Jesus Did It!
Jesus did it! Exactly as He said He would. He rose again on the third day. Everyone knows it, even if they pretend they don’t.
Every time Jesus told of His death, He also told of His resurrection. The religious leaders listened to the second part while His disciples listened to the first part. They were each listening to the part they feared.
Jesus worked His way through everyone’s worst fears and now offers all of us our best hope. Let’s rejoin our story as Sunday morning dawns.
Holy Spirit, lead this journey again today. Take me by the hand and show me everything You want me to see. Direct my eyes and my mind. You already are, so keep it going.
♥ ♦ ♥
Even drinking to excess hasn’t allowed Caiaphas to sleep tonight. He keeps hearing Jesus’ words about the sign of Jonah and rebuilding the Temple in three days. He knows exactly what Jesus was saying. And he wonders if it is possible.
“No way! He was dead. No one comes back to life after they have died” he tells himself. Then he thinks back just a short time to Lazarus. “It had to be a trick. They set up the whole thing to make it seem like Jesus has power over death.”
Caiaphas shakes himself. He won’t believe it! Then his mind falls into that deep well again. “What if He really is the Son of God?” He yanks himself away from that thought with as much force as possible. “NEVER! It is just the sleeplessness talking. I KNOW the truth. He was an imposter; a charlatan.”
The guards are grumbling as they spend another night on this ‘useless’ mission.
“Nothing is going to happen. His followers haven’t been seen since we took His body down. They are afraid they will suffer the same fate.”
“And they will if they try anything.”
“How much longer do we have to be here anyway?”
“Probably another day or two at the most. The ‘three days’ is up soon.”
In the house where Jesus’ disciples still hide, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome gather their spices. The weekly Sabbath ended with the setting of the sun, so they have no fear of being discovered ‘working’.
It is still dark when they set out, but dawn is quickly approaching. As they walk along, they talk about what each will do.
“I will apply the myrrh and aloe. I know the men who took Jesus down anointed Him with something, but I need to do this for my Lord” says Mary Magdalene.
“I can anoint Him with frankincense. I’m sure He is beginning to smell. It will help us too” says Salome.
“That leaves me to apply the spikenard” says the other Mary.
Salome stops in her tracks. The other women look at her puzzled. “Are you alright?”
“Something just occurred to me. Who will roll the stone away?”
All three faces now wear this concern. Finally, Mary Magdalene starts walking again. “We will have to trust that someone will be nearby to help.”
The sky is just starting to show signs of the approaching dawn. The second watch of soldiers is readying to stand their posts. In an instant the ground starts shaking beneath their feet. A rolling rumble that leaves them lurching for something to hold onto.
An angel in dazzling white takes hold of the stone, and gives it a mighty push. It begins rolling with the undulating earth and a blinding light appears from within the tomb. Once the stone has stopped rolling, the angel sits atop it.
The guards fall on their faces in terror, still as death. It takes several minutes before they gather their wits about them and begin to run away.
Within moments, the women enter the area. They didn’t even feel the earthquake or see the angel descending. They are still expecting to have to deal with the stone. All three stand and gape at the open tomb.
“Who could have done this” asks Salome.
Fear that someone stole Jesus’ body fills them all. The angel sitting atop the stone speaks to them.
“Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you” (Matthew 28:5-7).
Mary Magdalene turns and runs away. The other two women enter the tomb and find another angel sitting on the stone where Jesus once lay. They cling to one another as they take in the sight.
“Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you” (Mark 16:6-7).
They are too terrified to say anything and they run away as well.
The guards reach Caiaphas’ home, nearly breathless. Caiaphas has been up all night and responds as soon as the pounding rains down on the door.
Caiaphas jerks the door open, intending to speak harshly to the person who would raise his family so early in the day. Words freeze on his lips as he sees the Roman soldiers standing just outside of his door.
“What is the meaning of this? Why aren’t you guarding the tomb?”
“We were guarding it! But the earth began to shake, a man appeared like lightning, and he rolled the stone away. When he was done, he sat on the stone! We were terrified. He ROSE, just as He said He would.”
