Evidence of Something Supernatural

Luke 24:1-11

The more famous a person is when they die, the more likely there will be some sort of drama surrounding their death – perhaps even a conspiracy or two about whether or not they still might be alive.

I think of what’s called to this day, The Graceland Hoax – a conspiracy that Elvis Presley is still alive, which would make him 90 years old today.

The conspiracy exists, although he was pronounced dead by several physicians, followed by an autopsy. Doctors identified the cause of death, and even the kinds of drugs he had been taking.

After the autopsy, he was prepared for burial by two morticians, dressed by his wardrobe manager, made-up by his personal cosmetologist, his hair-colored jet black by his hairdresser, then he was viewed by his entire family before closing his casket.

All of these details were printed in the American Funeral Director Journal, to try and stem the conspiracies – the article was appropriately named, “Elvis Has Truly Left the Building.”

People still wonder.

On April 14, 1865, John Wilkes Booth assassinated President Abraham Lincoln. All sorts of theories would circulate about his assassin’s identity; Lincoln’s last words; there was drama about where he should be buried, and if in fact he was buried.

Even though after his body was embalmed, he was taken on a funeral train with his family, and political leaders, traveling through several states where thousands of people stood by the tracks, mourning his death.

Eventually, the train reached Springfield, Illinois where he was buried at Oak Ridge Cemetery. For fear of his tomb being vandalized in some way, his casket was moved to an unidentified underground vault.

But its location became known; criminals attempted to steal his body and hold his remains for ransom. But their plot was discovered.

Eventually in 1901, 36 years after his death, his body was placed in a coffin, his body once again verified medically for true identity – then the coffin was surrounded by a steel cage and then placed into a deep vault where several tons of cement were poured all around it, literally encasing the coffin in concrete.

Only then was there enough evidence to satisfy the public that Abraham Lincoln was dead and buried.

In both Abraham Lincoln and Elvis Presley’s famous funerals, the evidence that they were dead was insurmountable.

Yet when you compare them to the most famous graveside scene in human history, there are conspiracy’s that have lasted to this day that Jesus never really died. And there are even more conspiracy’s that Jesus didn’t rise from the dead.

But one eyewitness account after another reports that Jesus appears to all His original disciples, He appears to close friends and family members, to five hundred people at one time, and even to certain disciples at different times.

He will finally be viewed by many eyewitnesses as He ascends up and through the clouds and out of sight.

One conspiracy is called the Hallucination Theory – the theory that all these people were hallucinating.

Hard to believe that everybody is having the same hallucination.

The Sanhedrin will launch the conspiracy that the disciples stole Jesus’ body in an attempt to fake His resurrection.

But that doesn’t hold water, given the fact that all they had to do was go find the body and reveal that Jesus didn’t rise from the dead after all.

Or the religious leaders could’ve just waited and let the disciples’ fake resurrection story prove to be untrue, because Jesus never shows up. What kind of Messiah is that?

Ands keep this in mind: what the religious leaders didn’t know was that the disciples weren’t sitting around trying to figure out how to convince people that Jesus has come back from the dead.

The record of scripture makes it very clear that the disciples didn’t even believe themselves that He would. The disciples have thrown in the towel. They are disillusioned and despondent.

They’re done. They’re not gonna to perpetuate some myth about Jesus being alive – they’re trying to figure out what to do with the rest of their lives.

In fact, when the women returned from the empty tomb to tell the disciples the exciting news that an angel had told them Jesus was alive – Luke records in chapter 24 and verse 11:

But these words seemed to them [the disciples] an idle tale, and they did not believe them. Luke 24:11

The original word here for an “idle tale” was used in the medical world – and Dr. Luke uses it here – it was used in the medical world for the wild speech of someone who is sick in delirium.

^{Philip Graham Ryken, Luke: Volume 2 (P&R Publishing, 2009), p. 638}

“You’re so filled with grief that you all are seeing things!”

Have you ever thought about the fact that the greatest obstacle to Christianity getting off the ground, wasn’t the unbelief of the religious leaders, but the unbelief of the disciples. (SOURCE: ^{Adapted from Warren W. Wiersbe, Be Courageous (Victor Books, 1989), p. 142)}

The disciples had to be convinced first!

And what Jesus does next, isn’t so much to convince the unbelieving world, but to convince His own disciples.

