Day 24 of 24 (2021)

 Today's passage: Luke 24

Today's focus: vs. 9-12

Author: Pastor Sam (2021)

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.

This past month as you read through the Gospel according to Luke, how did you respond? 

It is so easy to go through the motion of reading the chapters merely as a challenge. It is just as easily to go through December as a festive holiday and celebrate Christmas without ever celebrating Christ. A good way to gauge your heart is to observe how it reacts as you read Scripture or hear it preached. 

When the women told the disciples of Jesus' resurrection, they reacted in two ways. First, "these words seemed to them an idle tale." Strange, isn't it? They heard about the resurrection of Jesus and it was like a fairy tale-- make-believe childish mythology. The NASB translated this as "nonsense" to the disciples. The news of Jesus' resurrection was as fictitious as the story of Santa Clause. It is no wonder that the disciples did not believe the women. 

"But Peter." Oh how differently Peter responds! He "rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen clothes by themselves; and he went home marveling at what had happened" (vs 12). Peter had that lingering feeling that this was too good to be true. Perhaps he also felt that it was an "idle tale," but Peter went and checked it out for himself. What he saw confirmed it in his heart that Christ was raised from the dead. This resulted in Peter "marveling at what had happened."

Eventually, the other disciples witnessed the resurrection for themselves and believed. The most  famous example is with Thomas who said  he wouldn't believe unless he saw and touched Jesus. The Lord's answer to Thomas and the disciples was, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." (John 20:29)

Don't just celebrate the Child in a manger wrapped in swaddling clothes. Come to the tomb and see where the linen clothes were folded and set aside by the resurrected King.

As you hear the nativity story yet again, may your heart never grow bored. May you never see it as an "idle tale." Rather, my prayer is that you respond like Peter and marvel at what had happened. God became a man to save mankind. 

Merry Christmas to you and your family!