"He Is Risen"

From: Messages of God's Love: 1946

Luke 24:1-12¹Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them. ²And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre. ³And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus. ⁴And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments: ⁵And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? ⁶He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, ⁷Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again. ⁸And they remembered his words, ⁹And returned from the sepulchre, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest. ¹⁰It 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. ¹¹And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not. ¹²Then 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 24:1‑12)

Several women followed to the tomb of Jesus, and they watched how the body of Jesus was laid. As they returned home they bought spices and ointment and prepared them, as this was a custom to put about the body of a loved one. The next day was the Sabbath, when none were to work or travel (Ex. 16:29²⁹See, for that the Lord hath given you the sabbath, therefore he giveth you on the sixth day the bread of two days; abide ye every man in his place, let no man go out of his place on the seventh day. (Exodus 16:29)), but they came early the morning after.

The great stone had been rolled from the entrance, and they went inside, but the body of Jesus was not there. They were greatly troubled where it could be.

Suddenly two angels in shining garments were beside them, who said, “Why seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen.”

The angels reminded them that Jesus had told them He would rise the third day, and they said for them to go, tell His disciples. The women went and told them, but the men did not believe them, though two ran to the tomb and found it empty (John 20:3-8³Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre. ⁴So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre. ⁵And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in. ⁶Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie, ⁷And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself. ⁸Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed. (John 20:3‑8)).

Soon the Lord Himself appeared to those women and talked to them (Matt. 28:9, 10⁹And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him. ¹⁰Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me. (Matthew 28:9‑10)). Later all those who loved Him had sure proof that He was alive, for He came to them and talked to them.

Notice that it was on the first day of the week that the Lord Jesus arose, as given also in Matt. 28:1¹In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. (Matthew 28:1); Mk. 16:1, 2¹And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him. ²And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun. (Mark 16:1‑2); Jo. 20:1¹The Lord also spake unto Joshua, saying, (Joshua 20:1). People then did not name the days of the week, but numbered them, 1St, 2nd, etc., except the 7th day was named Sabbath (rest). The day before was called “the preparation day” (Lu. 23:54); that was the day Jesus was crucified and laid in the tomb. So He was there on the Sabbath.

The next day began a new week; that morning they found He had risen. That was why afterward those who loved Him met on the first day of the week to honor Him, and it was called “the Lord’s day”. (See Acts 20:7⁷And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight. (Acts 20:7); Rev. 1:10¹⁰I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, (Revelation 1:10)).

Although the disciples were slow to believe that morning that Jesus was risen, afterward they spoke much of that wonderful event. Peter said that God raised Him “because it was not possible” He should be held by death: that He was “the Prince of life”. He said David meant Christ when he wrote, “Thou will not suffer Thine Holy One to see corruption (decay)” (Acts 2:24-28; 3:15²⁴Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it. ²⁵For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved: ²⁶Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope: ²⁷Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. ²⁸Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance. (Acts 2:24‑28)
¹⁵And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses. (Acts 3:15); Ps. 16:10, 11).

He had come to earth to bear while on the cross, the punishment of sin deserved from God; that He was raised out of death, is proof His work was accomplished.

God now offers to justify, or count righteous, everyone who trusts in the work of His Son. That is why the message, “He is risen”, is as blessed for us, as for those people who trusted Him then (Romans 4:25²⁵Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification. (Romans 4:25)).

“Christ being raised from the dead, dieth no more; death hath no more dominion (rule or power) over Him.” Romans 6:9⁹Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. (Romans 6:9).

Next we read of the appearings of the Lord to those who loved Him.

ML 03/24/1946

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