I please God to bless our souls
as we meditate in his word this morning. Let us turn to the Gospel
of Saint Luke, chapter 24, and we'll read the first verse. The
24th chapter in the Gospel of Luke, and reading the first verse
in chapter 24. Now upon the first day of the
week, very early in the morning they came unto the sepulcher
bringing the spices which they had prepared and certain others
with them. Well, this was a very glorious
day, which we are able to remember today, the day that Christ rose
from the dead. Because Without the risen Christ,
there would be no gospel really, there would be no point in gathering
together for worship. But because we have a risen Saviour,
a great and glorious God, who condescended to come into this
sinful world and to suffer and to bleed and to die, to satisfy
all the demands of God's holy law and then to rise from the
dead signifying that great and glorious conquest over sin, death,
hell and the grave. What a change in this day. These women had come to the sepulchre
and others had come and they were obviously began the day
mystified and mourning and not really understanding the position,
the situation. But we know, of course, by the
end of the day what a change had occurred, what wonderful
revelations and sights of the Saviour and the voice of the
Saviour had been granted to them. so that their sorrow was turned
into joy. And surely that is the case sometimes
with God's people as they perhaps begin the day in sorrow and sadness,
and by the time they come to the end of the day, there's joy
and gladness and happiness. And such a change really can
only take place because of what the Lord does and how the Lord
reveals himself and how the Lord speaks to us. These women, these
disciples, they didn't really know what to think and what to
expect, but the Lord was so wonderfully gracious to them and he's still
wonderfully gracious today. as he comes and blesses his people. Now, we all need to be blessed. We all need to realise something
of the power of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. And
when we say that, we realise that naturally nobody can raise
anybody from the dead. And also we know spiritually
that no one can raise anybody from that dead state of nature
into the glorious life of the everlasting gospel but by the
blessed work of the Holy Spirit that brings a lost and ruined
sinner into the glorious light of the everlasting gospel. It
may not always appear a glorious light to begin with, but nonetheless,
as that light shines more and more, it directs the lost sinner
to a precious Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. Now, these women,
and we're not told who they all were, we know that Mary Magdalene
was there, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and then
there were other women. So there was quite a little group
of them. had got up very early, we're told very early in the
morning, and quite clearly they'd prepared these spices on the,
not the previous day, because that was the Sabbath day, and
they kept the Sabbath day as a holy day. It would have been
on the day that the Saviour died and was placed in the sepulchre,
they made ready these spices. We know of course that Joseph
of Arimathea and Nicodemus had already placed a substantial
amount of these spices around the body of Christ when they
wrapped him in those linen garments and placed him in that sepulchre.
But now we can see that these women, really because of their
love to the Saviour, their love to the Lord Jesus Christ. They
desired that they might come and do all that they could for
what they thought was the dead body of that One who they loved. And therefore they'd come and
they'd come early. They got up early and love in
their hearts and they brought these spices which they had prepared
to the sepulcher. And of course, they expected
to find that stone in place. And they were surprised when
they came and they found that the stone had been rolled away. And they entered in and found
not the body of the Lord Jesus. What was the result to that? The result was that they were
much perplexed because of that. They didn't understand. And yet,
you know, as we read in this chapter, the Lord had very clearly
told them, while he was on this earth, what would happen. and
the two angels which stood there, two men stood by them in shining
garments and they told them, they said, the Son of Man must
be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and
the third day rise again. These had been the words of the
Saviour himself and yet their minds have been darkened and
they didn't remember these things until these angels reminded them
and spoke to them and then we're told and they remembered his
words. And in our lives you know there
are those occasions sometimes when where our minds are darkened
we forget perhaps what God has spoken to us, what God has done
for us, and our minds are darkened and we are sad, and then what
a blessing it is when the Spirit of God comes and reminds us of
those things, perhaps a certain thing, which God has said, which
God has done for us. And we remember his words. And when we remember his words,
well, they're very encouraging. They're so strengthening, because
they are the words to our soul, which we have been blessed with,
perhaps, previously. And then to be reminded of them,
It's a wonderful favour when God does remind us of that which
he's done for our soul. Sometimes you know things which
have occurred perhaps many years previously and the Lord brings
it back to our minds so we remember the words of the Lord. Remember
perhaps the occasion and it's a blessing for us, it's a blessing
to us. And we're thankful to know that
that which God had spoken is true and for the remembrance
of it. Well, you know, this obviously
had a good effect upon these women and it will have a good
effect upon you and me when we remember the words of the Lord
