Thank you for listening to Servants for Christ. And all that we do and all that we say, we want to give glory and honor to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Thank you for tuning us in as we get into the wonderful Word of God. For the next few minutes, let's take the beautiful Word of God and share it with each and every one of you as we have a sense of anticipation to take the Word of God and to listen to its truth for each and every one. I'm Darrell Bailey. Thank you for tuning us in as we continue on our series, The Journeys of Faith. The Journeys of Faith. Picture yourself stepping into a world where time and space begin to blur. where the journeys of ancient figures from the pages of scripture intertwine with our own lives in ways that we can barely comprehend. Much like a puzzle that's unfolding piece by piece, each journey is a story waiting to be decoded, a story where faith is both the key and the mystery. Welcome to the Journeys of Faith series, where we travel not just through history, but through the layers of God's timeless promises, unravelings, the threads of trust, endurance, and divine guidance. In this series, we walk alongside of some of the most remarkable characters in the Bible, each on a journey that feels both foreign and familiar. And from the heights of the victory to the crushing valleys of despair, their faith flickers and falters and flourishes. Every twist in their path mirrors the unpredictable turns in our own lives. And so, as we look and realize that we've been talking about, first of all, in our first series, Noah, a path of obedience and grace in Genesis chapter 6. We talked about Abraham called to testing and sacrifice in Genesis chapter 22. We thirdly, the series was Jochebed, trusting in God's plan and provisions in Exodus chapter one and Exodus chapter two. We talked about Joseph, trusting God's plan in Genesis chapter 37. We talked about Moses, lessons and patience and faith in Exodus chapter 31 and Exodus chapter 32. We talked about Joshua from faith to the promised land, Joshua chapter one. Gideon as well where we talked about discouragement to destiny in Judges chapter 6 the next character was rehab from shame to salvation in Joshua chapter 2 in 1st Samuel chapter 3 we talked about Hannah from desperation to divine purpose and our Next series was David the heart of a king the lessons of sin in our 11th series of 1st Samuel 18 and 2nd Samuel chapter 12 in our Well in our 10th series, excuse me. We talked about Samuel navigating the leading of God And then in our 12th series, we talked about Jesus, the journey to the cross in John chapter 17. And now we talk about the disciples insights from the tomb in this 13th series. we talk about the journey to the tomb. Here in our Journeys of Faith series, we reflect on the experience of the disciples at the empty tomb of Jesus, and it looks at the insights that's gained from their encounter and the significance of the resurrection, the discovery of the empty tomb in verses one, two, and three. that the women come to the tomb expecting to find Jesus' body but instead they encounter an empty grave symbolizing that God often surprises us beyond our expectations. The second thing that we saw was the message of the angels in verses 4 through 6 of Luke chapter 24. The angels remind the women of Jesus' promises of resurrection. underscoring the importance of remembering God's Word. And then we looked at the response of the disciples in verses 7 and 8, because the women returned to tell the disciples, reminding us to spread the news of Jesus' resurrection. You see, The empty tomb represents hope and transformation. And like the disciples, we must let the resurrection move us to faith and to action. And so, if you would, take your Bibles over to Luke chapter 24, and as we look at how Jesus died on the cross for his followers, all hope died with him. He was placed in a tomb and the tomb was sealed. The crucifixion was the ultimate of the shattered dreams. There would be no kingdom. There would be no king. And after days of mourning, Mary Madeleine, Mary the mother of Jesus and other ladies were making a journey to the tomb to pay their last respects to the one in whom they had placed all their hope. And when they arrived, oh man, the stone was rolled away. And two angels appeared to them, proclaiming the news that Jesus had risen. Bewildered, they ran to tell Jesus' disciples the wonderful news. And so, when we look at the events surrounding the burial and the resurrection of Jesus Christ, we're all reminded that we should seek to understand And as we claim the promises of God and practice the presence of Christ, we can turn sorrow into joy on our journeys of faith and transform us all in the process. And I'm glad that when we look at this, we're able to realize as we turn over to Luke chapter 24. We will read the word of God and have a prayer on it as we talk about disciples' insights from the tomb, the journey to the tomb. In verse one of Luke 24, now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulcher, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them. In