Luke 24:6Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The angels not only admonished them but also brought them to shame.

and they reminded the women of the words spoken by the Lord, specifically that it was essential, meaning essential, for Him to be 'delivered into the hands of sinful men', referring to Romans, Gentiles, and those who are unholy, 'and on the third day rise again'. The significance of the resurrection occurring on the third day has been adequately addressed in our explanation of Matthew.

This moment marked the demise of death itself, as He triumphed over the grave to pave the path for our return to immortality. Therefore, no one should search for Him among those who dwell in death; He is not present among the perishable nor in the tomb. So where can He be found? He exists in heaven, in the radiant realms above, and in divine splendor.

All that we hear from the Holy Scriptures for our spiritual growth and salvation should be received with careful consideration. However, what is most crucial to remember is what holds strength in the battle against heretics, whose cunning never stops targeting the vulnerable and the shallow-minded. Keep in mind that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ gave His life for us and triumphed over death; He sacrificed Himself for our transgressions and rose again to secure our justification.

It is morning, and Peter remains unaware, just like John. The final segment of the interpretation focuses on the appearance of the risen Lord, as referenced in Luke 24:13-49, Matthew 28, and John 20. Would the Lord allow His disciples to endure suffering for so long due to His death? He promptly dispatched an angel and sent the women to proclaim the joyous news (see Matthew 28:2-7; Mark 16:5-7; Luke 24:4-9). For your assurance that the resurrection took place during the night, some women were unaware, while others were informed. Those who remained steadfast in prayer and devotion knew the truth, while those who left did not. One Mary Magdalene was in the dark according to John, while another Mary Magdalene had knowledge according to Matthew.

This also ties into what has been previously mentioned, where it is stated: “Behold, I have said unto you.”

It is essential to recall the understanding of the angels, who recognized that the Son of God took on the nature of the Son of Man in order to enable us to become children of God. He was handed over to sinners to free us from the fellowship of the wicked and from the dominion of malevolent spirits. He who endured crucifixion rose again to inspire us to endure suffering for His sake and to provide us with the hope of resurrection and eternal life with Him.

The resurrection of Jesus Christ serves as the cornerstone of the evidence supporting His divine nature and the truth of His mission from God the Father for humanity's redemption. Divine Providence has deemed it fitting that this significant event be accompanied by all manner of signs that can convincingly affirm its authenticity for every honest seeker striving for understanding, to ease their uncertainties, or to acknowledge their missteps. The holy women are to be commended as the first to acknowledge this monumental event, which established a new covenant, empowered by the victory of the God-man, who triumphed over death and became the Savior of the world. The Apostle Paul reminds the Corinthians, “If Christ is not risen, then our preaching is vain, and your faith is also vain.

While Mary was informing the apostles and they were hurrying to the tomb, the other women who brought spices reached the burial site first. Upon entering the cave, they found no trace of the body of Jesus but were greeted by an angel. This radiant angel conveyed to them with clarity and certainty that Jesus had risen from the dead, just as He had prophesied prior to His crucifixion in Galilee. This moment marks the third, or perhaps more accurately, the first clear announcement of the Lord's resurrection. The Women of the Tomb required no additional proof; the angel’s appearance was so profound that they could not question the truth of his message. Following the angel's direction, they rushed to deliver this news to the apostles. However, overwhelmed with fear, they chose not to speak to those they encountered along the way, despite the message being meant for them (Mk. 16:8).

The women at the tomb were overwhelmed with fear when two men appeared to them and asked, "Why do you look for the Living One among the dead? He is not here; He has risen" (Luke 24:5-6). They were invited to see the place where the Lord had been laid. Upon entering the tomb, the women encountered a young man dressed in white, who was seated on the right side. He reassured them, saying, "Do not be afraid. You are seeking Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; He is not here. This is the place where He was buried" (Mark 16:6). The angel reminded them of Jesus’ words during His time in Galilee, conveying that the Son of Man must suffer at the hands of sinners, be crucified, and rise on the third day. The women remembered His teachings (Luke 24:6-8).

They were instructed to hurriedly inform the disciples that Jesus had risen from the dead and would go before them to Galilee, where they would see Him. The first three Gospel writers agree on the angel's message, although they differ slightly regarding the number of angels and their location. Matthew and Mark mention one angel, referred to as a young man by Mark and an angel by Matthew, whereas Luke notes that two men appeared to the women. The diverse descriptions of the figures are not crucial; angels, being spiritual beings, take on forms when visible to humans. The radiance of their appearance likely caused the women to bow in reverence (Luke 24:5). The phenomenon may have led some women to perceive one angel as a young man or husband, while others might have seen two. Ultimately, the critical point for the Evangelists is the one who spoke and conveyed the essential truth: the resurrection of Jesus. Whether there were one or two angels present does not diminish the significance of the angelic proclamation or the empty tomb.

