Read Luke 24: 1-12

On the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb (see Luke 24:1).

      The women don’t waste a moment making their way to the tomb. In a climate

where decay rapidly sets in on a corpse, they want to complete their work, while

they can still handle Jesus’ body. They needn’t have hurried; God refused to give

death any victory over His Son’s body, including any hint of decay. Also, by the time

they arrived, Jesus was already gone.

       As they reached the tomb they found the stone rolled away. While the women are

looking in, two angels appear as young men in the prime of life, wearing dazzling

clothes. Immediately, the women are gripped with fear.

The angels point out the folly in what these women are doing: “Why are you

looking for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen!” Then they

remind the women of Jesus’ predictions and the divine necessity behind His

suffering. God’s divine love for fallen humans required Jesus’ suffering and death to

remove our sins. They mention three essentials: Jesus had to be delivered into the

hands of men, die by crucifixion, and rise again in glory.

     At these words the women remember, quickly returning to report them to the

11 apostles, and the other believers with them. Peter sets out for the tomb, stoops

down to look into it, and sees with his own eyes the linen bands, empty and

undisturbed. Even with this clear evidence of Jesus’ miraculous resurrection, Peter

still isn’t ready to accept it as truth. Instead, he goes away wondering exactly what

has actually happened.

(This devotion is courtesy of the Lutheran Hour Ministries)