Luke 23, 24

Luke 23, 24

Overview:  Crucifixion. Resurrection. Post-resurrection appearances.  Ascension.

My attention was most caught by the early verses of Luke 24.  It is here that the women and then Peter make their way to the tomb to find a tomb, an empty tomb.  The women also find angels - angels were there to announce Christ's arrival to the Shepherds and they were there to announce his resurrection to the women.  Angels as sign posts to get people moving in the right direction.  This section of the passage caught me as I reflected on just three weeks ago sitting in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher and reading these same two chapters of Luke's gospel. One thing which I remember very clearly is that just as the women came and just as Peter came, people are still coming.  In the middle of the day they come in groups and the place is full of pilgrims, lined up around the "tomb" awaiting their turn to go in.  In the middle of the night when a man walked through the church (probably either just getting off work or going to work) and methodically prayed his way through the building, walking and touching the altars and paintings as he went.  In the morning at 6:00 a.m. when a Catholic mass was taking place at the entrance to the tomb and when I climbed up the stairs to Calvary there were already women and men kneeling in quiet meditation.  It is worth pausing for a moment at the tomb.  Pausing to remember that Jesus died for us and was placed in the tomb.  Pausing to remember that while there is a tomb - Jesus isn't in it anymore.  Pausing to consider what happened there and how it wasn't something that was done for someone else - it was done for us.