Written ~ 04-03-2024
Read Luke Chapter Twenty-Four
Luke 24
Today’s chapter the events begin with grief and sorrow, but ends with excitement and joy.
Jesus Christ has Risen from the dead!
In verses 24:1-12 we find Mary Magdalene, Mary and Salome going to the tomb where Jesus was laid early Sunday morning to prepare His body with the spices they had gotten before the Sabbath had begun.
What they found instead of Christ’s body were two men clothed in dazzling robes.
“Why are you looking among the dead for someone who is alive? He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead!”
This exclamation from the two men started a swirl of fear and excitement as the women ran off to find the disciples and tell them what had happened. The news came with questions filled with doubt. The disciples weren’t sure what had happened! But look at what the two men at the tomb had said to the women who were expecting to find Jesus wrapped in burial clothes…
Verses 24:6b-7,
“Remember what He told you back in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be betrayed into the hands of sinful men and be crucified, and that He would rise again on the third day.”
Though doubtful, Peter and John ran to the tomb to see for themselves, even though they saw the empty tomb they were puzzled at their findings and wondered what had happened.
Makes you think doesn’t it? Here we have two disciples who were part of Jesus’ inner circle and they missed what Jesus had foretold about His death and rising from the dead. They were heartbroken that their Master’s body was gone. We might think it quite surprising that they didn’t get it! But we have the benefit of having the entire New Testament Gospels to tell us what happened. They did not. Let’s not miss what the Lord is telling us through the Word of God.
In the Book of Luke, the next passage (verses 24:13-34) is only recorded here in Luke, so let’s look at it now…
Verses 24:13-16…
13 “That same day two of Jesus’ followers were walking to the village of Emmaus, seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 As they walked along they were talking about everything that had happened. 15 As they talked and discussed these things, Jesus Himself suddenly came and began walking with them. 16 But God kept them from recognizing Him.”
Here we have two men, they had been followers of Jesus, that’s all we know about them. In these verses it’s evident that they were witnesses to the crucifixion and death of Jesus. They were deeply grieved and were making their way to the village of Emmaus. More than likely they were in Jerusalem for the Passover celebration, but instead of being joyful, this Passover was much different, they saw their beloved Teacher dying as a criminal on a cross. It says in verse 24:14 that “they were talking about everything that had happened…” Have you ever been in deep conversation with someone and don’t notice someone walking up alongside you? Maybe when Jesus appeared beside them it took them by surprise because of the intensity of their conversation. But it also says that “Jesus Himself suddenly came and began walking with them…” Maybe they didn’t even notice the suddenness of His appearance because they were so deep in conversation. But here we have Jesus joining in on their conversation and the dialogue between Jesus and those two men is quite fascinating!
17 He asked them, “What are you discussing so intently as you walk along?”
They stopped short, sadness written across their faces. 18 Then one of them, Cleopas, replied, “You must be the only person in Jerusalem who hasn’t heard about all the things that have happened there the last few days.”
19 “What things?” Jesus asked.
Obviously Jesus knew what they were talking about, right!? I wonder why Jesus asked them “What things?” Maybe it was so He could hear what these two men had witnessed and maybe even where their faith in the Lord was now.
This is what they said in response to Jesus’ question…
Verses 24:19b-24…
“The things that happened to Jesus, the man from Nazareth,” they said. “He was a prophet who did powerful miracles, and He was a mighty teacher in the eyes of God and all the people. 20 But our leading priests and other religious leaders handed Him over to be condemned to death, and they crucified Him. 21 We had hoped He was the Messiah who had come to rescue Israel. This all happened three days ago.
22 “Then some women from our group of His followers were at His tomb early this morning, and they came back with an amazing report. 23 They said His body was missing, and they had seen angels who told them Jesus is alive! 24 Some of our men ran out to see, and sure enough, His body was gone, just as the women had said.”
Look at what it says in verse 24:21a, “We had hoped He was the Messiah…”
“We had hoped…”
It seems to me they were now questioning everything they thought about who Jesus claimed to be. It’s possible their faith in Him was hanging on by a thread as they discussed the events that happened over the past few days. Now remember, in verse 24:16 it says, “…God kept them from recognizing Him…” So these two men were talking to Jesus without having any idea is was their Messiah walking along with them.
Look closely at what Jesus says next…
Verses 24:25-27,
25 Then Jesus said to them, “You foolish people! You find it so hard to believe all that the prophets wrote in the Scriptures. 26 Wasn’t it clearly predicted that the Messiah would have to suffer all these things before entering His Glory?” 27 Then Jesus took them through the writings of Moses and all the prophets, explaining from all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.
