Monday, March 12, 2012

The Resurrection pt.4 (Luke 24:1-12)

  All had looked hopeless, "we had hoped that he would have been the one to redeem Israel",was their sentiment, crucified Messiah's were failed ones, or so they thought. The women rose early on the first day of the week, the third day since his execution by Roman soldiers, to go to the tomb and bring fragrant spices."But when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus"(Luke 24:3), let's not read right past an amazing thing here. Women were the first witnesses of the empty tomb, Mary Magdalene was the first witness of the raised Jesus (John 20:10-18). The testimony of women in this time period was not allowed in a court, if the Gospel writers were fabricating a tale that was fictional they would have never employed the testimony of women about the resurrection of Jesus. Women however were very involved in the work of Jesus (Luke 8:1-3), they were at the foot of his cross and they were the first witnesses of Jesus being raised.
  The next thing we want to notice is that this was happening on the first day of the week. Jesus was crucified on a Friday, the sixth day, the same day God finished the creation. On the cross on that Friday Jesus said the words "it is finished"(John 19:30). He was in the tomb on that Sabbath day, the seventh day the day God rested from His work of creation (Genesis 2:2-3). And on that Sunday, the first day of the week he came forth alive from the dead ushering in God's new creation, God's future has come into the now, the present time. Every first day of the week speaks of Jesus being raised, it is the day that speaks of new creation, it is joyous for Christians to assemble on that day for worship, to sing "spiritual songs", eat the Lord's Supper, pray together, read scripture, hear it taught and just encourage each other. One of the important points to keep in mind is that these first disciples of Jesus were Jewish, the Sabbath was the most important day in their ancient tradition, yet something very profound, unexpected took place for them to begin to venerate this first day, something profound happened for them to begin proclaiming this crucified Jesus as Lord of all the earth.
 

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