Scott LaPierre Ministries

The empty tomb and the resurrection of Jesus stand at the center of the Christian faith. Luke 24:1-6 brings us to the greatest event in human history: Jesus Christ, who was crucified for sinners, did not remain in the grave. He rose again. After all the teaching, miracles, compassion, confrontations, betrayal, suffering, and burial, Luke’s Gospel reaches its glorious climax here. Jesus was not merely born to be an example, perform miracles, or teach moral truths. He came to die for sinners and rise again so that all who repent and believe might have eternal life. https://youtu.be/NYWLSN52JfU Table of contentsThe darkness of Christ’s death gives way to the light of the resurrectionAfter the resurrection, Jesus is revealed as the LordDo not seek life among the deadHe is not here, but has risenConclusion If Christ had remained in the tomb, Christianity would be empty. Paul says, “If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile, and you are still in your sins” (1 Corinthians 15:17). But because Jesus rose, everything changes. Sin has been paid for. Death has been conquered. Salvation has been accomplished. Eternal life is offered to all who trust in Him. Luke’s careful account shows us not only that the tomb was empty, but what that empty tomb means. The darkness of Christ’s death gives way to the light of the resurrection Before Luke tells us about the resurrection morning, he wants us to remember what took place at the crucifixion. In Luke 23:44-45, darkness covered the land from the sixth hour until the ninth hour. This was no ordinary event. It was a supernatural sign accompanying Christ's death. Luke says, “the sun’s light failed,” language that seems meant to draw attention not only to physical darkness but also to spiritual symbolism. Jesus had said, “As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world” (John 9:5). As He gave His life, the light failed. The Light of the World was being extinguished in death. That makes the opening of Luke 24 all the more powerful. The women come to the tomb “on the first day of the week, at early dawn” (Luke 24:1). The timing is deeply significant. The resurrection is announced at daybreak. The darkness of Good Friday gives way to the light of Sunday morning. When Christ died, darkness covered the land. When Christ rose, a new day began. These women came with spices they had prepared before the Sabbath. Their actions reveal love, devotion, and faithfulness. They had followed Jesus from Galilee. They had remained near Him at the crucifixion. They had seen where His body was laid. While many others scattered, they stayed. Now they return at the earliest possible moment after the Sabbath, not expecting resurrection, but expecting to honor a dead body. That detail matters. They did not come anticipating a celebration. They came anticipating sorrow. They did not expect life. They expected death. Yet when they arrived, the stone had already been rolled away. This did not mean Jesus needed help getting out. The stone was rolled away so the women, and later the apostles, could see the evidence that He had already risen. God opened the tomb, not to free Jesus, but to reveal that death could not hold Him. After the resurrection, Jesus is revealed as the Lord Luke 24:3 says something remarkable: “but when they went in, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.” This wording is striking. Throughout the Gospels, Jesus most commonly refers to Himself as the Son of Man. That title emphasizes His humanity, His humiliation, His service, His suffering, and His mission to give His life as a ransom for many (Matthew 20:28). It fits Christ's earthly ministry as the One who came to serve and suffer. But here in Luke 24, at the empty tomb, Luke uses the title “the Lord Jesus.” That is significant because, after the resurrection, the New Testament increasingly emphasizes Jesus as Lord. In Acts and the epistles, believers preach the Lord Jesus, trust in the Lord Jesus, are baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus, and testify of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. The resurrection serves as the bridge between Christ’s humiliation and His exaltation. This does not mean Jesus was not Lord before the resurrection. He always was. But now His resurrection openly reveals and confirms His identity in power. The crucified Son of Man is the risen Lord Jesus. The One rejected by men is exalted over all. The One who came in humility is now proclaimed in majesty. That is why the resurrection cannot be reduced to an inspiring ending or a moving miracle. It is the public declaration that Jesus Christ is Lord. The empty tomb is not merely evidence that a body is gone. It is evidence that the crucified Messiah has conquered death and reigns in victory. Do not seek life among the dead When the women found the tomb empty, they were confused. Luke says they were perplexed. Then two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. These were angels appearing in human form, and their question is one of the m

