Reformed Perspectives Magazine, Volume 6, Number 12, April 14 to April 20, 2004 |
"The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised."A world characterized by sin, misery and the rule of the deceiver would end in the death of God's Son, in order that a new world characterized by holiness and the awesome presence of God could be fully realized. To think that only three days after the culmination of the old world's wickedness the first day of the new world would begin! On that third day the old creation's doom was sealed as the new creation dawned! The resurrection of Jesus didn't merely occur on the first day of the week (Luke 24:1), but it was literally the first day of the new creation, a creation characterized by resurrection life!
..." Let these words sink into your ears: The Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men." (Luke 9:22)
Luke 24:1-12 But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. 2 And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. 5 And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, "Why do you seek the living among the dead? 6 He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, 7 that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise." 8 And they remembered his words, 9 and returning from the tomb they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. 10 Now it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles, 11 but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. 12 But Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home marveling at what had happened.Notice first how Luke signifies the end of the old world and the birth of the new with the last verse from chapter 23, "On the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment." The Old Covenant time period fully comes to an end in this statement. For this would be the last Sabbath to be observed under the law. The Christian Sabbath of the New Covenant and New Creation would begin in the resurrection. Notice Luke 24:1, "But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared."
1 Peter 1:10-12 Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, 11 inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. 12 It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look.These angelic messengers were those who for many ages had been trying to figure out God's mysterious plan with regards to the salvation of his people. Here the angelic messengers are not merely proclaiming the good news that Jesus is born as they do in the beginning of Luke. Rather, these angelic messengers are proclaiming that Jesus is risen, and that a new creation has been born! By God's grace, the angels and soon the disciples will be worshipping God and rejoicing in this new day! The Gospel of Luke begins with a new prophetic announcement from angels sent from God's Heavenly court:
Luke 2:9-14 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. 10 And the angel said to them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger." 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 14 "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!"Now the angels of the Lord are saying to the disciples that there is a new life because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ the Lord. He was born in the city of David, a Savior, Christ the Lord, and he glorified God in the highest and offers peace to those with whom God is pleased to offer his grace!
Luke 24:13-27 That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, 14 and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. 15 While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. 16 But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. 17 And he said to them, "What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?" And they stood still, looking sad. 18 Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, "Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?" 19 And he said to them, "What things?" And they said to him, "Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20 and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. 21 But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened. 22 Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning, 23 and when they did not find his body, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. 24 Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see." 25 And he said to them, "O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?" 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.Because of this new day and new creation dawning in the resurrection of Jesus, we have a new understanding of His Scriptures by His Spirit sent to us. If you remember, when the disciples came to the empty tomb they were concerned -- they were "perplexed" (Luke 24:4), and the angelic messengers reminded them of what Jesus said while he was still in Galilee: "that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise." They quoted to them the very words of Jesus.
"We interpret the resurrection in terms of the atoning cross, and easily forget how little the disciples were as yet prepared for doing the same. And so it requires an effort on our part to understand sympathetically the state of mind they brought to the morning of this day. Nevertheless we must try to enter into their thoughts and feelings, if for no other reason, for this, that something of the same fresh marvel and gladness that subsequently came to them may fill our hearts also.Only by God's grace and His Spirit can we fully understand the meaning of the Scriptures.
Whether we may be able to explain it or not, the gospel tells us that, notwithstanding the emphatic prediction by the Savior of his death and resurrection, they had but little remembrance of these words, and drew from them no practical support or comfort in the sorrow that overwhelmed them. In part this may have been due to the fact of our Lord's having only predicted and not fully explained these tremendous events." ('Grace and Glory', pg.. 67-68).
