God, the savior of the world. If the dove and voice at His baptism wasn't proof enough, if all the other miracles weren’t enough evidence, then His own resurrection, the greatest miracle ever performed, surely was.
- Death Destroyed! Eternal Life Made Possible! … We all know we'll die someday. We also wonder if there is life after death. Jesus defeated death, and now we can be certain there is life after death. Other religions have pilgrimages to go visit the resting place of the man who founded their religion. We don't have such a pilgrimage to make because our savior arose and still lives! In John 11:25 Jesus tells Martha that He is the resurrection and life, that anyone who believes in Him will live, even if they die. That is a promise we can take to the grave.
- Sin Defeated! New Life Now Available! … With sin defeated, we no longer have to be slaves to it. We have a chance at a new life, one free from the bondage of sin, a life of freedom, a life we could always sense but never reach, the life we were meant to live. We have the opportunity to live this new life, as long as we leave the cell where sin bound us and not go back.
When General Wellington confronted Napoleon at Waterloo, many gathered in London waiting to learn of the outcome. There was a blank sign there waiting for someone to come paint the message on it to announce the victor. As the first word was painted on the sign, the people waited with anxious anticipation. “Wellington” The people likely murmured, trying to determine if this was the victor. Then the second word became clear. “Defeated” Many started mourning. Some went home and others stayed. Of those who stayed, most were apparently in shock and just couldn’t move. Their greatest fear had apparently happened. Napoleon would come and enslave England. But then a third word appeared. “Napoleon” The full message was finally revealed: “Wellington defeated Napoleon.” Those who were still looking up at the sign celebrated. What they had momentarily thought was their downfall ended up being their greatest victory. The Easter story is a bit like that. Jesus died on the cross and was buried. This man who claimed to be the Messiah and the Son of God had been slain as a common criminal. All hope was gone. But then came Sunday and the empty tomb was revealed. Jesus really is who He said He was. The hopelessness transformed into confidence and security.
For further study/resources used to prepare this message
- Who Is Jesus? By Greg Gilbert
- The Resurrection and the Son of God by N.T. Wright
- Jesus and the Eyewitnesses by Richard Bauckham
- Everything Jesus in Luke
- ESV Expository Commentary
- NIV Application Commentary
- Jesus’ Final Week by Bill Cook