So I just want to once again
read the verse from Luke chapter 24 and verse 34. This is to do with the disciples
as they were in Jerusalem on the day of the Lord's resurrection. And this is what they said to
one another. saying, the Lord is risen indeed
and hath appeared to Simon. And I just want to take for a
little while some thoughts on this little phrase, the Lord
is risen indeed. In the book of Ecclesiastes in
the Old Testament, the wise man there tells us A threefold cord
is not quickly broken. So what is that again? A threefold
cord is not quickly broken. And what he's talking about is
that a cord or a piece of rope that is three individual strands
wrapped together has a strength beyond its individual parts. And what he is saying is true.
A three-fold cord is not quickly broken. A single strand of thread,
if you take it in your hands, can be easily snapped. Take two
strands and twist them together, wind them together and they too
will snap with a tug. But take three strands and wrap
them into a single cord and that cord is not quickly broken. The reason for that is that the
friction between the strands makes the cord much stronger
when it is bound together and makes it more durable. But as is often the case with
the scripture, the Bible sayings often have a deeper meaning. And this verse two in Ecclesiastes
has a meaning beyond that it simply is a threefold chord. What it is telling us is what
is often said in scripture about at the mouth of two witnesses
or at the mouth of three witnesses shall a matter be established. And when we have three witnesses
bound together with the same story, then that story is true. This means that two or three
strands of testimony will validate what is true and confirm what
has happened. And it is very interesting, I
think, in the light of these references to two or three witnesses
and the three cords, the three strands in a cord not being easily
broken, that the Lord Jesus gave three distinct evidences of his
resurrection on this day in which he rose from the dead. Most suitably,
did the Lord Jesus confirm his resurrection multiple times to
different groups on this first day of the week following his
death. Christ first spoke to the women
who ventured to his tomb very early on the morning of the first
day of the week. And particularly attention is
drawn to Mary Magdalene and then the other women as well. And
I think that it was a wonderful gesture of the Lord in honouring
the women. First of all, the women, not
the disciples, not the 12 or the 11 as it then was, not the
disciples, but these women were honoured by the first encounter
with the Lord. Women who had lovingly supported
and attended Christ's ministry during his life. Women who were
loyal at the cross. when others fled in fear. Women who bravely came very early
in the morning while it was yet dark to the graveyard where Christ's
body was lain, came to confront those guards at the tomb, came
to confront whoever it was that they might meet there with this
desire that they might anoint his body. and how privileged
Mary Magdalene and the other women were. to meet the Lord
in this way. Mary was the first to know that
the Lord had risen. We read about that in John's
gospel at the opening of the service. Mary was the first to
know that Christ had risen. She was the first to experience
that joy as the honor was given to her to speak with the risen
Christ and discover he was alive as he had promised. And she was
given a message by the Lord to convey to the other disciples,
which she did. How wonderful that this woman,
whom Satan had previously possessed and so cruelly hurt, be graciously
and tenderly dealt with by her master and her saviour in this
fashion. That was the first strand of
the Lord's revelation on this resurrection morning. When Mary
and the other women returned to the disciples with their news,
they were not believed. Though the women had seen the
Lord face to face, they were not credited as faithful witnesses. Their accounts were viewed as
idle tales. And at the most, they only prompted
some questions in the minds of the other disciples that they
were at a loss to answer and could not reconcile in their
own minds. So that the women's testimony
was discounted by the other disciples. It was one strand, one thread,
and when the weight of probability was balanced on it, It seemed
to have little strength or credibility. But then something else happened.
Jesus appeared to Peter. And this was the same day that
Christ rose from the dead. And after Mary and the women
had conveyed the Lord's message, the Lord appeared also to Peter. Now, interestingly, none of the
gospel writers record the actual event. It is Paul who tells us
that this meeting with Peter took place. And it is referred
to by Luke in this chapter 24. It's referred to by Luke, but
where and when this meeting took place, we don't know. It does not appear to have been
at the tomb after Peter and John had ran there and found it empty
because they both went back to their own homes. So perhaps it
was at Peter's home that this happened, where he was staying. But privately, later in the day,
Jesus met Peter. And it seems as if the Lord was
being especially gracious to Peter, especially gracious to
those individuals whom he knew would benefit from his meeting
them. Peter had shamefully denied his
saviour three times. He had even cursed when confronted
with the evidence that he had been one of the Lord's disciples.
