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Remember His Words — Responding to the Resurrection (Luke 24:7–12)
Responding to the resurrection is not merely about celebrating Easter once a year. It is about how we interpret the empty tomb, how we respond to Christ’s promises, and how we live in light of Jesus' resurrection. In Luke 24:7–12, we see that the resurrection calls for more than admiration. It calls for remembrance, faith, witness, and wonder.
One of the great comforts in the Christian life is knowing that our faith does not rest on vague feelings, religious sentiment, or wishful thinking. It rests on what God has said and done in history. That is especially important when we come to the resurrection. Jesus did not merely rise unexpectedly after a tragic death. He rose exactly as He said He would.
https://youtu.be/BLwpyG_dTlg
Table of contentsJesus followed the Father’s divine planGod is directing our steps, tooRemembering the Lord’s words strengthens faithThose who believe the good news should share the good newsThe resurrection account bears the marks of truthMarvel at the risen ChristConclusion
Jesus followed the Father’s divine plan
Before the women remembered Christ’s words, the angels reminded them of something crucial:
The Son of Man must be delivered.
He must be crucified.
He must rise on the third day.
That word must matters. Throughout Luke’s Gospel, Jesus repeatedly described His life and ministry in terms of divine necessity. He was not being swept along by events outside His control. He was carrying out the Father’s sovereign plan.
From His youth, Jesus said He must be in His Father’s house. In His ministry, He said He must preach the kingdom to other towns. As He looked ahead to the cross, He said the Son of Man must suffer, be rejected, be killed, and be raised. Even His meeting with Zacchaeus was described as something He must do.
When we come to Luke 24, that same pattern continues. The crucifixion was not a derailment. The resurrection was not a recovery. Everything took place according to God’s perfect will.
This should encourage us deeply. Christ’s death was not a defeat. It was the accomplishment of redemption. And Christ’s resurrection was not an emergency reversal. It was the triumphant fulfillment of God’s saving purpose.
God is directing our steps, too
Of course, Jesus is unique. He is the eternal Son of God in the flesh. His life, death, and resurrection stand alone in redemptive history. None of us can compare ourselves to Him in that sense.
But there is still tremendous comfort here for believers. The same sovereign God who directed every step of Christ’s earthly ministry is also directing our lives.
Scripture teaches this repeatedly. Proverbs says that a man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps. Jeremiah confesses that it is not in man to direct his own steps. Ephesians says that believers are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand.
That does not excuse sin or rebellion. God’s sovereignty never authorizes disobedience. But it does mean that the Christian can rest in this truth: your life is not random.
Many of us know what it is like to look back and realize that God was wise in withholding what we wanted and wise in giving what we would never have chosen. Sometimes His providence becomes clearer over time. Other times it remains mysterious. But in both situations, faith says the same thing: the Lord knows what He is doing.
This is why the resurrection strengthens us so much. If the Father directed every step of Christ’s suffering all the way to the empty tomb, then we can trust Him with our own confusing paths as well.
Remembering the Lord’s words strengthens faith
Luke 24:8 says, “And they remembered his words.” That simple statement marks a turning point. The women were standing at an empty tomb, grieving, confused, and overwhelmed. But when they remembered what Jesus had said, everything began to make sense.
They did not need a new revelation. They did not need a new experience. They did not need a dramatic emotional breakthrough. They needed to remember the words Christ had already spoken.
That is still true for us. When life is perplexing, we need to remember the Lord’s words. When suffering is heavy, we need to remember the Lord’s words. When God’s plan is difficult to understand, we need to remember the Lord’s words.
Our circumstances often confuse us. Our emotions can mislead us. Our fears can cloud our thinking. But God’s Word steadies us. Psalm 119:50 says, “This is my comfort in my affliction, that your promise gives me life.” The psalmist’s comfort did not come from affliction being removed. It came from God’s promise sustaining him in the middle of it.
How often do we struggle because we have forgotten what Christ has said?
We forget that He will never leave us nor forsake us.
We forget that He works all things together for good.
We forget that His grace is sufficient.
We forget that because He lives, we also will live.
When we forget His words, we become unstable. We fear, panic, doubt, and despair. But when we remember His words, faith is strengthened, and our vision clears.
Those who believe the good news should share the good news
After the women remembered Christ’s words, they did not keep the news to themselves. Luke says they returned from the tomb and told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. That is a fitting pattern for every believer. Those who believe the good news should share it.
Saving faith is personal, but it is never meant to be private. The resurrection is too glorious to hoard. If Christ is truly risen, then others need to hear that news.
We see this pattern throughout Scripture. Philip found Nathanael and told him he had found the One Moses and the prophets wrote about. Peter and John declared that they could not help but speak of what they had seen and heard. The gospel creates this kind of holy compulsion.
