Even Jesus’ death didn’t dim the women’s loyalty. They returned to Jesus’ tomb “very early in the morning on the first day of the week.” They went to care for his body as soon as the Sabbath laws (which he had challenged) allowed. They didn’t find his body, but did find two men in gleaming clothes who said, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He isn’t here, but has been raised.” They reported this to the eleven, but true to form for their day, “their words struck the apostles as nonsense, and they didn’t believe the women.”

• Two men “in gleaming bright clothing” asked, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He isn’t here, but has been raised.” (verses 5-6) Repeat those words as you ponder this photo of one site (empty) in Jerusalem that might have been Jesus’ tomb. In what ways does the fact that “he is not [in the tomb]” shape your life?

• “Peter ran to the tomb … he saw only the linen cloth. Then he returned home, wondering what had happened.” Surely if Luke invented this, it would say something like, “Peter saw the linen cloth and cried, ‘Yes—Jesus is risen!’” (And it would make no sense for grave robbers to take time to unwrap the body, leaving the cloth behind.) Luke showed clearly that not one disciple expected Jesus to rise, though Jesus had told them just that (cf. Luke 9:22). How vital to your faith are the eyewitness reports that Jesus told his disciples in advance what would happen, as well as the eyewitnesses who saw Jesus alive?