This is a lesson for us as well. We have the entire Bible to read and study. When questions come to mind about who Christ is, we need to turn to Scripture. Jesus did! It says in verse 24:27 that “Jesus took them through the writings of Moses and all the prophets…” Oh how I would love to have heard all that Jesus said during this conversation, I would love to know each and every Scripture He quoted. That had to be the most informed Bible Study either of those men had ever heard! Do you think they began to recall all they had learned from following Jesus? Did His teachings begin to fill their minds from when they followed Him and listened to Him speak? The more you and I dig into the Scriptures the more we will learn and hopefully retain. If we begin to forget the words of the Lord, then it’s time to dig even deeper! If we were to question something we have read, but didn’t try to get clarity, it’s much more difficult to learn and gain the wisdom from the Word of God.
It doesn’t say how long the two men were talking to Jesus as they walked to Emmaus, but verse 24:13 said it was seven miles from Jerusalem, so if we were to guess an estimated time, they could’ve been walking and talking for nearly two hours. That’s a good chunk of time to get an awesome Bible Study lesson from Jesus!
Let’s read what happens next…
Verses 24:28-30,
28 “By this time they were nearing Emmaus and the end of their journey. Jesus acted as if He were going on, 29 but they begged Him, “Stay the night with us, since it is getting late.” So He went home with them. 30 As they sat down to eat, He took the bread and blessed it. Then He broke it and gave it to them.”
I’m quite sure those two men were so amazed at the teaching of Jesus that they didn’t want the evening to end. Plus, after a long walk it was probably normal hospitality to invite someone to your home when it was getting late. I love the fact that these two men had no idea who they had seated at their table. Here they were hosting the Messiah and they were none the wiser. But then the miraculous happened, Jesus took the bread He was offered, blessed it, broke it and gave it to them. Doesn’t that seem a little familiar? He did the very same thing with His disciples during the Last Supper before He was arrested and eventually led away to be killed. And here He is breaking bread with these two. Then the astonishing happened!
Verse 24:31,
31 Suddenly, their eyes were opened, and they recognized Him. And at that moment He disappeared!
Now… come on… that would have been an unbelievable event, don’t you think? In a split moment, they realized that all along it was Jesus they were walking with and speaking to, then all of a sudden “poof” He was gone. I think they must have been absolutely stunned. I wonder how long they sat there staring at each other wondering what just happened!
Verse 24:32,
32 They said to each other, “Didn’t our hearts burn within us as He talked with us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us?”
What a huge “Ah-Ha” moment! I can only imagine them saying to each other, “No wonder we were in such awe of the way He spoke. No wonder we were glued to every word He said. It was Jesus the whole time!”
Verse 24:33a,
33 “And within the hour they were on their way back to Jerusalem…”
Remember they had just walked that seven miles from Jerusalem! They had gotten home, relaxed a bit, sat down, had a meal, but now they had their sights set to head back to Jerusalem and off they went. I wonder if their pace was a little quicker this time!
Verses 24:33b-40,
33b …There they found the eleven disciples and the others who had gathered with them, 34 who said, “The Lord has really risen! He appeared to Peter.” 35 Then the two from Emmaus told their story of how Jesus had appeared to them as they were walking along the road, and how they had recognized Him as He was breaking the bread. 36 And just as they were telling about it, Jesus Himself was suddenly standing there among them. “Peace be with you,” He said. 37 But the whole group was startled and frightened, thinking they were seeing a ghost!
38 “Why are you frightened?” He asked. “Why are your hearts filled with doubt? 39 Look at My hands. Look at My feet. You can see that it’s really Me. Touch Me and make sure that I am not a ghost, because ghosts don’t have bodies, as you see that I do.” 40 As He spoke, He showed them His hands and His feet.
It’s hard to imagine what it would be like sitting in that room, the two men from Emmaus are telling the disciples and the others gathered around that they saw Jesus, they talked to Him. I’m sure they were telling their story with great animation and wonder! Then in the midst of this exciting conversation, Jesus appeared. That my friends had to rock their world! I can see why at first they thought He was ghost because of His sudden appearance. But I love the response Jesus gave as He looked about the room and saw stunned faces staring back at Him…
“Peace be with you…”
As their hearts were palpitating and with some doubt in their hearts, I’m sure each person in that room was seriously thinking they were just seeing things. Most in that room would have last seen Jesus being taken down from the cross and taken to a tomb to be prepared for burial. But as they looked at Him now, as they touched Him and the realization came to them that “Yes, Indeed,” this was Jesus standing right there! He wasn’t a ghost! He was flesh, standing right there in front of them, ALIVE!
Jesus is ALIVE! Just as the two men clothed in dazzling robes at the tomb had said earlier that day… “He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead!”
With joy and peace in our own hearts as well as those gathered around that day, we can know without doubt that Jesus Christ the Son of God is ALIVE!
~AMEN~