Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulcher, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them.
And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulcher.
And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.
Luke 24:1-3, KJV
These verses reflect the outcome of the incident which included Jesus Christ’s crucifixion, burial and resurrection on the first day of the week. When the women came to the grave, they did not find the body of Christ because with mighty power while He conquered death and the grave, He rose from the dead.
Our Lord Jesus has conquered death and the grave. Humanly speaking there was no hope that Jesus would rise again and the people thought that Jesus had died forever. But the grave, that sepulcher in which Jesus was buried was opened, and the Lord Jesus Christ with his absolute honor, glory, majesty and power rose up.
The grave was opened.
And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.
Matthew 28:5, KJV
He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. ‘Come, see the place where the Lord lay’.
Matthew 28:6 KJV
Yes! He “was not here;” He rose up, according to God’s word. The grave was opened. The stone rolled away and the body of Christ was gone. Nobody stole that body, nor was that body hidden somewhere—but Jesus, according to His words or sayings, “with great power rose from the dead.”
The open grave, the rolling away of the stone, and the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ were the proof. This is the central and pivotal truth of the Holy Scriptures and of our creed and faith. In fact this miracle is the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah to come.
Just think, Elijah raised the dead, Peter raised Tabitha, the Lord Jesus raised both Lazarus and Nain’s widow’s son. But all those people who had been resurrected died again. Nobody raised Himself from the dead but Lord Jesus Christ did so, once and for all.
No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.
John 10:18 KJV
Jesus is victorious and He is alive. Death and sin have been defeated. Yes, the grave is opened and the Lord Jesus Christ has risen. Even today the grave is open and it is empty.
The eyes were opened.
Two people were walking on the road to Emmaus. As they walked, they were talking about Jesus. He (the Lord Jesus Christ) walked with them after His resurrection but they did not recognize Him. When the Lord sat with them at table, He caused them to understand that it was very essential for Jesus to suffer and then enter into His glory; He opened the eyes of their understanding; their eyes were opened.
And their eyes were opened, and they knew him.
Luke 24:31, KJV
When Jesus told about Himself the eyes of these people were opened, they recognized Him. First the grave was opened and now the eyes were opened. It is all about the inner eyes. In the same manner it is very essential that our inner eyes be opened.
Thomas who doubted about the resurrection of Lord Jesus Christ recognized Him.
And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.
John 20:28, KJV
Thomas said to the Lord, “You are my God, You are my Lord, You are my Master.” He accepted him as his Lord and Master because his eyes were opened.
It is written in the Old Testament;
And one of his servants said, ‘None, my lord, O king: but Elisha, the prophet that is in Israel, telleth the king of Israel the words that thou speakest in thy bedchamber’.
2 Kings 6:12, KJV
And he said, ‘Go and spy where he is, that I may send and fetch him.’ And it was told him, saying,’ Behold, he is in Dothan’.
2 Kings 6:13 KJV
Therefore sent he thither horses, and chariots, and a great host: and they came by night, and compassed the city about.
2 Kings 6:14 KJV
And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, ‘Alas, my master! how shall we do?’.
2 Kings 6:15 KJV
And he answered, ‘Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them’.
2 Kings 6:16 KJV
And Elisha prayed, and said, ‘LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see.’ And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.
2 Kings 6:17, KJV
Elisha answered, “Fear not, because the ones who are with us are more than the ones who are against us.” Elisha prayed and said, “Lord open his eyes so that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the eyes of this young man and he saw the hills around Elisha were full of horses and chariots of fire. Through the prayer of Elisha, the eyes of young man were opened. The grave was open.
In the same manner, we need the Lord to open our inner eyes so that we may acknowledge and recognize our Him and see His grandeur, majesty, power, glory and honor. The chief apostle, Saint Paul wrote;
…the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints.
Ephesians 1:18, KJV
The grave was opened, the eyes were opened.
And their eyes were opened, and they knew him.
Luke 24:31, KJV
They recognized him because their mind was opened.
The mind was opened.
And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.
Luke 24:27, KJV
Then He opened their mind that they might understand the scriptures. They recognized Him. They recognized His diety, divinity, power and Lordship.
This must be our prayer, “Oh Lord, open my mind!” They recognized Him with their rationale, with their common sense. Then those people who recognize or acknowledge the Lord Jesus Christ and believe that He is their Lord, Master, Savior, and Redeemer, for them it is written in the book of Acts;
And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayer.
Acts 2:42, KJV
The grave was opened, the eyes were opened, the mind was opened.
It is mentioned in the Gospel of Luke.
And they said one to another,’ Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?’
