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JESUS HAS RISEN!

"He is not here; He has risen! Remember how He told you, while He was still with you in Galilee."

Happy Easter! Today, Christians throughout the world celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It affirms our hope for the resurrection. The resurrection is the reality of the glorious and wonderful life beyond death. Resurrection faith enables us to live in this world with a sense of definite hope in all circumstances. In this last chapter Luke presents factual accounts of Jesus’ resurrection through the eyewitness of his disciples. Let’s meditate how these resurrection witnesses came to believe in the good news of Jesus’ resurrection. 

First, “Why do you look for the living among the dead?” (1-12)
This is about the first resurrection witnesses of Jesus. It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told the good news of Jesus being alive to the apostles. These first resurrection witnesses loved Jesus. They had wonderful love relationships with Jesus.

Look at verse one: “On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb.” They came to the tomb to anoint Jesus’ body. Death did not separate their devotion to Jesus. They loved Jesus even after his death. Why did they love Jesus? Jesus loved them first. They first observed the beautiful life and ministry of Jesus. It is not clear how they came to Jesus. Jesus called all the key disciples personally by saying, “follow me…” (Mt 4:19, 20; Mk 2:14) These women probably heard about Jesus’ miracles. They came. They sat at the teaching sessions of Jesus Christ. They attended the fellowship meetings. In the course of being present and associating with Jesus and his disciples, they learned about the wonderful teachings of Jesus. Soon they experienced powerful healing in their wounded lives. They tasted Jesus’ comfort in their sorrows. Through Jesus they entered the new life. They accepted their new roles as prayer mothers in the ministry of Jesus Christ. When Jesus died, they wept much seeing the painful death of Jesus. They saw how Joseph of Arimathea took Jesus’ body for burial. (Lk 23:56) They waited until the end of the Sabbath. Here is a first important observation. These women, who loved Jesus, did not anticipate the good news of Jesus’ resurrection at first. 

Look at verses 2 and 3. When the women arrived at the tomb, they found the stone that covered the entrance to the tomb rolled away. Entering the tomb in the dark early morning must have been terrifying. But their love for Jesus overcame their fear. They boldly entered the tomb and then discovered that it was empty. Jesus’ body was not there. “While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lighting stood beside them.” (4) Then, the two angels (in the form of men) said, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee.” (6) The angel’s message was clear: (1) You cannot look for the living among the dead (2) Jesus is not dead but has risen; (3) Remember the words that Jesus had said before his death. They continued, “‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.” Then, these women remembered Jesus’ words. In love they came to the empty tomb. In love they entered the tomb. In love they heard the message of the angels. In love they remembered the words of Jesus.

These women Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others told this news of Jesus’ resurrection to the Eleven (i.e., the Twelve minus Judas Iscariot). (9-10). Look at verse 11: “But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense.” Most of the Eleven (i.e., the top disciples of Jesus) ignored their message. To these men their message did not make any sense. So they did not believe it. They did not listen. They ignored them and their message. However, Peter was different. He got up and ran to the tomb. What did Peter have in common with these women? Peter also loved Jesus. He ran to the tomb. He boldly entered the tomb and saw the strips of linen lying by themselves and went away wondering to himself what had happened. In his loving heart for Jesus a small light of hope was dawning. Here is another observation. Love not only drives out fear and despair. Love enables people to take effective actions.

In this life we all come to a point where all we expect is nothing but an empty tomb. We do not see any real hope of good news, no real progress in anything. Recurring frustrations lead us into a sense of hopelessness and then despair! How can we ever be motivated to take action? We need to restore this love. One man said, “Too often I felt like giving up. But as a father I could not give up. I love my wife and my daughters too much to give up. For their sake I do not give up.” As disciples of Jesus we take actions because of our love for Jesus. How important it is for us to grow and restore this love relationship! Love always protects. Love always trusts. Love always hopes. Love always perseveres. Love never fails. (1Co 13:7) 

Second, “How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all…” (13-33)
This second part of this chapter is about the risen Jesus who appeared to two disciples. Look at verses 13-16. On the same day these two disciples left Jerusalem and began the seven mile walk to Emmaus. They were heading probably toward their homes─leaving behind Jerusalem. Then, the risen Jesus came up and walked along with them, but the disciples did not recognize him.

