 March 31, 1999
EXPLORE THE BIBLE:
Christians' joy, hope give
evidence of risen Savior
___ Luke 24:1-6, 39-40, 44-52
___By Dillard Wilbanks
___Travis Avenue Baptist Church, Fort Worth
___Jesus' last week began with Sunday as a day of temporary triumph accompanied by cries of "Hosanna" which turned to "crucify" on Friday. It ended with Sunday as a day of eternal triumph establishing the resurrection as the New Testament standard of power.
___ Jesus is alive (Luke 24:1-6). On the first day of the week the Galilean women (23:55-56) returned to the tomb to embalm and anoint the dead body of Jesus. The tomb was sealed by a circular stone which  rolled in a groove across the opening. They expressed concern along their journey about this heavy stone blocking their entry (Mark 16:3). Upon arrival they found the stone rolled away. Once inside, instead of finding a dead Jesus they heard the assurance of a living Lord! Significantly, at a time when women were less than second-class citizens, they were the first people to whom Jesus' resurrection was revealed.
___The empty tomb separates Christianity from all other religions. Christianity alone claims not only a resurrected Lord but one whose spirit is now present with those who believe (John 14:16-17). Therefore, the resurrection has relevance for all our difficult experiences. We can experience the proof positive of his presence in the death of a loved one, in marriage difficulties, job uncertainties, illness, loneliness and estrangement.
___ Jesus invites people to believe (Luke 24:39-40). In verse 39 Jesus invites the disciples to believe and offers them proof positive of his resurrection. Luke's medical training would have prejudiced him against a bodily resurrection. Yet, this man of science and historical accuracy insists upon it. The risen Christ was alive in another dimension with a body of "flesh and bones." Jesus offered his body for sight or touch to show the reality of his very emphatic words, "It is I myself," a very rare Greek expression.
___ We are his witnesses (John 24:44-49). In stressing the necessity of the cross, Jesus reminded them of his predictions of death and resurrection and that these things were a part of their Scriptures. He named all three sections: Law (Moses); Prophets; Psalms (Holy Writings). All that God had been doing in the course of redemptive history was pointing to his own climactic work. The cross is the one place on earth where in a moment of time we see the eternal love of God.
___In stressing the urgency of the task, he mandated the worldwide mission of the church beginning in its Hebrew cradle, Jerusalem. The apostles are the first witnesses, but all believers are heralds to proclaim (preach) a call to "repentance" and an offer of "forgiveness of sins" to all nations.
___Finally, the power for the task is promised by Jesus to those who by faith would wait upon it. This "power" (dynamite) as a mighty moving force would "clothe" (envelop) them. The promise was fulfilled in Acts 2.
___ Jesus' ascension gives joy (John 24:50-52). The day Jesus parted from them was a day of dividing, when the Jesus of earth finally became the Christ of heaven. They did not leave the scene broken-hearted. They left it with great joy. Today we share their joy, knowing that in death we go to him and that he will come again in his resurrection presence for all who eagerly await him (Hebrews 9:28).
Frontpage / Contents/ Masthead / Why We're Here / Links / Archive / E-mail us/ SUBSCRIBE!
|