Caiaphas’ heart is beating like a humming bird. “This cannot be! I have to do something to keep this story from spreading” he says to himself. To the soldiers, he says; “Follow me. I need to convene the counsel and see what to do.”
Caiaphas’ personal servant is dispatched to rouse the members of the Sanhedrim and religious leaders. No mention of what awaits them is uttered, but they are told it is “urgent” and needs tending too NOW!
Within the hour, the counsel is assembled. Caiaphas stands before them. His face is the color of ash and his hands tremble. “I have received news from the guards who were assigned to watch Jesus. Something happened this morning just before dawn. And we need to know how to address it.”
Caiaphas motions for the captain of the guards to come and tell his story. When the guards had finished, heated discussion broke out in every corner.
“We can’t let the people hear this account. There will be riots in the streets!”
“We will be accused of killing the Son of God!”
“You saw the excitement over Lazarus’ rising form the dead. We cannot let that happen again!”
Caiaphas calls for order. “Quiet! We need to discuss what to do now. And we ALL need to stick to the story WE come up with.”
Heads nod around the room.
“We will say that His disciples came in the night and stole Him away.”
“You can’t say that!” the captain of the guards loudly protests. “It would mean our death for allowing such a thing to happen.”
“We will pay you 500 denarii to spread this story.”
“But…”
“Tell people, ‘His disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep.’ And if this comes to the governor’s ears, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble” (Matthew 28:13-14).
“Alright. But you had better keep your word. I will NOT lay my life down because you fear this Man.”
The counsel is adjourned and everyone ‘prays’ this will be the last of this problem.
Mary Magdalene runs straight to the home where Peter and John are staying. She begins pounding on the door. When it is opened she falls through the threshold and lands on her hands and knees.
John rushes over to her. “Mary, what’s wrong?”
“They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him” (John 20:2).
Peter and John both bolt into immediate action. They take off running to the tomb. John outruns Peter but he stops when he gets to the opening of the tomb. His mind is reeling, seeing the open door.
Peter doesn’t stop running until he is inside the tomb. He frantically looks around. John joins him as he moves to the stone where Jesus’ body lay. Instead of finding Him, they see a pile of linen cloths discarded in a pile. At the head of the stone, they see the covering that would have been over Jesus’ face, neatly folded and placed carefully on the stone.
Both men stare at the scene for a short time before leaving. They don’t know what to think.
Mary Magdalene followed Peter and John. She returns to the tomb after they have left. With tears streaming down her face, she stands outside the tomb. The angel who sat on the stone is gone. Mary stoops down to look inside the tomb, for she is too afraid to enter. Inside, she sees two angels sitting on either end of the bench where Jesus lay.
“Woman, why are you weeping?” (John 20:13a) one of the angels ask her
“They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him” (John 20:13b) Mary says.
Mary turns away, not waiting for a reply. She sees a Man standing in the garden. He eyes are so full of tears that she does not recognize this Man as Jesus Himself.
“Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” (John 20:15a) Jesus asks her.
Mary thinks that He must be a gardener. “Surely He will know where they have taken Jesus body” she says to herself. To the Man she says; “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away” (John 20:15b).
Jesus’ eyes are full of compassion. He says her name; “Mary.”
Mary is shocked to her core. She recognizes this voice! “Rabboni!” (John 20:16) she cries as she falls to the ground at His feet.
Jesus steps back a small step; “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God’” (John 20:17).
Mary springs up from her knees and rushes from the garden. She goes immediately to tell the rest of Jesus’ disciples.
“I saw Jesus!” she shouts as soon as the door opens.
Matthew pulls her inside the home. He gives a quick look around to see if anyone heard her. When he sees no one looking their way, he shuts and bars the door again. By now Peter and John have joined the group.
“I saw Jesus” she says again. “He talked to me!”
John begins trying to comfort her. “You are distraught. We went to the tomb as well. His body isn’t there, but we didn’t see any proof of Him being alive.”
“I SAW Him” Mary insists.
No matter how many times she says it, the disciples don’t believe her. They think she is overwrought with grief and imagined the whole thing.
