The Vision (4.25.25): Resurrection Appearances (Luke 24)

 

Image: Azaleas, North Garden, Virginia, April 2025.

Note: Devotion taken from morning and afternoon sermons last Sunday on Luke 24.

“And they said one to another, Did not out heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?” (Luke 24:32).

“And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you” (Luke 24:36).

In 1 Corinthians 15:3-5 Paul summarized the key four historical facts that were essential to his preaching of the gospel or good news of the Lord Jesus Christ. Those four basic facts: (1) Christ’s atoning death; (2) his burial; (3) his resurrection on the third day; and (4) his resurrection appearances.

The second and fourth of those points affirm or prove the first and third point points. We know that Christ truly died on the cross, because his lifeless body was placed in the tomb. We know that Christ was truly raised again from the dead, because he appeared to his disciples in his resurrection body.

All four of the canonical gospels reach their climax with these four points. One German scholar from years ago said that the Gospels were “passion narratives with extended introductions.”

Luke 24 presents an inspired narrative of Christ’s resurrection appearances on the first Lord’s Day,  to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus (24:13-32) and then to the twelve in Jerusalem (24:36-48).

Aside from providing the true historical details on what transpired that day, Luke, driven along by the Holy Spirit, also provides a template for what will continue to happen when the saints gather on the Lord’s Day. The risen Lord Jesus Christ will make himself present and known to us. This happens now by the Spirit since Christ has ascended and is seated at God’s right hand till he comes again with power and glory.

When meeting with him we will say, as the disciples of old did, “Did not our heart burn within us… while he opened to us the scriptures?” (24:32). The risen Lord Jesus himself will stand “in the midst” and say to us, “Peace be unto you” (24:36). He will extend his pastoral care to us, asking, “Why are ye troubled? And why do thoughts arise in your hearts?” (24:38).

Let us continue to gather each Lord’s Day to meet with the one who died on the cross for our sins, was buried, rose again the third day, and appeared to his disciples.

Grace and peace, Pastor Jeff Riddle

The Vision (7.7.23): Four Wondrous Attendant Circumstances at the Resurrection of Christ

 

Image: Hydrangea, North Garden, Virginia, July 2023

Note: Devotion taken from last Sunday's sermon on Matthew 27:62--28:8.

And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it (Matthew 28:2).

Just as Matthew described four wondrous attendant circumstances atthe death of our Lord on the cross (see Matthew 27:50-54), so the inspired Evangelist makes note of at least four initial wondrous attendant circumstances at his resurrection:

First, the earth convulsed (v. 2a: “And, behold, there was a great earthquake [seismos …. megas].” If the earth convulsed with grief and groaning at his death, it now leaps with joy at his resurrection, just as in Psalm 114:4 it speaks of the mountains skipping like rams and the hills like lambs at the presence of the LORD.

Second, the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it (v. 2b). We know from the other Gospels that there were in fact at least two angels who were there (cf. Luke 24:4; John 20:12). The angel of the Lord was there at his birth (Matthew 2:13, 19), and now, like a bookend, at his resurrection. Notice that the angel sat upon the stone, just as Christ will be seated at the right hand of God (Mark 16:19). You sit down when the work is done. It is a visual declaration of the finished work of the resurrection.

This angel is described in his glory and power in v. 3a. His countenance (the Greek word is idea) was like lightening. His raiment was white as snow (v. 3b). This speaks to the purity of God’s faithful angelic servants whose robes were never spoiled by the stain of fall or rebellion.

Third, the soldiers who were watching the tomb became as dead men (nekroi) (v. 4). The irony is that they were stationed there to guard the tomb of a dead man; but now Christ is alive, and they are like dead men.

Fourth, the angel answered and spoke unto the women (vv. 6-7). This angel becomes the first recorded herald of the resurrection, saying, “He is not here: for he is risen, as he said” (v. 6a). He then invites the women to investigate and see for themselves the empty tomb: “Come, see the place where the Lord lay” (v. 6b).

That same message continues to be proclaimed today: He is risen; come and see (cf. John 1:39).

Grace and peace, Pastor Jeff Riddle

The Vision (12.16.22): Christ and the Resurrection

 

Image: Scene from It's a Wonderful Life

Note: Devotion taken from last Sunday's sermon on Matthew 22:23-33.