Jesus. And I suppose we ought to ask
the question, And surely it will be a very sad thing in our lives
if we have nothing to remember. Nothing to remember of the words
of the Lord Jesus. If we were asked, well, is there
anything to remember? We find we have nothing to remember. We do need to have the evidence
of the blessed work of the Holy Spirit in our hearts, and therefore
to be strengthened as we remember the words of the Lord Jesus Christ. Well, these women, and they'd
come to this place, they'd come to the sepulchre, and what did
they come for? They'd come to view the body
of Jesus. They'd come to view the crucified
Christ. They'd come to do that for Him,
which they desired to do, to show their love towards the Lord
Jesus Christ. But as they came in this way,
and it's important for us to realise that we need to come
in a right way when we come to our God. Here they came. You see, they weren't, they weren't
deletery, were they? No, these things meant a lot
to them. The Lord Jesus Christ meant a
lot to them. So much so that they were very
willing to get up early in the morning to come to the sepulcher. And of course at that time they
didn't expect to find that Christ had risen from the dead. But
it's a good thing in our lives. if the things of God really mean
something to us, really mean something to us, so that we really
desire God's blessing and God's favour. This was the first day
of the week, and that of course is the first day of the week
which we remember as the Sabbath day, the Lord's day, And just
for you younger people, perhaps to remind you that, you may say,
well, the Lord's Day isn't mentioned in the Bible. Well, it is mentioned.
It's mentioned in the first chapter in Revelation, when John was
in the spirit on the Lord's Day. And that was the first day of
the week. So therefore, we have the confirmation
that it is right to keep the Lord's Day as the first day of
the week, the day that we set apart for the worship of God. And you know, it is, of course,
a day which the Lord has granted to us, a day of rest, but it's
not a day that we are to waste away. These women didn't waste
the time, did they? They got up early. Attendance
is, of course, on the Lord's day is to lie in bed. Well, that's
not a good thing, is it? It's good to rest but it's good
to get up and it's good to pray and it's good to read the word
early in the morning. A good preparation for the times
of worship. We don't want to get up and rush
about and tear to the house of God and find that we're not prepared
to worship the Lord. You know it's a great blessing
which we have to be able to come together and to worship the Lord
and of course the day is. for the benefit of the health
of our soul. It's also, of course, a day of
rest for the health of our bodies. But more importantly, it's for
a day of blessing for our souls and we should recognise it as
such. The Lord has set it apart so
that we may come and worship the Lord in spirit and in truth. Well, here are these women. They'd
got up early and they'd come to the sepulchre and they found
the stone rolled away. But you see, they received some
good news. Yes, they weren't to be disappointed. Because as they looked into the
sepulcher, found it empty, and they were afraid and bowed down
their faces to the earth, they said unto them, why seek ye the
living among the dead? He is not here. He is risen. Remember how he spoke unto you. when he was yet in Galilee. This was the wonderful news that
these women were to hear. They heard the news that Christ
was risen. Now that's wonderful news for
them and it's wonderful news for us today. Do we rejoice today
in the risen Saviour? And if we rejoice in the risen
Saviour it is because he is risen. Like these women were told, he
but is risen. It's a glorious theme, the resurrection. It's a glorious theme which we
see as the Lord Jesus Christ was the first to rise from the
dead, but all God's people will rise from the dead. And that
great last day, those who have died upon the earth, who are
laid in the grave, wherever they may be, perhaps destroyed, their
bodies may have been destroyed, bombs or that kind of thing may
have separated them, and yet you see all the members will
be brought together, all the dust will be made again and there
will be that body, that resurrected body, which will rise to be forever
with the Risen Saviour. It's a prospect that you and
I should encourage each other with, to realise that we have
a great prospect before us. We are in this world, we're living
in this world, we're born in this world, but our life is but
a vapour, And soon, when the end of the world comes, and we're
promised it will come, and we know it will come, and we can
see the sign of the times all around us today, with the evidence
that the time is hastening on when time will be no more. Well, what a glorious time it
will be when the whole Church of God is resurrected and joined
together in glory around the throne of God in heaven to sing
the praises of the Saviour, the risen Saviour. Well, these women
at this time, they didn't actually view the risen Saviour, but they
were to view Him later on that day. They were to view Him when
He came and stood in the midst. What a wonderful occasion that
was. Then, you see, their faith was
then turned to sight. They viewed the Living Saviour,
the Lord Jesus Christ. And of course, there had also
been that time when the Lord had met with those two on the
roads to Emmaus. And I often think it's a very
significant account, because in this account, we find that
the Lord Jesus, he drew near to them. We don't have any ability, naturally,
if we're dead in sins. But when the Lord works in our
heart, you see, the Lord draws near, and we are told also by
James, draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. And
you may say, well, how is that relevant in this particular case?