Luke 24:32, KJV
Their hearts burned within them. Their hearts were full of zeal and passion. It means that their hearts were opened so that they might know His deep secrets in a better way.
The hearts were opened.
They were talking to each other, while he was talking to us on the way and he was explaining the scriptures, did not our hearts burn within us?
…and while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered.
Luke 24:41, KJV
Their hearts were opened. They were full of joy in their hearts. Is our heart open to the Lord? Are our hearts full of zeal for the service of the Lord and to have fellowship with Him?
Do we have the joy of the salvation in our hearts? Do we have a burning passion to meet with the Lord?
So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
Revelation 3:16, KJV
But we see the warm heartedness of these disciples, their hearts were open. They were full of zeal and consequently their homes were opened.
The homes were opened.
But they constrained him, saying, ‘Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent.’ And he went in to tarry with them.
Luke 24:29, KJV
Their home was opened. They joyfully offered their hospitality. Do we joyfully offer the hospitality?
We should not only ask for the gifts of miracles, healing, and preaching but of service, hospitality, doing the minor things for the Lord and giving for the Lord. When our home is open then certainly our pocket is open as well. In the Acts church their purses or wallets were opened; they gave unto the Lord. What do we give unto the Lord? Do we give to the Lord His share, the tithe, regularly? It is proper that to give Him according to His dignity or status.
No doubt God loves a cheerful giver. After the opening of the grave, the eyes, the mind, the heart, and the pocket, the Lord Jesus Christ opened the Scriptures.
The Scriptures were opened.
The grave was open. Jesus opened the Holy Scriptures; it means the law, the Psalms and the books of the prophets. The Word of God is a mystery and we can only understand it by the power of the Holy Spirit. Some read the Word of God occasionally. And there are some people when they open the Bible, whatever page opens in front of them they read it from there.
But it is very essential that we read the Holy Bible with prayer, in the guidance of the Holy Spirit. We must read it systematically, and the Holy Spirit will open the word of God for us. It is very sad to say that for many people the Holy Bible is a closed Book.
There are many people who explain the Holy Bible according to their likes and dislikes, with their own principals, according to their limited human and worldly comprehension, personal experiences, or prejudices. This practice is very dangerous and a sad position. Our earnest prayer must be, “Oh, Lord! Open the great and deep truths of your Word for me.”
The mystery of salvation was opened
…and said unto them, ‘Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day.
Luke 24:46, KJV
…and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem…
Luke 24:47, KJV
Jesus added further about Himself that He would suffer, and on the third day He would rise from the dead. He also told them that starting from Jerusalem, the repentance and the forgiveness of sin would be preached in His name among all nations.
Jesus opened the mystery of salvation, crucifixion, death and resurrection. For our deliverance He allowed them to spit on His face, to have the crown of thrones placed on His head, and to have His hands, feet and side pierced.
The hands of the people (our hands) were doing all the evil deeds; in our place He presented His hands before His heavenly Father.
Our feet were going in wrong places so it was necessary that we be punished. But on our behalf Jesus gave His feet. The grave was open.
Our minds had evil thoughts, we think and plan wrong things, sinful things. On our behalf Jesus presented His head for the crown of thorns.
The Lord Jesus Christ did all this for our salvation, so that we may have life and have it abundantly. Have you received salvation? Are you a real Christian, a born again believer?
If you don’t understand the mystery of salvation, don’t like to suffer for Christ’s sake, don’t give first place in your life to Jesus, don’t walk with Him, don’t believe in the forgiveness of sins and eternal life then it is very sad. You are not a Christian. The Lord Jesus Christ opened the secret of His Word and salvation. If you are a born again person, a regenerated person, a saved one then you must continue this race whole heartedly. If this is not the case then today, even right now, you need to be saved.
The grave was opened, the eyes were opened, the mind was opened, the heart was opened, the home was opened, the pocket was opened, the Holy Scriptures were opened, the mystery of salvation was opened. Consequently, the mouths of the disciples were opened for the worship and praise of the Lord.
…and were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen
Luke 24:53, KJV
The Lord Jesus Christ sent them to all the nations, to the whole world. In this way the world was opened for them.
The grave was open. Jesus Christ is alive today. He is sitting on the right hand of the Father and He is pleading for us. If you have not yet tasted salvation then Easter is just a festival for you.
The grave has been opened. But the need is that you must open your eyes, mind, and heart, mouth, home, and pocket for the Lord. And He will open for you His Word, the secret of salvation for the world.
May the Lord grant us His grace that we may live according to His will.
Happy Resurrection Day.
Blessings.
