Luke 24:1-12 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 found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, "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: 'The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.' " Then they remembered his words.
When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles. But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense. Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened.
Observation:
- The women experienced God's presence?
On the first day of the week and very early in the morning, Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary (the mother of James), and the other women with them, were going to anoint Jesus' body. But they found his body missing, " suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them."
"In their fright, the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, '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: "The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day, be raised again." "
- What did the women do?
"Then they remembered his words.When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others."
- What was the reaction of the Eleven?
"But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense. Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened."
Explanation and application:
1. The key to experiencing God's presence lies in a hunger for God. Away from their hometowns, the women desired to walk with Jesus. After his death, they waited in Jerusalem instead of returning to Galilee immediately. They didn't have much money, and could not afford to purchase spices any time, but they did all they could to buy spices and perfumes, through whom we can see a strong desire that these women wished that Jesus may rest in peace.
2. God's presence shows unconsciously. Forgetting Jesus' prediction about his death and resurrection, they lived for two days in grief and sorrow. Seeing his tomb empty, they thought that his body was stolen.
But the angels of God told them not to look for the living among the dead since Jesus had risen, which was the fulfillment of his prediction. Then they remembered his words.
3. The Eleven did not believe the women, because the women's words seemed like nonsense to them. The thought was already planted into their minds. The apostles didn't remember Jesus' words about him rising from the dead. People tend to forget things in their weakness, such as good things about themselves, hopeful words and favorable situations. They even misjudge others' testimonies.
Translated by Karen Luo