Regarding the location of the conversation, Luke does not specify if the angel spoke inside the tomb or outside. Mark asserts that the speaking angel was within the cave. Although Matthew notes that an angel rolled the stone away and sat on it (Matt. 28:2), the precise spot of the dialogue is unclear. One might conjecture that the invitation "Come, see the place where the Lord lay" suggests that the angel addressed the women from outside, possibly while seated on the stone. However, since the stone was removed prior to the women arriving, it is plausible that the soldiers witnessed the shining angel as they trembled in fear (Matt. 28:4). It's also conceivable that an angel greeted the women outside the tomb, revealing that Christ had risen, and then invited them to enter to witness the empty tomb themselves. Upon entering the tomb, they saw (as Mark depicts) a young man positioned on the right and heard him speak, possibly marking the same angel's continued presence but described differently by Luke as two men. Regardless of these narrative variations, the Evangelists focused on declaring the stone being rolled away, the tomb's emptiness, and the angel's revelation, deeming the number of angels and their position inconsequential in the broader message that Christ had indeed risen.

Those skeptical of Jesus Christ as the God-Man have attempted to discredit the accounts of His resurrection, knowing that undermining belief in the resurrection would jeopardize faith in Him as the Christ. Yet, all such efforts have proven futile. The truth of Christ's resurrection stands firm, and the arguments against it have been thoroughly dismantled.

One major objection suggests that Christ did not die on the cross but fell into a state akin to death and was buried alive. This assertion is refuted through medical insights. As articulated by Professor A. Shiltov in his work "Thoughts on the God-Man," the severe scourging, physical torment, and ultimate crucifixion would have led to fatal conditions such as pulmonary edema, evidenced by the flow of blood and water from Jesus’ side; the wounds in His hands and feet; and the spear piercing of His lung, indicating that survival under such circumstances was impossible. Even if one imagined Jesus merely fainting, the thrust of the lance would have certainly caused instant death due to His prior state of exhaustion and bleeding.

If Jesus had not truly died while on the cross and was not resurrected, He could only be viewed as an ordinary man. Professor Shiltov further explains that a person with such grave wounds could not walk as Christ did shortly after His resurrection. Yet, on the third day, Jesus made the journey from Jerusalem to Emmaus and returned to Jerusalem within the same day, covering a distance requiring substantial mobility, impossible unless one possessed a glorified body.

Moreover, if we accept the premise that Jesus did not die, it would follow that He also deceived His followers by leading them to believe in His resurrection, effectively rendering Him a deceiver—something few would dare assert, except those entrenched in denial. Even non-believers often acknowledge His moral perfection.

The assertion that Jesus did not actually die is so untenable that even D. Strauss, a critic, admitted, "He who came out of the tomb half dead... could not have instilled in His followers the impression of being a victor over death." Such an image would have diminished their reverence and turned their mourning into mere sorrow. Thus, it is evident Jesus did indeed die. Strauss recognized that the early apostles could only become effective heralds of the Gospel through genuine belief in His resurrection, a belief not born from delusion but from a true encounter with Christ.

Concerning experiences of visions, Professor Shiltov notes that the psychology of the disciples, having lost their Master, could not accommodate the notion of apparition. In dire emotional states, hallucinations are exceedingly unlikely due to the required sensitivity of the nervous system. Moreover, it is rare for multiple individuals to experience the same vision simultaneously.

Regarding so-called "doubles," Strauss himself acknowledged that such appearances could only happen in the presence of the actual person being mimicked; thus, if the apostles perceived Christ's double, they must accept His physical presence during the vision. Likewise, in discussing telepathy, instances of such phenomena occur amidst crises, where the ghost is only visible to a loved one, remaining unseen by others.

According to Professor Shiltov, science does not allow for the possibility of Jesus' ghost appearing to the apostles. Furthermore, the characteristics of a ghost are fundamentally different; Christ, however, presented Himself to the disciples, showing them His hands, feet, and side (which they touched), spoke to them, and even dined with them, emphasizing that He was not a spirit but the resurrected Lord.

The clarity of these points seems obvious, making further proofs of His resurrection seem redundant. Nonetheless, since Strauss insists on the erroneous notion that the apostles mistook a ghostly vision for Christ's true appearance, it necessitates a thorough exploration to counter such disbelief. The apostles perceived Jesus as the long-awaited Messiah, envisioned as an earthly conqueror, thus struggling to grasp His predictions about suffering and death, often interpreting His words metaphorically.

