Luke · chapter 24 of 24
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Luke 24 narrates the resurrection of Jesus. The women find the tomb empty and two men in dazzling clothes announce that he has risen. Jesus walks with two disciples to Emmaus and makes himself known in the breaking of bread, then appears to the eleven, opens their minds to the Scriptures, sends them as witnesses and ascends to heaven while blessing them.
Luke 24 is the ending and climax of the Gospel. After the cross, the story seems to end in sadness, but God changes everything with the resurrection. Luke shows how faith is born from meeting the living Christ and understanding the Scriptures, and sets the stage for the continuation in the book of Acts.
On the first day of the week, very early, the women go to the tomb with the spices they had prepared. They find the stone rolled away and do not find the body of the Lord Jesus. Two men in dazzling clothes ask why they seek the living among the dead, and remind them that he himself said he would be handed over, crucified and rise on the third day. They tell the eleven, but it seems like nonsense to them. Peter runs to the tomb and sees only the linen cloths.
That same day, two disciples are going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, talking it over. Jesus joins them, but their eyes are kept from recognizing him. One of them, Cleopas, tells him sadly that they had hoped he was the one to redeem Israel. Jesus tells them they are slow of heart to believe and, beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, explains in all the Scriptures what concerned him. When they arrive, they urge him to stay; at the table he takes bread, blesses and breaks it, and their eyes are opened and they recognize him; then he vanishes. Their hearts burned while he spoke, and they return to Jerusalem, where the eleven say the Lord has risen and appeared to Simon.
While they are talking, Jesus himself stands among them and says peace. They think they see a spirit, but he shows them his hands and feet and asks for something to eat; he eats a piece of broiled fish. He opens their minds to understand the Scriptures: the Christ must suffer and rise on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. They are witnesses, and are to wait in the city until clothed with power from on high. He leads them out as far as Bethany, lifts his hands and blesses them; while blessing them he is carried up into heaven. They worship him, return to Jerusalem with great joy and bless God in the temple.
References follow ESV book names and verse numbers. Read each verse in your Bible before the explanation.
The men in dazzling clothes ask the women why they seek the living among the dead, and tell them he has risen. The resurrection is the central fact that changes everything.
Beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, Jesus explains what all the Scriptures said about himself. The whole Bible, read rightly, leads to Christ, who had to suffer and enter his glory.
The two disciples recall that their hearts burned while Jesus talked with them on the road and opened the Scriptures. The Word and the presence of Christ kindle the heart before the eyes recognize him.
Jesus says it was written that the Christ would suffer and rise, and that repentance and forgiveness would be proclaimed in his name to all nations. The resurrection sends the disciples on a universal mission.
6 questions with answers and references, ready for Sunday school, small group or a Bible quiz night.
Answer: The stone rolled away from the tomb and no body of the Lord Jesus. — Luke 24:2-3
Answer: It seemed like nonsense to them and they did not believe them. — Luke 24:11
Answer: Cleopas. — Luke 24:18
Answer: When he took the bread, blessed it, broke it and gave it to them, and their eyes were opened. — Luke 24:30-31
Answer: He showed them his hands and feet and ate a piece of broiled fish in front of them. — Luke 24:39-43
Answer: He was carried up into heaven while he blessed them. — Luke 24:50-51
Luke 24 encourages us to seek Jesus in the Word and at the table. The Emmaus disciples were sad and did not recognize him, but when he opened the Scriptures to them, their hearts began to burn. In a small group you can ask how we read the Bible: looking for quick answers or looking for Christ in every passage?
It also reminds us that the resurrection sends us out as witnesses. The disciples were afraid and doubting, but Jesus equipped them and promised power from on high. Think of whom you can tell this week what Jesus has done in your life, and remember that the living Christ walks with us even when we do not see him.
Luke 24 closes the Gospel with the disciples worshiping and blessing God in the temple, with great joy, awaiting the Father's promise. Luke himself continues this story in the book of Acts, where the Holy Spirit descends and the gospel advances from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth.
Luke says their eyes were kept from recognizing him, without explaining how. It was due to their sadness and expectations, and also an act of God that led them first to understand the Scriptures. Their eyes were opened when he broke the bread.
To show that his resurrection is bodily and real, not the appearance of a spirit. The disciples could see him, touch him and watch him eat. His risen body is the same one that died, but glorified and with new capacities.
Jesus refers to the promise of the Holy Spirit, who came upon them at Pentecost, according to the book of Acts. The disciples were not to begin the mission in their own strength, but to wait for the power God would give them to be his witnesses.