Luke

Chapter 24

Luke 24:1-12
1 Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them.
2 And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre.
3 And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.
4 And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments:
5 And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead?
6 He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee,
7 Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.
8 And they remembered his words,
9 And returned from the sepulchre, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest.
10  It was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles.
11 And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not.
12 Then arose Peter, and ran unto the sepulchre; and stooping down, he beheld the linen clothes laid by themselves, and departed, wondering in himself at that which was come to pass.

The English translation of part of this chapter in the KJV is inaccurate! That inaccuracy has been carried over into almost all other translations, and has led to some false traditions. The Roman Catholic Church is leading at least one of those inaccuracies!

Roman Emperor, Constantine solidified that false tradition within most of Christianity! The Pope honored Constantine above Christ in following the edict of a “sun-day” instead of the Sabbath!

You may find this section of the commentary offensive!

Early in the morning as the sun rose upon the first of the Sabbaths (Gr. sabbaton-σάββατον) [leading to Pentecost] (Matthew 28), some of the women who followed Christ Jesus walked to the Tomb. They brought various burial spices with them. The tomb was within a Sabbath’s walk from Jerusalem!

That happened on a Saturday morning and not a Sunday morning! The Sunday morning theme was condoned by the Roman Catholic domination!

When the group of women arrived, they found that the stone that had covered the entrance to the tomb had been rolled away. As you may recall guards had been sent to keep the Apostles from stealing Jesus’ body, but the guards were no longer there!

Some of the group went into the tomb and found that Jesus’ body was also not there! Being somewhat mystified by all that they suddenly saw two “men” standing there. They were dressed by in shining garments!

In fear, they bowed their faces to the earth, and the “men” asked, “Why are you seeking One Who is alive among the dead?” Then the “men” referred to the unthinkable, “He is not here! He has risen! Do you remember what He said to you while He was in Galilee?”

“He told you, ‘The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.’”

Then, they remembered His words!

They left the tomb and went to see the eleven Apostles telling them and those with them all that happened!

Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Mary the mother of James were among those who went to the reported their findings to the Apostles.

The Apostles were not all that receptive to the idea that Christ Jesus had risen from the dead! They thought that any such notion came from idle tales, and they did not believe them.

However, inquisitiveness got the better of Peter and he decided to investigate for himself! Peter ran to the tomb to see, and as we have read in John 20, John raced ahead of him to the tomb but did not go in (John 20:4)! They both saw the empty tomb and the linen clothes that lay there.

Then Peter too began to wonder within himself about that those things that had come to pass!

Luke 24:13-35
13 And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs.
14 And they talked together of all these things which had happened.
15 And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them. 16 But their eyes were holden that they should not know him.
17 And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad?
18 And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days?
19 And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people:
20 And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him.
21 But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done.
22 Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre;
23 And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive.
24 And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre, and found it even so as the women had said: but him they saw not.
25 Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:
26 Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?
27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.
28 And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone further.
29 But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them.
30 And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them.
31 And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight.
32 And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?
33 And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them,
34 Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon.
35 And they told what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them in breaking of bread.

Now, the scene changes (although it is still the same day) and we see two of Jesus’ followers walking to a village called Emmaus, which was about seven miles from Jerusalem. In walking that distance on the Sabbath, the two were breaking the man-made rules of the Sabbath!

They walked along talking about all which had happened. And, while they walked along discussing all those events, Jesus himself came near, and walked with them.

But, they did not recognize the Lord!

As they walked and talked with Jesus, He asked, “What are you all talking about and why are you so sad?”

The one named Cleopas, asked Jesus, “Are You a stranger in Jerusalem? You seem unaware of the events of the past few days!”

Jesus asked, “What things?”

And so, they told Him what had happened concerning Jesus’ crucifixion. They told Him that Jesus was a mighty prophet in deed and word before God and all the people.

They told how they trusted that it would be Jesus who would redeem Israel! And, that that day was the third day since these things had happened.

As they walked along talking to Christ, they told Him how some of the women were astonished when they went to the tomb early that morning and did not find His body! They told how the women told the Apostles that they had a vision of angels. And, that the angels told the women that Jesus was alive!

The two told how they had gone to the tomb themselves and the report of an empty tomb that the women had told about was accurate!

Then, Jesus said, “O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!

“Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into His glory?”

Then, beginning with the Pentateuch and the prophets, Jesus taught them the things they contained concerning Him. As they came near to Emmaus Christ Jesus acted as though He would walk farther along the road leaving them there.

But, they appealed to Him, “Stay with us, after all it is evening and the day has almost ended.” So, Christ stayed with them for a short time.

They ate supper with Christ Jesus. As they began the evening meal, Jesus took the bread, blessed it, and broke it to give it to them. As Jesus broke the bread, their eyes were opened and realized it was Jesus. Then, He vanished!

They discussed how their hearts “burned within them” while He walked and talked with them, and how He opened the Scriptures to them!

Instead of staying in Emmaus, the men returned enthusiastically to Jerusalem with great urgency! They immediately found the eleven Apostles and told them what had happened! Those two men were now witnesses to the resurrection!

Luke 24:36-53
36 And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.
37 But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit.
38 And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts?
39 Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.
40 And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet.
41 And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat?
42 And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb.
43 And he took it, and did eat before them.
44 And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.
45 Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,
46 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:
47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
48 And ye are witnesses of these things.
49 And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.
50 And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them.
51 And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven.
52 And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy:
53 And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen.

As the two men told about Jesus’ appearing to them, Jesus Himself appeared in the very place where they were, and told them and all who were there, “Peace is yours.” Jesus is our peace!

Many mistakenly seek social peace when Christ gives us peace with God the Father!

Those in that place were terrified! Instead of rejoicing immediately at the appearing of Christ they thought that they had seen a spirit!

Jesus inquired, “Why are you upset? Why do those troubling thoughts arise in your hearts?

“Look at My hands and My feet! I am here! Touch Me! See for yourselves!

“A spirit does not have flesh and bones like this!”

Christ offered physical proof that He had indeed arisen!

They were momentarily amazed!

So, Christ asked, “Do you have anything to eat?”

They gave Him some fish, and a honeycomb. Christ took it, and ate! Spirits don’t do that!

Then Jesus said, “These are the words I spoke, while I was with you, so that all things in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms concerning Me would be fulfilled!”

Then Christ enlightened their understanding so that they could understand the Scriptures! The Apostles had a rudimentary understanding of Jewish tradition! But then, they understood the spiritual nuances of the Word of God!

Jesus assured them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was incumbent upon Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day!

“And, you all must now preach repentance and remission of sins in the name of the Messiah among all nations! Begin in Jerusalem!”

Do you understand that those in that room were told to preach to all nations including Gentiles, but following Pentecost they just sat in Jerusalem!

Further Christ told them, “You all are now witnesses of these things!

“I am sending the promise of My Father upon you and with you! But wait patiently in the Jerusalem, until you are given power from on high!”

As the followers of Christ waited in Jerusalem, on Pentecost the Holy Spirit descended on them, took up residence within them and went with them into the world as they preached Christ Jesus!

Then Christ led them out to Bethany, lifted His hands, and blessed them.

While blessing them, Christ was taken up into heaven. And, they worshipped Him! Then they returned to Jerusalem being filled with great joy!

In Jerusalem, they went into the Temple daily where they continued praising Christ and blessing God. While there is no longer a physical Temple, Christians have become the Temple, and we should do no less! Worship in the Temple now takes place within each and every Christian!

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