When Christ told them after His transfiguration not to reveal what they had seen until after His resurrection, they questioned what it meant to rise from the dead (Mark 9:9-10). Their earlier knowledge of Jesus’ miracles did not suffice, as their confusion stemmed from the troubling thought that their Messiah could die. Throughout His ministry, even when explaining His impending fate, the true understanding remained hidden from them (Luke 18:34).

The impossibility of the Messiah dying was deeply ingrained in their beliefs, resulting in Peter rebuking Jesus for discussing His impending suffering (Matt. 16:22) and the disciples failing to grasp the gravity of the moment when Jesus was arrested. In their effort to protect Him, they sought to defend His honor when, in truth, they could not reconcile their understanding of the Messiah with His path of suffering.

After Christ's crucifixion, the apostles, burdened with despair, withdrew into isolation, consumed by fear and helplessness rather than expectation of resurrection. Mary Magdalene's report of the empty tomb and loss of Jesus' body prompted Peter and John to investigate, yet they returned bewildered, having “not yet known” the Scriptures affirming His resurrection (John 20:2, 9, 10).

When Mary encountered the risen Christ and informed the apostles, her testimony initially did not move them (Mark 16:10-11). Other women who witnessed the resurrection were also met with skepticism. For instance, Cleopas and his companion, traveling to Emmaus, expressed profound disappointment, lamenting, “But we had hoped that He was the One to redeem Israel” (Luke 24:21), illustrating their shattered expectations.

The apostles effectively doubted the resurrection despite hearing accounts of angelic appearances and testimonies of Christ being alive, showcasing their disbelief as deeply rooted and complex. The fear and confusion they felt were tangible, indicating a significant moment of doubt and skepticism.

Despite the disorder in their hopes, when the risen Christ ultimately appeared to them, the evidence of His resurrection began to dismantle their doubts. As each encounter unfolded, it compelled them to reassess their understanding of the Messiah as they experienced the reality of His risen form.

On the evening of resurrection day, Jesus stood among His followers, assuring them of peace and inviting them to verify His physical presence through touch (Luke 24:36-40). Their initial confusion transformed as they recognized Him, yet even then, they struggled to accept the reality of His resurrection. When Thomas, absent at the first appearance, demanded proof of Christ’s wounds to believe, he was subsequently met with direct evidence of the risen Savior's identity.

With these encounters, the apostles' skepticism gradually gave way to firm assurance. This transformation from doubt to belief further accentuates the essence of His resurrection. They came to understand that the physical evidence of His resurrection was critical—not just to bolster their faith, but to confirm His divine nature.

It is vital to acknowledge that the apostles' resistance illustrates a passage through doubt to unwavering belief, unfurling into an empowered mission following the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost. This profound experience annihilated their past uncertainties, opening their eyes to comprehensive truths they had previously failed to understand.

This power of the Holy Spirit illuminated the teachings of Jesus, unlocking the mysteries they had been unable to grasp during their time with Him. The Scriptures became comprehensible as the false notions of a worldly Messiah faded, replaced by the enduring truth of Christ’s divinity.

Faced with the rapid acceptance of the resurrection among their witnesses, the apostles moved from fear to fearless proclamation. Each miracle they performed and each sermon they preached further established the reality of Christ risen, drawing thousands to faith amidst their earlier fears.

The apostles themselves proclaimed that they were transformed not by their efforts but through the power of the Holy Spirit (John 14:26; 16:12-13). Thus, the truth of the resurrection stands unshaken, inviting all to understand the implications of Christ's victory over death.

Skeptics may question why Christ did not directly present Himself to His executioners. Yet, it is essential to recognize that even those closest to Him struggled with belief. The transformative moment of the Holy Spirit empowered the apostles to stand firm in a faith derived not from mere personal conviction but from tangible experiences surrounding the resurrection.

With a sense of apprehension, they neared the tomb, but abruptly, beams of light emanated from within, and two radiant, jubilant young men appeared before them. The women barely regained their composure from the shock when one of these celestial messengers exclaimed, “Do not be afraid! Are you seeking Jesus of Nazareth? Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is risen! He is not here! Come and see the place where He was laid.” The women listened to this joyful proclamation from the angelic figure, yet in their overwhelming elation, they struggled to comprehend the message. In a state of bewilderment, they stood by the tomb.

Recall the words He shared with you: refer to the commentary on Luke 9:22, 18, and parallels. In the accounts provided by Matthew and Mark, the angel reminds the women of the Lord's assurance that He would meet the disciples in Galilee following His resurrection. Luke, aiming to confirm the reality of Christ's resurrection, emphasizes Christ's own foretelling of this significant occurrence during His time in Galilee. Each aspect complements the others, and the Evangelists do not contradict one another.