Luke records for us now, several pieces of evidence that something amazing has indeed taken place – and this all takes place even before Jesus appears to them.

Let me give you 5 evidences of something supernatural.

We now arrive at Luke chapter 24.

If you were with us in our last study, you might remember that several women had watched where Joseph of Arimathea had taken the body of the Lord.

They had watched Nicodemus and Joseph wash and wrap the Lord’s body quickly and then place the Lord inside Joseph’s brand-new cave/tomb, which was the custom of that day.

These women then went home to prepare spices while they waited for the double Sabbath’s – Friday and Saturday – to elapse, so that they could come back early Sunday morning.

Luke writes now in chapter 24 and verse 1:

But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. Luke 24:1-3

Fortunately, the gospel of Matthew adds some details that inform us of what had just happened, just before they arrive at the tomb.

Now we know from the gospel accounts that the Jewish leaders had gone to Pilate and asked for a Roman guard to make sure Jesus stayed inside the tomb, and the disciples stayed outside. Pilate agreed.

So Matthew writes in chapter 27 and verse 66:

So they [the soldiers] went and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone and setting a guard.

Matthew 27:66

Now this is all gonna backfire on the religious leaders.

Later on they’re gonna wonder why in the world they ever came up with this idea, because all they did was add more witnesses to something supernatural taking place.

These soldiers will become a key piece of the evidence of Christ’s resurrection.

Before we go further, you need to understand that this Roman guard isn’t like the Sunday school pictures you might have seen growing up.

Guys in little pleated mini-skirts and oversized helmets standing in front of the tomb carrying little swords.

The guard unit referenced here would have been anywhere from four to sixteen men – highly trained soldiers who represented both the defensive and offensive strategy of the Roman army.

They were trained to be able to guard six square feet of ground around them – you step into their space and they were trained in many ways to put an enemy to death.

Matthew also mentions that the guard sealed the tomb. They stretched a rope across the front – attaching it with sealing clay. The Roman commander of the unit would press the insignia of Rome into that clay.

This seal didn’t communicate, “Beware of Dog” but “Beware of the Roman Empire”.

History reveals that if someone disturbed a Roman seal without permission, they were to be executed.

You didn’t mess with the seal of the Roman empire.

Well, God the Father is gonna send some angels to mess with the Roman empire.

The first evidence of something supernatural is this:

The appearance of angels is undeniable.

When you put the gospel clues together, Matthew records that moments before the women arrive – chapter 28 and verse 2:

And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it.

His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. Matthew 28:2-3

Luke’s gospel account says there were two angels – Matthew evidently refers only to the angel who did the talking.

By the way, the appearance of an angel is described with the same words used to describe Elijah and Moses on the mount of Transfiguration where the glory of Jesus was revealed.

Dazzling light.

Luke describes these two angels here with the words “dazzling apparel”.

Literally, they have bright bodies that literally emanate dazzling light through their clothing.

Daniel the prophet and the Lord Himself said that one day the redeemed will shine like the brightness of the sun (Daniel 12:3 & Matthew 14:43).

Daniel adds, the redeemed will shine like the brightness of the sky above.

Evidently this is what you look like after living in the presence of God. This is what you’re gonna look like one day.

Matthew adds here in verse 4 that the dazzling bright angelic appearance caused the guards to tremble – he writes:

The guards trembled and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead. Matthew 28:4-7a

So while the guards are trembling in terror – literally paralyzed by fear – they can’t move; they still see and hear this incredible message from this dazzling angel.

So get this: these soldiers are about to turn into witnesses – they felt the earthquake; they saw the angels; and best of all – they heard the announcement to the women who now arrive at the tomb – “Jesus … who was crucified is not here, for He has risen.

Matthew tells us that the soldiers’ race away – not back to Pilate – their boss – they go straight to the Chief Priest.

So the first evidence of something supernatural is the appearance of angels.

There’s a second piece of evidence that something supernatural has taken place – it’s easy to overlook – and it’s:

The stone is no longer in front of the tomb.

Matthew recorded here in verse 2:

An angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. Matthew 28:2

Now Jesus has already risen from the dead – He’s not in there.

This stone wasn’t removed to let Jesus out, but to let the disciples in – so they could check it out.

