A 5-day per week study.

Joseph of Arimathea, a member of the Council and a good and righteous man, requested the body of Jesus, then took it from the cross, wrapped it in a linen shroud with spices, and laid it in his own new tomb. Several women who were followers of Jesus observed where the tomb was and determined to return after the Sabbath with prepared spices and ointment for Jesus’ body.

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24:1-3.

But, early on Monday morning, when the women returned, they found the stone rolled away from the tomb entrance (a concern they discussed on the way), and the body of Jesus … GONE! What? Where was His body? They KNEW they had watched Joseph put Jesus in this tomb. Many questions and possibilities ran through their minds.

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24:4-8

While they were perplexed, two men in dazzling white clothes appeared to them. (These were, of course, angels.) They were frightened and immediately bowed their heads low. Then they heard one of the angels speak.

“Why do you seek the LIVING among the DEAD? He is not here, but has RISEN as He said. Remember how He told you while He was in Galilee, that the Son of Man must …

1. be delivered into the hands of sinful men,

2. be crucified,

3. and on the third day … RISE.“

And they remembered His words!

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24:9-11.

(It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and others who were there.) These ran to the apostles and the rest, and told them all these things, but their words seemed like an idle tale, and the men did not believe them.

But Peter got up and ran to the tomb (John 20:4 says John went with him), and stooped to look in. He saw the linen clothes on their own and marveled at what had happened. (John’s account said that THAT disciple “believed.”)

They returned to where they were lodging, marveling, wondering, perhaps questioning their own eyes, and running over in their minds all that Jesus had told them. Yes! He had indeed told them, AND THREE TIMES, that he would be killed and then …. resurrected! Had it happened? Where was He then? Would they SEE Him again?

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The resurrection of Jesus is what makes Christianity unique. No other religious leader or “god” has done it (or had the power to do it). But Jesus rising from the dead is PROOF that His work on the cross was accepted by God as the total payment. That bill that was to come due when we died now has a stamp PAID IN FULL across it. Our redemption is bought and paid for; Jesus’ death was totally sufficient to pay our sin debt. When we believe, the payment is applied to us. Oh, Praise God!

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16.