You never thought we'd make it here, did you? If you wonder what I mean by that, the 24th chapter is the last chapter of Luke. Finishing a series we started about 105 or six weeks ago. And so, we're coming to the end. Now, we've not been in Luke every single Sunday morning, but many of them we have. In fact, this is the 72nd message that we have looked at in the Gospel according to Luke. And so, 24 chapters. By the time we're done, we'll have 73, 74 messages or so. you'll have had a good exposition of the gospel according to Luke. So next month, we'll have a test. No, I'm just kidding. We won't do that. Luke chapter 24, though, this morning, you know what the 24th chapter of Luke consists of, don't you? Last week, we saw Jesus on the cross. this week, though it's not Easter Sunday, we visit the tomb. And that's okay, isn't it? We don't have to wait till Easter Sunday to visit the tomb. We gather every Sunday because of the resurrection. And so we'll look to this text of scripture this morning. Paul penned these essential words to the church at Colossae. recorded in Colossians 3 verse 16. He said, Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. Notice that first phrase with me again, let the word of Christ dwell in you richly. I hope you would agree that the word of Christ represents a vital resource for every believer. It has the power to save and transform. And we see this power on full display in the resurrection account of Luke's gospel in chapter 24. And as we revisit the scene of the tomb and reflect on the story of the resurrection, I want to draw your attention specifically to verses six through eight of Luke 24. Follow along in your Bibles where we read these words. He is not here, but is risen. Remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, saying, The son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and the third day rise again. Would you read verse eight aloud with me? And they remembered his words. And they remembered his words. In this brief but powerful passage, we encounter a command to remember what he said, a declaration of what he said, and their response to the command and the declaration. Each of these components dealt with his words. And the Bible just simply says in verse number eight, what was their response to the command to remember what he said and the declaration of what he said? They remembered. This simple act of remembrance represents a pivotal moment in the biblical narrative. Think, if you would, for just a minute. Now, if you find out in context who is it that's being addressed in verses 6 and 7, who is it that remembered his words according to verse number 8? It's the women who were at the tomb. You remember the women who came to the tomb early the morning of the resurrection, don't you? They came to enter the tomb and anoint his body with some of the traditional spices as a way of honoring him. And as they're making their way to the tomb, what is their conversation about? What do you suppose the mood was as they made their way to the tomb? They're conversing about How are we going to roll the stone away? We know that. But I imagine their conversation went beyond that, don't you? They probably continued talking about the experience of the last few days. This one that many of them had committed their lives to, believing Him to be the Messiah the Old Testament promised to them, They were not hiding for fear like the male disciples were, but certainly fear, regret in some sense, questions about how did they miss something, questions about what would now happen. Perhaps all of this was in their conversation as they made the way to the tomb. Perhaps even in them some sense of fear, confusion, grief. Where were the other disciples, the male disciples? They're in an upper room. They're hiding out for fear that the religious leaders will target them next to really stamp out this movement. What are they feeling? They're scared. They're grieving. They too are questioning. They're confused. They're agitated. They've too committed their whole lives. Some of them, all of them in some sense, leaving behind even their vocation, leaving behind the way that they supported themselves and their families, leaving the nets and the ships behind, leaving the tax booth behind to go and follow this one and now he's dead and buried. What's going to happen next? But then, everything changed. What transformed their sorrow, confusion, and fear into joy, clarity, and courage? It wasn't just the tomb or even the angel's presence that ultimately changed them. It was this, they remembered his words. What about you? This Sunday, do you need some transformation? Perhaps you came today with your best Sunday clothes and your brightest smiles, but inside, life feels chaotic. Maybe like the disciples and the women were that Sunday, you are grappling with brokenness, frustration, grief, anxiety. hurt, pain, or something along those lines. If so, I invite you to take a journey with me through Luke 24, one through 12, and explore three life-changing truths revealed when they remembered his words. Would you notice number one, Remembering the words of Jesus turns confusion into clarity. Remembering the words of Jesus turns confusion into clarity. Look at verse number four of our text, if you would. The Bible says, and it came to pass as they were what? As they were what? Say it. Much what? perplexed. They were much perplexed thereabout. Behold, two men stood by them in shining garments." Now, in context, we understand what exactly it's talking about when it says that they were perplexed. They were talking about, how are we going to roll the stone away? And then as they continued walking and they approached the tomb, what did