verse two, and they found the stone rolled away from the sepulcher. And they entered in and found not the body of the Lord Jesus. And verse four, and it came to pass as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments. In verse five, and as they were afraid and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, why seek ye the living among the dead? In verse six, he is not here, but is risen. Remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee. In verse seven, saying, the son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified, and the third day rise again. In verse eight, and they remembered his words. In verse nine, and returned from the sepulcher and told all these things unto the eleven and to all the rest. In verse 10, it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and other women that were with him which told these things unto the apostles. In verse 11, and their words seemed to them as idle tales and they believed them not. In verse 12, lastly, "'Then arose Peter and ran into the sepulcher, "'and stooping down, he beheld the linen clothes "'laid by themselves and departed, "'wondering in himself at that which was come to pass.'" Let's pray. Father, we come before you with hearts full of gratitude as we read the mighty word of God of Luke chapter 24. We gather to reflect on the resurrection of your son, Jesus Christ, the powerful message that's revealed here in Luke chapter 24. And we ask for your Holy Spirit to guide our thoughts and illuminate our understanding. Just as the women approached the tomb expecting to find the body of our Lord, We too bring our doubts and fears, and yet we stand in the light of your promise that death has been defeated, hope has been restored. Help us to embrace this truth just as the early disciples did, and may this time of worship and reflection remind us that the resurrection is not just a historical event, but a present reality that transforms our lives. Teach us to walk in faith, emboldened by the hope of the empty tomb, as we share the message of salvation with a world in desperate need, the disciples' insights from the tomb. In Jesus' name we pray, amen. When we look at this, we're reminded how we see the journey of discovery because here the disciples when they begin to get the news of everything that is taking place a man I'm glad you know there's a museum in Houston Texas that's dedicated to the world of funerals and burial traditions and It's a large building. It's the size of an airplane hangar. And the purpose of this unconventional museum is to honor one of the most important cultural rituals. It's a national museum of funeral history. There's no creaking doors or cobwebs in the corner. What one finds is a display of funeral metrobilia. Among the unusual items on display are their solid glass coffin, a casket for three, and a collection of hand-painted coffins from Gonda, Africa, small signs throughout the museum that warn, do not open caskets, and the large display of funeral vehicles, including a black Funeral sleigh, hearses that carried famous people, even a 1916 Packard funeral bus. The funeral bus, designed to eliminate the funeral possession, carried the coffin, the pallbearers, and 20 mourners. The bus was used only once while it was climbing the hills of the San Francisco area during a funeral. The weight of all the people and the coffin caused the bus to overturn, spilling the people and the coffin onto the street. This is a very bizarre museum, but we may wonder whether the parking lot is ever filled with visitors. The truth is that the burial of a person is the last way we can honor the one who died. After Jesus' death and burial, several women came to honor him with spices and oils. And the difference between Jesus and others who die is that Jesus did not stay in the grave. And you know, as this peculiar display reminds us of a universal truth, that funerals with all of their finality of death, and yet as we journey through the story of Jesus's resurrection, we're reminded that what seems final can become the beginning of something extraordinary, because we can explore how the journey to the tomb transformed into a journey of hope, joy, and profound faith. And I'm glad that when we look at the order of events, Mary Magdalene and the other followers of Jesus's journey to the tomb in Luke chapter 23 verses 55 down to Luke chapter 24 verse one. Mary arrives before the other women in the party. She sees the tomb open and assumes that someone took his body and runs off in John chapter 20 verses one and two. The other women find the stone rolled away and the tomb empty in Luke chapter 24 verses two through nine. Mary Madeleine leaves to tell the disciples in John chapter 20, verses one and two. Mary, the mother of James, draws closer and sees the angel. She goes back to meet the other women, following with spices in Matthew chapter 28, verses one and two. Peter and John, they arrive at the tomb, seeing that it is empty, and they leave for their homes in John chapter 20, verses three through 10. Mary Madeleine returns