We live in a world overflowing with information but lacking wisdom, which is why we desperately need God’s wisdom. People have endless access to opinions, advice, and content, yet lives are still marked by confusion, bad decisions, and foolishness. The problem is not that we need more knowledge. The problem is that we need the wisdom that comes from the Lord. Job asked this same question when he grew weary of his friends’ clichés and empty platitudes. He wanted real wisdom, so he asked where wisdom could be found. That is still the right question for us today. And the good news is that Scripture does not leave us guessing. James 1:5 gives tremendous hope: “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” God is not stingy with wisdom. He does not give it begrudgingly. He gives it generously to those who ask. https://youtu.be/LgA58i5HxQQ Table of contentsLesson One: God Wants to Give Us WisdomLesson Two: Fools Don’t Apply KnowledgeLesson Three: Wisdom Calls for RepentanceLesson Four: Rejecting Wisdom Brings Severe ConsequencesLesson Five: Acquiring Wisdom Requires EffortLesson Six: Wisdom Must Be Our Daily PursuitConclusion Lesson One: God Wants to Give Us Wisdom James 1:5 is one of the clearest New Testament verses on this subject, but Proverbs makes the same truth abundantly clear: God wants to give us wisdom. Wisdom is not hidden from those who seek the Lord. It is not reserved for spiritual elites. It is available. Proverbs 1 presents wisdom as a woman crying aloud in the street, raising her voice in the markets, and speaking at the city gates. That imagery is meant to show how near wisdom is to us. Wisdom is not whispering from some remote location. She is calling out in the busiest places of life, making herself known right where people live, work, and make decisions. This is encouraging. If you want wisdom, God is not playing hide-and-seek with you. He is not reluctant to guide you. He wants you to hear His voice through His Word. But there is also a warning here. Proverbs says wisdom cries out in the “noisy streets.” That reminds us that many competing voices are trying to drown out wisdom. Social media, entertainment, news, shallow conversations, and foolish influences can all make it harder to hear what God is saying. This means we should each ask ourselves: What is drowning out wisdom in my life? What distractions are keeping me from hearing God’s voice clearly? Lesson Two: Fools Don’t Apply Knowledge Proverbs 1:22 identifies three groups: the simple, the scoffers, and the fools. Each one reveals something about the human heart apart from wisdom. The simple are gullible. They do not know what to believe. Proverbs contrasts them with the prudent, who think carefully and consider their steps. The simple are easily led astray because they lack discernment. The scoffers are different. They are not merely uninformed; they are arrogant. They smirk at the correction. They mock wisdom because they think they already know better. Then there are fools. Proverbs says fools hate knowledge. That sounds surprising at first, because many fools are actually knowledgeable. They may know the truth. They may have heard sermons, read Scripture, and received counsel. But they do not apply what they know. That is what makes them fools. Wisdom is not merely possessing information. Wisdom is the application of knowledge. A wise person does what is morally and spiritually right with what he knows. A fool may know the right thing to do and still refuse to do it. That is why James 4:17 is so important: “Whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.” Fools live in that dangerous place of knowing better while choosing disobedience anyway. This is deeply convicting because it moves the conversation from intellect to obedience. The issue is not simply whether we know the truth, but whether we will submit to it. Lesson Three: Wisdom Calls for Repentance Proverbs 1:23 says, “If you turn at my reproof, behold, I will pour out my spirit to you; I will make my words known to you.” The call to turn is a call to repent. Why does wisdom begin there? Because wisdom exposes our foolishness and sin. If we are going to grow in wisdom, we must first be willing to repent of the ways we have rejected God’s truth. This is what happens whenever we read Scripture honestly. God’s Word confronts us. It reveals where we are wrong. It exposes sinful habits, prideful attitudes, and foolish patterns. If we humble ourselves and turn, we grow in wisdom. If we scoff, excuse ourselves, or refuse correction, we remain fools. There is also a beautiful promise here. Wisdom says that if we turn, she will pour out her spirit and make her words known. This points us to the ministry of the Holy Spirit, who illuminates Scripture and gives understanding. Ephesians 1:17 speaks of “the Spirit of wisdom,” reminding us that true wisdom is not merely academic. It is spirit