In verse 17 Jesus asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?” They said, “About Jesus of Nazareth…He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place.” These disciples shared their loving memories of Jesus. They saw the powerful and beautiful life of Jesus. But with the death of Jesus their hope was gone. They also shared the news of Jesus’ resurrection through the women. But they did not believe it.

How did Jesus help these two disciples? “He said to them, ‘How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?’ And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.” (25-27) Jesus rebuked them. Jesus clearly said, “You are fools. You are stupid in that you do not believe the evidence.” Jesus rarely spoke in that way! So we must not learn this aspect of Jesus too quickly. Let’s not follow this example of Jesus too often. Only in rare moments did Jesus plainly rebuke unbelief. But Jesus did not walk away from them. Beginning with Moses (e.g., the book of Genesis) and all the Prophets (e.g., Isaiah, etc.), the Risen Jesus explained to them about his life, ministry, death—and particularly about his resurrection.

When Jesus and the disciples came to the village of Emmaus, Jesus acted as if he were going further, but the two disciples strongly urged him to stay with them. These disciples also loved Jesus. The mild rebuke did not offend them. They were willing to listen. They invited this unknown man to remain with them (at this time they did not yet recognize Jesus) and wanted to hear more. As Jesus broke bread at the table, their eyes were opened and they recognized Risen Jesus. At that moment Jesus disappeared from their sight.

What did these two disciples say? They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” This is it. It was not the appearance of the risen Jesus that moved their hearts. It was when Jesus taught the Bible and explained to them about all the prophesies about Jesus that their hearts were open. This is not the first time that they studied the Bible. Yet, as they studied again, their faith was confirmed. The reality of Jesus’ resurrection made sense to them in light of the Scriptures. Now that they knew Risen Jesus, they understood why their hearts had burned within them as they talked on the road. Here we see the important work of Risen Jesus. Even though it was night, they got up at once and returned to Jerusalem to tell the others. They found the Eleven and those with them and claimed that the Lord had risen. The only way that we may overcome sorrow and burdens is to accept the risen Jesus. Here is another observation. Our hearts burn with joy when we finally believe what we have learned. Even through years of listening to all the biblical passages, the truth may still stay hidden. But in the right time another careful study opens our hearts and we believe. The Word of God really makes sense in our hearts. The truth finally becomes our own. With this anticipation of this hope, we study the Bible. With this understanding, we who are “foolish, stupid, and slow” study the Bible again and again. Praise God who finally gives us this joy of believing. Our hearts burn with joy! This moment comes to his believers.
 
Third, “You are witnesses of these things.” (36-53)
In this section, Jesus’ main work was twofold. Jesus showed that his resurrection was real, physical as well as spiritual. Look at verse 36-37. “While they were still talking about this, Jesus stood among them and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.’ The disciples were startled and frightened, thinking they had seen a ghost.” For the disciples to see the resurrected Jesus was not easy. The disciples’ response seems natural. They were startled, frightened, and they began to doubt. Jesus said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.” (38-39) Jesus showed them his hands and feet. The disciples saw and touched the wounds in Jesus’ hands and feet. The disciples saw Jesus’ bodily resurrection. Jesus ate a piece of fish in their presence. Indeed, Jesus was risen! This real Jesus had suffered and died on the cross!