A famous line often attributed to D. T. Niles says that evangelism is one beggar telling another beggar where to find bread. That captures the spirit of Luke 24 well. The women found the empty tomb, remembered Christ’s words, and ran to tell others. That is what we should do too:
We should tell our children.
We should tell our friends.
We should tell our neighbors.
We should tell fellow sinners where forgiveness and life can be found.
If we believe Christ is risen, then we should want others to hear about the risen Savior.
The resurrection account bears the marks of truth
Luke names the women: Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them. He is grounding the resurrection in real history and real eyewitness testimony.
This is one of the many reasons Luke’s account is so compelling. It includes details that do not read like polished propaganda.
The apostles did not immediately believe. They thought the women’s report sounded like nonsense. If someone were inventing this account, he would probably portray the apostles as perceptive, confident, and full of faith from the beginning. But Luke tells the truth, even when it makes the apostles look slow and skeptical.
Likewise, women were the first human witnesses of the resurrection. In that culture, women’s testimony was often undervalued. If someone were fabricating a story to gain credibility in the eyes of society, he would not likely choose women as the first witnesses. But God did.
These details do not feel contrived. They feel true. The resurrection account does not read like a carefully engineered myth. It reads like history.
Marvel at the risen Christ
Finally, Peter ran to the tomb. He stooped, looked in, saw the linen cloths by themselves, and went home, marveling at what had happened. That is a fitting response for us as well.
Marvel that Jesus said He would rise, and He did.
Marvel that the grave could not hold Him.
Marvel that death had its moment, but not its victory.
Marvel that because Christ lives, all who trust in Him will live also.
The resurrection is not only a doctrine to defend. It is a glory to behold. It should fill our hearts with reverent wonder.
Conclusion
Luke 24:7–12 teaches us how to respond to the empty tomb. First, remember the Lord’s words. The women’s confusion began to lift when they remembered what Jesus had told them. The same is true for us. Christ’s words bring clarity, stability, and comfort.
Second, share the good news. The women returned from the tomb and told others. If we believe Christ is risen, we should want others to know.
Third, marvel at the risen Christ. Peter went away amazed, and so should we. The tomb is empty. Christ is risen. Death has been defeated.
And for anyone who has never trusted in Christ, do not respond as the apostles did at first. Do not dismiss the truth as an idle tale. Repent of your sins. Believe in the risen Savior. Come to the One who was delivered, crucified, and raised on the third day, just as He said.
Because the tomb is empty. Christ is risen. And that truth demands a response from every one of us.
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By Scott LaPierre
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Responding to the resurrection is not merely about celebrating Easter once a year. It is about how we interpret the empty tomb, how we respond to Christ’s promises, and how we live in light of Jesus' resurrection. In Luke 24:7–12, we see that the resurrection calls for more than admiration. It calls for remembrance, faith, witness, and wonder.
One of the great comforts in the Christian life is knowing that our faith does not rest on vague feelings, religious sentiment, or wishful thinking. It rests on what God has said and done in history. That is especially important when we come to the resurrection. Jesus did not merely rise unexpectedly after a tragic death. He rose exactly as He said He would.
https://youtu.be/BLwpyG_dTlg
Table of contentsJesus followed the Father’s divine planGod is directing our steps, tooRemembering the Lord’s words strengthens faithThose who believe the good news should share the good newsThe resurrection account bears the marks of truthMarvel at the risen ChristConclusion
Jesus followed the Father’s divine plan
Before the women remembered Christ’s words, the angels reminded them of something crucial:
The Son of Man must be delivered.
He must be crucified.
He must rise on the third day.
That word must matters. Throughout Luke’s Gospel, Jesus repeatedly described His life and ministry in terms of divine necessity. He was not being swept along by events outside His control. He was carrying out the Father’s sovereign plan.
From His youth, Jesus said He must be in His Father’s house. In His ministry, He said He must preach the kingdom to other towns. As He looked ahead to the cross, He said the Son of Man must suffer, be rejected, be killed, and be raised. Even His meeting with Zacchaeus was described as something He must do.
When we come to Luke 24, that same pattern continues. The crucifixion was not a derailment. The resurrection was not a recovery. Everything took place according to God’s perfect will.
This should encourage us deeply. Christ’s death was not a defeat. It was the accomplishment of redemption. And Christ’s resurrection was not an emergency reversal. It was the triumphant fulfillment of God’s saving purpose.
God is directing our steps, too
Of course, Jesus is unique. He is the eternal Son of God in the flesh. His life, death, and resurrection stand alone in redemptive history. None of us can compare ourselves to Him in that sense.
But there is still tremendous comfort here for believers. The same sovereign God who directed every step of Christ’s earthly ministry is also directing our lives.
Scripture teaches this repeatedly. Proverbs says that a man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps. Jeremiah confesses that it is not in man to direct his own steps. Ephesians says that believers are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand.
