Remember What He Told You - Luke 24:5-8

I think it’s safe to say that we’re naturally forgetful people. We forget small, everyday things like where we left our wallet, or our keys, or why we walked into a room. But what’s even more concerning is that we quickly and easily forget what matters most. So much of our lives we live independently from God. Because we forgot who He is, what He’s done, and what He’s promised.  

We drift into living on autopilot. We wake up, make breakfast, go to work, come home and go to bed without ever turning our thoughts heavenward even for one moment. Which is why the Scriptures consistently instruct us to remember—to intentionally and thoughtfully reflect on the goodness, faithfulness, and steadfast love of God. This is what the late Dr. RC Sproul would talk about when he spoke about “Coram Deo,” living your life before the face of God. 

Admittedly, the subject of remembering has been on my mind recently. Last week, we just finished up a brief series on the family and we ended it by looking at Psalm 78 which instructs all of us to remember what the Lord has done so that we can pass down His goodness and faithfulness to the next generation.

And perhaps you noticed something similar in these few verses that I’ve selected from Luke 24. In Luke 24, a group of women head to Jesus’ tomb and when they get there they’re met by two angels. 

And when they encounter the angels they’re told, “He is not here, but has risen.” I’m sure many of you already knew that, but we often overlook what the angels’ said next, “Remember how he told you…”

You see, the Lord Jesus has already told us—and accomplished—everything we need. He lived the perfect life, bore our sins on the cross, and rose three days later just as He said. And so the question before us isn’t really whether or not you know this. Most of you likely do. The question is whether you remember it—whether it’s something you regularly reflect on, hold dear, and truly trust in.

Because it’s possible to know these truths in your mind and yet live as though they don’t matter.

According to God’s Word that’s forgetfulness. That’s the warning of Psalm 78. That’s also what we see here in Luke 24. 

The Confusion of Forgetting (v. 5)

Because there are real consequences that result from forgetting or ignoring the gospel of Jesus Christ, one of those things is spiritual confusion. 

Obviously, we’re not reading all of Luke 24, but if you have it in front of you, we’re told something very interesting: we’re told in verse 4 that these women were “perplexed” when they found the stone rolled away and the tomb empty.

Which is perplexing in and of itself, right? Because how many times did Jesus predict his own resurrection? Countless times, right? Earlier in Luke 18, Jesus said, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written about the Son of Man by the prophets will be accomplished. 32 For he will be delivered over to the Gentiles and will be mocked and shamefully treated and spit upon. 33 And after flogging him, they will kill him, and on the third day he will rise.”

Jesus’ resurrection wasn’t some sort of secret. It was something that he openly talked about. And yet, for whatever reason, no one really paid attention to it. They forgot about his promise to rise. 

Which of course, had serious consequences. You can almost feel the overall mood in this text. These women were grief-stricken. They were going to a tomb to visit a dead man. Because that’s what happens when you pass away, your body gets put in a tomb. But Jesus was different. 

But here’s the key that I want us all to notice: these women were perplexed, downtrodden, and confused because they forgot what Jesus had said. Which of course explains the angel's famous question: “Why do you seek the living among the dead?” When you really think about it, the angels were there not to share new information with those women, but  to remind them of what they already knew.

Which is true for all of us today. When you forget the words of Christ and live your life independently from Him, don’t be surprised when confusion, hopelessness, and despair set in. Because apart from His Word, you are left to navigate life on your own terms, relying on your own wisdom and strength. And when circumstances become difficult or unclear, there is nothing solid to anchor your soul.

Apart from remembering and trusting in the words of Christ, trials feel meaningless, suffering feels random, and the future feels uncertain. But when we remember what He has said, everything begins to come back into focus. His promises remind us that God is still in control, that He is still good, and that He is still working all things together for His glory and our good.

This is why remembering is so critical. It’s not optional—it’s essential. Because what fills your mind will shape your heart, and what shapes your heart will direct your life. If you neglect the words of Christ, your life will drift. But if you continually return to them, meditate on them, and trust them, you will find stability, clarity, and hope—even in the most confusing and difficult seasons of life.

The Reality of the Resurrection (v. 6a)

But at the end of the day, everything that we believe as Christians hinges on the simple truth that the angels said in verse 6: “He is not here, but has risen.”

The resurrection of Jesus Christ lies at the heart of Christianity. And frankly, it’s the down payment for everything that we believe. How do we know our sins were forgiven on the cross? The resurrection. How do I know that death has truly been defeated? The resurrection. How do I know that Jesus is who He claimed to be—the Son of God, the Savior of the world? The resurrection.