In Matthew 22:23-33 we find the record of Christ’s conflict with the Sadducees in the week leading up to the cross.

Christ rebukes the priestly Sadducees who denied the final resurrection, “Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God” (v. 29). This is the Lord’s answer to all cults, to all false teachers and false religions. And it is his answer to us when we stray from what it true and right and Biblical.

How and why did they err? Christ continues, “Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power [dynamin—miraculous or wonder-working power] of God.”

Having given this negative rebuke, Christ then turns to offer positive instruction in v. 30: “For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.”

Note three key points:

First, Christ teaches that there will be a future time during which all men shall experience the resurrection at the end of the ages. This was taught in the OT in places like Daniel 12:1-2, Job 19:25-27, and Psalm 16:10-11.

Christ also explicitly taught this in his earthly ministry (see John 5:28-29 in which Christ spoke of how those in the graves who would hear the Lord’s voice and be raised either “unto the resurrection of life” or “unto the resurrection of damnation”).

This is what the apostles taught. Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:51-52 declared, “We shall not all sleep, but we shall be changed.... for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.”

Second, Christ teaches that life in the glorified state will be different than our lives in this present age. One of the chief differences will be the ways in which our former relationships will be changed. Marriage was instituted by God at creation to be a sign of Christ’s relationship with the church (see Gen 2:24; Eph 5:32), but in the resurrection, the bridegroom (Christ) will be joined to his bride (the church) and the temporary institution of marriage will be eclipsed by our being without sin in the presence of God. This does not mean that we will not know each other. I believe we will, but our focus and attention will be upon the Lord and not each other.

This coheres with John’s description of life in the New Jerusalem in Revelation 22:3-5, as he declares, “his servants shall serve him” and “they shall see his face.” Our gaze will be always upon the Lamb.

Third, Christ says we will be like the angels. Notice that he does not say we will become angels. But we will be like the angels. We will have a resurrection existence that exceeds our present earthly existence, and we will not be able to sin, and we will pursue without hindrance the worship and service of the Lord. That’s how the elect angels live.

Frank Capra’s It’s A Wonderful Life might be an entertaining film, but it has terrible angelology. In that film Clarence is a man who became an angel and has to earn his wings. We do not become angels at death, and we have no post-mortem purgatorial work to do to attain higher standing before God. Instead, like the angels we will glory forever in God’s magnificent presence.

Grace and peace, Pastor Jeff Riddle

The Vision (4.22.22): The Resurrection, Unbelief, & Hardness of Heart

 

Image: Evening mist on the mountain, North Garden, Virginia, April 2022.

Note: Devotion taken from last Sunday's sermon on Mark 16.

Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen (Mark 16:14).

The Holy Spirit saw fit to give to God’s people not just one inspired account of the life and ministry of Christ but four. We have a fourfold Gospel. Calvin compared the four gospels to four horses drawing forth a triumphal chariot to display the glory of Christ. The four Gospels tell the same story, but each is also unique. The climax of each is the passion narrative, the inspired account of Christ’s death on the cross and his glorious resurrection.

One unique feature of Mark’s Gospel is his focus on the initial reaction of unbelief even among the apostles after Christ’s resurrection.

The risen Christ appeared to Mary Magdalene, and she reported this to the apostles, but they “believed not” (Mark 16:11).

The risen Christ appeared to two disciples as they walked into the country, and they reported this to the apostles, “neither believed they them” (v. 13).

Finally, Mark says Christ appeared to the unbelieving eleven apostles (minus Judas, who betrayed him) themselves as they sat at meat (v. 14; cf. John 20:19). Mark tells us specifically that Christ upbraided or admonished the apostles for their unbelief (apistia) and their hardness of heart (sklerokardia), “because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen” (v. 14).

This is not a very flattering presentation of the apostles. It is not an airbrushed account of the life of Christ. It is not a “glamour shots” version of Christ’s life. It tells us the truth warts and all. This is one reason we know it is true. When the truth is on your side, you have nothing to hide.

Every major college in the country has its own sports broadcasting team. And the fans of the sports teams love to listen to their home team announcers make the calls of their games. Such announcers are called “homers,” because they root for the home team, no matter what. If the home team does something even halfway good, they make it sound brilliant. If the same team does something bad, they blame it on the refs.

