The first thing to do is to look in detail at Luke’s account and then ask your questions as I have taught you to ask before. Then compare Luke’s account with that of the other three Gospel records. Once you have looked at the other Gospel accounts you will no doubt come up with other questions. I am not going to address the questions as yet until you have had a chance to look at the text and come up with your own questions. Take note also of how much detail is added by looking at the other Gospel accounts. It is clear that we gain a fuller appreciation for what happened when we combine all of the accounts. Just like when we want to read about a particular event which really grabs our attention in the world news and we want to know all we can about it. The best way is to look at the news items there are online about it. Reading a series of different articles about that event will add to our overall knowledge, a little here a little there. But it also has the tendency to make us question some elements of factuality where there are contradictions present. On the positive side, it highlights the items we have to do some more study to check the facts. On the negative side, it shows us the apparent anomalies and contradictions. Of course there is much debate about those. You will find in this section one of the classic criticisms that opponents choose to show the Bible is full of errors. But I will let you find it before I point it out to you.
Take note too of some of the subtleties of the text we have before us. Note there is a flow from the verses placed at the end of Chapter 23.
This was done late on Friday afternoon, the day of preparation, as the Sabbath was about to begin. As His body was taken away, the women from Galilee followed and saw the tomb where His body was placed. Then they went home and prepared spices and ointments to anoint His body. But by the time they were finished the Sabbath had begun, so they rested as required by the law.
Luke 23:54-56
In addition to that, note that the flow of the story moves from the angels to the women to the disciples in order to spread the Good News of Jesus resurrection. It’s classic and not as expected. We might expect some angel activity. After all this is a cosmic event of epic proportions. So it would be fitting for the angels to be involved. BUT THE WOMEN!! No, we would not expect that. When important things were to be announced it was not the role of women to announce them. This is a surprise. Furthermore we would expect His close followers to be the ones in the loop regarding His rising from the dead. But again its the women. Keep pondering on these things.
Remember too Luke’s pattern of giving us a series of appearances of Jesus to different groups or individuals. Note particularly who they are and how they react. It’s important. Keep in the mind the reaction the Roman Centurion who effectively said, “ This man was a son of God.”, following which Luke stacks up a series of post resurrection appearances. It’s not coincidence.
Enough for the moment. we will pull this segment apart in the next Gem and I will share with you my questions. I hope you have some of your own. We understand the most when we ask the right questions.
Raise your kids to think for themselves. They’re going to anyway so at least this way it looks like it’s your idea.
Ian Vail
It is greed to do all the talking but not to want to listen at all.
Democritus
Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do.
Bertrand Russell
Leadership is not about being the smartest “person in the room.” It’s about bringing out the best in all, so the collective wisdom prevails and ultimately so that we act on collective wisdom!
Anon