Lucas 24

Lucas 24

Garland commenting on Rev 1:8-note writes that "Designating someone as “Lord,” especially in John’s day, could have serious implications. It was a title which Christians did not use lightly. (Quoting from Harold Foos "Christology in the Book of the Revelation" Garland adds that) “Lord (kurios) means that the bearer was worthy of divine recognition and honor. The apostolic writers and early believers were well aware of this meaning. Polycarp, for example, died as a martyr rather than call Caesar kurios." Detzler writes that kurios "In the earliest Greek this word meant "to have power or authority." Later it came to describe one who is in control. As classical Greek developed, it became a title for men of importance. Since the gods of ancient Greece were neither creators nor lords of their fate, pagan deities were not called "lord" until much later. By the time of Christ, kings had come to be called "lord." This was true of the Roman Emperor Caligula (A.D. 37-41). It was also true of Candace, the fabled queen of upper Egypt (Ac 8:27). So too Herod the Great, Herod Agrippa I, and Herod Agrippa II were called "lord." (New Testament Words in Today's Language) MacArthur sums up the witnesses of the empty tomb - The soldiers knew the tomb was empty, or they would still have been there guarding it. The Jewish leaders knew that the tomb was empty, or they would not have invented a false story to explain why it was empty. Mary knew the tomb was empty, or she would not have reported to Peter and John that it was. Peter and John also knew firsthand that the body of Jesus was not in the tomb. There is no explanation for the empty tomb other than that it was empty because Jesus had risen from the dead (See Luke Commentary) Resurrection Reality I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. —Revelation 1:18 The disciples and early followers of our Lord asserted with a zeal born of heartfelt conviction that Jesus of Nazareth was a living Savior, not a martyred teacher and philosopher. They held this truth so dear that they were willing to suffer torture and death rather than renounce it. This startling message so electrified their ministry that their testimony “turned the world upside down” (Acts 17:6). It is still true today: The Holy Spirit honors the witness of those who proclaim the resurrected Jesus. They do not point primarily to moral codes, religious rituals, or theological creeds (good as these may be in themselves), but to the living God-man who alone can save. It is to Him who is “alive forevermore” (Revelation 1:18) that we should look in these days of dead orthodoxy and spiritual apostasy. A proud and ungodly professor said to a young child who believed in the Lord Jesus, “My dear little girl, you don’t know whom you believe in. There have been many christs. In which of them do you believe?” “I know which one I believe in,” replied the child. “I believe in the Christ who rose from the dead!” Although our Lord was crucified, He rose up from the grave; He paid our penalty for sin, Then showed His power to save. —Sper Christ's resurrection assures what Calvary secures. Christ’s Resurrection. Matt. 20. 19; Luke 24. 2-7 1 See from the dungeon of the dead, Our great Deliverer rise; While conquests wreathe his heavenly head, And glory glads his eyes. 2 The struggling Hero, strong to save, Did all our miseries bear Down to the chambers of the grave, And left the burden there. 3 [See, how the well-pleased angel rolls The stone, and opes the prison! Lift up your heads, ye sin-sick souls, And sing, The Lord is risen.] 4 No more indictments justice draws; It sets the soul at large; Our Surety undertook the cause, And faith’s a full discharge. 5 To save us, our Redeemer died; To justify us, rose; Where’s the condemning power beside Has right to interpose? 6 The Lord is risen! thou trembling soul, Let fears no more confound! Let heaven and earth, from pole to pole, The Lord is risen resound! Luke 24:4 While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men suddenly stood near them in dazzling clothing; KJV And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments: NET While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men stood beside them in dazzling attire. Wuest And it came to pass that while they were in a quandary concerning this, behold, two men stood by them in apparel that flashed like lightning. two men. Ge. 18:2. Mt 28:2–6. Mark 16:5. John 20:11, 12. Acts 1:10. stood near. Ge 18:2. Mt 28:2-6. Mk 16:5. Jn 20:11, 12. Ac 1:10. On Luke 24:4–8. Compare Mt. 28:5–7; Mk 16:5–7. Luke 24:1-12 Empty Tomb with an Angelic Explanation - John MacArthur Luke 24:1-12 Witnessing Women and Doubting Disciples - John MacArthur Luke 24:1-12 The Foundation for Our Faith - Steven Cole Luke 24 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Resource: Matthew 28:4-7 The guards shook for fear of him and became like dead men. 5 The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified. 6“He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying. 7 “Go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead; and behold, He is going ahead of you into Galilee, there you will see Him; behold, I have told you.” Mark 16:5-7 Entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting at the right, wearing a white robe; and they were amazed. 6 And he *said to them, “Do not be amazed; you are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who has been crucified. He has risen; He is not here; behold, here is the place where they laid Him. 7 “But go, tell His disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see Him, just as He told you.’” ANGELIC APPEARANCE While they were perplexed (aporeo) - More literally “And it happened that while.” The introductory phrase “it happened that”), common in Luke (69x) and Acts (54x). They were perplexed or filled with confusion because of their failure to understand what was happening. They did not expect the resurrection. Put yourself in their sandals - the empty tomb, the linen clothes lying by themselves, the body gone! Gilbrant - Their questions were answered by an even greater surprise. Two angels appeared to explain why the stone had been rolled away and the body of Jesus had disappeared. Up to this point the women had certainly given no thought to the possibility of the Resurrection. They had come to anoint the body of a dead man. The women had been the last at the cross; now they were the first to hear the news that Jesus was risen from the dead. (Complete Biblical Library Commentary) Behold (idou), two men suddenly stood (ephistemi) near in dazzling (astrapto) attire -- Don't scan over the word behold too quickly for it should always cause one to pause and ask "What is there about which we should take special note?" Two men are angels if we compare Mt 28:2, 5 and Mk 16:5. Tow men reminds us of Lk 9:30 at the Mount of Transfiguration where Jesus' glorification was foretold. Recall that the Greek word for angel is aggelos/angelos which literally means a messenger (one who bears a message - Lk 1:11, 2:9, etc or does an errand), and these angels had to the privilege of announcing the greatest news fallen men and women would ever hear - He is Risen! Most of the NT uses of angelos refer to heavenly angels (messengers) who are supernatural, transcendent beings with power to carry out various tasks. All uses of aggelos that refer to angels are masculine gender (the feminine form of aggelos does not occur.) Note that Mt 28:4-7 report one angel. Mk 16:5-7 describes a "young man sitting at the right." John's Gospel does not describe the angels. (Ed: Mk 16:5 describes a young man "wearing a white robe and they were amazed." Mt 28:3 says "his appearance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow.") NET Note - "The brilliantly shining clothing (dazzling attire) points to the fact that these are angels (see Lk 24:23)."