This stone was circular in shape, like a huge cart wheel, which could weigh up to 2 tons.

It was set in a groove that led down to the entrance of the cave, wedged in place with a piece of wood or small stone until the body was placed in the tomb. The wedge was then removed and with the help of gravity, the stone could be more easily rolled in front of the opening. This kept out wild animals and grave robbers. (SOURCE: ^{Adapted from Charles R. Swindoll, The Darkness and the Dawn (Word Publishing, 2001), p. 238)}

History records that the average stone could need as many as 20 men to roll back uphill.

Marks’ gospel account tell us that women were concerned about this stone keeping them from anointing the body of Jesus.

Mark writes in chapter 16:

And they [the women] were saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?” And looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled back––it was very large. Mark 16:3-4

They’re immediately surprised by this.

• Mark uses a preposition that indicates the stone was rolled back uphill.
• Luke writes that the stone was rolled up and away from the tomb – in other words, it’s no longer in the groove.
• John uses the preposition that the stone has been carried up and away from the tomb.

In other words, somebody picked up this 2-ton stone and tossed it over on it’s side as if it were a pebble.

And look – there’s an angel sitting on it.

I love this angel – it’s as if he’s saying, “You thought this little thing could stop the power of God?”

And with that, the women are invited to look inside.

Here’s the third – and most important piece of evidence that something supernatural has taken place:

The Lord’s body is no longer where they had seen it placed.

Simply put – the tomb is empty.

The entrance to these cave/tombs was low, requiring a person to bend over to enter.

While Matthew says an angel was sitting outside on the stone, Mark says an angel was inside sitting next to where Jesus had been placed and once the women entered, the angel told them that Jesus was now alive.

Again, it’s important to note that these women had not arrived to move the body of Jesus, but to anoint it.

Once placed on that ledge, the body would have been left there for a long time.

It was the custom during these days that when the flesh of the deceased had decomposed, the body would be unwrapped and the family would gather the bones and place them in a small ossuary box – a small stone bone-box. The person’s name would be inscribed on the top, or side of the box. (SOURCE: ^{Adapted from David E. Garland, Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament: Luke (Zondervan, 2011), p. 939)}

The box then would be placed in a niche inside the cave/tomb and used by the family for generations to come.

By the way, in our lifetime, the Lord has allowed another archeological discovery of an ossuary to testify to the reality of the gospel.

This ossuary – this bone box – had been passed down for centuries and eventually into the hands of a artifacts dealer sometime in the 1960’s.

Nothing was done with it until 2002, because the owner didn’t know Aramaic. Bone boxes are somewhat commonly excavated, and he never translated the inscription.

But when it was finally translated, it caused an uproar.

Of course, the Israeli Antiquities Authority immediately declared it a forgery – they’re not particularly interested in archeology that supports the New Testament.

In fact, the dealer who owned the ossuary was arrested on forgery charges.

But by 2012, he was cleared of all charges. Archeologists admitted that this inscription was authentic, dating to 63 AD.

The inscription on this bone box says – get ready for this – James, son of Joseph, brother of Jesus.

Isn’t that great?

Now, this isn’t gonna convince unbelievers. A revival didn’t break out in the world of archeology or in the land of Israel – at least not yet.

But for those of us who believe, this is simply one more affirmation of the gospel record.

James, the son of Joseph, the brother of Jesus.

This is the James who became the pastor/teacher of the church in Jerusalem, and the author of the inspired Book of James in our Bibles.

They found his bones. But let me tell you – they have never found the bones of Jesus.

Another piece of evidence that something supernatural has taken place is simply this:

The announcement of the angel regarding Jesus’ resurrection.

We read it earlier, but I wanna point out something here.

Luke writes here in chapter 24 and verse 6:

“He is not here, but has risen. (now watch this) Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.” And they remembered his words. Luke 24:6-8

Remember what Jesus told you.

After Peter’s confession that Jesus was the Son of God, Jesus had responded by saying, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.” (Matthew 16:21)

Later on, the Lord told them:
The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise.” (Mark 9:31-32)

Before heading toward Jerusalem, recorded in Matthew chapter 20, Jesus told His disciples; “We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and scribes and they will condemn him to death and deliver him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified, and he will be raised on the third day. (Matthew 20:18-19)

Do you remember what Jesus said? The angel here says to the women, “Remember how He told you.”

