(4)  And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments:  (5)  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?  (6)  He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee,  (7)  Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.  (8)  And they remembered his words, 

Luke 24:4-8

Explanation:

They were perplexed.  This is a basic description of their state of mind at this moment.  This must have been a very emotional time for them.  They were coming to the tomb in grief.  Then they find the tomb empty, and it brought about confusion.  What had happened?  Where was Jesus body?  Who took it?  Wasn’t crucifixion enough?  What possibilities came to mind as questions at that moment?

Then something even more incredible happened.

The appearance of two men in shining garments seemed to have happened suddenly.  This startled them, as you can imagine.  The sight and experience were such that they immediately got to the ground.

These angels ask the question of Easter.  It is the question of Resurrection Sunday.  “Why do you look for the living among the dead?”  This was the possibility that they may not have considered, or if they did it was beyond their wildest dreams. 

He is not here.  He is not at the grave.  He is not in the grave.  He is not in the grave clothes.  He is risen.  He got up.  He left the seplechure.  He is alive.

And you should have expected it.  This should have been the first and most likely possibility you considered when you saw the empty tomb.   Why?  Don’t you remember what He predicted?

“The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.”

They could have asked, “Don’t you remember that he said, “Destroy this temple and in three days I will lift it up.”?

They could have asked, “Do you know the scripture that says in Isaiah 53:9-10?”

“(9)  And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.(10)  Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.”

Isaiah 53:9-10

Why would you look for the man who raises the dead among the dead? 

He was asked, “You saved others why don’t you save yourself.”  He prolonged His days and ours through resurrection power!  This was predicted, and it came to pass.

Application:

If Jesus rose from the dead:

– He is God.

– He is the only way to God.

– Everything He said was true.

– The Old Testament is true.

– The New Testament is true.

– We can be saved!

Response:

Do you believe the resurrection of Jesus Christ as a historical fact?