Why does this bodily resurrection matter? Resurrection is not a mere concept. It is reality. We all have mortal bodies. Our bodies decay. Sooner or later our bodies all become broken like old used cars. They stop functioning. We all become dispensable. Our bodies return to dust. Yet, the resurrection of Jesus Christ plants in us this hope for renewed, glorious, and powerful resurrection bodies. This hope should not disappoint us. “The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body.” (1Co 15:42-44)

Look at verse 44: “He said to them, ‘This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.’” The Law of Moses (e.g., Genesis) is about God’s creation and man’s fall. It is about the promise of the Savior through the seed of woman—then, the seed of Abraham. Jesus also fulfilled what was written about him by the Prophets and in the Psalms. Essentially, the prophesies of the Scriptures were directed to the coming of the Christ of God (e.g. Dt 18:14-20; 2Sa 7:16; Isa 7:14; 9:6; 53). Psalms give us insight into the heart and mind of the suffering Jesus as well as into his victory and glory (e.g. Ps 16:10-11; 22:15-18; 110:1; 118:22-23).

Jesus’ resurrection is the preview of the glorious resurrection that is coming to the believers. Just as Jesus was raised, those who believe in him will also be raised. How wonderful this is! Before Jesus’ resurrection people had hope in immortal life in vague and ambiguous ways. With Jesus’ resurrection the disciples saw the reality of this glorious and wonderful life beyond death. It was not a few hours of teaching. Rather, it was about forty days of intensive studies and time together with Jesus. Here, in the last chapter of Luke’s gospel, key lessons of Jesus are summarized. This is about what it means to participate in the glory of Jesus’ resurrection.

• The core of the gospel of Jesus’ death and resurrection. Verse 46 says, “He told them, ‘This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day.” The good news is about Jesus’ death and resurrection. (1Co 15:3-4) This affirms the truth. We die with Christ and are raised to life with Christ.
• The power of the gospel. repentance and forgiveness. Verses 47 and 48 read: “and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.” Jesus taught his disciples that they are to preach repentance and forgiveness in his name. What does repentance mean? This is about turning away from this world and turning to God. This is to turn our hope from this world to the kingdom of God. 
• The promise of the power from on high. Jesus said in verse 48, “I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” Jesus promised the power from on high. The real power is not generated within. The real power comes from above. 
• Jesus’ ascension. Look at verses 50-53: “When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven.” Then, what did Jesus do? He blessed his disciples. With his ascension Jesus moved up to glory and entrusted the tasks of preaching the good news to all creation to his disciples. This is about delegation. Had Jesus stayed longer—20 or 30 more years, the disciples would never have had any real chance themselves to develop and grow up. They could have depended on Jesus all the time. They never felt any need for praying for the greater work of God. The gospel ministry is also like this. The growing work of God requires passing the baton. Just as Jesus moved up and disappeared from their sight, at the right time old leaders need to move up and disappear so that new generation of leaders may assume responsibilities and privileges to struggle and depend on God. Until then, the work of preparation and confirmation must continue.
• The obedience of Jesus’ disciples. Look at verses 52-53: “Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God.” They worshiped Jesus—bowed down and said farewell to Jesus. Then, they returned to Jerusalem. They were not afraid any more. They stayed in the temple. They waited for the power from on high. They obeyed and waited. Obeyed and stayed. The time for their actions was coming soon.

This passage shows that Jesus’ resurrection was quiet as his birth was silent. Jesus did not proclaim his resurrection to the unbelieving world. Rather, Jesus showed himself to the believing disciples. The task of reaching out to the unbelieving world passed on to the disciples. The news of Jesus’ resurrection gradually moved in from the outer circles—the women, the younger disciples, and then to the inner circle of the Eleven. The execution of the task of preaching the gospel involved the top disciples and extended to all others.

The resurrection witnesses from this passage are: (1) those who loved Jesus and had a deep personal love relationship with Jesus; (2) those who confirmed through the Scriptures the reality of Jesus and his resurrection; (3) Jesus’ disciples whom he help to believe—his last work before his ascension. Then, Jesus entrusted the task of preaching the good news to these believing disciples. This world still depends on witnesses like you and me who find their hope in the risen Jesus. 

 April 4, 2010; Dr. Paul Hong; Toledo, UBF.

Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION ®. NIV®;. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society.
Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.