In Luke 23:50-56, Joseph of Arimathea and the women who faithfully honored Jesus show us what true discipleship looks like when following Christ is costly, quiet, and seemingly unrewarded. Jesus had been abandoned by His closest followers, condemned by the religious leaders, and executed by Rome. But in that dark moment, God still preserved faithful disciples who stayed near Christ and honored Him. https://youtu.be/PlAKLqOodfw Table of contentsThe Shepherd Was Struck and the Sheep ScatteredGod Preserves Faithful Disciples Even in the Darkest TimesJoseph Shows True Disciples Remain Faithful When There Is No Personal AdvantageJesus’ Burial Fulfilled ProphecyThe Women Show That True Disciples Honor Christ With Persevering DevotionWhat This Passage Teaches Us About FaithfulnessFinal Thoughts The Shepherd Was Struck and the Sheep Scattered This passage becomes even more powerful when we read it in light of Old Testament prophecy. Zechariah 13:7 says, “Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.” Jesus applied this verse directly to His disciples on the night of His arrest in Matthew 26:31 and Mark 14:27. When Jesus was taken, the disciples fled. When He was condemned and crucified, they were nowhere to be found. Even Peter, who had confidently declared he would die with Christ, denied three times that he even knew Him. That is one of the painful realities surrounding the crucifixion. Jesus was not only rejected by the world but also abandoned by His own followers. Yet Luke 23 does not leave us with only that sorrowful picture. After the sheep are scattered, God shows that He still has faithful people. Joseph of Arimathea and the women from Galilee do what the disciples should have done. They step forward when others step back. They identify with Christ when others distance themselves from Him. God Preserves Faithful Disciples Even in the Darkest Times Luke introduces Joseph in a striking way: “Now there was a man named Joseph, from the Jewish town of Arimathea. He was a member of the council, a good and righteous man, who had not consented to their decision and action; and he was looking for the kingdom of God” (Luke 23:50-51). Joseph was from Arimathea and, more surprisingly, a member of the council. He belonged to the Sanhedrin, the very body responsible for condemning Jesus. Yet Luke distinguishes him from the rest. He was “a good and righteous man,” not because he was sinless, but because he feared God and lived with integrity. Most importantly, he was “looking for the kingdom of God.” That final description explains everything. Joseph acted differently because his heart was set on the Lord. This is deeply encouraging. Even in corrupt and hostile places, God preserves His people. Among the religious leaders who wanted Jesus dead, there was one man who had not consented. God had not lost all witnesses, and He never does. This theme runs throughout Scripture. Elijah once believed he was alone, telling the Lord in 1 Kings 19:10 and 14, “I, even I only, am left.” But God corrected him in 1 Kings 19:18: “Yet I will leave seven thousand in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal.” Elijah thought the remnant had disappeared, but God had preserved one. The same is true here. If we looked only at the Sanhedrin, we might assume every one of them had given himself over completely to darkness. But God had Joseph there. He had a faithful man in an unlikely place. The Lord always preserves a remnant. This should strengthen us when we look at our culture, churches, institutions, or communities and feel discouraged. God still has His people. There are still faithful men and women who have not bowed the knee. Joseph Shows True Disciples Remain Faithful When There Is No Personal Advantage “This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus” (Luke 23:52). That single verse reveals remarkable courage. Jesus was dead. He had been publicly condemned, shamefully executed, and abandoned by nearly everyone. There was no earthly advantage in being associated with Him at this point. No crowds were cheering. No miracles were drawing admiration. No influence could be gained by identifying with Christ now. It is one thing to follow Jesus when the crowds are large, the excitement is high, and the blessings seem obvious. It is another thing entirely to identify with Him when obedience appears costly and public loyalty seems to bring only loss. Joseph did not attach himself to Jesus for personal gain. He was not seeking advancement, recognition, or approval. He honored Christ when doing so likely damaged his future with the religious establishment. While Scripture does not tell us exactly what Joseph lost, it is difficult to imagine that his actions were well received by the council that had demanded Jesus’ death. That is what makes his example so compelling. True discipleship is revealed when following Christ brings no worldly benefit. It is tested when obedience costs something. This lesson presses on us today. Wi

