04 April 2015

The Day after the Crucifixion

Then they returned and prepared spices and perfumes. And they rested on the Sabbath, according to the commandment. (Luke 23:56, EMTV)

Jesus died as was foretold.

Jesus was buried as foretold.

Now His body is in the tomb.

Jesus's Tomb

The Jews observed their Sabbath. What were the people thinking? It must have been a repeated conversation. For some they wondered about the prophecies of the Scriptures, for others perhaps fear. They did know the prophecies of the resurrection. They did not know specially that Messiah would rise from the dead but understood the resurrection to refer to all people. Nevertheless this first passage might have some hints.

  1. Isaiah 53:9-12 ESV And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth. (10) Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. (11) Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities. (12) Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors." (Note for Messiah to see and experience the blessings of the last half of verse 10 through verse 12, He would have to be alive).


2. Daniel 12:2 NKJV And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting contempt.

There is the men traveling the road to the village of Emmaus who were talking about these things when Jesus joined them in their journey. This conversation, of course, would have been on Sunday after Jesus had risen.

Luke 24:13-24 NKJV Now behold, two of them were traveling that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was seven miles from Jerusalem. (14) And they talked together of all these things which had happened. (15) So it was, while they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them. (16) But their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him. (17) And He said to them, "What kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as you walk and are sad?" (18) Then the one whose name was Cleopas answered and said to Him, "Are You the only stranger in Jerusalem, and have you not known the things which happened there in these days?" (19) And He said to them, "What things?" So they said to Him, "The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a Prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, (20) and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death, and crucified Him. (21) But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since these things happened. (22) Yes, and certain women of our company, who arrived at the tomb early, astonished us. (23) When they did not find His body, they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said He was alive. (24) And certain of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but Him they did not see."


It would have been a trying of their faith, for they did not understand completely about the resurrection of Jesus even though He had foretold this at least 4 times.

1. Matthew 20:19 EMTV "...and they will hand Him over to the Gentiles to mock and to scourge and to crucify. And the third day He shall rise again."


2. Mark 9:9 EMTV "And as they came down from the mountain, He commanded them that they should relate to no one the things they had seen, till the Son of Man should rise from the dead."


3. Mark 14:28 EMTV "But after I am raised, I will go before you into Galilee."


4. John 2:19 EMTV "Jesus answered and said to them, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up."


God kept them safe during this short time and rewarded them with the sight of their previous Savior.

Luke 24:36-48 EMTV Now as they said these things, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them, and said to them, "Peace to you." (37) But being alarmed and becoming fearful, they thought they saw a spirit. (38) And He said to them, "Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts? (39) Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have." (40) When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet. (41) But as they still disbelieved for joy, and marveled, He said to them, "Do you have any food here?" (42) So they gave Him a piece of a broiled fish and some honeycomb. (43) And taking it, He ate it in their presence. (44) Then He said to them, "These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me." (45) And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures. (46) Then He said to them, "Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, (47) and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. (48) And you are witnesses of these things.


We learn the lesson that some things are hard to understand but it is most reasonable to believe God and the Scriptures. Do not lose hope.

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