weeping. She sees the two angels and then Jesus in John chapter 20, verses 11 through 18. The risen Christ tells her to tell the disciples in John chapter 20, verses 17 and 18. And then Mary, the mother of James, meanwhile returns with the women in Luke chapter 24, verses one through four. They return and they see two angels. in Luke chapter 24, verse five, and Mark chapter 16, verse five. They also hear the angel's message in Matthew chapter 28, verses six, seven, and eight. On their way to find the disciples, they're met by the risen Christ in Matthew chapter 28, verses nine and 10. Later in the afternoon, two disciples on the Emmaus road walk with Jesus and break bread with him in Luke chapter 24, verses 13 through 31. Then Jesus appears in the evening in the upper room to the 11 in Luke chapter 24, verses 36 through 48, and John chapter 20, verses 19 through 31. You see, when we look at this, The first thing that we see, the disciples' insight from the tomb is a journey of sorrow. One of the very first things that we look at that the disciples and followers of Jesus were devastated as they stood at the foot of the cross, their anticipation of a coming kingdom vanished. Jesus had been crucified. They had left everything to follow him. They had walked with him daily for three years. Their hearts must have been filled with confusion, fear, and apprehension. Their dreams seemed to be shattered. Their hopes seemed to be gone. They seemed to have nothing left. We begin with Mary Madeleine and others journeying to the tomb, and it was a sad, fearful time for Mary, Jesus' mother, and Mary Madeleine and the other ladies as they walked toward the place of his burial. You know, we see the morning of the Savior's departure. because it tells us that in verse one of Luke chapter 24, now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came into the sepulcher bringing the spices which they had prepared and certain others with them. You see, when Jesus met Mary Meddling in Luke chapter eight, she was plagued by demons and he set her free and he gave her a new life. In Luke chapter eight verse two, in certain women which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Madeline out of whom went seven devils. You see, Mary Madeline was changed from one who was separated from God by sin to one who found hope through forgiveness. And I'm glad that when we look and realize that Mark chapter 16 verse nine says, now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Madeline out of whom he had cast seven devils. You see, by God's mercy and through Jesus's death, burial and resurrection, Mary Madeline had a growing relationship with God through Jesus Christ. And now she faced the fear of life without the Lord Jesus. She sorrowed the death of the one who had changed her life forever. And so there was a journey of sorrow according to the insights from the tomb of the disciples. But it was mourning the Savior's departure, amen. But when we see the followers of Jesus face the profound grief that they approached the tomb. the hopes and dreams that were buried alongside him. Secondly, we see they were surprised by the unexpected. Because in Luke chapter 24, verses 2, 4, and 5, and they found the stone rolled away from the sepulcher, and they entered in and found not the body of the Lord Jesus. And it came to pass as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments. In verse 5, and as they were afraid and bowed down their faces to the earth. You know, when we look and realize that Jesus had most certainly foretold of his own death, burial, and resurrection, but sometimes in a trial we can lose perspective on the facts and fear can hinder our ability to remember the promises of God. And so when we look and realize that the empty tomb was not just a physical absence, it was a spiritual revelation. The women were bewildered and dismayed, unable to grasp that the one they mourned was no longer among the dead. The moment of confusion was a precursor to a divine revelation that would transform their sorrow into joy. And so we see a lesson in remembering as well. I'm glad that as we all remember in Luke chapter 24 verses 6, 7, and 8, we see He is not here, but He is risen. Remember how He's spoken to you when He was yet in Galilee, and they remembered His words. You see, the turning point came when the women remembered Jesus' promises. Their journey was not just one of physical distance, but also a spiritual awakening. They moved from despair to understanding, recognizing that Jesus had fulfilled his promise of the resurrection. A story is told of a group of aged children, primary children, who had a show-and-tell demonstration at their school. The first boy was called to the front of the class, and he said, my name is Benjamin. I am Jewish, and this is the Star of David. next little girl was summoned to the front of the room and she said my name is mary i'm roman catholic and this is a crucifix finally a little boy came into the front he said my name is johnny and i'm a baptist and this is a casserole you see johnny was a little off when it came