Hey listen, the angel was gracious here; he could have said, “Remember how He told you again and again and again and again.” (SOURCE: ^{Adapted from William Hendriksen, Exposition of the Gospel According to Matthew (Baker Book House, 1973), p. 990)}

But don’t miss this: the angels don’t try to convince the women at the empty tomb simply by these physical evidences of supernatural power.

They didn’t give a tour of the tomb, talk about how Jesus evaporated out of the linen wrappings, how the stone was removed – they simply reminded the women of His promise.

They make their case for the Lord’s resurrection based on what Jesus had said. (SOURCE: ^{Ryken, p. 635)}

“He said He was gonna rise again on the third day – so what’s the big surprise here?” Verse 5 – Why are you looking for Him here?

This is a lesson for us beloved; when we forget what Jesus said – when we disbelieve the promises of God, we add to ourselves all kinds of mental and emotional and spiritual afflictions – to deny the promises of God is to invite worry and doubt to camp out in the front yard of your life.

Remember what He said.

There’s one final evidence of something supernatural taking place – again, easy to miss.

Evidence was provided by the testimony of women.

We know in these days that according to Jewish law, a woman was not allowed to testify in the court of law.

Women weren’t able to provide testimony – even if they were witnesses to a crime.

In these days, if you saw someone robbed, you watched it all take place; you knew where the thief lived, you had his address, you had all the facts – you got his license plate – if you came and reported it, if you’re a woman it wouldn’t have held up in court.

Beloved, to this day, wherever Christianity is followed, the laws of the land have changed. The gospel elevates women, it does not demean them.

The Bible tells us that women and men will be co-heirs with Christ in the coming kingdom.

But in the first century, if you’re trying to figure out how to make the stunning news of Christ’s resurrection credible, you’re not gonna have the first people to testify five women.

The fact that the news was carried to the disciples by women actually gives credibility and force to the Luke’s account because nobody in the ancient world would every make up a story and have women serve as the official witnesses. (SOURCE: ^{Bruce B. Barton, Life Application Bible Commentary: Luke (Tyndale, 1997), p. 556)}

And another thought on that – if you’re retelling the account, you would probably leave out the embarrassing fact that the eleven disciples immediately and rather rudely dismissed the news and said to the women were talking nonsense – they talking wildly as if they in delirium.

This is not a very impressive retelling of the first few hours of the Lord’s resurrection.

But God’s Spirit isn’t interested in impressing anybody – He’s simply interested in telling the truth.

Something supernatural has happened. The disciples are normal, real people, with flaws and shortcomings. Nobody’s getting a badge of honor here for faithfulness. The closest people to being commended are these five women – but even for them, it took a couple of angels to convince them.

Something supernatural has happened. Jesus has risen from the dead.

Many people to this day deny the resurrection of Jesus because they argue that miracles are impossible because nature is a closed system – in other words, miracles would violate the laws of nature.

One believing author and professor of mathematics at Oxford University used this illustration.He wrote:

Suppose I put $1,000 dollars tonight in a drawer in my office. Then I put another $1,000 dollars in tomorrow night. One thousand plus one thousand equals two thousand dollars. That’s the law of mathematics.

But supposed on the third day, I open the drawer and find only $500 dollars. Obviously, the laws of mathematics have not been broken. $1,000 plus $1,000 still equals $2,000. What the laws tell you is that someone has put his hand into the drawer and removed some money from the drawer. The laws of mathematics, or the laws of nature, or the laws of science cannot stop someone from doing that.

In the same way, the resurrection of Christ doesn’t violate or erase or negate the laws of nature. The resurrection simply reveals that Someone has reached into the drawer of time and space and removed something – or in this case – Someone.

A supernatural hand – the hand of God the Father – has reached into the drawer of human history, and brought the dead body of His Son, back to life.

That same omnipotent hand brought your dead spirit to life – it was dead in trespasses and sins, but God brought it to life (Ephesians 2) – the moment you believed in His Son as your Savior; the Son of God who was crucified, and was buried, and rose again – His hand changed everything – you now have forgiveness, and already have everlasting life guaranteed.

Why? Because something supernatural happened at this tomb which is no longer occupied – for Jesus has risen from the dead.