"And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen: remember how He spake unto you when He was yet in Galilee, saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again."
Luke 24:5-7
Part 3
Yesterday: Jesus Could not Remain Dead!
“They said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead?” (b)
Jesus, the Creator, has given life to every creature on this planet. He cannot possibly stay behind, dead and in the grave!
Today: Jesus Brings us Resurrection Life! His Follower’s Poor Memories
“He is not here but is risen.”
What glorious news! The angels continued to speak their message of good news to the women on that resurrection morning. As “Jesus followers” this is the best news they could ever hear. Jesus’ absence from His grave reveals wondrous truths to us.
– God the Father accepted His Son’s sacrifice. Jesus died as our substitute. His payment for our sin is valid. The Father’s wrath, against our sin, is satisfied. Our redemption has been successfully purchased by Jesus.
– Jesus is the “firstfruits” of every single believer who has died or who will die. Because Jesus rose from the dead first, we shall too! Jesus’ followers never need to fear the grave again!
– Jesus has won. Death and Hell have been conquered! He has the victory over sin, death, and the grave. His victory sets the stage for our sanctification.
“Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over Him. For in that He died, He died unto sin once: but in that He liveth, He liveth unto God. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:9-11).
“Remember how He spake unto you when He was yet in Galilee.”
The women are there at Jesus’ grave, listening to the angel’s message. They came to the tomb expecting to find Jesus’ body. Their idea was to anoint the body with spices. The angel said,
“Remember…”
Even in the best of times, men, we men tend to have an awful memory (at least I do). Just ask your sweet wife what she thinks about your ability to recall details. How many times have our wives sent us to the store, only to have us “forget” what we are expected to pick up? Guys, aren’t you thankful for a cell phone so you can call her for a reminder? ?
All of Jesus’ followers are going through the worst of times. It is no wonder that in their grief and confusion, during those days, that they have forgotten what Jesus said to them the last time they were in Galilee with Him. It was no more than a couple of weeks back.
Interestingly, these women listening to the angels at the tomb had not remembered His words either. They had gone to the grave, and to their surprise, it was empty!
“And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulcher, and how his body was laid” (Luke 23:55).
Peter and John left the women there to tell the other disciples the news of the empty tomb. The angels asked the women, “why seek ye the living among the dead.” They, too, were with the disciples and Jesus in Galilee.
“The angels seemed almost surprised that the women were surprised; after all, the angels had heard what Jesus said regarding His resurrection, and they knew the women had heard it also. They naturally wondered why the women were surprised”[1] (Guzik).
What are those important words that Jesus had told them earlier, but they all have forgotten? Come back tomorrow as we review His last thoughts with them.
Quote: “I will remember the works of the LORD: surely I will remember thy wonders of old. I will meditate also of all thy work and talk of thy doings. Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary: who is so great a God as our God? Thou art the God that doest wonders: thou hast declared thy strength among the people” (Psalm 77:11-14).
[1] Enduring Word Commentary, the electronic version in eSword. Luke 24:6.