These two, what were they speaking about? They weren't speaking
about all the things of this vain world, were they? They were
speaking about those things which had occurred. And they talked
together of all these things which had happened. That's what
they were talking about. The crucifixion. of the Lord
Jesus Christ. Well, the example is a good one,
isn't it? For us to be found in conversation
about the Lord Jesus Christ. This was on the same day that
these women had gone early in the morning to sepulchre, and
now these two are walking in this amazed road and they're
speaking about the crucifixion They didn't understand what had
really happened. And perhaps that's the same in
our lives. We may not always really understand
the truth of the great words of scripture. We may not really
understand the whole message of salvation. And we should never
be ashamed of confessing our lack of knowledge. It should
not stop us speaking about the things of God. These two were
speaking about the crucifixion and what a wonderful blessing
it was for them. On this resurrection day, this
day when Christ rose from the dead, he came and he joined himself
with them. Yes, and it came to pass that
while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew
near and went with them. You see, it's a good thing to
talk about the things of God, to discuss the things of God. These people, these two here,
they weren't criticising the situation, they were really concerned. They were mystified at what had
happened. They wanted to know the truth. What a blessing when The Spirit
of God comes into our hearts and we're concerned to know the
truth of God. That's the great issue. You and
I need to know the truth of God. And so, as they were discussing
this, the Lord came and he drew near and went with them. He didn't just pass them by.
He didn't just pass them by. He went with them. What a mercy.
for us today when the Lord comes and goes with us goes with us
on this occasion the Lord went with them and of course he didn't
again speak about irrelevant things he didn't speak about
things which were of no import he spoke to them and he asked
them he asked them a question what manner of communications
are these that you have one to another as ye walk and are sad."
Now they were able to give a good account of what they were talking
about. And it's important for us to
think in our lives. We go about, don't we? We talk.
