Luke 24:1-12: The Resurrection of Christ

OUTLINE

The witness of the tomb
The witness of the angels
The witness of the women

INTRODUCTION

On March 28th 1980 the so called family tomb of Jesus was found, also called the Talpiot Tomb.  There were nine or ten ossuaries (bone boxes used for second burial).  These had names written on them, Jesus son of Joseph; Miriam/Mary; Judah son of Jesus; Matthew and another Mary.  The theory claims that Jesus married Mary, had children, and that this was his family tomb.  A book was subsequently released with a foreword given by James Cameron the director of Titanic and Avatar; along with a documentary.  This theory has had some popularity among those who want to believe it but it has been debunked as pseudoarcheology in the likes of The Da Vinci Code.  We however have a sure testimony to the veracity of Jesus bodily resurrection.  Paul writes, 1 Corinthians 15:3-8 ‘[3] For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, [4] that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, [5] and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. [6] Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. [7] Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. [8] Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.’  And these are not all the witnesses to the truth of Christ’s resurrection.

Today we come to what started off as the darkest of days for the disciples and ended as the best of all days, the day that Jesus Christ rose from the dead. There are four gospels each giving an account of the resurrection. Luke is writing his account to Theophilus someone who has a familiarity with Jesus and the gospel message. Luke therefore does not give us a full and detailed account. Each gospel writers has their own particular purposes in writing. Luke leaves out many things that we will have to add from the other gospels. It seems that Luke’s purpose is to show that the Christian doctrine of the resurrection is not the result of wishful thinking, for it was unexpected; nor a fabrication, for there were too many witnesses to the empty tomb and the resurrected Lord. It also appears that Luke writes for those who were not there as eye witnesses, helping them to ground their faith in the resurrected Christ in the teachings of Christ and scripture. Luke points to the fact that these things were foretold and fulfilled, v6; v25-27.

We will be noting the three witnesses in this section, the witness of the empty tomb; the angels, and the women.