Why Jesus’ body is called the veil is one of the most beautiful truths in Hebrews 10:19–20, because it explains how sinners like us can enter God’s presence with confidence through the torn flesh and shed blood of Christ. For centuries, the Old Testament taught distance, separation, and holy fear. But in Jesus, the barrier has been removed, and the way to the Father has been opened. If you read the Old Testament carefully, you see a repeated message: sinful people cannot approach a holy God casually. Nadab and Abihu died when they offered unauthorized fire. The men of Beth Shemesh were judged for treating the ark irreverently. Uzzah died when he touched the ark. At Mount Sinai, the people were warned not to come near lest they perish. Then, in the tabernacle and temple, room after room and curtain after curtain reinforced the same lesson: stay back. But Hebrews 10 announces something shocking. Instead of staying back, believers are told to draw near. Instead of trembling outside, we are invited to enter with confidence. That dramatic change is possible because Jesus Christ has done what the old sacrifices, priests, and covenant could never accomplish. https://youtu.be/WgfVQlm-15k Table of contentsJesus Is Better Than the Old Testament SacrificesThe Holy Place and the Most Holy PlaceWhy This Truth Is Easy to Take for GrantedEsther Helps Us Feel the Weight of This PrivilegeWhy Jesus’ Body Is Called the Veil1. Jesus’ Body and the Veil Provide the Way to God’s Presence2. Jesus’ Body and the Veil Hide and Reveal the Father3. Jesus’ Body and the Veil Join Deity and Humanity4. Jesus’ Body and the Veil Were Obstacles While Whole5. Jesus’ Body and the Veil Were Torn Once6. Jesus’ Body and the Veil Were Torn by God the FatherThe Barrier Has Been RemovedTwo Responses to This Truth Jesus Is Better Than the Old Testament Sacrifices To understand Hebrews 10:19–20, we need the surrounding context. Hebrews 10:4 says it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. The old sacrifices were never meant to remove sin permanently. They covered sin temporarily until Christ came. That is why John the Baptist declared, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” The old sacrifices were good in their appointed place, but Jesus is better. They covered sin. He takes sin away. Hebrews 10:11 also says that the priests stood daily, offering the same sacrifices repeatedly. Their work was never finished. The repetition proved the system's insufficiency. But Hebrews 10:12 says that when Christ had offered a single sacrifice for sins for all time, He sat down at the right hand of God. Unlike the old priests, Jesus sat down because His work was complete. Then Hebrews 10:18 adds, “Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.” Once sin has truly been forgiven, no further sacrifice is needed. Christ accomplished fully and forever what the old covenant only pictured. The Holy Place and the Most Holy Place The temple contained two main rooms. The first was the Holy Place, where only the priests could enter. Beyond that was the Most Holy Place, where the ark of the covenant was located and where God’s presence was uniquely associated. Only the high priest could enter there, and only once a year on the Day of Atonement. That arrangement preached a clear message. God is holy. Man is sinful. Access is restricted. So when Hebrews 10:19 says, “Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus,” the language is astonishing. The “holy places” refer to the true presence of God. The writer is not telling believers to physically enter a temple structure. He is telling us that through Christ, we now have spiritual access to God Himself. The reason is simple and glorious: the sin that kept people out of God’s presence has been dealt with by Jesus. Why This Truth Is Easy to Take for Granted One danger for believers is familiarity. We hear about prayer, grace, and access to God so often that we can stop being amazed by them. We forget how extraordinary this privilege really is. Old Testament saints lived with visible reminders that God’s presence was not to be approached casually. Boundaries existed everywhere. But in Christ, the believer has a privilege that would have sounded astonishing under the old covenant: confident access to the living God. That should humble us, comfort us, and fill us with gratitude. Esther Helps Us Feel the Weight of This Privilege One helpful illustration comes from the book of Esther. Esther had to approach the king on behalf of her people, even though doing so uninvited could cost her life. She said, “I will go to the king, though it is against the law, and if I perish, I perish.” Even though she was queen, she still approached with fear and reverence. And if that was true of entering the presence of an earthly king, how much more serious should it be to enter the presence of God? Yet Hebrews 10:19 says believer