they find? The stone was already rolled away. The mouth to the tomb lay open and inaccessible for them to enter the tomb and they are confused. But wouldn't you agree with me that the confusion at how the stone is already rolled away is only a revelation? of the larger confusion that they've experienced over the last few days. This isn't the only time during that week they've been perplexed, that they've wondered, what is going on? What is God's plan in all of this? So picture that scene. They arrive, the stones moved, not only that, the body is gone. And in a moment, their emotions shift from shock to, again, this demonstration of utter confusion. When the text says that they were much perplexed, the original Greek conveys the idea of being completely bewildered, at a loss for answers. Think about the questions they may have been asking in that very moment. Why is the tomb open? Where is Jesus' body? Who did this? And those questions are only added to all of the confusion and the questions that their hearts have been asking for the last few days. I wonder if that type of a situation sounds familiar to you. Have you faced an experience or a situation that left you bewildered? times when you saw a problem, or what you perceived to be a problem in your life, and you just couldn't make sense of God's plan. Isn't that exactly what the disciples, the women, the disciples, all of them are experiencing right now? This was not what they expected. When they showed up in Jerusalem the week before and people are crying out, Hosanna! Hosanna! He who comes in the name of the Lord, the Son of David is here. What did they expect? They expect Rome would be crushed, that Jesus would set up His kingdom. He would sit on the throne and reign and rule forever. That's what they expected, and within four or five days, he's arrested, he's tried, he's sentenced to death, and he's killed. And nothing stopped it. They did not think that was God's plan. So they're trying to make sense of it all. Have you ever been there? God, this isn't how I expected this would go. God, I know these things are going on in my life and I have no idea what you're doing. I have no idea how you're working. I have no understanding of how this and that and all these experience fit into the story of my life now. God, I don't see how you're gonna bring this for good or your glory. You may be enduring pain, uncertainty, loss, asking, where is God in all of this? And the answer lies in the same truth the women discovered. Remember his words Jesus had told them again and again and again That he would die and rise again, but they didn't understand it But when they finally remembered As they were prompted by the angels to remember his words, their confusion gave way to clarity. This is exactly what he said. The empty tomb wasn't a mystery anymore. Rather, it was proof that he was alive. And friends, in case you've forgotten, The tomb is still empty and he is still alive. And just as our Savior is living, alive, and active, so the Bible tells us that his word is living, and active, and powerful. Whatever situation you're facing in your life that causes confusion this Sunday, Remember his words. Jesus' resurrection is proof that God's not dead. He's not detached. He's not disconnected. He's working out his plan and purpose, even when you can't see it clearly. Let his promises bring clarity to your confusion. Number two, not only does remembering the words of Jesus turn confusion into clarity. Number two, remembering the words of Jesus turns consternation into cheer. Look, if you would, at verse number five. So they show up. They see these two men standing by the tomb in shining garments, and verse number five says this, and as they were, what? Afraid. They were afraid. the women's confusion quickly turned to fear. Again, we've already spoken of this, but this fear has been with them for several days. Just as the disciples were hiding out in an upper room for fear of the Jews, so these followers of Jesus, though they made their way to the tomb there that morning, there is a sense of fear. them that is natural to all of us. When things don't go as we expect, when the future becomes much more cloudy than we thought it might be, it is natural to experience some sort of fear. They saw these angels and it left them trembling, and who could blame them? They'd endured the devastating events of what we now call Good Friday. It was anything but to them. And now, this unexpected encounter only heightened their alarm. And the fear was not unique. All of Jesus' followers grappled with it. The past few days had shattered their expectations. The one they had followed was dead. And they asked the question, what will happen to us now? Remember another stormy event in Jesus' ministry. In Mark chapter six, the disciples were terrified when a storm raged on the Sea of Galilee. You remember the story, don't you? Jesus had stayed on the land to pray, had sent them into the boats to go to the other side. The storm came up and they were doing everything they can to avoid sinking. They were afraid. They didn't know what would happen. They didn't know how this would go forward. They feared for their lives. Jesus seeing from the land, knowing the situation they were in, came to them walking on the water and that just served to heighten their fear. It's a spirit, it's a ghost. shared with you before, that culturally, seeing a ghost or a spirit they believed meant death was imminent. So in seeing Jesus and believing him to be a ghost or a spirit, that only essentially assured them, we're about to die. Until Jesus spoke out to them, and what did he say? He said, be of good cheer, it is I. Be not afraid. Jesus' presence and the