We talk about amongst ourselves. And if the Lord was to come with
us and ask us what we were talking about, would we be highly embarrassed? because of the things that we
had been speaking about? But what a blessing if we'd been
speaking about the things of God in a right manner, and not
tittle-tattling, and not speaking about things which were not relevant,
but speaking about the great truth of God. And here you see,
the Lord then came and asked them this question. And they
were able to say to the Lord, aren't thou only a stranger in
Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which had come to
pass in these days? That's what they were talking
about. These things, they were great things, and they're great
things to us today. Haven't lost the virtue, haven't
lost the importance, they were important to these two, They
should be important to us today. And so what things concerning
Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty indeed and word
before God and all the people and how the chief priests and
all rulers delivered him to be condemned to death and crucified
him. But we trusted that he should have been, have redeemed Israel,
their trust. was in the Lord Jesus Christ. But we trusted that it had been. And now they say, and it's the
third day, something in their minds, something triggered their
minds that this was the third day. Well, the Lord of course
has spoken to them about the third day, and they just couldn't
bring their minds to realise what it was. as they then spoke
on and told the Lord that there had been those things, that people
had come and gone to the sepulchre and had found it empty. And then
what did Jesus speak to them? He said, O fools and slow of
heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken. It was a word to them, it's a
word to us today, isn't it? O fools and slow of heart to
believe all the prophets have spoken. Perhaps we've been fools
and slow of heart to believe the great truths of God, the
words of God, the words spoken to us. These words were spoken
on this occasion, to these two on this journey, this road to
Emmaus. And the Lord spoke and asked
them and spoke this way, O fools and slob hard. Perhaps we can
recognise that such words really speak to us today, because we've
been slob hard to believe all that the prophets have spoken. And so the Lord then describes
to them what these things were in just a few words recorded
here, but we know of course that it was a wonderful sermon that
he spoke because he expounded in all the scriptures the things
concerning himself. everything was directed to what
was prophesied about himself, the Lord Jesus Christ. Now then, these words that the
Saviour spoke on this resurrection morning, the risen Christ rose
from the dead and he spoke the words concerning himself and
What did it do? It touched their hearts. It touched their hearts. And
that, you see, is the wonderful evidence of the blessed work
of God when it touches our hearts. It's not just that which comes
into our minds, which it will, and give us that right and spiritual
understanding, but it comes down and enters into our hearts. And the effect was, I didn't
speak it at that time, but when they asked the Lord and left
them, they said this, did not our hearts burn within us? And it was true. Didn't our heart burn within
us while he taught with us by the way and while he opened to
us the scriptures? When the Lord comes and gives
us a spiritual understanding of the great truth of God, things
that we hadn't observed, hadn't seen before, it touches our hearts
and it moves us as we realise God's great goodness to us. And
then our eyes are opened to behold the wondrous plan of salvation. And as the Spirit of God instructs
us and teaches us, we see more and more of this. And when the
Lord comes and does this, it does have an effect upon us. It touches our hearts. And we may know something, perhaps
not very much, but just a little, of this burning within us. It's rejoicing within. of the
glorious gospel of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Well,
you know, these two are on that Damascus road, the Lord had left
them, and what did they do? They'd gone this long journey,
and it wasn't on a nice tarmac road, it would have been a pretty
rough road that they'd walked along, and when the Lord had
left them, they rose up the same hour. They went back to Jerusalem. They didn't diddle-daddle. They
went straight back to Jerusalem. Why? They wanted to tell the
disciples the good news. They wanted to tell them what
had occurred. It was good news, wasn't it?
It was wonderful on this morning when Christ had risen from the
dead and now it was the evening. The night was on them. It didn't
stop them. They went back. went to Jerusalem
and they found the eleven gathered together and then with them saying
the Lord is risen indeed and has appeared unto Simon and they
told what things were done in the way and how he was known
of them in breaking of bread. It was a time of joy, a time
of thanksgiving, a time of favour and so it is when The risen Saviour
appears to us and touches our heart and we can rejoice in it
and bless God for it. And so we have this glorious
account on this day when Christ rose from the dead. Well, can
we not today rejoice in what the Lord Jesus Christ has done? You know, the Apostle Peter in
his epistle, he says this, 1st chapter, 3rd verse, blessed be
the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according
to his abundant mercy, and that will be a word which will touch
our hearts when the Spirit works within us, because it is abundant
mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope. That means
born again with a spiritual life, a spiritual hope, which according
to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by
the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. Without the resurrection,