John 12:9-11 When the large crowd of the Jews learned that Jesus was there, they came, not only on account of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. So the chief priests made plans to put Lazarus to death as well, because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus.Unbelief is so bad that even Jesus' closest disciples, when they heard of the resurrection thought it was literally an "idle tale" (Luke 24:11). And the text goes on to say: "And they did not believe [the testimony of the women who saw the empty tomb]." All the evidence and reasonable proof in the world will not change sinful hearts full of unbelief. Only a powerful work of God's Spirit is sufficient to lift the veil and enables us to see and understand. This new understanding comes to God's people because of the finished work of Christ and the new day of His resurrection. This new understanding of Christ-centered Scripture comes only by grace and only as Jesus through His Spirit makes it known to us! Notice how these disciples on the Road to Emmaus came to understand the death and resurrection of Jesus. They had proof, but they needed an "eye opening" and "heart warming" experience of the Holy Spirit in order to fully understand:
And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight. They said to each other, "Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?A New Man
This new understanding takes all of us on our own "Road to Emmaus" as we seek to know more about God and ourselves as we study and sit under preaching and teaching of the Word of God. This new understanding in Jesus means a better knowledge of our new and heavenly destination: the New Heavens and the New Earth — wherein righteousness dwells — and we are taught in the Word of God that this present age and old world is passing away, but we are also taught that he who does the will of the LORD abides forever (1 John 2:17; Revelation 22).
Luke 24:33-53 And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, 34 saying, "The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!" 35 Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread. 36 As they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, "Peace to you!" 37 But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit. 38 And he said to them, "Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39 See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have." 40 And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. 41 And while they still disbelieved for joy and were marveling, he said to them, "Have you anything here to eat?" 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he took it and ate before them. 44 Then he said to them, "These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled." 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, 46 and said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, 47 and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high." 50 Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them. 51 While he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven. 52 And they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, 53 and were continually in the temple blessing God.But "we ain't seen nothing yet" as the saying goes! Because of the resurrection and the new creation, we truly share in the new life in Christ as well as the new understanding of His Scripture, but what we all anticipate is to be fully rescued and redeemed from this mortal life of pain, misery, death, and suffering! We long for our glorified bodies when we shall be like him — glorified.
Romans 8:18-23 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.When Jesus appears to his disciples in Luke's Gospel, he begins to impart to them a new and better understanding of their future hope as well. He says to them: "See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have." (Luke 24:39). Now notice that even with Jesus' physical appearance before them — which is sufficient rational and objective observable "proof" — the disciples at first think he is a spooky spirit of some sort! But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit.
1 Corinthians 15:45-49 Thus it is written, "The first man Adam became a living being"; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit. 46 But it is not the spiritual that is first but the natural, and then the spiritual. 47 The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven. 48 As was the man of dust, so also are those who are of the dust, and as is the man of heaven, so also are those who are of heaven. 49 Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven.What the Apostle Paul means above in 1 Corinthians 15 is that we are by nature born into this world children of the natural man from the dust whose name was Adam. We are dust and to dust we will return. In other words, we are from the earth, earthly, and to the earth we will return. In the New Man, or Last Adam who is Jesus, we are made like him as new men fit for the new Creation.
Hebrews 2:5-13 Now it was not to angels that God subjected the world to come, of which we are speaking. 6 It has been testified somewhere, "What is man, that you are mindful of him, or the son of man, that you care for him? 7 You made him for a little while lower than the angels; you have crowned him with glory and honor, 8 putting everything in subjection under his feet." Now in putting everything in subjection to him, he left nothing outside his control. At present, we do not yet see everything in subjection to him. 9 But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. 10 For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering. 11 For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one origin. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers, 12 saying, "I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise." 13 And again, "I will put my trust in him." And again, "Behold, I and the children God has given me."Jesus, the Glorified Man became the "Life-Giving Spirit" or the One Glorified Man in Heaven who could experience eternal glory, the presence of God, and a resurrected body! He offers this same new man-ness to all of us who believe in Him. In Him, we are born again by His Spirit to literally be new creations, those awaiting the ultimate redemptive hope: bodily resurrection and eternal glory! Hallelujah! Praise to the Lamb!
So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord.And how does the Holy Spirit equip us for the new creation as new men and women in the LORD? The Holy Spirit powerfully equips us all with new life and help us to live as resurrected people (Romans 6:3ff; Colossians 3:1-4). The Holy Spirit powerfully equips us with new understanding of God and ourselves from the Scriptures and gives us the power to declare this truth to the world (John 14-16). The Holy Spirit powerfully equips us to put off the old man and put on the new man who is already even now being conformed into the image of Christ. As Colossians 3:9-10 teaches:
Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.The final words of Jesus in Luke's Gospel instructs us of the urgency and necessity of preaching and witnessing by the power of God's Spirit so that we might tell the world the good news that in the resurrection the new creation has begun — flee this world that is passing away and live and look for the world to come.