word that he spoke to them gave them all that they needed for their fear to be transformed into courage. Wouldn't you admit this morning that fear often comes when life doesn't meet your expectations? Health fails. Jobs are lost. Relationships crumble. And in those moments, you can become afraid. What's going to happen next? How is this situation going to end? And oftentimes, if you think about it in your life, when you start to have those thoughts, your mind naturally goes to the negative, doesn't it? It's only gonna be bad. It won't be good. In those moments, how can we find courage? The key remembering his words. Jesus promises, anchor us in life's storms. just as He showed up in the middle of that storm in Mark chapter 6 and told the disciples, be of good cheer, it is I, be not afraid. When the women showed up to the tomb that day, and these two men are there, the stone is rolled away, and these angels in these shining garments tell them, remember what He said to you. He told you, I go to Jerusalem, I'll be arrested. The religious leaders will try me. They'll turn me over to Rome. They'll kill me. But the third day I'll rise again. Remember, this is exactly what he said. And if you're unsure, come and see the place where the Lord lay. He's not here. He's risen, what? Just as he said. And He's still alive today. And His promises are still true. If Jesus isn't dead, then He's alive. And if He's alive, then He's present with you, right in the middle of your fear, your pain or disappointment. He says, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee, so that we may boldly say, the Lord is my helper. I shall not fear what man shall do unto me. The psalmist said it this way, I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills from whence comes my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth. Friends, if you're today, for one reason or another, in one situation or another in your life, overcome with consternation, with fear, with dread, with distress, with worry, anxiety, or the like, remember his words. that your consternation might be transformed to cheer, to joy. And then number three, if you will, notice this. Remembering the words of Jesus turns cynicism into confidence. Look at verse 11. Luke declares in chapter 24 verse 11, and their words, whose words by the way at this point? The women's, seemed to them, whose them? The disciples. And their words seemed to them as what? Idle tales and they believed them not. The women's testimony initially fell on skeptical ears. Can you imagine this? Peter, James, John, and the others, who were the ones that Jesus specifically told what would happen at Jerusalem. He could not have been any more clear. We're gonna go to Jerusalem, guys. I'm going to be arrested. I'm going to be killed. But on the third day, I'll rise again. He couldn't have been any more clear. And yet, when it all happened, they hid out. And then when the women come, after they had tried to go to the tomb to anoint the body and didn't find it, and they remembered his words and they believed, he rose and they go to the disciples. And by the way, on their way to see the disciples, Jesus showed up to them. And they made their way and they said, hey, he's alive. We went to the tomb, this is what happened. We saw him, don't you remember this is exactly what he said? And here's Peter, James, and John, and Matthew, and the others, and where did they go? Y'all are nuts. Ladies, you're crazy. They quickly, flippantly turned aside the testimony of these women who, by the way, they know, they've ministered for Jesus with. They have seen these women too commit their lives to Jesus. And ladies, you're dreaming. This is crazy talk. They didn't believe. Even after multiple appearances, some doubted. But then, Jesus himself showed up. And do you know what the Bible tells us Jesus did when he showed up that ultimately turned their cynicism into unwavering confidence? The Bible tells us very clearly that Jesus, beginning at the law and the prophets and the Psalms, spoke unto them the words concerning himself. What did Jesus use to turn their skepticism, their cynicism into confidence, into faith, into belief? What did he use? He used the Word of God. His Word. Consider Thomas for a moment. Jesus, the first time he appeared to the disciples, Thomas wasn't present. And they all tell him, hey, Jesus showed up and we've seen him. And what does Thomas do? He refuses to believe, don't we? Didn't he? He declared he wouldn't believe unless he saw Jesus himself. And so what happened? Jesus showed up again while Thomas was present with them. He says, Thomas, come. Put your hand to the wound in my hand, to the wound in my side. And Thomas, without needing to do so, exclaimed, my Lord and my God. He then too demonstrated his belief. And listen to how Jesus responded to Thomas. Do you remember his statement after that? The Bible tells us Jesus responded and said this, blessed are they that have not seen and yet have believed. Blessed are they that have not seen and yet believed. Let me ask you a question. How could someone not see and yet believe? How could someone in that day who had not seen the risen Lord believe? How could someone today, like you and me, have not seen the risen Lord and yet believe? Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God. In John 17, in his high priestly prayer, before Jesus went to the cross, before he was crucified, before he was resurrected again, he prayed for his disciples. And there's an interesting statement within that prayer. As he prayed for his disciples, he said, I pray not only for these that you have given me, but for all those who will believe through their word. The testimony that they would share of Jesus crucified for sin, buried and risen the third day. And when we talk about that word, their word, this word, whose word are we talking about? God's, Jesus. And yet, there are times when you and I, if we're on a struggle with doubt, doubt in some form or another in God, it may not be that you question, is God even actually real? Is Jesus in this salvation message actually true? But perhaps there are times that question even comes to mind. Certainly, we can doubt God in other ways, can't we? If you struggle with doubt, remember this. The resurrection of Jesus validates every promise he ever made. Think about it. The resurrection of Jesus validates every promise he ever made. If this one who said, destroy this temple, speaking of the temple of his body, and in three days I will rebuild it, I'll come back to life. If the one that the Bible says was resurrected from the grave by his own power, If this is true, and if you believe it, then which of his promises could you and I find reason to doubt? The reality that the tomb is still empty, that Jesus is alive today, that he did exactly what he said he would do, die for my sins, and get up and walk out of the tomb, tells me that every promise he has made to me is true. And I can trust it. I can believe it. I can trust him. Whether you're battling unbelief or longing for assurance, His word is the key to confidence. Trust Him. He is alive, and His promises are true. This Sunday, we stand in the shadow of a resurrected tomb. It is the reason why we gather on Sunday. Because we have a Savior who walked out of the grave the first morning of the week and he's alive today. And it's a reminder that the resurrection changes everything. But the question is, will it change you? What confusion, fear, or doubt did you bring you today? Is your heart weighed down by life's uncertainties? Are you wrestling with fear of the unknown? Perhaps you're struggling to believe God's promises amidst pain and disappointment. Whatever you're carrying, The same words that transformed those early disciples can transform you. Remember His words. And when you do, confusion gives way to clarity. Consternation, fear turns into cheer to joy. Cynicism, that doubt, is replaced with unshakable confidence. Why? Because Jesus, who walked out of the tomb, is alive today. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He's not distant. He's not silent. He's present. And his promises are true. Imagine this, what would your life look like if you truly believed his words? How would your faith grow? What risks would you take for his kingdom? How would your relationships, your work, or your hope for the future be transformed? Let's not leave here today unchanged. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, not as an afterthought or a Sunday habit, but a vibrant life-giving force that shapes every moment. Open your heart to him. Surrender your confusion, fear, and doubt at the foot of the cross and walk in the power of his resurrection. And as you go, Don't keep the life-changing message to yourself. Share the hope of the resurrection with those around you, family, friends, neighbors, co-workers. The world is desperate for good news. And we have the greatest news of all. He is risen. So let's boldly proclaim it. He is risen indeed. Let the resurrection power of Jesus fill your heart with clarity, joy, and confidence. Go out with grace in your heart singing to the Lord because he lives and that changes everything. Would you bow your heads and close your eyes with me this morning? With heads bowed and eyes closed here in the auditorium and for those who are watching or listening by way of the internet stream, I have no doubt that God is speaking to hearts. How is he speaking to yours today? Believer in Jesus Christ. In honesty and transparency, we would all have to admit that there are times when life leaves us confused, afraid, and doubting. But we truly stand in the shadow of an empty tomb. And the reality that he arose and is alive today validates every promise he's made to you and me. How has remembering his word convicted and challenged your heart today? Perhaps you're here and you've been overwhelmed with one of these confusion, fear, doubt. And God has spoken to your heart. He's encouraged you today about that. Maybe today you need to find a place at this altar just there in your seat to speak to the Lord about it. to commit to focusing your attention on his word and his promises to you. And then perhaps, here in the auditorium or watching by way of the internet stream, there is someone who this message, which we call the gospel, is new to you. Or maybe you've heard it many times before, but you've not believed it. There's never been a time in your life where you recognize that you're a sinner condemned in the sight of a holy God. But that He gave His Son, Jesus, to die for you. To take the punishment for your sins upon and in Himself. That that's what the cross was all about. Him giving His life for you. He did that in love. And then three days later, he rose from the grave by the power of himself to offer you new and eternal life with him. Forgiveness of sin, something you could not get apart from him. Friend, if you don't know, Jesus is your Savior. Today, I invite you to cry out in your heart, Tim, In simple words like this, Father, God, I thank you that you loved me so much that you gave your son Jesus to die for me. Right now in faith, I believe that he gave himself for me. that he was buried and rose again the third day that I might have new life. Please forgive my sin. Save me and give me new life in Christ. Friend, if you will pray a prayer like that in faith, God will save you and make you his child.