The Day Everything Changed—For the Better

On a morning like any other, a small group of women made their way to Jesus’ tomb, carrying spices to anoint His body. Little did they know, their lives were about to be forever transformed by what they would witness—the empty tomb and reality of the risen Lord. Luke provides ten compelling evidences for the resurrection in Luke 24, all of which point to one unavoidable conclusion—Jesus conquered death through His bodily resurrection from the grave. Let’s examine these ten key evidences:

1. The First Eyewitnesses: Women (Luke 24:1-10)

In the cultural context of the first century, women were not considered reliable witnesses. Yet, in God’s divine plan, the first witnesses to the resurrection were women. This is significant evidence because if the resurrection were a fabricated story, the inventors would have chosen more ‘credible’ witnesses by the societal standards of the time. The fact that women were the first to encounter the risen Lord adds authenticity to the account. Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them discovered the empty tomb and received the angelic message. Their testimony, though initially dismissed by the disciples, laid the groundwork for the unfolding revelation.

2. The Rolled Stone (Luke 24:2)

The stone that sealed Jesus’ tomb was large and heavy, requiring several men to move it. Moreover, the stone had been sealed by Pontius Pilate’s orders, and no one would have dared to break the official Roman seal, as it would have been considered a grave offense. Luke notes the sealed stone was found rolled away when the women approached the tomb early in the morning. This is a significant detail because it implies a supernatural intervention, as the women would not have been able to move the stone by themselves, let alone break the Roman seal. The rolled stone symbolizes the divine power at work, affirming that something extraordinary had occurred.

3. The Empty Tomb (Luke 24:3)

When the women entered the tomb, they did not find the body of Jesus. The empty tomb stands as a silent yet powerful witness to the resurrection. If Jesus’ body had been there, it would have been clear He hadn’t risen. The Roman soldiers and the Jewish authorities had no motive to steal the body, as they were interested in maintaining the status quo and preventing any claims of resurrection. The disciples themselves were in a state of disbelief and were unlikely to have stolen the body, as they would have risked severe punishment by the Roman authorities. Even if the disciples had stolen the body, it is highly implausible that they would have willingly suffered persecution and martyrdom for a lie they had perpetrated themselves. The empty tomb itself is a physical proof that something miraculous had happened. The disciples later saw this empty tomb, and their initial skepticism began to turn into belief as they processed the reality before them.

4. The Angelic Testimony (Luke 24:4-7)

The appearance of two angels at the empty tomb provides a crucial piece of evidence for the resurrection. It serves as divine validation of the event, for without it, the resurrection would have raised more questions than answers, leaving room for scepticism or alternative explanations. The angels not only declared Jesus had risen but also reminded the women of Jesus’ own prophecies about His resurrection (Luke 24:6-7).

An event as epoch-making as the resurrection of the Son of God demands more than circumstantial evidence. Throughout Jesus’ earthly ministry, God provided such supernatural validation at pivotal moments. At His birth, angels announced the news to the shepherds. At His baptism, the voice of God affirmed His divine sonship. During the transfiguration, Jesus’ glory was revealed, and the voice of God once again testified to His identity. Even at His death, supernatural signs like the darkness and the tearing of the temple veil pointed to the significance of the event.

5. The Third-Party Attestation (Luke 24:8-10)

After receiving the angelic message, the women went to tell the apostles and the rest of Jesus’ followers. Third-party attestation is crucial to solving every case, as it provides an independent verification of events. These women had nothing to gain by claiming a lie, and they went through much trouble to break the news of the resurrection to the disciples. Their testimony, corroborated by multiple witnesses, created a foundation for the later encounters with the risen Christ. Their report stirred curiosity and initial disbelief among the disciples, prompting them to investigate further. This chain of communication and verification was essential in establishing the truth of the resurrection.

6. The Unsuspecting Disciples (Luke 24:11-12)

The initial reaction of the disciples to the women’s report was scepticism. They did not believe the women because their words seemed like nonsense. This reaction is significant evidence against the notion that the disciples were gullible or predisposed to believe in the resurrection. Peter’s subsequent visit to the tomb, where he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, moved him from doubt to a growing conviction. The empty tomb and the abandoned grave clothes suggested Jesus had indeed risen in a manner unlike any ordinary resuscitation.

7. The Fulfilled Prophecies (Luke 24:25-27)

On the road to Emmaus, Jesus appeared to two disciples and explained how the Scriptures had foretold His suffering and glory. These prophecies include passages from Psalms, Isaiah, and other Old Testament books that pointed to the Messiah’s death and resurrection. Jesus’ exposition of these prophecies provided a theological framework for understanding His resurrection, showing it was not an isolated miracle but part of God’s redemptive plan. This deepened the disciples’ faith as they recognized how the Scriptures had been fulfilled in Christ.

8. The See-Touch-Hear-Eat Test (Luke 24:30-42)

The two disciples’ eyes were opened when Jesus broke bread with them, and they recognized Him. They immediately returned to Jerusalem to report their experience. When Jesus appeared to the other disciples, He invited them to see and touch Him, dispelling their doubts and proving He was no ghost or mere vision. He even ate in their presence, further demonstrating His physical resurrection. These tangible interactions with the risen Lord transformed the disciples’ fear into joy and strengthened their witness.

9. The Changed Lives of the Disciples

The resurrection had a profound impact on the disciples. Before the resurrection, they were fearful and in hiding. However, having met the risen Jesus, they were emboldened and openly proclaimed His resurrection despite the risks (Luke 24: 36-49). They exponentially grew in boldness and courage to be his witnesses, even amid persecution, exhibiting the powerful impact of this reality. This radical transformation is compelling evidence of the truth of the resurrection. Only a genuine encounter with the risen Christ could account for such a dramatic change in their behaviour and their willingness to face persecution and death.

10. The Worship Test (Luke 24:52)

After Jesus’ ascension, the disciples worshiped Him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. For devout Jews, worship was reserved for God alone. Their worship of Jesus indicates their belief in His divine identity and the reality of His resurrection. The transformation from doubting followers to joyful worshipers underscores the authenticity of their resurrection experience. They were convinced beyond doubt that Jesus was indeed the risen Lord, worthy of worship and adoration.

This radical change—from cowering and fearful to bold and worshipful—marks a complete spiritual metamorphosis in the disciples. Transformed from meek questioners who fled in Jesus’ darkest hours to men willing to suffer and die to proclaim the resurrected Messiah, their lives became a living testimony to the earth-shattering truth they had encountered.

Conclusion

In the simplest of terms, Luke 24 unveils a day like never before—the pivot of human history. With restraint and without embellishment, the biblical narrative conveys the most profound of realities: death has been defeated, Satan’s power has been crushed underfoot, and the doorway to eternal life for all who believe has been flung wide open (Romans 10:9). The resurrection serves as both the irrefutable vindication of Jesus’ divinity and the very hinge upon which the truthfulness of the gospel rests. For if Christ has not been raised, our faith is futile (1 Corinthians 15:17). But in His bodily rising from the grave, Satan is disarmed, death is swallowed up in victory, and the way is cleared for us to experience the mighty, sin-shattering, life-giving power that raised Jesus from the dead (Ephesians 1:19-20). This same resurrection power is now available to us who put our trust in the risen Lord, empowering victorious and abundant life both in this world and the next.

Related Reads

• The Power of the Resurrection: How Does It Matter To You?
• The Three-Fold Filter: Testing the Truth Claims of the Resurrection
• Objections to the Resurrection Rebutted
• They Saw the Risen Lord: Five Men Who Died Defending the Faith