There will not be a hope, but thankfully there is a resurrection,
and therefore we do have a hope. And may we indeed have a good
hope, and that good hope, as Peter explains here, looks beyond
this life. Immediately we read that to an
inheritance, this is the lively hope, to an inheritance incorruptible
and undefiled, and that fate is not a way reserved in heaven
for you who are kept by the power of God through faith under salvation,
ready to be revealed in the last time." Now this is the wonderful
blessing which emanates because of the resurrection of the Lord
Jesus Christ. And so we have the account in
this 24th chapter of these occasions. And remember, it commences with
the group of these women going early to the sepulchre. They got up early and they went
to the sepulchre. And this was really the beginning
of the wonderful revelation of the risen Saviour. What a wonderful
blessing it is to know the truth of these words. You know, in
Matthew's Gospel, In the last chapter, the 28th chapter of
the Gospel of Matthew, we read these words which tell us similar
truths. And the Lord risen from the dead,
and we read this. His countenance was like lightning. His rain was white as snow. And
for fear of him, the keepers did shake and became as dead
men. And the angel answered and said unto the women, fear not
ye. For I know that ye seek Jesus,
which was crucified. He is not here. He is risen. As he said, come, see the place
where the Lord lay. And go quickly and tell his disciples
that he is risen from the dead. And behold, he goeth before you
into Galilee. There shall you see him. Lo, I have told you. They departed quickly. the sepulchre
with fear and great joy, and they run to bring his disciples
word. What a change! They come to the
sepulchre, sad, sorrowful, and now they go away with great joy,
with fear and great joy. There was a holy fear upon them
because of this wonderful position which they'd now been told of,
fear and great joy. And they did run to bring his
disciples word. They had good news, didn't they? And there is still good news
today when Christ is revealed to his people. Christ is revealed
to one here and one there. They have some good news to tell. They come and tell the Church
of God. These people went to tell really
the church of God and it was indeed good news and it's good
news today when Christ is revealed to our souls and we can bless
God for the great truths of the gospel and so today we can rejoice
in these things and the apostle Paul as he wrote to the Romans
and in the eighth chapter We come towards the end of that
chapter. He tells us this. Who shall lay anything to the
charge of God's elect? It is God that justifies. Who
is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died. You see,
we're condemned by the holy law of God. We're lost and ruined
because we've sinned. Against the Holy God, we're ruined. Who is he that condemneth? It
is Christ that died. Yea, rather, don't stop there. Yea, rather, that he is risen
again. I think I've told you previously,
but I always remember when I was preaching on one occasion, and
I preached a morning service. I was walking up the road with
the deacon, and he was a lovely gracious man, and he said to
me, don't forget he's risen. Well, it was a wonderful word
to me. I've been speaking about the crucifixion, but you see,
he was risen. And it was a wonderful word,
I'll never forget it. It is Christ that died, Yea,
rather, that it is risen again, who is even at the right hand
of God, who also maketh intercession for us." Well, it's just a few
words, isn't it? That the Apostle gives us here,
but there's a great breadth in it, isn't there? You think of
that. Risen again, even at the right
hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. And that's
the favour that we can enjoy today in prayer to our God. This Saviour is risen and he
makes intercession for us as he's seated on the right hand
of God. And the Apostle just goes on,
as you probably remember, the familiar words when he says,
who shall separate us from the love of Christ? This great and
glorious Saviour's love was so great, he laid down his life
and then rose a conqueror. And no one can separate us from
this love. The Apostle tells us in the concluding
verses of this 8th chapter that he said, he asked a question,
And then he gives a whole list and tells us, for I am persuaded
that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities,
nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height,
nor depth, nor any other creature shall be able to separate us
from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Now, the whole gospel really
is contained in the love of God. When we think the love of God
the Father, sending his only begotten Son into the world,
that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have eternal
life. The love of God, send his only
begotten Son, the love of God, raise the Son from the dead,
And that son today, our Saviour, is in glory to intercede for
us. Well, can we rejoice today, like
these women, in the risen Saviour? If you and I are born again of
the Spirit of God, we shall rejoice in the risen Saviour. And we
shall be thankful that we're able to remember it perhaps every
day, but perhaps more especially as we celebrate it on what we
term Easter Sunday. What a mercy it is then to have
a risen Saviour. What a blessing to realise the
concern that these women had as they came to the sepulchre
early in the morning, bringing the spices with them. May we
be found therefore in the things of God, not negligent, but diligent
in the things of God, diligent with regard to the health of
our souls. that we may have joy and rejoicing
as the Holy Spirit may open our eyes to behold wondrous things
out of the law of God and to rejoice in what Christ has done. Amen.