Empty Tomb

LUKE — LESSON 24

Scriptures for this lesson are taken from Luke 24, Matthew 28, and Mark 16.

In Lesson 23, we studied about Jesus’ trials where He was taken to Pilate, then to Herod Antipas and back to Pilate. The members of the Sanhedrin incited the crowd to push Pilate to crucify Jesus. Then chapter 23 closed with the miracles of the cross.

[Luke 24:1-8] (1) 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. (4) 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.

[Matthew 28:1] (1) After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.

[Mark 16:1-3] (1) When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. (2) Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb (3) and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?”

It was just past dawn on Sunday morning after the Sabbath and the women who had been with Jesus and His disciples came to the tomb with spices to prepare His body for burial. They had followed Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus when they brought Jesus’ body to the burial place so they knew where to go. All four gospel writers tell this story. By comparing all of them we learn that Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joses, Salome, the mother of James and John and Joanna were among the group. There were most likely other women there too. They knew that Joseph and Nicodemus had placed Jesus’ body in the tomb but they did not know that the body had already been prepared for burial with the spices that were customary at that time. They certainly were not expecting Jesus to have risen from the grave even though He had told them several times that He would raise on the third day. Jesus was actually in the tomb part of Friday, all of Saturday and part of Sunday. By Jewish reckoning that was 3 days. When they arrived at the tomb and looked inside they found that Jesus was gone. As the women wondered in confusion, two angels appeared which terrified the women. They reminded them of Jesus’ words concerning His resurrection. Then they hurried back into Jerusalem to relate their experience with the 11 apostles and the other disciples.

[Luke 24:9-12] (9) 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. (11) But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense. (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.

You can imagine all the questions that were on the minds of Jesus’ followers. Are these women crazy? If Jesus is alive where is He? Why would He not come to us? Has He gone to heaven? Were there really angels there? Did the angels take Him? Peter had to see for himself so he rushed to the tomb and found that all the women had said was true.

[Luke 24:13-35] (13) Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. (14) They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. (15) As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; (16) but they were kept from recognizing him. (17) He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?” They stood still, their faces downcast. (18) One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” (19) “What things?” he asked. “About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. (20) The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; (21) but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. (22) In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning (23) but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. (24) Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.” (25) He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! (26) Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” (27) And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. (28) As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. (29) But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them. (30) When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. (31) Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. (32) They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” (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.” (35) Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.

The two disciples meet Jesus on the road to Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem which was apparently where they lived. They did not recognize Jesus. Why, we are not told. Was His appearance altered? Did He purposely not allow them to recognize Him? We don’t know. While they were walking on the road, Jesus explained to them all the Old Testament scriptures that related to the coming of the Messiah from the time of Moses. They still did not know who He was until He came to eat with them and blessed the food and broke the bread. This would indicate to me that these two men were possibly at the last supper with Jesus. Anyway this was when they recognized Him. After they knew who He was, Jesus disappeared. Then they got up and went back to Jerusalem to tell the apostles and disciples that they had seen Jesus. Sometime after the women had been to the tomb and Jesus appeared on the road to Emmaus, He had appeared to Peter.

[Luke 24:36-49] (36) While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” (37) They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. (38) He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? (39) Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.” (40) When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. (41) And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” (42) They gave him a piece of broiled fish, (43) and he took it and ate it in their presence. (44) He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.” (45) Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. (46) He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, (47) and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. (48) You are witnesses of these things. (49) I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”

Jesus tried to make them understand that He was not a ghost, by asking them touch Him, look and his hands and feet through which the iron spikes had been driven on the cross. He wanted them to see Him eat so that they could believe that He was truly alive again. He had risen from the dead just as He told them He would. Then Jesus related to them the scriptures as He had done for the two on the way to Emmaus, that the Messiah would come as a suffering servant and not as a military and political leader. The Messiah would die and rise again on the third day. The Messiah would bring forgiveness of sins. They were to be witnesses that these prophesies had come true. Then Jesus promised to send to them something that God the Father had promised, which was the Holy Spirit. Then Jesus told them to stay in Jerusalem until power from on high had come, again the power of the Holy Spirit.

What we can learn from Luke 24:

1. Jesus did exactly as He told His disciples He would. He suffered and died and rose on the third day. When we pray for something are we surprised when God answers or do we pray believing?

2. The two men on the road to Emmaus told Jesus that they thought the Messiah would come and redeem Israel. They believed that meant raising an army and overthrowing the Romans. The mission for the Messiah was to redeem Israel and all men from their sins. They did not understand until Jesus explained to them the Old Testament scriptures. We are expecting Jesus to come back and gather the saints then come and reign for 1,000 years on earth. That is what we are expecting. He said He would come for us and I believe that He will. The exact details may not be exactly as we think, but it will be wonderful.

3. Jesus told the eleven that they would be witnesses to all that the Old Testament prophesies concerning the Messiah had come true. That ministry has now been given over to us, today’s Christians.

4. Jesus told the eleven to wait for the power from on high before they began their witnessing. We need to pray for the power and guidance from the Holy Spirit to lead us in witnessing and all of our Christian ministries.

Previous ↔ Menu