That does not excuse sin or rebellion. God’s sovereignty never authorizes disobedience. But it does mean that the Christian can rest in this truth: your life is not random.
Many of us know what it is like to look back and realize that God was wise in withholding what we wanted and wise in giving what we would never have chosen. Sometimes His providence becomes clearer over time. Other times it remains mysterious. But in both situations, faith says the same thing: the Lord knows what He is doing.
This is why the resurrection strengthens us so much. If the Father directed every step of Christ’s suffering all the way to the empty tomb, then we can trust Him with our own confusing paths as well.
Remembering the Lord’s words strengthens faith
Luke 24:8 says, “And they remembered his words.” That simple statement marks a turning point. The women were standing at an empty tomb, grieving, confused, and overwhelmed. But when they remembered what Jesus had said, everything began to make sense.
They did not need a new revelation. They did not need a new experience. They did not need a dramatic emotional breakthrough. They needed to remember the words Christ had already spoken.
That is still true for us. When life is perplexing, we need to remember the Lord’s words. When suffering is heavy, we need to remember the Lord’s words. When God’s plan is difficult to understand, we need to remember the Lord’s words.
Our circumstances often confuse us. Our emotions can mislead us. Our fears can cloud our thinking. But God’s Word steadies us. Psalm 119:50 says, “This is my comfort in my affliction, that your promise gives me life.” The psalmist’s comfort did not come from affliction being removed. It came from God’s promise sustaining him in the middle of it.
How often do we struggle because we have forgotten what Christ has said?
We forget that He will never leave us nor forsake us.
We forget that He works all things together for good.
We forget that His grace is sufficient.
We forget that because He lives, we also will live.
When we forget His words, we become unstable. We fear, panic, doubt, and despair. But when we remember His words, faith is strengthened, and our vision clears.
Those who believe the good news should share the good news
After the women remembered Christ’s words, they did not keep the news to themselves. Luke says they returned from the tomb and told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. That is a fitting pattern for every believer. Those who believe the good news should share it.
Saving faith is personal, but it is never meant to be private. The resurrection is too glorious to hoard. If Christ is truly risen, then others need to hear that news.
We see this pattern throughout Scripture. Philip found Nathanael and told him he had found the One Moses and the prophets wrote about. Peter and John declared that they could not help but speak of what they had seen and heard. The gospel creates this kind of holy compulsion.
A famous line often attributed to D. T. Niles says that evangelism is one beggar telling another beggar where to find bread. That captures the spirit of Luke 24 well. The women found the empty tomb, remembered Christ’s words, and ran to tell others. That is what we should do too:
We should tell our children.
We should tell our friends.
We should tell our neighbors.
We should tell fellow sinners where forgiveness and life can be found.
If we believe Christ is risen, then we should want others to hear about the risen Savior.
The resurrection account bears the marks of truth
Luke names the women: Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them. He is grounding the resurrection in real history and real eyewitness testimony.
This is one of the many reasons Luke’s account is so compelling. It includes details that do not read like polished propaganda.
The apostles did not immediately believe. They thought the women’s report sounded like nonsense. If someone were inventing this account, he would probably portray the apostles as perceptive, confident, and full of faith from the beginning. But Luke tells the truth, even when it makes the apostles look slow and skeptical.
Likewise, women were the first human witnesses of the resurrection. In that culture, women’s testimony was often undervalued. If someone were fabricating a story to gain credibility in the eyes of society, he would not likely choose women as the first witnesses. But God did.
These details do not feel contrived. They feel true. The resurrection account does not read like a carefully engineered myth. It reads like history.
Marvel at the risen Christ
Finally, Peter ran to the tomb. He stooped, looked in, saw the linen cloths by themselves, and went home, marveling at what had happened. That is a fitting response for us as well.
Marvel that Jesus said He would rise, and He did.
Marvel that the grave could not hold Him.
Marvel that death had its moment, but not its victory.
Marvel that because Christ lives, all who trust in Him will live also.
The resurrection is not only a doctrine to defend. It is a glory to behold. It should fill our hearts with reverent wonder.
Conclusion
Luke 24:7–12 teaches us how to respond to the empty tomb. First, remember the Lord’s words. The women’s confusion began to lift when they remembered what Jesus had told them. The same is true for us. Christ’s words bring clarity, stability, and comfort.
Second, share the good news. The women returned from the tomb and told others. If we believe Christ is risen, we should want others to know.
Third, marvel at the risen Christ. Peter went away amazed, and so should we. The tomb is empty. Christ is risen. Death has been defeated.
And for anyone who has never trusted in Christ, do not respond as the apostles did at first. Do not dismiss the truth as an idle tale. Repent of your sins. Believe in the risen Savior. Come to the One who was delivered, crucified, and raised on the third day, just as He said.
Because the tomb is empty. Christ is risen. And that truth demands a response from every one of us.