Sermon Direct Link
4/20/25
Rev. Clint Smith
The Gospel of Jesus Christ stands or falls based on His resurrection. If the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. Just as death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. As in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. 1 Corinthians 15:12-20
Luke presented his account of the Resurrection morning for the public to witness. He shared the experience of a group of women who went to the tomb and brought spices to finish anointing the body of Jesus after His burial.
Upon arrival, the women found that the large, circular stone sealing the tomb had been rolled away. The guards who had been stationed outside were now missing, and the body of Jesus was no longer inside the tomb. Something major had happened!
The women entered the tomb and suddenly two men in dazzling clothes appeared beside the women. Terrified, they bowed their faces to the ground. The heavenly messengers gently rebuked them, saying, “Why are you looking for the living One among the dead? He is not here; He has risen! Remember how He told you, while He was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinful men, be crucified, and on the third day rise again?” Luke 9:21-26
The women’s memories were stirred by the Holy Spirit, and they recalled Jesus’ words. Filled with excitement, they hurried from the tomb to tell the apostles and all the other disciples the good news.
The disciples didn’t believe the women’s report. Their report seemed like futile nonsense, and the weight of what they had witnessed during Jesus’s death left them struggling to overcome their doubts. They were overwhelmed by sorrow, disillusionment, and unbelief.
Curiosity compelled Peter and John to rush to the tomb. At the tomb, they bent down and peered inside. They found the funeral cloths lying there, just as the women had said. Confused and puzzled, they left, still wondering what had happened.
So What Happened? 1 Corinthians 5:1-7