Daily Devotions
Luke
Luke 24:1-12; Matthew 28:1-15; Mark 16: 1-8; John 20 "WHERE WERE THE MEN DISCIPLES?"
Day 337 – Luke 24
Text: Luke 24:1-12; Matthew 28:1-15; Mark 16: 1-8; John 20
WHERE WERE THE MEN DISCIPLES?
Every single one of the Gospel writers mentioned that the women disciples were the ones who made a special effort to go to the tomb of Jesus. The men disciples were conspicuously not mentioned!
Where the men? They had all fled for their lives when Jesus was arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane, as Jesus had forewarned (Matthew 26:31, 56).
John was actually known to the high priest, and so he managed to get into the home of Annas (and presumably Caiaphas too) to await news of the trial of Jesus. We know about this from John’s own words,
“And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple.
Now that disciple was known to the high priest, and
Went with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest.
But Peter stood at the door outside. Then the other disciple,
Who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to her
Who kept the door, and brought Peter in.”
John 18:15-16
John was at Calvary. He was there with Mary, the mother of Jesus. He was entrusted with the care of Mary. He was to take her in as his mother from that day onward (John 19:25-28).
Despite having been especially instructed by Jesus for the last three years, the men had failed miserably. Perhaps they were ashamed of their conduct. Perhaps they were frozen into inertia by their doubts concerning what Jesus said about His resurrection. In any case, they did not go with the women disciples when they made their way to the Garden Tomb early in the morning.
THE MESSAGE FOR THE MEN DISCIPLES
The angels spoke words of comfort to the women. This was their blessing for being faithful. They were privileged to have a word from the angels. They were brought into the tomb of Jesus.
Now the angels asked the women to convey a message to the men disciples.
“And go quickly and tell His Disciples
that He is risen from the dead,
and indeed He is going before you into Galilee;
There you will see Him…”
Matthew 28:7
Mark’s account was most vivid. Let us take time to read Mark’s account of the encounter of the women with the angels. Note Mark’s description of one of the angels of the Lord.
“They saw a young man clothed in a long white robe
sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed.
But he said,
‘Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth,
who was crucified.
He is risen! He is not here!
See the place where they laid Him.
But go, tell His Disciples – and Peter –
That He is going before you into Galilee;
There you will see Him, as He said to you.’ “
Mark 16:5-7
Jesus did tell His Disciples that He would see them in Galilee after His resurrection.
“But after I have been raised, I will go before you into Galilee.”
Matthew 26:32
Obviously, the angels wanted to help the women disciples to believe in every single word Jesus had uttered, even to the minutest detail! Did Jesus mention Galilee? Then it would as He said!
Why Galilee? Jesus spent much time in Galilee ministering to the multitudes. It was there that He called many if not all of His Disciples!
Was Jesus truly risen from the dead? Would He be “all right” after having suffered so much under the hands of the Romans? The disciples would find out the answers to all these questions and more – when they see Him in Galilee. Obviously, He would be well enough to make the long trip from Jerusalem to Galilee!
“AND THEY REMEMBERED HIS WORDS” Luke 24:8
How did the women take this news from the angels? Let us take note of what Luke wrote. He gave a very full account of what the women disciples did.
“And they remembered His words.
Then they returned from the tomb and told
All these things to the eleven and to all the rest.
It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James,
And the other women with them,
Who told these things to the Apostles.
And their words seemed to them as idle tales,
And they did not believe them.”
Luke 23:8-11
“And they remembered His Words…” is a very significant phrase. These words express how the women folk had come to find renewed faith in Jesus, and therefore they believed that He had indeed risen from the dead as He had said. However, to their disappointment, the men disciples remained unconvinced! They just could not believe in the news that Jesus had indeed been resurrected!