How do I know that every promise God has made will come to pass? The resurrection. How do I know that there is life beyond the grave, that this world is not all there is? The resurrection.

Everything rises or falls on this one truth. Paul bluntly makes this point in 1 Corinthians 15 when he said, “if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.” If Christ has not been raised, then we are still in our sins and our faith is empty. But if He has been raised—and therefore everything He ever said is true. Every promise is secure. Every hope is grounded.

The resurrection is God’s declaration that the work of Christ is finished, accepted, and victorious. The resurrection is what we hold on to for hope. It’s what makes the gospel good news. 

And it shouldn’t be simply a historical fact that we reflect on every April. Every Christian should live in light of the resurrection because it gives us confidence in the midst of trials. There’s a real comfort that we all experience when we recognize that no matter what you’re going through you know that it’s not the end of your story. Because at the end of the day, we know that the grave has been defeated. 

Which is absolutely critical. There will be a day when everyone in this room will be no more. And for the world, when your heart stops beating, it’s all over. But for the Christian, when your heart stops beating you’re simply transitioning into a new and glorious phase of life.

The Necessity of Remembering (v. 6b–7)

But again, notice what the angels say in verses 6 and 7. “Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, 7 that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.”

The key phrase that I want each of you to notice this morning is: “Remember how he told you…”

The angels remind them that Jesus had already told them everything. He would be delivered. He would be crucified. And he would rise again on the third day. 

The problem was never a lack of information. The problem was forgetfulness. Which, in some ways, is understandable. Death is a part of everyday life. Death is all around us. You can’t turn on the TV without seeing how many people have died in Israel or Iran or Ukraine. We’ve become desensitized to death to the point where we assume the moment someone’s body is laid in a grave it’s all over.

Like the women who went to visit the grave, we too, are tempted to forget the truth. How often are all of us lulled into believing that death is the end? That death has the final world. How quickly do we forget the glorious things that Jesus said like, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

The devil and the world do not want you to remember those words! He wants you to remember Easter eggs, pastel colors, bunnies, and time with family but not Jesus. He does not want you to remember that Christ has risen victoriously over the grave.

Which is why in God’s providence He instituted a weekly Sabbath—a set day each week to gather together and worship the risen Savior. The Lord wants you to remember. Do you recall the fourth commandment? “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.” Remember.

That command is not just about rest from labor, but about an opportunity to remember what is true. It is a weekly call to step away from the noise, the distractions, and the busyness of life, and to fix your attention once again on the Lord. Throughout the week, we are prone to forget—to drift, to become distracted, to rely on ourselves. But the Lord, in His kindness, gives us a rhythm of remembrance.

It’s almost ironic, because in many ways the church isn’t called to be innovative—we’re called to gather together, week after week, not to invent something new, but to remember what God has already accomplished in and through Jesus Christ.

Each Lord’s Day is a reminder that Christ is risen, that His work is finished, and that our hope is secure. It is an opportunity to sit under His Word, to sing His praises, to pray, and to be strengthened alongside His people. Week after week, God is forming us through remembrance—anchoring our lives not in what is fleeting, but in what is eternal.

The Response of Faith (v. 8)

Which is why what we read in verse 8 is so encouraging: “And they remembered his words.”

The angel reminded them of what Jesus had said. They should not have been surprised that he wasn’t in the tomb. He had been telling them this all along. But they had forgotten—until the angel brought His words back to mind, and suddenly everything began to make sense. And it was at that point, they rushed back to tell everyone!

They recalled the truth. And that changed everything. What once felt confusing was now clear. What once seemed like defeat was now revealed to be victory. Remembering didn’t add new information—it restored what had been neglected. It brought them back to reality.

And that’s exactly what the Word of Christ does for us. It cuts through our assumptions, our fears, and our misunderstandings, and brings us back to what is true. When we forget, we begin to drift away, but when we remember, our faith is anchored in Christ and what he has done for us.

That’s why remembering is so powerful. It stabilizes our hearts when everything feels uncertain. It strengthens our faith when doubts begin to creep in. And it fuels our obedience, because when the truth is clear, we are compelled to respond. Just like the women, remembering moves us—from confusion to clarity, and from silence to joyful proclamation.

Their faith was not built on what they felt was true, their faith was solidified by the trustworthy Word of Christ.

