After Jesus was crucified and buried, some of the women who had followed Him came to the tomb on the first day of the week (Luke 24:1). However, when they arrived, they found the stone had been rolled away from the entrance and the body of Jesus was not inside (Luke 24:2-3).
While they were there, two men – identified elsewhere as angels (Matthew 28:2-5; John 20:12) – appeared to them and asked, “Why do you seek the living One among the dead? He is not here, but He has risen. Remember how He spoke to you while He was still in Galilee, saying that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again” (Luke 24:5-7). At that point “they remembered His words” (Luke 24:8).
After witnessing Jesus’ crucifixion, this would have been a difficult time for these women – along with all of Jesus’ disciples. It appeared that the one they had followed had been defeated and destroyed on the cross. Yet Jesus overcame death as the Savior and hope of the world. Once they were reminded of what Jesus said, they left and “reported all these things to the eleven and to all the rest” (Luke 24:9). Even today, we need to heed the angel’s admonition to remember what Jesus said.
So remember the Lord’s words. Even when we face difficult and discouraging times in this life, we have hope in Him. Let us remember His promises and the victory He secured when He rose from the dead.