Bible Study - GOD is Faithful (Special Easter Lesson) - Luke 24:1-12 - Worth Reading - April 1, 2018

Bible Study – GOD Is Faithful (Special) – April 1, 2018

This is a special lesson for Easter.

Our focus scripture is Luke 24:1-12.

The empty tomb points to the faithfulness of GOD.

The Bible is replete with Old Testament prophecy that reveals the human birth, life, death, resurrection and purpose of the Promised Messiah, JESUS.

JESUS was born 100% human, yet 100% Divine. JESUS left HIS Glory in Heaven in order to come to earth. 

Do you recall John 17:5?

5 Now, Father, glorify me in Your presence with that glory I had with You before the world existed.

This was before JESUS’ crucifixion. JESUS left HIS home in Heaven to come to earth to be born a human and to freely give HIS sinless life just for those who will place their faith in HIM. That is the height of love. Roman 5:8 reveals:

8 But God proves His own love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us! 

Without any guarantees that anyone would accept HIM as his or her Savior, JESUS gave HIS life to pay, in full, the penalty for sin, so that all who would place their faith in HIM would be forgiven for their sins and receive eternal life through the miracle of rebirth in their spirit. Rebirth changes the human spirit from spirit to Spirit, which is only possible through a person placing his or her faith in JESUS.

The facts are clear:

JESUS was born a human, who was capable of sin but HE remained sinless. All prophesied in the Old Testament and confirmed in the New Testament.

JESUS, as 100% human, revealed GOD to the world by fulfilling the Spirit of the Law and the prophets. HE backed up HIS authority by many signs, wonders and miracles. HE demonstrated the relationship Christians should desire as they are being sanctified, which is an ongoing process until Christians enter Heaven.

JESUS willingly gave HIS physical life while HE hung upon the cross. HIS death was confirmed by a spear being thrust into HIS side and blood and water flowing out. The Roman soldiers who were in-charge of crucifixions knew what death looked like and JESUS was dead.

So how did JESUS body get from the cross to the tomb?

Let’s read John 19:38-42: (After the death of JESUS upon the cross.)

38 After this, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus-but secretly because of his fear of the Jews-asked Pilate that he might remove Jesus' body. Pilate gave him permission, so he came and took His body away. 

39 Nicodemus (who had previously come to Him at night) also came, bringing a mixture of about 75 pounds. 

40 Then they took Jesus' body and wrapped it in linen cloths with the aromatic spices, according to the burial custom of the Jews. 

41 There was a garden in the place where He was crucified. A new tomb was in the garden; no one had yet been placed in it. 

42 They placed Jesus there because of the Jewish preparation and since the tomb was nearby.

This was Friday, what we refer to as Good Friday. The Jews counted a day as from sunup to sundown. Generally from 6 AM in the morning to about 6 PM in the evening. Of course, the time would flex depending upon the time of the year.

These two members of the Jewish Sanhedrin placed JESUS’ body into a nearby new tomb, which was owned by Joseph of Arimathea. A huge, wheel like, stone rolled on what appeared to be a track to close its entrance to prevent animals from eating the body. In about a year, the flesh would decay and only the bones would remain. The bones would be removed and placed in an ossuary for final keeping.

The entrance to the tomb was sealed and both Roman and temple guards were placed there to guard it.

Let’s read Matthew 27:62-66:

62 The next day, that is, after the day of Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate 

63 and said, "Sir, we remember how that impostor said, while he was still alive, 'After three days I will rise.' 

64 Therefore order the tomb to be made secure until the third day, lest his disciples go and steal him away and tell the people, 'He has risen from the dead,' and the last fraud will be worse than the first." 

65 Pilate said to them, "You have a guard of soldiers. Go, make it as secure as you can." 

66 So they went and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone and setting a guard.

The statement “setting a guard” might lead one to think there was one or two guards. It was likely a squad and it was likely both Roman and Temple guards. Some writings say there were 10 Roman and 10 Temple guards. The point being both the Romans and the Jews did not want a hoax to develop by someone stealing the body of JESUS.

Guards were placed at the entrance of the tomb to guard it to keep the disciples from stealing JESUS’ body and claiming that HE was alive. JESUS had stated that HE would be resurrected in three days.

Scripture reveals that the guards were frightened and left the tomb. The religious leaders paid the guards off and told them to say that the disciples had taken JESUS’ body.

Let’s read Matthew 28:11-15: (The tomb was confirmed to be empty and as those knew it was empty were going to tell this good news what else was taking place among the religious leaders and the Roman leaders ---)

11 While they were going, behold, some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests all that had taken place. 

Notice “some of the guard” went into the city, which confirms there were multiple guards.

12 And when they had assembled with the elders and taken counsel, they gave a sufficient sum of money to the soldiers 

13 and said, "Tell people, 'His disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep.' 

14 And if this comes to the governor's ears, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble."

15 So they took the money and did as they were directed. And this story has been spread among the Jews to this day.

Let’s consider our focus scripture.

Let’s read Luke 24:1-3:

1 On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came to the tomb, bringing the spices they had prepared. 

2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb. 

3 They went in but did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.                   

Let’s read Luke 24:4-8:

4 While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men stood by them in dazzling clothes. 

5 So the women were terrified and bowed down to the ground. "Why are you looking for the living among the dead?" asked the men. 

