Luke 24:1-12
An Empty Tomb
Read the passage
1On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women came to the tomb, bringing the spices they had prepared.
2They found the stone rolled away from the tomb,
3but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.
4While they were puzzling over this, suddenly two men in radiant apparel stood beside them.
5As the women bowed their faces to the ground in terror, the two men asked them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead?
6He is not here; He has risen! Remember how He told you while He was still in Galilee:
7‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again.’”
8Then they remembered His words.
9And when they returned from the tomb, they reported all these things to the Eleven and to all the others.
10It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them who told this to the apostles.
11But their words seemed like nonsense to them, and they did not believe the women.
12Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. And after bending down and seeing only the linen cloths, he went away, wondering to himself what had happened.
Berean Standard Bible
Read aloud
On the first day of the week, at early dawn, the women go to the tomb carrying the spices they have prepared. They find the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they enter, they do not find Jesus' body.
While they are perplexed, two men in dazzling clothes stand by them. The women are frightened and bow their faces to the ground. The men ask why they seek the living among the dead and announce, “He is not here; He has risen!”
They remind the women that Jesus told them in Galilee that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified, and rise on the third day. The women remember His words and return from the tomb.
They tell the eleven and all the rest, but their words seem like an idle tale, and the apostles do not believe them. Peter runs to the tomb, sees the linen cloths by themselves, and goes away wondering what has happened.
The women came prepared to care for a dead body. The messengers send them back to a promise: Jesus had said that he would rise. His absence from the tomb is explained by his own words and the announcement that he is alive. The crucifixion has not defeated him, and the people who loved him now have news to tell.
How We Know
The messengers tell the women to remember what Jesus said. Luke 9:22 and 18:31–33 record his predictions of rejection, death, and resurrection on the third day. Reading those earlier words alongside the tomb account shows exactly which promise the women are being called to remember.
Questions
1 When do the women go to the tomb?
AnswerThey go at early dawn on the first day of the week, carrying the spices they have prepared.
2 What do they find?
AnswerThe stone is rolled away, but Jesus' body is not in the tomb. They are perplexed before the heavenly messengers speak.
3 What do the messengers remind them of?
AnswerThey remind the women that Jesus said He would be crucified and rise on the third day.
4 How do the apostles respond?
AnswerThey consider the women's report an idle tale and do not believe it. Peter runs to the tomb, sees the linen cloths, and goes away wondering what has happened.
What This Means for Us
The first witnesses are women carrying burial spices, not people expecting a resurrection. The apostles initially dismiss their report, and Peter leaves the tomb wondering. Jesus' promise has been fulfilled before they have fully understood it.
The empty tomb matters because Jesus is alive, not because an empty space by itself answers every question. Families can bring honest bewilderment to the resurrection and keep returning to Jesus' own words.
Prayer
Risen Lord Jesus, turn our confusion toward wonder and faith. Make our household attentive to Your words, honest about doubt, and ready to tell the good news that death could not hold You. Amen.