Women. They were speaking nonsense. They said the body of Jesus was not there, that angels had appeared to them and told them he had risen, and that he was alive.
Total nonsense.
Peter was the only who believed them. And he ran to the tomb. He confirmed that Jesus’ body was missing and wondered what had happened.
On that very same day, two disciples were on their way headed to a village named Emmaus. They were crushed. Crushed because Jesus had died. And crushed in hopes as they were sure Jesus was going to be the one who redeem Israel. They had no idea at the time that the risen Jesus was walking with them. That would have been preposterous.
But Jesus began to explain from Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms what was prophesied about the Messiah. So it made me ask, what was prophesied in these books?
- A Messiah would come out of Jewish lineage- Deut 18:18
- He would suffer and die on a cross (Psalm 22)
- His death was the taking on our sin and giving us forgiveness and peace (Is 53)
- He would be resurrected from the dead (Psalm 16:10)
- He would be raised on the third day like Jonah (Jonah; Mt 12:40)
It was predicted and how Jesus was killed and resurrected happened. It was beginning to make sense.
As Jesus acted like he was going to keep going, the two men strongly urged him to come stay at their house. Why did Jesus do this? Perhaps it’s because he does not force himself on anyone or take advantage of anyone. He desires to be and go where he is wanted.
They wanted his company.
While he was among them, he disappeared. It’s then their eyes were opened and they realized who he was. They ran back to the Eleven in excitement and joy.
“It is true! The LORD has risen and has appeared to Simon.” (v. 34).
Ok, this raises some question. Had the LORD already appeared to Simon and the others had not yet believed? Not sure.
Everything was changing. Jesus was appearing to more and more people.
But still there was doubt and unbelief.
How could this be true? How could it be real?
Jesus wasn’t finished just yet.
On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. 2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. 5 In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? 6 He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: 7 ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ” 8 Then they remembered his words.
9 When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. 10 It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles. 11 But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense. 12 Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened.
On the Road to Emmaus
13 Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles[a] from Jerusalem. 14 They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. 15 As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; 16 but they were kept from recognizing him.
17 He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?”
They stood still, their faces downcast. 18 One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?”
19 “What things?” he asked.
“About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. 20 The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; 21 but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. 22 In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning 23 but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. 24 Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.”
25 He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.
28 As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. 29 But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them.
30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. 32 They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”
33 They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together 34 and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.” 35 Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.