April 9th
G The
Perfect Man Raised by God
Jesus risen
Luke, 24
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.
Jesus
appears – Emmaus
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 therein 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.
Jesus
appears – Disciples
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.
Jesus
ascends to heaven
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 worshiped him, and
returned to Jerusalem
with great joy: 53: And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing
God. Amen.
Luke brings his gospel to a close with a chapter describing
the events following the resurrection of Christ. First he records the visit
very early in the morning probably 4-5am. Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary
the mother of James, and other women came to anoint the body of Christ. This
indicates that none of the disciples thought that Christ would rise from the
dead because they brought spices to anoint the body. However when they arrived
they found the stone had been rolled away. They were very unset and mystified
but then two angels stood next to them in shinning garments and they said, ‘Why
do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here he has risen. And so we
have announced the news that every unbeliever must face the tomb is empty and
Christ has risen. The angels reminded them of Christ’s words when to prophesied
of his resurrection. They returned to the eleven and the rest to tell the news,
but they frankly did not believe them. Peter decided that he would go and find
out for himself, He ran to the tomb and looking in saw the grave clothes how
they lay. Later two disciples on the road to Emmaus have a visitation from
Christ without them realising who he was. They were over come with grief and
confused. They understood that Christ was the Messiah and that prophetically he
would establish his reign on earth but now he had been crucified. They couldn’t
take it all in. Christ in love calls them fools and slow of heart to believe.
Then in the short walk to Emmaus he started with Moses and he opened up the
whole scriptures explaining that Christ was to suffer and die and rise again.
What an education that was. When they arrived at Emmaus Christ appeared to walk
on but they pleaded with him to stay as it was getting near 5pm. He went in and
stayed with them. When they sat at meat and when to took bread and broke it and
gave thanks their eyes were opened and they realised who he was and the
vanished. Right away they set out for Jerusalem
to tell the rest that he had appeared to then. While they were telling their
story Christ appeared in the middle of them and he spoke peace and invited them
to see his hands and feet. Then he sat down and ate food – fish and honey. Why
didn’t the disciples understand Christ’s mission and Gods purpose? Because it
was hidden from them and he then did something wonderful. He opened their
understanding that they might understand the scriptures. WOW what an amazing
thing to do. He then went on to explain that the same message they had preached
so far was to be preached (to the Jews) scattered among the nations beginning
at Jerusalem.
They are to be witnesses of these things. However before they set off they are
to wait in Jerusalem
for the promise of the Father until they are empowered from on high. Then he
led then out as far as to Bethany
and he lifted up his hands and blessed them. Then Christ ascended up into
heaven and they worshiped him and they returned to Jerusalem with hearts full of the joy of the
Lord. The disciples were continually in the temple praising and blessing God.
They were full of Joy and they had the Holy Spirit but they were not baptised
in the Holy Spirit yet. They had to wait for this.
Luke later picks up his pen to write to his friend
Theophilus, the sequel to this Gospel.
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