Luke 24:1-9 NKJV
“Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they, and certain other women with them, came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared. But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb. Then they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. And it happened, as they were greatly perplexed about this, that behold, two men stood by them in shining garments. Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still 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.’ ” And they remembered His words. Then they returned from the tomb and told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest.”
Many gather this Resurrection Sunday to recap the events of Jesus from Gethsemane to the cross at Calvary. The road he traveled is commonly know as the Via Dolorosa. It represents the path on which he was taken by the Roman soldiers on the way to his crucifixion, and then to the cave where his body was laid. Today we celebrate the fact he rose from the grave with all power in his hands. But do we fully understand why he did this in the first place? What is the meaning of all this?
Last week (Palm Sunday) we rejoiced that Jesus entered Jerusalem as the presumptive king of Israel, only to see him arrested, accosted and humiliated. Instead of a throne and crown of gold, he received a cross and crown of thrones. Not only was he hung on a cross, he died and was placed in an impenetrable tomb. By all accounts his brief reign was over. And those close to the cross may have even heard him declare, “it is finished”. But thank God Jesus wasn’t nearly done.
Though we are amazed at his defiance of death, hell and the grave, that’s not the main reason he came. Though he prayed at Gethsemane after triumphantly entering Jerusalem from Bethany, those were simply stops on his way to his main mission. Though we rejoice at his victory at Calvary, that may be part of his journey, but that’s not why he came. His ultimate purpose was to lead you and me back through the Via Dolorosa.
To truly understand we must recount the steps he took. His journey began while gathering with his disciples in an upper room in Jerusalem. From there he went to pray in the garden of Gethsemane where Judas and the Roman soldiers captured and tortured him. From there he traveled this narrow road called the Via Dolorosa to Calvary. And then to his ultimate death, burial and resurrection in a nearby tomb.
Please understand, everything for our salvation was completed at Calvary. Had Jesus not show his face again, he still would have completed his mission of paying for our sins. He became sin for us that we might become his righteousness. And the wages of sin is death. His death purchased our salvation. His resurrection simply affirmed his claim to be the Son of God and rightful King of Israel. Those that encountered him could not deny his victory. But his victory would be hollow and incomplete without those he died for being willing to live for him.
This morning let’s take a tour back through the Via Dolorosa to the place of power and purpose. Last we saw Jesus he was in a guarded tomb. But that didn’t last long. He rose from the grave earlier Sunday morning just like he said he would. So, no sense hanging around the tomb, the stone has been rolled away and Jesus is no longer there. No need to linger too long at the cross because Jesus conquered it and is no longer there. If we trace his steps and chart his course from Calvary back to Gethsemane we are close, but still won’t find Jesus. So where can we find him? He instructed his disciples to go back to the upper room where he last met with them and there he would send His Spirit. He would send the Comforter.
Jesus didn’t come for the pageantry, celebrity, accolades and fame. He didn’t come for the many songs, dances, riddles or rhymes. Jesus came for one reason, and one reason only. He came to save you. He made his way through the Via Dolorosa to redeem you. He wants to meet each of us back on the other side at the upper room to begin our lives living for him.
God Bless
