Luke 24:1 ¶ Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them. 2 And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre. 3 And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments: 5 And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? 6 He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, 7 Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again. 8 And they remembered his words, 9 And returned from the sepulchre, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest. 10 It was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles. 11 And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not. 12 Then arose Peter, and ran unto the sepulchre; and stooping down, he beheld the linen clothes laid by themselves, and departed, wondering in himself at that which was come to pass.
The women who ministered to Jesus and the Apostles came to the tomb on the first day of the week, our Sunday, early in the morning. This is indeed the time that early Christians would worship, before going about their daily labors. Sunday was not a day off for 300 years after Christ’s resurrection. They brought spices to prepare the body of Christ, having had to refrain on the Sabbath.
We get an indication here of first-century burial practices in Judea, such as placing the body in a rock-hewn tomb and packing spices around it to inhibit the smell of decaying flesh.
Jesus was hurriedly placed in the tomb, the sepulcher, due to the approaching Sabbath. Some scholars write that a typical Jewish burial was done in two phases. The first, where the body was laid in the tomb and prepared with spices, wrapped, and placed in the tomb, and the second, much later, when the bones of the deceased were placed in a separate container called an ossuary. Christ’s resurrection would prevent this from happening. Of course, the poorest people would not have this kindness visited on them as ground burials were not uncommon.
The stone that was placed in front of the tomb was rolled away. Matthew 27 is more detailed in giving the significance of this stone to keep the disciples from stealing Jesus’ body and the reference to the temple guard or Roman soldiers guarding it.
Matthew 27:57 ¶ When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus’ disciple: 58 He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered. 59 And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 60 And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed. 61 And there was Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, sitting over against the sepulchre. 62 Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate, 63 Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again. 64 Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first. 65 Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can. 66 So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.
Jesus’ body is gone and two men stand there in shining clothing and they ask one of the great questions of the Bible; why seek ye the living among the dead? They continue with another wonderful declaration for the ages; He is not here, but is risen. These supernatural figures from the other side, the spirit world, in shining clothing remind Jesus’ followers that He told them these events would take place.
The women run and tell
the Apostles who do not believe them. Peter runs to the tomb and sees the
burial clothes of Jesus neatly folded and no sign of Him. He doesn’t
understand. Again, this shows that the Jews were not looking forward to the
Cross as many evangelicals say. They had no clue in spite of being told over
and over by Christ Himself of these events.
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