What Jesus Did! 'Then They Remembered!' — Luke 24:1-8

Saturday, December 26, 2015

Very early Sunday morning, the women came to the tomb (grave) where Jesus' body was laid. They brought the sweet-smelling spices they had prepared. {A heavy stone had been put in the doorway to close the tomb.} But the women found that the stone was rolled away. They went in, but they did not find the Lord Jesus' body. The women did not understand this. While they were wondering about it, two men (angels) in shining clothes stood beside them. The women were very afraid; they bowed their heads down. The two men said to the women, "Why are you looking for a living person here? This is a place for dead people! Jesus is not here. He has risen from death! Do you remember what he said in Galilee? Jesus said that the Son of Man must be given to evil men, be killed on a cross, and rise from death on the third day." Then the women remembered the things that Jesus said.
— Luke 24:1-8
Illustration of Luke 24:1-8 — "Why are you looking for a living person here?"

Key Thought

Don't you just love "the women" and their example of faithfulness? Their faithful commitment to the Lord enables them to discover God's incredible miracle with Jesus—they are the first to learn of his resurrection! However, the most powerful insight in this passage to me is the simple sentence at the end: "Then they remembered that he had said this." Jesus' resurrection changes everything. One of the most important areas of change, however, was in the memory of his most faithful disciples. After the resurrection, things Jesus had said in his ministry come flooding back into their minds with understanding, excitement, and conviction. Promises that seemed obscure are suddenly made clear. Prophetic words that seemed undiscoverable are uncovered and seen in their full glory. Their insight is to be our insight as well. All of Jesus' ministry, his healing and his teaching, can now be more fully understood on this side of the resurrection. As we conclude this year's journey through the Gospel of Luke, let's be reminded that Jesus' actions and words are validated and empowered by the resurrection.

Today's Prayer

Father, as I study your Son's life on earth, please never let me forget that he died for my sins and was raised back to life with power. Help me feel the conviction that his promises are true, his teaching is proven, and his service is worth my emulation because it is demonstrated to be the way of life. In Jesus' name I ask this. Amen.

Related Scripture Readings

God promised long ago to give this Good News to his people. God used his prophets to promise this. That promise is written in the Holy Scriptures. The Good News is about God's Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. As a person, he was born from the family of David. But through the Spirit of holiness Jesus was shown to be God's Son. He was shown to be God's Son with great power by rising from death.

Romans 1:2-4

But if you can believe God, then you can believe that what we tell you is never both "Yes" and "No." The Son of God, Jesus Christ, that Silas and Timothy and I told you about was not "Yes" and "No." In Christ it has always been "Yes." The "Yes" to all of God's promises is in Christ. And that is why we say "Amen " through Christ to the glory of God.

2 Corinthians 1:18-20

Some Jews said to Jesus, "Show us a miracle for a sign. Prove that you have the right to do these things." Jesus answered, "Destroy this temple and I will build it again in three days." The Jews answered, "People worked 46 years to build this temple! Do you really believe you can build it again in three days?" (But the temple Jesus meant was his own body. After Jesus was raised from death, his followers remembered that Jesus had said this. So his followers believed the Scripture {about him}, and they believed the words Jesus said.)

John 2:18-22

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About This Devotional

What Jesus Did is a one-year devotional guide through the gospels, using one short passage each day and following the Gospel in consecutive order. Each devotional consists of a passage, reflection and a prayer which opens up the day's scripture and shows how it challenges you to live for Jesus.

What Jesus Did! is written by Phil Ware.

Easy-to-Read Version copyright © 2001 by World Bible Translation Center. All rights reserved.

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