Luke 24

 

The Resurrection

24:1 Now on the first day of the week, at early dawn, the women went to the tomb, taking the aromatic spices they had prepared. 

 

The first day of the Jewish week was Sunday.

 

24:2 They found that the stone had been rolled away from the tomb, 

 

The stone weighed over 400 pounds. Who moved the rock without waking up the soldiers?

 

24:3 but when they went in, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 

 

Jesus was raised from the dead on a Sunday. This is why the Jews changed their day of worship from Saturday to Sunday.

 

24:4 While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men stood beside them in dazzling attire. 

 

Angels always appear to men as normal men without wings.

 

24:5 The women were terribly frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? 24:6 He is not here, but has been raised! Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, 24:7 that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again.” 

 

The angels’ first announcement of the resurrection of the dead was to women, not men. Where was the male leadership of Israel?

 

24:8 Then the women remembered his words, 24:9 and when they returned from the tomb they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. 24:10 Now it was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles. 24:11 But these words seemed like pure nonsense to them, and they did not believe them.

 

The disciples would not believe the testimony of women.

 

24:12 But Peter got up and ran to the tomb. He bent down and saw only the strips of linen cloth; then he went home, wondering what had happened.

 

Peter ran to the tomb and saw the strips of linen. Jesus passed through the strips of linen. Peter still wondered what had happened to the body of Jesus.

 

Jesus Walks the Road to Emmaus

24:13 Now that very day two of them were on their way to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. 

 

Two disciples of Jesus were walking from Jerusalem to Emmaus.

 

24:14 They were talking to each other about all the things that had happened. 

 

They were talking about the resurrection of Christ. Who moved the stone? Where was the body? What happened to the Roman guards? Why was there a folded linen? How did the body of Christ pass through the linen?

 

24:15 While they were talking and debating these things, Jesus himself approached and began to accompany them 

 

Jesus has a sense of humor. He joined the conversation.

 

24:16 (but their eyes were kept from recognizing him). 

 

No one can recognize Jesus unless one is unblinded by the Holy Spirit.

 

24:17 Then he said to them, “What are these matters you are discussing so intently as you walk along?” And they stood still, looking sad. 

 

Jesus likes to ask questions when He already knows the answer.

 

24:18 Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who doesn’t know the things that have happened there in these days?” 

 

Everyone in Jerusalem heard what happened to Jesus. The news was spread throughout the city very quickly. The three hours of darkness had to cause a lot of questions.

 

24:19 He said to them, “What things?” “The things concerning Jesus the Nazarene,” they replied, “a man who, with his powerful deeds and words, proved to be a prophet before God and all the people; 

 

Jesus was recognized as a man from Nazarene, a miracle worker, and a prophet. He was not yet recognized as God in the flesh.

 

24:20 and how our chief priests and rulers handed him over to be condemned to death, and crucified him. 

 

One day later, everyone in Jerusalem heard about the crucifixion of Christ. It was a national feast day, so Jerusalem was full of devout Jewish visitors from all over the Roman Empire. They would eventually spread this news all over the Roman world.

 

24:21 But we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. Not only this, but it is now the third day since these things happened. 

 

All of the devout Jews had hoped that Jesus was going to be the long-awaited Messiah who would redeem Israel from Roman tribute. Jesus came to do more than that. He came to redeem all Jews and Gentiles from sin. This is why John the Baptist introduced Jesus as the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.

 

24:22 Furthermore, some women of our group amazed us. They were at the tomb early this morning, 24:23 and when they did not find his body, they came back and said they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. 

 

The news of the women’s visit to the tomb had already circulated all through Jerusalem.

 

24:24 Then some of those who were with us went to the tomb, and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see him.” 

 

Several people checked out the women’s report and found out that they were speaking the truth.

 

24:25 So he said to them, “You foolish people – how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!

 

The identity of Jesus still had not been revealed to the two men. Jesus reminded them that the prophets predicted the death and resurrection of the Messiah.

 

 24:26 Wasn’t it necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and enter into his glory?” 

 

All of the prophets predicted the suffering and the glory of the Messiah.

 

24:27 Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things written about himself in all the scriptures.

 

Jesus began with Moses and went through all of the teachings of the prophets to prove His point. This must have been quiet a Bible lesson.

 

24:28 So they approached the village where they were going. He acted as though he wanted to go farther, 24:29 but they urged him, “Stay with us, because it is getting toward evening and the day is almost done.” So he went in to stay with them.

