Wednesday, April 5, 2023
I absolutely love the story we read about in Luke chapter 24. It’s the story of Jesus’ triumph over death—the reason we celebrate Easter.
For ten years, I helped an artist in Findlay every Easter work on a sand sculpture. The sculpture always featured a representation of the crucifixion and then other parts of the sculpture changed from year to year. Many times it included the empty tomb, complete with a rolled away stone and footprints in the sand coming from within. Many visitors to the sculpture marveled at the details, and the crucifixion and tomb were always favorites.
What it must have been like on that day when Jesus arose and the tomb was found empty! I can only imagine the reaction when Mary and the other women received the news.
Luke 24:6-7
6 He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! Remember what he told you back in Galilee, 7 that the Son of Man must be betrayed into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and that he would rise again on the third day.
Today we have the advantage of hearing this story from a young age, but for them, it was a life-changing reality.
The women remembered the story Jesus told them, and realizing what must have happened, went to tell the other disciples. But the men didn’t believe them. Peter went to see for himself and also found the tomb empty.
It is significant that in this account, it is the women who discovered the empty tomb and went to tell the disciples. It is one of the ways we know the story is accurate and true. You see, women were not thought of very highly at that time. Had the writer just been creating fiction, he most definitely would have used men as the focus of this story.
Luke 24:25-26
25 Then Jesus said to them, “You foolish people! You find it so hard to believe all that the prophets wrote in the Scriptures. 26 Wasn’t it clearly predicted that the Messiah would have to suffer all these things before entering his glory?”
Later Jesus appeared to the disciples and explained how he must ascend to his Father in heaven. He bestowed upon them the Great Commission and explained how he would send the Holy Spirit to guide them along the way.
Thousands of years later, we Christians are still called to the Great Commission—telling the Good News of Jesus to others. And from the moment we accept Christ into our hearts, the Holy Spirit also dwells within us to guide us in doing the will of God.
Questions:
Do you believe in the miracle of the Easter story?
Have you accepted Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior?
Next Steps:
Read the other gospels—Matthew, Mark, and John—for more insight into the life of Jesus.
If you haven’t already, confess your sins and ask Jesus into your heart.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank you for giving your life for my sins and for defeating death through resurrection so that I can have the promise of eternal life. Thank you for the gift of the Holy Spirit to help me along the path of righteousness while I am here on this earth. Help me to always listen and heed your guidance. In Jesus’ name, amen.