6 "He is not here, but He has been resurrected! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, 

7 saying, 'The Son of Man must be betrayed into the hands of sinful men, be crucified, and rise on the third day?" 

8 And they remembered His words. 

Let’s read Luke 24:9-12:

9 Returning from the tomb, they reported all these things to the Eleven and to all the rest. 

10 Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary, the mother of James, and the other women with them were telling the apostles these things. 

11 But these words seemed like nonsense to them, and they did not believe the women. 

12 Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. When he stooped to look in, he saw only the linen cloths. So he went home, amazed at what had happened.

The resurrection of JESUS from the physically dead was GOD’S proof to the world that JESUS had paid the price for sin, in full, because the wages of sin is eternal death but the gift of GOD is eternal life to all who place their faith in JESUS. GOD has the power and authority over physical death and eternal life. A person can argue with GOD but he or she will lose because GOD is the final sovereign authority. JESUS is the judge. We read in John 5:24: (JESUS is speaking)

24 "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life. 

Does the resurrection of JESUS make a difference to you? It should because none of the founders of the religions of the world have conquered physical death. Christians serve a risen savior. All of the founders of the various religions in the world are dead. Religion is manmade but Christianity is CHRIST in you. Period! We attend brick and mortar buildings to be fed Spiritually and to serve GOD. It is CHRIST in a person that makes a person a Christian. If you do not have CHRIST, you are not a Christian. Being born to Christian parents does not make you a Christian. Each person must make his or her own decision whether or not to believe on JESUS as his or her Savior. It is the shed blood of JESUS that takes away your sin and makes you whiter than snow.

Let’s consider the attitudes of the brothers of JESUS before the resurrection of JESUS as recorded in John 7:1-9:

1 After this, Jesus traveled in Galilee, since He did not want to travel in Judea because the Jews were trying to kill Him. 

2 The Jewish Festival of Tabernacles was near, 

3 so His brothers said to Him, "Leave here and go to Judea so Your disciples can see Your works that You are doing. 

4 For no one does anything in secret while he's seeking public recognition. If You do these things, show Yourself to the world." 

5 (For not even His brothers believed in Him.) 

6 Jesus told them, "My time has not yet arrived, but your time is always at hand. 

7 The world cannot hate you, but it does hate Me because I testify about it-that its deeds are evil. 

8 Go up to the festival yourselves. I'm not going up to the festival yet, because My time has not yet fully come." 

9 After He had said these things, He stayed in Galilee.

JESUS brothers poked fun at HIM because they did not believe in HIM! In fact, they thought JESUS was off HIS rocker.

Who were HIS brothers? Yes, JESUS was born by the Virgin Mary but Mary had additional children boys and girls. Mark 6:3:

3 Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?" And they took offense at him.

Did the resurrection make a difference to JESUS brothers and possibly HIS sisters?

Consider, that after JESUS’ resurrection HE was upon earth for 40 days before HE ascended into Heaven. HE was fully available to HIS brothers and sisters, in fact HE appeared to over 500 people during this time.

Prior to HIS ascension, JESUS told HIS followers something important as recorded in Acts 1:3-5:

3 to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God. 

4 And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, "which," He said, "you have heard from Me; 

5 for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now." 

Now, guess who was in the upper room praying and waiting for the Holy Spirit to come to earth? Let’s explore!

Acts 1:12-14:

12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day's journey. 

13 And when they had entered, they went up into the upper room where they were staying: Peter, James, John, and Andrew; Philip and Thomas; Bartholomew and Matthew; James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot; and Judas the son of James.

14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers. 

WOW! The resurrection made an eternal difference to JESUS brothers. There were women present in the upper room, were some of the ladies HIS sisters? I think so. There were 120 people in the upper room as recorded in Acts 1:

15 And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples (altogether the number of names was about a hundred and twenty), and said, 

The evidence is clear, JESUS was resurrected from the physically dead and HE received HIS Glorified body, which will be like the Glorified bodies Christians will receive at the second coming of JESUS.

What kind of body will Christians have when we exit our earth suits and enter heaven?

Let’s read 2 Corinthians 5:1-10:

1 For we know that if the earthly tent (earth suit/body) we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. 

2 Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, 

3 because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. 

4 For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 

5 Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. 

6 Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. 

7 For we live by faith, not by sight. 

8 We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 

9 So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. 

10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.

GOD has fashioned for every Christian a special body that he or she will use in heaven until they will follow JESUS to earth at HIS second coming.

Let’s read 1 Thessalonians 4: 13-18:

13 Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. 

14 For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 

15 According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 

16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 

17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.

18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.

This is when all Christians receive their Glorified bodies which will be our eternal bodies and will be like JESUS’ body after HIS resurrection. It was a body totally under HIS command. Just read about HIS appearances after HIS resurrection e.g. HE could be known or incognito, walk through a door or open it. Scripture reveals that after HIS resurrection HE said that HE was flesh and bones not a Spirit. HE does not mention that HIS body had blood. It is an eternal body and only needs the power of GOD.

My prayer is that all who read this will be compelled to ask JESUS to forgive them for their sins and ask JESUS to come into their lives. There is no better time than Easter to become a Son or Daughter of GOD. Eternity is but a heartbeat away. Do not delay. Now is the time for salvation. Happy Easter! JESUS died just for you. Accept it. Blessings!!!