And now the Lord came to Peter, Peter who felt so much shame,
Peter who had so mistreated the testimony of his Lord. The Lord came to him and showed
himself to be alive. He came to him first, or second,
in order to comfort his friend. We don't know what was spoken
between Peter and the Lord, but doubtless Peter was reassured
by this meeting. It must have been like a new
conversion all over again, in which his faith was renewed for
the subsequent strengthening of his brethren. And what is
interesting about this meeting is that Peter's seniority in
the group of disciples gave his testimony greater weight amongst
the disciples, who now had two different witnesses to the resurrection
of Christ. And this second strand made dismissing
the resurrection of the Savior more difficult for the disciples,
so that evidence was mounting. And then thirdly, later in the
day came the third witness. On the road to Emmaus, a little
village outside of Jerusalem, two of the Lord's followers made
their way home as it was the evening. These were not members
of the 12 disciples, it appears. And yet as they traveled, a stranger
met them in the way. Luke says, Jesus himself drew
near and went with them, but their eyes were holding that
they should not know him. These two travelled with the
Saviour, hearing his words and wondering at his wisdom, and
yet all the time failing to recognize him until Christ had said all
he wanted to say and Christ revealed himself to them. So that we read
in Luke chapter 24. Then he said unto them, this is verse
25 following. Then he said unto them, O fools
and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken.
Ought not Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into
his glory? And beginning at Moses and all
the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the
things concerning himself. And they drew nigh unto the village,
whither they went, and he made as though he would have gone
further. But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us, for
it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went
in to tarry with them, and it came to pass, as he sat at meat
with them, he took bread and blessed it, and break, and gave
to them. And their eyes were opened, and
they knew him, and he vanished out of their sight. And they
said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us while
he talked with us in the way, and while he opened to us the
Scriptures? And they rose up the same hour
and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together,
and them that were with them. And thus three different groups
or individuals bore testimony to the resurrection of Christ
on this first day. Before the main group of disciples
ever had seen the Lord, they had been told by Mary, they had
been told by Peter, and they had been told by these two disciples
of Jesus, these two followers. Three different witnesses reinforced
the certainty of the fact. A three-fold witness, a three-fold
cord of truth. Little later, after this had
been given to them, the Lord would appear amongst all of the
disciples. Well, with the exception of Thomas
on this occasion. And he would be revealed as being
alive. Today there are many who celebrate
Easter and the Lord's resurrection. It is a religious holiday. It's
a major church event. But oh that all our eyes might
be opened as the eyes of Mary had to be opened, as the eyes
of the two travellers had to be opened. so that all may see
and recognise the saviour in our celebrations. Christ's resurrection
from the dead, his victory over death and the grave must never
be thought of merely as a symbolic story or a meaningful fable or
consigned to being a historical event even if it is inexplicable. So many people will say, I don't
understand, but I believe it happened. As if that is sufficient
to testify to the resurrection. It's much more important than
that. Christ's resurrection confirms
as true all we are taught in the scriptures concerning our
sin, concerning our need of a saviour, concerning Christ's coming into
the world and to sacrificial death, and concerning the atonement
accomplished and accepted by God the Father for his people's
eternal glory. It's all of a single truth. Christ was personally victorious
over death. We're told he had power to lay
down his life and power to take it again. He is victorious over
death for all his people. Because he died in our place
and lives today, we too shall live forever and we shall never
die. That is not to say that these
old sinful bodies will never die. They must and will. They will return to the earth.
But our souls, we who trust in Christ, our souls will never
die. but we will share in that resurrection
life in heaven with the Lord Jesus Christ and with his saints
for all eternity. May the Lord bless these thoughts
to us today. Amen.