to identifying a great symbol He hadn't gotten it yet. He missed the truth of the Baptist belief. But in much the same way, the disciples hadn't gotten it yet. When they came looking for Jesus, they did not realize that the empty tomb was a great symbol testifying to the promises of God. May we not be like Johnny or the followers of Christ who miss the point spiritually, and may we not be surprised when God fulfills his word. I'm glad that each and every one of us, when we begin to look and realize today, that each and every one of us have a great blessing that we can bestow. and that we can share with those that are around us, amen. And so I'm glad that when we look and realize what the Lord is wanting to do, not only do we see from all of this that as we look at it, and realize what God is wanting to do in all of our lives, amen. But I thank God that when we see and look and know that God is sharing something powerful, not only that when we saw what God was doing through the disciples, amen, each and every one of us, as God begins to use us, as God begins to bless us, amen, I hope and pray that God has something wonderful in store for each and every one of us, amen. And so I thank God as we look at all of the insights from the tomb, amen, and how God has tremendously blessed us, amen. We see the journey of discovery or the journey to the tomb. Because it was a very, a journey that was a grievous journey. That they mourned the Savior's death and they were astonished by that empty tomb. But secondly, we see a joyous journey. Because first of all, the fears are alleviated. And we look and know that we're reassured by the divine word that in Luke chapter 24 verse 8, and they remembered his words. The remembrance of Jesus' promises provided the reassurance needed to overcome the fear and the despair. And the word of God has the power to transform our understanding and comfort our hearts in times of trial, that we're invited to find solace and strength in His promise. And so, as we see a grievous journey, that we also see a joyous journey, that the fears are alleviated through the Word of God and through the presence of Christ. Amen. that were able to do that. But also we see sorrow that's transformed into joy because in doing so we look and we see that in Luke chapter 24 verses 36 down to verse 39 that it talks about as they spake, thus spake Jesus himself stood in the midst of them and said unto them, peace be unto you. but they were terrified and frightened and supposed that they had seen a spirit. You see, the presence of Jesus brought peace. It dispelled fear. His resurrection was not merely a miraculous event, but an assurance of his continued presence and peace in all of our lives. Amen. And so, I'm glad that we can turn our fears into joy. And so, as the grievous journey, a joyous journey, that the fears were alleviated through the word of God, through the presence of Christ, and the sorrow was transformed into joy, amen. Because in Luke chapter 24, verse nine, and they returned unto the sepulcher and told all these things unto the eleven to all the rest. You see, the women's encounter with the risen Christ transformed their sorrow into joy. They became messengers of the greatest news ever told, spreading the word of Jesus' resurrection and the hope that it brought. Their journey was no longer one of mourning, but of a joyous proclamation, praise God. And I'm glad that when we look and realize that as they remembered the words, Mary and those who were with her remembered his words, their fears were relieved, ate man. There was a very nervous airline passenger began pacing the terminal when bad weather delayed his flight. And during his walk, he ran across one of those life insurance machines. It offered $100,000 in the event of an untimely death aboard the flight. The policy was just for $3. He looked out the window at the threatening clouds and thought of his family at home. And for that price, it was foolish not to buy. So he bought the coverage. And then he looked for a place to eat and settled on his favorite, Chinese. It was a relaxing meal until he opened his fortune cookie. It read, your recent investment will pay big dividends. In an effort to relieve his fears in his own strength, this man multiplied them. May we remember the words found in the New Testament, for God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. They were not only relieved by the word of Jesus, but by the presence of Christ. And so, I'm glad that each and every one of us, when Jesus arose, he planted the only durable rumen of hope amidst the widespread despair of a hopeless world. You know what? Have your dreams been shattered? Are you confused or fearful? Are your circumstances overwhelming you? When we try to figure it out on our own, nothing makes sense. But when your life seems to be falling apart, You can transform your sorrowful journey into a joyful journey by turning to God's word for help and strength. Whatever your burden is, the answer is found in the Bible. And what will you turn to to relieve your sorrow and your hopelessness? You