Knowing The Word in Luke 24:1-12

The Resurrection

24:1 But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. 2 And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. 5 And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? 6 He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, 7 that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.” 8 And they remembered his words, 9 and returning from the tomb they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. 10 Now it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles, 11 but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. 12 But Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home marveling at what had happened.

Comments

None of the gospels described the resurrection. They present the facts. Luke began with the women, who after the Sabbath was over, went to the tomb to complete the burial of Jesus. They did not hesitate to enter. Inside they saw two men, who we can take to be angels. They bowed as a mark of respect. They proclaimed good news to the women: Jesus was not dead and was not to be found among the dead. He had been raised by the Father, and did they not remember that Jesus had already told them about what would happen. Now they could begin to believe what he told them.

The women, whose names Luke finally gives, returned to the upper room in the city to report the events to the male disciples. They were not impressed. Peter may not have believed, however that did not stop him from investigating and returning in wonder.

The gospel accounts of the resurrection differ factually at a number of points. Luke does not mention John going to the tomb with Peter as John’s Gospel records. In Matthew and Mark, Jesus only appears to the women, while Luke and John have Jesus appearing to the twelve later that evening. However, these differences can be explained, which John Wenham does in his excellent book The Easter Enigma. I highly recommend it for those who want to investigate the facts for themselves.

Application

What many miss in the account of the resurrection is that the primary witnesses are women. In Jesus’ day the testimony and eyewitness accounts of women would not be considered in court or would not be given the same standing as that of men. Throughout his gospel, Luke records eyewitness accounts by women, who play a rather prominent role as compared to the other gospels. We can be grateful to Luke for his excellent investigation and for Jesus, who makes it clear, the New Covenant is for all people. Or as Paul later writes in Galatians 3:28, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” There is no one more inclusive than Messiah Jesus.

Prayer

Glorious Father, you accomplished what you promised generations of people in the death and resurrection of your Son, Jesus. His Name is now above all names. We are the blessed inheritors of his great work on the cross and his victory over death and the grave. Through your Spirit, enliven us like Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Mary to share this wonderful news.