Mark is not a “homer” for the apostles. He tells the unvarnished truth. Christ took the apostles to the verbal woodshed for their unbelief. They had been with Christ; they had heard his teaching and witnessed his miracles. He had told them he would rise again the third day, but they did not believe, till he stood before them.

Here is the amazing thing. The Lord Jesus did not abandon the apostles at this point. The God who sent the flood might well have shelved the initially unbelieving apostles. But he did not.

Instead, after duly and justly chastening them, he extended to them a commission, commanding, “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature” (v. 15).

There is truth being told here about the apostles, but also about us. The Lord did not give up on the original disciples in the face of their unbelief. And he will not give up on any of us who are truly his own. That is comforting and encouraging.

In fact, the Lord Jesus Christ told Thomas, “because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed” (John 20:29). Christ declared a beatitude upon people like us who believe in Christ and his glorious resurrection based on the witness of the apostles, though we have not yet seen him face to face.

May he overcome by his grace all vestiges of our unbelief and hardness of heart and bring us unreservedly to confess our faith in him.

Grace and peace, Pastor Jeff Riddle

The Vision (4.9.21): But God raised him from the dead

 

Image: Golden Euonymous, North Garden, Virginia, April 2021.

Note: Devotion taken from last Sunday's sermon on Acts 13.

But God raised him from the dead (Acts 13:30).

In Acts 13 Luke records the sermon preached by Paul in the synagogue of Pisidian Antioch.

The center of Paul’s message is the ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ.

In v. 28 Paul stresses the innocence of Christ. No legitimate “cause” was found for putting him to death: “And though no cause of death was found in him...” Pilate washed his hands and said, “I am innocent of the blood of the just person” (Matt 27:24). Even one of the thieves crucified alongside Christ recognized Christ’s innocence and was converted, telling his fellow malefactor that they were being crucified “justly” for their crimes, “but this man hath done nothing amiss” (Luke 23:41).

In v. 29 Paul emphasizes the fact that even the wicked actions of the men who crucified Christ served to fulfill the Scriptures: “And when they had fulfilled all that was written of him….” By placing Christ on the tree (the cross) where he died and then having his body being placed in the tomb, Christ was not defeated, but Scripture was fulfilled.

Here is something that ought to comfort us in our distress. The more wicked men attempt to oppose God and harm his people, the more they fulfill his word and hasten the Lord’s ultimate victory.

It seemed that evil had triumphed. Christ had died and been placed in the tomb. Then, we come to v. 30: “But God raised him from the dead.” If there had been no crucifixion, there would have been no resurrection. If there had been no death, there would have been no life. Had there been no defeat, there would have been no victory.

Notice that Paul also stresses the resurrection appearances (v. 31: “And he was seen many days of them which came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem….”).

The sermon at Pisidian Antioch, follows the outline of the gospel Paul recorded in 1 Corinthians 15:3-8: Christ’s death on the cross, his burial, his glorious resurrection, and his resurrection appearances.

This remains the standard for faithful preaching of the gospel to the present hour.

Grace and peace, Pastor Jeff Riddle

Athanasius on Proof that Christ is Alive

Image: Cedar berries, North Garden, Virginia, March 2018

Athanasius in On the Incarnation on proof that Christ is alive:

The Saviour is working mightily among men, every day He is invisibly persuading numbers of people all over the world, both within and beyond the Greek-speaking world, to accept His faith and be obedient to His teaching. Can anyone, in the face of this, still doubt that He has risen and lives, or rather that He is Himself the Life? Does a dead man prick the consciences of men, so that they throw all the traditions of their fathers to the winds and bow down before the teachings of Christ? If He is no longer active in the world, as He must needs be if He is dead, how is it that He makes the living to cease from their activities, the adulterer from his adultery, the murder from his murdering, the unjust from avarice, while the profane and godless man becomes religious? If he did not rise, but is still dead, how is it that he routs and persecutes and overthrows the false gods whom unbelievers think to be alive, and the evil spirits whom they worship? For where Christ is named idolatry is destroyed and the fraud of evil spirits is exposed; indeed, no such spirit can endure that Name, but takes to flight at the sound of it. This is the work of the One Who lives, not of the dead; and more than that, it is the work of God (61).

JTR