see, the world turns to drugs, alcohol, and immorality. But may we as Christians turn to our Savior for only then will we find true relief from our sorrow and our despair. And so we see of the journey of discovery, or the journey to the tomb, of the disciples' insights from the tomb, a grievous journey, mourning the Savior's death, astonished by the empty tomb. But then there's a joyous journey. The fears are alleviated through the word of God and through the presence of Christ. The sorrow is transformed into joy. But our last point is a journey of transformation. Because through this, we look and we see a chain that were changed through forgiveness. Because we learned a while back that Peter had walked away from the Lord and he had denied Christ three times. And you know, when this happened, disheartened by his disloyal, Peter undoubtedly wondered whether Jesus would ever forgive and use him ever again. Peter walked away from the crucifixion, most likely in despair, knowing that he had failed. But nevertheless, the Lord forgave Peter. And the angel gave a message to the disciples telling them where to wait to see Jesus. And he included a special message just to Peter that he would see him in Galilee. And you know what? I'm glad that the Bible says if we confess our sins, he's faithful and just to forgive us of our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. God forgave Peter and Peter was transformed as a result of that forgiveness. And if you're a Christian, And that you failed God. The devil will say you blew it. Give up. You'll never be able to serve God again. However, listen to me. God was not finished with Peter. And he's not finished with you either. And so I'm glad that he can forgive. and transform your life, because God's forgiveness is complete. And so, I'm glad that God not only forgives, but he chooses not to remember our sin. It's remembered no more, according to Psalms 103, verse 12, it says, as far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. God did not just forgive Peter, but he also restored him back into fellowship. And he wanted to see and talk with Peter again. And when God forgives, He receives us back into fellowship. And I'm glad that Psalms 103 verses two, three, and four says, bless the Lord. O my soul, and forget not all my benefits, who forgiveth all thine iniquities, who healeth all thy diseases, who redeemeth thy life from destruction, who crowneth thee with loving kindness and tender mercies. You see, God longs to restore us into complete fellowship with him. And so, we see the journey of transformation changed through forgiveness, Peter's denial of the Lord, and Peter's restoration by the Lord. But we see also we're changed through faith, because I'm glad. that when we look and realize that in John chapter 20, verses 24 down to verse 29, Thomas, one of the 12, called Dittus, was not with him when Jesus came. But the other disciples therefore said unto him, we've seen the Lord, but he said unto them, except I see in his hand the print of the nails and put my finger into the print of the nails and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe. And after eight days again his disciples were within and Thomas with them. Then came Jesus and the doors being shut and stood in the midst and said, peace be unto you. Then said he to Thomas, reach hither thy finger and behold my hands and reach hither thy hand and thrust it into my side and be not faithless but believing. And Thomas answered and said unto him, my Lord and my God. You know what, it goes on, he says in verse 29, Jesus said to him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed. Blessed are they that have not seen and yet have believed. You see, we thank the Lord that the ultimate life transformation takes place when we're saved through faith. In order to be transformed through faith and salvation, we must believe the truth about ourselves that we're sinners in need of forgiveness and in need of a Savior. And so, you know what? A Jew and a Christian, they were indulging in a friendly argument about their respective faiths. Most of the good things you Christians have, you've taken from us, the Jew said. The Ten Commandments, for instance. I'll admit, we took the Ten Commandments from you, answered the Christian. But you can't say that we kept them. And you know, no person can keep all Ten Commandments because we're sinners. But the Ten Commandments weren't meant to simply be kept. They were meant to show us our need for a Savior. Not only must we believe the truth about ourselves, but we must believe the truth about Jesus Christ, amen. And so, I'm glad that on that journey of transformation that we're transformed and I'm glad that we're changed through forgiveness, amen. And I'm glad that no matter what, the transformation through faith is profound. Thomas's doubt was met with Jesus's invitation to believe and the moment of renewal through faith emphasize that even in our doubts, Jesus calls us to trust in him and the truth of his resurrection. And I'm glad that not only are we changed through forgiveness and changed