Tag: Easter

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Easter Week 2020: Luke 24:10-12

On By Ben JenningsIn DevotionalLeave a comment

It was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles.  (11)  And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not.  (12)  Then arose Peter, and ran unto the sepulchre; and stooping down, he beheld the linen clothes laid by themselves, and departed, wondering in himself at that which was come to pass.

Luke 24:10-12

Explanation:

Little explanation is needed to understand these verses.  The ladies told the disciples what happened, and the disciples did not believe them.  Peter had to go see it for himself, and even when he saw the empty tomb he was perplexed.  He was not assured of the reality of Christ being alive.

This is yet another reason to believe today, because Peter ended up giving his life for the reality of a risen Christ.  Just a few short months later he told the same group of religious leaders who were instrumental, from a human perspective, in calling for Christ’s crucifixion these bold words:

(18) And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. (19)  But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye.  (20)  For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard. 

Acts 4:18-20 

What made them so bold, according to their own estimation, was the fact that they had seen the risen Christ.  Peter, speaking of Christ’s transfiguration said,

For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 

2 Peter 1:16

These men had seen something remarkable and undeniable.  They had been indwelt and empowered by the Holy Spirit, and it changed their lives.

Application:

There may be times where it seems difficult to believe something as incredible as the Gospel.  Think about the reality of these words:

Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;  (2)  By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.  (3)  For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;  (4)  And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:  (5)  And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:  (6)  After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.  (7)  After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. 

1 Corinthians 15:1-7

All but one of those disciples died a martyr’s death.  The one that didn’t, John, died in exile.  People don’t die for a lie that they conjured up themselves.  Jesus is alive.

Response:

Three appropriate responses to the Gospel…

  1. Remember
  2. Believe
  3. Proclaim
Photo by Bruno van der Kraan on Unsplash

Easter Week 2020: Luke 24:6-9

On By Ben JenningsIn DevotionalLeave a comment

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,  (9)  And returned from the sepulchre, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest.

Luke 24:6-9 

Explanation:

The angels have a dialogue with the women who went to the tomb.  They explain that the tomb is empty, not because someone had taken the body, but because Jesus had risen from the dead.  He had been crucified, and had risen from the dead.  The angels then remind them of the fact that Jesus had foretold that this would happen.  They remembered what Jesus had said and returned to report what they had seen.

One of the things that has been pointed out is that the first witnesses to the resurrection were these women.  In those days, the word of women was not as highly regarded as the witness of men.  God ordained that they would be the first witnesses, and that contributes to the authenticity of this event.   If someone were to stage this resurrection at this time they would not have been inclinded to make the first witnesses women. 

Another fact to notice in the text is that it was pointed out and corraborated that Jesus had predicted His death, burial, and resurrection.  He foretold His own future, yet another miracle surrounding this circumstance. 

Application:

We can believe that Jesus Christ really rose from the dead.  He is risen, just as He said.

Response:

  • Gratefulness- Our sins have been paid for, and we are forgiven when we place our faith in Christ.
  • Astonishment- God became man and died for His creation.
  • Evangelism- Everyone must know this message!
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Easter Week 2020: Luke 24:4-5

On By Ben JenningsIn DevotionalLeave a comment

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?

Luke 24:4-5 

Explanation:

The ladies came to the tomb.  What they had found there certainly must have astonished them.  If the rolled away stone and the empty tomb had not perplexed them enough, the two angels must have suprised them even more.  But they were not just suprised.  They were afraid.  They had a difficult time even looking up at the radiant duo. 

Notice the question, “Why seek ye the living among the dead?”  What an incredible question.  It pointed to the new reality that they had not expected.  They Lord was alive.  They were looking for this live Savior in a cemetary. 

Application:

Clearly the application is important.  Jesus is alive!  We should not treat him as if He is dead.  His death reconciled us to God, and His resurrection life brings us new life.

For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

Romans 5:10

Response:

As we begin to get ready for Easter, take some time to think about the life that God has given to you through His death, burial and resurrection.

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Easter Week 2020: Luke 24:2-3

On By Ben JenningsIn DevotionalLeave a comment

And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre.  (3)  And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.   

Luke 24:2-3

Explanation:

What an incredible finding.  They did not expect the stone to be rolled away.  They expected it to be closed.   They did not expect the body to be gone.  They expected it to be there.  They thought that Jesus was dead, but He wasn’t.

Now if you and I find an empty tomb today we would conjecture everything but the supernatural.  We would think that someone exhumed the body.   We would think that someone took it.  We would make every kind of naturalistic explanation, and investigate what actually happened, never even thinking the supernatural as an explanation.

And what is amazing is that God, in His infinite wisdom, orchestrated the events of Jesus’ death burial and resurrection to make every possible naturalistic explanation of the empty tomb implausible. 

First of all, Jesus was obviously dead.  He died at the hands of Roman executioners.  They knew death.  He was pierced until blood and water flowed.  This was a sign that death had happened.  He was laid in a tomb, wrapped in grave clothes, with a giant stone put in front of the mouth of the tomb.  These would have all been obstacles that a recently crucified man would not have been able to manage on His own.  The grave was guarded by Roman soldiers who would have paid a severe price to lose the body.  Finally, that early body of believers right in Jerusalem made the foundational claim that since Jesus rose from the dead He substantiated His claim to be God and could forgive sins because of His atoning death on the cross.  What would have killed that movement was to present the body of Christ, and it never happened.  In fact, these men who had been cowards previously, were bold in the face of persecution and even death.

Yes, the tomb was empty.  No, they did not expect it.  Nothing has been more significant in all of history than that fact.

Application:

You can believe the Gospel, not just because the Bible claims it, but because there is historical and logical reasons that back up the claims.  Jesus Christ is who He said He is.  By believing we can have eternal life in His name.

Response:

The most important response you and I will have is the response to this fact.  If you have placed your faith in Jesus, rejoice in the resurrection.  Jesus said in John 14:9, “Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.”

If you have not placed your faith in Christ, do it today!