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.
But even while they were still looking at each other and wondering what to do next, two men whose clothes shone brilliantly, appeared to them and explained that Jesus had risen as He had promised.
Now some skeptics try to point out here that the bible is in error because of the amount of the angels listed. Both Mark and Matthew only mention one. Mark describes one who was sitting in a particular place who spoke to them. This does not discount the presence of a second, but emphasizes who the main player was. Mark always concentrates on the particular one who is most important in the story, and ignores any other. In contrast Matthew elsewhere (but not in this case), and sometimes Luke, advert to more of the detail so that Matthew in a number of cases, and Luke in this case, regularly speak of twos where Mark has only one, possibly in the case of Matthew because having been there he actually remembered more of the detail.
5 Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth
The appearance of the men was such that the women were afraid, and ‘bowed down their faces’ before the men. This may have been because of the brightness of the light, or simply because they were filled with awe. If you remember way back in beginning of our study of the Gospel of Luke when we came upon Zacharias who was selected to serve in the Temple? Remember, the angel Gabriel appeared to him. Gabriel’s first words, we ‘be not afraid’ because at the sight of him and for that matter seeing any angel was scary.
they said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead?
But the men gently asked them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead?” Given what follows it was a clear indication that the reason why Jesus’ body was not here was because He was alive, and that that was because He had ‘risen’. The words are a gentle rebuke. The suggestion is that the women should not have been looking for Jesus in the tomb on the third day, for our Lord Jesus had told them that by then He would have risen from the dead. The thought is that had they been spiritually aware they would have known.
Remember, when the disciples were on the Sea of Galilee and our Lord Jesus was asleep and then the terrible storm hit. Do you remember what happened after our Lord rebuked the wind and the sea? He rebuked the disciples for their lack of faith. Why, because He had told them beforehand that they were going to the other side of the sea. The major lesson, to be learned, is that if God has said it - then believe it!
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.’ ”
The men then made clear exactly what they meant, ‘“He is not here, but is risen’. And lest there be any doubt they linked it with our Lord Jesus’ promise, given while they had all been with Him in Galilee, that having suffered, and having died, He would rise again on the third day.
8 And they remembered His words.
This verse is short and right to the point. They remembered now what our Holy Master and Lord, Jesus had said.
9 Then they returned from the tomb and told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest.
There is an important point here that is not addressed outright. Think about this and your own personal reaction of becoming a believer. When you come across something so wonderful as these women just experienced, you want to tell someone. In the book of Romans chapter 10 we read that if you will confess with your mouth and believe in your heart you will be saved. You can now see that it is a proof positive that you are saved because you can’t wait to tell someone else. If this hasn’t occurred in your life than I suggest that you examine yourself if you are truly in the faith.
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.
Luke then lists the names of some of the women who were involved, but makes clear that there were others. Mary Magdalene appears throughout in all four Gospels, but for quite a while was not with the other women because, having been sent on ahead with ‘the other Mary’ as a scout, she had gone to tell Peter and John about the empty tomb. She would, however, be seen by all as having been an essential part of the women’s party.
Depression is a serious problem. It can immobilize you from doing anything worthwhile. It also can deaden your hearing towards anything hopeful. The men were behind locked doors not knowing what to do. They were fearful that the next knock on their door would be the police to take them away also. Then the women show up ecstatic.
At what they had to say the men, instead of being excited and overjoyed, were incredulous. The women’s words seemed like ‘idle tales’. Such talk about dazzling angels in an empty tomb at the beginning of a new day, when the sun rising on the horizon could cause people to be dazzled, was just what one might expect of women. There was no way in which they themselves were going to believe it.
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.
Now Peter had just been told by Mary Magdalene of her encounter with the Lord, who she first thought was the care taker. He ran to the tomb, and stooping and looking in saw the linen clothes that had covered Jesus lying by themselves. When he found that the tomb was empty, and that Jesus’ grave clothes were still there it made him wonder even more. But he was still not wholly convinced so he went back to his own lodgings in Jerusalem.
Luke commenced this passage with the women looking into the empty tomb, and now it ends with Peter looking into the empty tomb, the former soon having been brought to belief by the angels, while the latter was left wondering whether there might be something in what they had said, having not yet come to belief. In typical Lucan fashion Luke thus makes clear how important the women are in the life of the people of God.
I end with this word to women. I have heard it said that it was the ‘woman’s fault that men are in this awful mess because of her sin in the Garden of Eden.’ Well, let me say over my years of observation that women all together are more spiritual then men. If you have a prayer meeting, who fills the pews? – women. To get men out to a study or prayer meeting you better have some food served shortly afterwards.
So, I will say this, ‘yes, I agree that a woman led a man away from the Tree of Life in the Garden, but it is women today who are greatly leading men back to the ever living God. Thank you ladies.