through faith, salvation through faith and redemption through faith, amen, but the promise of redemption. Because in 1 Corinthians 15, 20, but now as Christ risen from the dead and become the first fruits of them that slept, you see the resurrection of Christ guarantees our redemption and eternal hope. It signifies that our journey marked by faith and forgiveness leads to eternal life with him. The resurrection is the foundation of our faith and the promise of our future. And so, as we get ready to go our separate ways, we reflect on the journey from the tomb. And our core beliefs about Jesus Christ and his death, burial, and resurrection must be the foundation of our faith. As we journey through the Christian life, we'll face disappointment and shattered dreams. Our faith will draw us closer to God. We'll be tempted to doubt, wonder from the path. that that glorifies God, that we must remember the countless promises God has given us in his word and claim those promises as we continue on our journey for faith. And so, as we reflect on the journey from the tomb, we see how despair can be transformed into joy through the promises of God and the presence of Christ. The journey of faith is marked by moments of sorrow, but it ultimately leads to a place of joy and transformation. Just as the women left the tomb with a new understanding and mission, we too are called to embrace the hope and the transformation that comes from a risen Christ, amen. I was reading about a father battling cancer. and he shared with his children the importance of hope. On days when his treatment was tough, he would remind them that his struggle was part of a larger journey. He instilled in them that no matter how dark the days became, hope would always shine through. Years later, when he passed, the children remembered the lessons that he taught them about hope and resilience, which became their guiding light during tough times. The angels at the tomb reminded the women that Jesus was alive, transforming their despair into hope. In today's world, where uncertainty often looms, we must remember that hope can arise from even the darkest circumstances. We can choose to be messengers of hope to those around us, pointing them to the source of our strength. And so, I'm glad that each and every one of us, we have the power of remembrance as well as when the women remembered the words of Christ. There was a group of friends that was deciding to create a memory jar where they would write down their favorite moments and experiences throughout the year. And each week they would read one entry together, reminiscing about the joys and the challenges they faced. The simple act of remembrance strengthened their bonds, reminded them of their growth over time. And as the angels urge the women to remember what Jesus has said about his resurrection in our lives, we often forget God's promises to challenging times. And we need to create reminders, whether through journeying, journaling down on paper, or sharing testimonies that can help us recall God's faithfulness and strengthen our faith during difficult seasons. You know, I was reading about a teenager named Sarah that volunteered at a local shelter. And after serving food and interacting with the residents, she felt a strong desire to share their stories with others. She began writing blog posts about the lives of the people she met, raising awareness of their struggles and hopes. And her stories inspired her community to get involved and support the shelter, leading to a greater impact. And so, even the women at the tomb were asked with sharing the good news of Jesus' resurrection. As believers today, we're called to share our testimonies of faith and hope with others. Whether through conversation, social media, or community service, we can spread the message of Christ's love and resurrection, making a difference in the lives of those that are around us, amen. And so, as I close out the disciples' insights from the tomb, a grievous journey that took place with each and every one of them that we look at, and a joyous journey that took place. We saw the journey, lastly, of transformation, that they were changed through forgiveness, and they will change through faith, amen. And I'm glad that every one of us, there's nothing more foundational and significant than the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Father, as we conclude our time, we thank you for the powerful truth revealed in Luke chapter 24, verses one through eight. Your resurrection assure us that no situation is beyond your reach. No darkness can extinguish the light of your love. Help us to carry the message of hope into our lives daily, sharing the good news with those around us. And may we be inspired by the women who first encountered the empty tomb, who went forth in joy to claim your resurrection and tell the disciples where they had the insights from the tomb as well. And so, may we all go forth in joy to proclaim your resurrection. Let our courage ignite our hearts to be bold witnesses in our communities. In Jesus's marvelous mighty name, amen. you