Sermon Series: Rhythmic Renewal

Sermon – “His Story, My Story” – Luke 24:1-12

Consistent Presence

  • Luke’s account of the resurrection takes a profound look at the women who so closely walked alongside Jesus in his ministry. 

  • The women arrived at the tomb only to find it empty.  An empty tomb in and of itself is not a persuasive argument for the resurrection.  The source of the Christian faith is in the experience of the risen Christ by his followers.  Those who follow Christ now bear the responsibility to be witnesses of his risen life.

  • The women of Galilee were the primary witnesses in Luke to the crucifixion, the burial, and now the resurrection.

  • The text assumes that Christ had told the women that he would be betrayed, crucified, and raised. This information places the women in the inner circle of disciples with whom such a predication had been shared. They are not told to go and tell, they are not errand runners, but in fact disciples. (Craddock)

Remembering

  • The messengers relay to the women that Jesus is risen and retell to them what Jesus had said, and invite them to remember, and in verse 8, we read they remembered. 

  • All significant life events have three phases: preparation, participation, and remembrance.  Although significant, true understanding of an event’s significance is clouded at the time of preparation by the inability to believe that the event will really occur and the inability to clearly perceive its meaning.  At the time of the event itself, understanding is hindered by the clutter and confusion of so much taking place so quickly.  It is really only in remembrance that recognition, realization, and understanding are able to take place.  Remembering is often the activating power for the recognition of significance. (Daniels)

Resurrection Realities

  • Luke’s mention of resurrection is more extensive than that of the other gospels. The evangelists are underscoring that the culmination of the story is the resurrection itself. The resurrection brings about a new reality, a new order. The resurrection is not the continuation of the story, nor is it just its happy ending. It is the beginning of a new story, of a new age in history. (Gonzalez)

  • The resurrection of Jesus and the dawning of the news of him pose a threat to any who would rather continue living as if the cross were the end of the story. The empty tomb opens up new possibilities. (Gonzalez)

Our Story

  • As we look at our own lives and our own stories, the story of God found in the death and resurrection of Jesus invites us not to just sprinkle Jesus in a few spots but allow the story of God to shape our own. 

(Resources provided by Fred Craddock, Justo Gonzalez, NT Wright, and Scott Daniels)


Discussion Questions:

  1. How does the constant presence of the women alongside Jesus validate the story of the resurrection?

  2. Have there been scenarios in your life where you didn’t understand fully at the time, but later on did understand as you looked back? How does this reality speak to the resurrection?

  3. How does the resurrection put pressure on the story of God? What is humanity to do with such information?

  4. The resurrection story opens up so many possibilities now with us as his followers! What new things have opened up for you in choosing to believe in the resurrection?