Cleopas and Simon are making their way to Emmaus. They are going to check on some of Jesus’ other followers. As they are walking along, they discuss the report of the women and all that has happened since Jesus’ death.
A Man approaches them. He appears friendly as He asks about their conversation. “What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?” (Luke 24:17).
The two of them stop talking and their faces fall. They both look at the man without any recognition of who He is. Cleopas says, with astonishment; “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” (Luke 24:18).
“What things?” (Luke 24:19a) the Man asks.
“Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened. Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning, and when they did not find his body, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. Some 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” (Luke 24:19b-24).
“O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” (Luke 24:25-26) the Man says.
From that point until the end of the journey, the Man opens their eyes to the scriptures and the prophecies regarding the Messiah. He explains it so simply that a child could follow along, but He doesn’t speak to them as children.
When they reach Emmaus, the Man acts as though He has farther to go. The two disciples want to hear more, and they want to offer this Man their hospitality for all that they have gained along the way.
“Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent” (Luke 24:29).
The Man accepts their invitation. All three enter the home of another of Jesus’ followers. When they all sit down to dinner, their guest takes a loaf of bread from the center of the table and blesses it.
“Thank You Lord for Your gifts to You people. For sending Your Son to pay the penalty of sin. Bless this bread and those who partake of it.”
With the blessing finished, the Man breaks the bread into pieces and hands it to the disciples. Immediately! They recognize the Man as Jesus; their RISEN Lord!
As soon as this recognition dawns on them, Jesus vanishes before their eyes. They begin scrambling up from the table. They HAVE to go and tell the rest of the disciples.
“Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?” (Luke 24:32) Simon tells Cleopas as they rush out the door.
The two men practically run back to Jerusalem. There isn’t a moment to waste. The others HAVE to know the good news. When they reach the house, Cleopas begins pounding on the door. Once it is open, they rush into the room.
“The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” (Luke 24:34).
“What do you mean” asks several of the disciples all at once.
“While we were on our way to Emmaus today, a Man, whom we did not recognize at the time, walked with us. He explained EVERYTHING in the scriptures regarding the Christ and what He would suffer. As we sat at table with Him, He blessed the bread; then broke it. As soon as He broke it, we recognized Him. It was JESUS ALL ALONG. He is ALIVE!
Before the sound of their story can die on the evening air, Jesus appears in the locked room. Startled yelps erupt throughout the room. Jesus is immediately recognized by everyone in the room.
They are afraid, thinking that they are seeing His Spirit only. Jesus looks at them with a smile. “When will they learn” He thinks to Himself. To them, He says; “Peace to you!” (Luke 24:36).
No one utters a word. They are still to startled, frightened, and confused to move.
“Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have” (Luke 24:38-39).
Jesus shows them His hands and feet. They still haven’t grasped the full reality of Jesus standing in their midst, but JOY is bubbling up in their hearts. Jesus shakes His head in wonder. Finally, He says something that breaks the tension and gets everyone moving again.
“Have you anything here to eat?” (Luke 24:41).
The women spring into gear and, in moments, present Him with a meal fit for any guest.
“Thank you. I didn’t have time to eat while I was with Cleopas and Simon.” Jesus winks at the two men and they burst out laughing.
“We didn’t eat either. We came running back here. Maybe we could join You in a meal?”
Food and plates are quickly deposited on the table and the whole group enjoys the meal together.
“These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled” (Luke 24:44). Jesus begins teaching them all, as He had done for Cleopas and Simon.
Jesus looks at them as they soak in this knowledge. “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high” (Luke 24:46-49).
They talk for a while before Jesus leaves them as suddenly as He came.
Gasps fill the room. Sadness settles in many of their hearts. Jesus didn’t tell them when He would return. He didn’t explain what they are to be waiting for. This is still ‘new’ to them and they don’t know what to do from here.
(to be continued)
Jesus isn’t done meeting with His disciples. He will see many of them again. And MANY more people besides them. This is just the first day! Exciting things are on the way.
Father God, THANK YOU for Jesus! For completing Your plan of salvation so that I can become part of Your family. Thank You for choosing me before the foundation of the world. I am YOURS.