It’s not as widely known, but there were those during the First Great Awakening who were called the “Old Lights,” and they were deeply cautious about what was taking place. They were especially wary of prominent evangelists like George Whitefield. Their primary concern wasn’t with revival itself, but with what they perceived to be emotional excess. From their perspective, it seemed that people were more eager for a powerful emotional experience than for a genuine encounter with Christ through His Word.

Now, while we may not agree with all of their conclusions, their concern is worth considering. Because that same temptation hasn’t gone away. It’s still possible for people to be drawn more to the feeling of a moment than to the substance of the gospel. To chase excitement rather than truth. To equate emotional intensity with spiritual maturity.

But true, lasting faith is not built on emotional highs. It is built on the steady, unchanging Word of God. Emotions may come and go, but the truth of Christ remains. And it is that truth—heard, remembered, and believed—that anchors the soul.

So the goal is not to reject emotion altogether, but to ensure that our faith is grounded first and foremost in what Christ has said. Because in the end, the women who went to the tomb were not ultimately transformed by what they felt, but by what they remembered. It was when they recalled the words of Christ that everything changed—their confusion gave way to clarity, and their sorrow turned to hope.

The resurrection is so much more than a mere historical event. Yes, it certainly happened—Jesus Christ is not in the grave—but its significance reaches far beyond history books. The resurrection should drive how you live. It should shape your priorities, your decisions, and your perspective on everything.

It means you don’t have to live in fear, because death has been defeated. It means you don’t have to be enslaved to sin, because Christ has broken its power. It means you don’t have to search endlessly for purpose, because your life is now anchored in a risen Savior who gives meaning to all things.

The resurrection calls you to live differently. It calls you to trust Christ in the ordinary moments of life, to obey Him even when it’s difficult, and to hold fast to His promises when circumstances seem uncertain. It reminds you that this world is not all there is, that your future is secure, and that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

In other words, the resurrection is not just something to believe—it is something to live in light of. Because if Christ is truly risen, then everything changes.

And that is the challenge for us all this morning: what words do you remember or turn to for hope? Which is what we read about in Luke 24. After the angel helped the women remember the words of Christ, their lives were never the same. Immediately, they ran back to tell everyone the good news!

And that is the challenge for us all this morning: what words do you remember or turn to for hope? Because, let’s be honest, life can feel heavy, uncertain, and even hopeless at times. We all face seasons where confusion, disappointment, or grief threatens to overwhelm us. And when that happens, we instinctively cling to something for stability—something to ground our hearts.

The question is, what is that something? Is it a fleeting feeling, a personal accomplishment, or the approval of others? Or is it the unchanging truth of God’s Word? 

But here’s the glorious truth: we’re forgetful, but He is faithful. We forget what Christ has done. We forget His promises. We forget the words He spoke, the warnings He gave, the hope He promised. The women at the tomb knew this well. They had been with Jesus for years, heard Him speak plainly about His death and resurrection, yet when the moment came, they were perplexed, sorrowful, and confused. They forgot. 

And isn’t that just like us? Even with the full testimony of Scripture, even with the repeated teaching of the gospel, we forget. We forget that life is not ultimately controlled by the circumstances around us. We forget that death is not the final word. We forget that God is good, faithful, and powerful to save.

But here’s the beautiful, glorious truth: Jesus Christ rose from the grave to save a sinful, forgetful people. Jesus said, “I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.” That means He didn’t come for those who think they have it all together—He came for people like you and me. People who sin. People who drift. People who fail. People who forget.

And that’s exactly why the resurrection matters so deeply. It is not just a display of power—it is a declaration of mercy. When Jesus rose from the grave, it was God’s way of saying that the work of salvation is finished and effective. The penalty for sin has been paid in full. The wrath of God has been satisfied. And now, forgiveness is not a possibility—it is a promise for all who come to Christ in faith.

Think about it: the very people who abandoned Him, who misunderstood Him, who forgot His words—those are the same people He came to save. He didn’t rise for the strong, but for the weak. Not for the perfect, but for the broken. Not for those who remember perfectly, but for those who are prone to forget.

And that means there is real hope for you today. No matter how far you’ve drifted, no matter how often you’ve failed, no matter how forgetful you’ve been, Christ’s resurrection stands as an open invitation. Come to Him. Trust in Him. Rest in what He has accomplished.

Because the risen Christ does not turn away sinners—He receives them. He forgives them. He restores them. And He promises them life. Life that is not fragile or fleeting, but eternal and secure.

And that ladies and gentlemen, is a glorious truth worth remembering. 

Amen. Let’s pray together.