 

Jesus was invited to stay with the two men.

 

24:30 When he had taken his place at the table with them, he took the bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. 24:31 At this point their eyes were opened and they recognized him. Then he vanished out of their sight. 24:32 They said to each other, “Didn’t our hearts burn within us while he was speaking with us on the road, while he was explaining the scriptures to us?” 

 

Their personalities were burning with joy, because the Holy Spirit was revealing divine information to them. The Holy Spirit changed their hearts, opened their eyes, and opened their ears so that they could understand the truth. The Holy Spirit still operates in this same way in the present church age. No divine information can be understood unless the Holy Spirit illuminates the believer so that he can process and understand the information.

 

24:33 So they got up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem. They found the eleven and those with them gathered together 24:34 and saying, “The Lord has really risen, and has appeared to Simon!” 24:35 Then they told what had happened on the road, and how they recognized him when he broke the bread.

 

The two men were the two witnesses required by the Mosaic Law.

 

Jesus Makes a Final Appearance

24:36 While they were saying these things, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 

 

At the assembly, Jesus appeared to the entire group. Man is an enemy of God. Man is at war with God. Man can only receive peace if the Holy Spirit illuminates the person so that he can know Christ.

 

24:37 But they were startled and terrified, thinking they saw a ghost. 

 

The assembly was shocked, thinking that Jesus was a ghost.

 

24:38 Then he said to them, “Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? 24:39 Look at my hands and my feet; it’s me! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones like you see I have.” 

 

Jesus appeared in His glorified body. His glorified body does posses flesh and bones. Notice that blood was not mentioned to be present in the glorified body. All believers will receive a glorified body at the Rapture. The dead in Christ will receive their glorified bodies just moments before those who are raptured alive off of the earth.

 

24:40 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. 

 

The scars of the nails were left upon the hands and feet of Jesus as a testimony to the price which Jesus paid.

 

24:41 And while they still could not believe it (because of their joy) and were amazed, he said to them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” 24:42 So they gave him a piece of broiled fish, 24:43 and he took it and ate it in front of them.

 

Jesus could still eat in His glorified body. The gnostics taught that Jesus was just a spirit, but this verse dispels their false teaching.

 

Jesus’ Final Commission

24:44 Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and the psalms must be fulfilled.” 

 

God is not a liar. His prophets wrote down prophecies. God fulfilled all of the first prophecies of the first coming of Jesus. He will fulfill the eschatological promises of Jesus at His second coming.

 

24:45 Then he opened their minds so they could understand the scriptures, 

 

No one can understand the Scriptures unless God opens up the mind.

 

24:46 and said to them, “Thus it stands written that the Christ would suffer and would rise from the dead on the third day, 

 

The prophecies predicted a suffering Messiah and a reigning Messiah. Many of the Jewish rabbi believed that there would be two Messiahs. Instead, there was to be one Messiah with two different comings.

 

24:47 and repentance for the forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 

 

Repentance means to change one’s attitude about Jesus from bad to good. Jesus died for the sins of both Jews and Gentiles. This message of forgiveness was to be taken to all Jews and Gentiles. The message was to begin in Jerusalem. This fulfillment will take place in Acts 2.

 

24:48 You are witnesses of these things. 

 

The disciples were witnesses of the resurrection of Christ.

 

24:49 And look, I am sending you what my Father promised. But stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”

 

Jesus will send out the disciples to spread this message to the world. However, they were to stay in Jerusalem until the Day of Pentecost.

 

Jesus’ Departure

24:50 Then Jesus led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands, he blessed them. 

 

Jesus walked them back to the small city of Bethany, which was just outside of Jerusalem. Lazarus, Mary, and Martha lived in Bethany.

 

24:51 Now during the blessing he departed and was taken up into heaven. 

 

Jesus blessed the disciples and ascended into heaven. He is currently sitting at the right hand of God the Father, waiting for the Father to make Satan His footstool.

 

24:52 So they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, 

 

Jesus was worshipped, because He was God in human flesh.

 

24:53 and were continually in the temple courts blessing God. 

 

The disciples stayed in Jerusalem and taught in the temple courts. Pentecost would occur fifty days later. Devout Jews from all over the Roman Empire would travel to Jerusalem. Many of the others would stay in Jerusalem and wait for the Day of Pentecost. Those who stayed would hear the disciples’ teachings for the next fifty days. The Book of Acts continues the history of the growth of the early church.