On this Easter morning we begin worship with:
Luke 24:1-6
But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. 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? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, . . ."
The group of women that went to the tomb to prepare the body of Jesus were "perplexed" and "frightened". Contrast that with the message from the angels. They were matter-a-fact. What had happened was foretold. And because it was foretold, by Christ himself, there should not have been any doubt that it would happen. As such they said there was no reason for the woman to have come there!
Three times that prediction is recorded:
As they were gathering in Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him, and he will be raised on the third day.” And they were greatly distressed.
They went on from there and passed through Galilee. And he did not want anyone to know, for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him. And when he is killed, after three days he will rise.” But they did not understand the saying, and were afraid to ask him.
But while they were all marveling at everything he was doing, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let these words sink into your ears: The Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men.” But they did not understand this saying, and it was concealed from them, so that they might not perceive it. And they were afraid to ask him about this saying.
And it was three named woman that returned with the news:
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, but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them.
But still the disciples would run to the tomb to again look for Jesus among the dead!
Lord, give us simple faith to believe the testimony of your Word.
He is risen indeed!
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